USS Ahwahnee (NCC-2048)

The USS Ahwahnee (NCC-2048) was a Federation starship that was in service during the late 23rd century.

In 2293, the Ahwahnee conducted a deep space exploration mission near Klingon territory.. This ship was selected for additional support, along with the USS Emden and the USS Endeavour , for Colonel West's task force in Operation Retrieve, a military extraction intended to rescue James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy from Rura Penthe. The mission was not mobilized, as the Federation president strictly forbade any such intervention for diplomatic reasons. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Background

This vessel and registry was not referenced in dialog. It appeared on screen in the background artwork depicting the plans for Operation Retrieve. The Ahwahnee was represented by the silhouette of a Template:ShipClassheavy cruiser in the plans.

The Star Trek Encyclopedia erroneously claims that the starship is named after a Native American tribe. Actually, Ahwahnee is the name given by the Miwok tribe to the Yosemite Valley. In English, Awahnee is translated as, "valley that looks like a gaping mouth."

According to a ship list included in the plans, and not seen in the extended cut of the movie, the Ahwahnee was commanded by D. Tathwell, and the ship was located in Sector 21835.

The ship's captain was possibly named after Denise Okuda, whose maiden name was Tathwell. ^{(citation needed • edit)}