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The '''Danube'' class' is a fictional class of starship in the science fiction franchise Star Trek (most notably ''). The ''Danube'' class resembles a large shuttlecraft and are informally called 'runabouts'. They are multirole vessels used for short-range movement of personnel and supplies. Assigned to large starships and deep space outposts, including starbases like Deep Space Nine, runabouts allow for the operation of local exploratory and diplomatic missions around their assigned region without the need for calling in or diverting a larger starship. Observed ''Danube'' class runabouts are named after rivers on Earth.
Runabouts were shown extensively throughout the first two seasons of ''Deep Space Nine''. After the introduction of the USS ''Defiant'' in the third season, runabouts were relegated to a more minor status as the ''Defiant'' took over many of the runabouts' former functions.
The ''Danube'' class runabout features a modular design. According to the '', the assembly of the spine, pylons, nacelles, and command module is permanent while the four aft modules are interchangeable to suit mission parameters. Modules include various research laboratories, sensor stations, power generators, living quarters, storage and hazardous storage, and other supplemental modules. The living quarters of a runabout have only been seen once, in the '' episode "Timescape". During standard operations, ''Danube'' class runabouts are very lightly armed, normally outfitted with six Type VI phaser arrays and a magazine of 24 microtorpedoes, but can be fitted with an additional exterior rollbar and pod (similar to the ''Miranda'' class starship) with extra weaponry.
Unlike shuttlecrafts, runabouts featured small sleeping quarters and replicators, making them much more efficient and comfortable for longer trips.
In real life, the ''Danube'' class runabout was designed by Rick Sternbach and Jim Martin for ''ST:DS9'' in 1992.

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Known ''Danube'' class runabouts

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Known ''Danube'' class runabouts

★ USS ''Danube'' (NCC-72003, ex-NX-72003)

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★ Named for the Danube, the runabout ''Danube'' was constructed in 2368 at Utopia Planitia shipyards and was the pathfinder of its class. Fate unknown.

★ USS ''Gander'' (Registry unknown)

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★ Named for the Gander River, the runabout ''Gander'' was destroyed by the Jem'Hadar over Goralis in 2375. The ''Gander'' was originally to be named ''Ganges'', however due to an earlier runabout possessing that name, it was changed to Gander and was dubbed over in lines featuring the name.

★ USS ''Ganges'' (NCC-72454)

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★ Named for the Ganges River, the runabout ''Ganges'' was assigned to Deep Space Nine. The ''Ganges'' was destroyed in 2370 by a T'Lani vessel.

★ USS ''Mekong'' (NCC-72617)

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★ Named for the Mekong River. The ''Mekong'' was destroyed in 2371 during the Cardassian/Romulan assault on the Founder's Homeworld in the Omarion Nebula. It had been assigned to DS9 to replace the ''Ganges''.

★ USS ''Orinoco'' (NCC-72905)

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★ Named for the Orinoco River, the runabout ''Orinoco'' was destroyed in 2372 by a Cardassian separatist group named "The True Way." It had been assigned to DS9 to replace the ''Yangtzee Kiang''.

★ USS ''Rio Grande'' (NCC-72452)

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★ Named for the Rio Grande, the runabout ''Rio Grande'' was assigned to Deep Space Nine circa stardate 46379.1 in 2369. It is the only runabout known to have survived all seven years of Captain Benjamin Sisko's command aboard Deep Space Nine. It is also the runabout that was used when the Bajoran Wormhole was discovered by Captain Sisko and the late Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax.

★ USS ''Rubicon'' (NCC-72936)

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★ Named for the Rubicon, the runabout ''Rubicon'' was used to investigate a rare subspace compression anomaly circa stardate 51474.2. The ''Rubicon'' was presumably the runabout taken by Worf and Garak when they were captured by the Dominion. The ''Rubicon'' is presumed still in active service at DS9 as of 2376.

★ USS ''Shenandoah'' (NCC-73024)

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★ Named for the Shenandoah River, the runabout ''Shenandoah'' was assigned to Deep Space Nine. On stardate 51825, Ensign Nog and Jake Sisko used the Shenandoah to deliver an official diplomatic message to Grand Nagus Zek. The ''Shenandoah'' was nearly destroyed by Jem'Hadar attack ships but was saved by the ''Defiant'' class USS ''Valiant'' in 2374. Fate uncertain.

★ USS ''Volga'' (NCC-73196)

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★ Named for the Volga, the runabout ''Volga'' was used in a 2372 botanical survey of the planet Torad V.

★ USS ''Yangtzee Kiang'' (NCC-72453)

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★ Named for the Yangtze River, this runabout was destroyed in a crash on a penal colony moon in the Gamma Quadrant, thus gaining the dubious honour of being the first DS9 runabout destroyed on the series.

★ USS ''Yukon'' (NCC-74602)

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★ Named for the Yukon River, the runabout ''Yukon'' was destroyed by the USS ''Defiant'' when a Dominion agent stole the runabout to destroy the Bajor system's sun.

★ (Name unknown) (NCC-73918)

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★ This unnamed runabout was used to obtain a Breen energy dampening weapon. It was abandoned and self-destructed during the mission to prevent its capture by Dominion forces.

★ (Name and registry unknown)

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★ Destroyed by a Jem'Hadar vessel while in orbit of Torga IV in 2373 with the loss of all 3 crewmembers on board.

★ (Name and registry unknown)

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★ Destroyed on the surface of Ajilon Prime in 2373 by Klingon aerial bombardment.

★ (Name and registry unknown)

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★ Destroyed by a Cardassian officer at Empok Nor in 2375. Was equipped with an additional navigational array module.

★ (Name and registry unknown)

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★ This runabout transported Capt. Picard, Lt. Cmdrs. Data and La Forge, and Counselor Troi from a convention to the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2369 circa stardate 46944.2. The vessel was briefly frozen in a temporal distortion. It was destroyed in an attempt to save the ''Enterprise'' and a Romulan Warbird from the time distortion.

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★ Although this runabout was never named in the episode, some stock footage from ''ST:DS9'' might bear the name USS ''Rio Grande'', apparently in error since the ''Rio Grande'' was in service at DS9 and could not have been the ship in question – especially since Picard and crew destroyed the runabout at the end of "Timescape"; however, the vessel is sometimes referred to in non-canon as ''Potomac''.

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