The U-9 class started to commission in 2142 the ship soon gained a
fearsome reputation, but despite this the Earth crews dubbed it the flying
peanut.
The first confirmed action involving U-9s against an Earth ship came on
18 October 2144, when two U-9s attacked the SS Amaretto within Earth
controlled space. The U-9s broke off when a patrol of four Cavalry class
destroyers appeared on the scene.
09 June 2148 saw a major reversal of fortune for the Romulan fleet, when
the Earth's Twenty Fourth Tactical Anti-Piracy Group cornered a U-9. This
group consisted of eight Messier class cruisers and a Cavalry class
destroyer. The U-9 exchanged fire with the ships, damaging the UES Oort.
After sustaining substantial damage from a missile strike from the UES
Hubbell the U-9, following standard Romulan policy, self-destructed to avoid
capture.
On 04 May 2150, three U-9 class cruisers attacked a liner as part of the
ongoing series of 'pirate' attacks. Almost 600 crew and passengers lost
their lives in the raid, and the removal of the cargo completed the
impression of piracy. The Romulans retained only the strategic materials and
equipment from the cargo; they simply destroyed the remainder of it, as they
had no need for it. The liner in question was the SS Diana.
The U-9 was also involved on 21 November 2151 when a mixed squadron of
U-7s and U-9s destroyed eleven ships at Outer System Defence Outpost 4. The
same squadron, still with U-9s in service scored a further triumph on 02
November 2154, when it attacked and destroyed Outer Sector Defence Outpost
One.
Two U-9s attacked and destroyed a series of mining outposts near Sigma
Canori on 16 August 2155, these ships then confronted two Horizon class
cruisers of the Earth Starfleet. The U-9s managed to damage severely the UES
Matador, but the UES Excelsior (commanded by Captain William Gustavus
Larson) destroyed one of the U-9s and managed to drive away the other one.
The loss of the U-9 to the inferior Horizon class ship prompted an
upgrade to U-9B standards. 96 ships were upgraded to U-9B standards (of 120
U-9s built). The basic U-9 had mounted the same engine system as the U-7
(RFTL-2), the lighter hull structure giving increased speed and enhanced
manoeuvrability. The U-9B adopted the new RFTL-4 as used on the U-15. This
engine gave the same power levels and performance, but was 20% lighter,
carrying an enhanced weapons load. By January 2157, only the U-9B was in
service following completion of the upgrade program. The U-9 adopted a
destroyer role, acting as escorts to the larger cruisers then entering
service.
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