Notes: The Vor'Cha class was originally meant to replace the K'T inga class, but became the Klingon response to Starfleets Ambassador class design. Intended to be significantly more powerful than the Ambassador, the ship had something of a troubled beginning. The project was approved in 2332, and immediately ran into problems. The Klingons experienced problems with the manufacture of the Warp Coils, a problem Starfleet would later encounter for itself. In addition, despite much effort the Klingons could not match Starfleets development of the burst fire torpedo tube. However, the materials problems were overcome and the first designs indicated that the new ships would comfortably meet the design requirements using larger numbers of single fire torpedo tubes. However, by the time construction of the first vessel was begun in 2344, Starfleet had issued the requirement for the Nebula class Starship. This would clearly be more than a match for the proposed Vor'Cha class, leaving the Klingons with a major new warship design which would be obsolete the moment it left the shipyards.

The Klingons responded by going back to the drawing board and re drawing the design. Three of the type-10 disrupter cannon were replaced with more powerful models, the type-12. These were capable of operating in a 'pulse fire' mode, increasing their effectiveness against shield systems. High density armor plating was added around the ships Warp Core, nacelles, and around the weapons platforms. Efforts continued to field a burst fire torpedo system. In 2343 a group of three torpedoes exploded wile being fired from a test vessel, destroying it with the loss of all hands, including six of the projects best design specialists. Despite this, the Klingons pressed on, and were eventually successful.

The re-designed Vor'Cha began construction in 2344 and launched three years before the first of the Nebula class. Comparisons between the two are inevitable. The Vor'Cha is generally considered to be about 15% more powerful than the standard Nebula design because of its superior armor and pulse fire disrupters. However, when fitted with an enhanced weapons pod the Nebula is generally reckoned to be more than a match for the Vor'Cha. The advent of the Galaxy class swung the balance further toward Starfleet, and the Vor'Cha class is decidedly behind the latest designs beginning to enter service in the quadrant. The Klingons are reported to be planning to upgrade the Vor'Cha fleet with more powerful disrupters, the latest torpedo tubes, and enhanced shielding systems to keep them on the front lines. It is not known when this process might begin.