Saladin class was the destroyer class that was at the forefront of the 2250s and 2260s, rebuilt in the 2270s with new linear warp drive technology. The class was designed to face to Klingons, Romulans, Orion pirates, Tholians, Ferasans and other dangers. Members of the class became household names such as the Fletcher, Justice and Achilles. The destroyer units have their own identity and unit badge. By the 2280s a newer class of destroyer was needed and the Akula class met that need. Saladin class with low hull hours were refit into the Flight I Akula class design. Those with high frame hours or had suffered severe damage in their career, were decommissioned as the new destroyer class was brought online.

Some members of the class were retained to test new sensor and defensive systems such as U.S.S. Hannibal (NCC-512), or automated to be used as live targets to test the effectiveness of the latest offensive systems against the latest defensive ones. Kublai was expended in one such test. Stron affliation with names used on these destroyers meant that the Federation Council and Starfleet Command were lobbied for the names to be re-used on the new Akula class destroyers. This was done. Huge numbers of old Saladin class destroyers were de-commissioned, some finding a valiant final battle in the Tabula Rasa and ISC Pacification wars. Most were upgraded to Akula Flight I specifications, allowing the destroyer class to live on in a new form.

The U.S.S. Mars was a purpose-converted training ship that had all of the facilities and capabilities both of a state-of-the-art starship. The U.S.S. Mars, NCC 525, was a Siva-variant Saladin class starship dating back to the mid-23rd century. All of the systems on the ship had been upgraded and uprated on a regular basis, in order to keep the experience on the Mars accurate to that of a modern starship. The Commanding Officer of the Mars when Cadet Nathaniel Hawkins served onboard was Captain Michael "Achilles" Stirling. 'Achilles'was persuaded to fly a ship of such vintage as he commanded the Achilles NCC-551, one of the most famous members of the class. Captain Stirling relishes in the functionality of the design and the need for crew to 'adapt, improvise and overcome' the lack of advanced techno-gadgetry. The Mars was named in honour of the T.T.S. Mars training ship of Dundee, Earth [1869-1929].

The Mars has been given all of the latest starship systems and equipment, the latest sensor systems and computers. In every sense Mars was designed to accurately represent the latest generation of starships, she is the most advanced ship of her class. A refit in 2295 brought the systems of Mars up to date again and she now virtually can not be internally differentiated from newer vessels. The Mars is regularly used for cadets in order that they be accurately tested on their performance on a starship in the actual environment of space, as opposed to the 'safe' environment of the simulator.

The starship Mars continues to serve Starfleet Academy faithfully in her training ship role. Captain Stirling helps to forge the Starfleet personnel of tomorrow.

Length: 229 metres

Width: 142 metres

Decks: 11

Crew: 80 (20 Officers, 60 Enlisted)

Starfleet Marines: 30

Compliment:

Officers: 18

Crew: 100

Propulsion:

Warp: 1 LN-64 Warp Nacelles

Max: Warp 5

Cruise: Warp 7

Sublight: Fusion Thrust Impulse Drive

Shuttlecraft: Two: NCC 525[1] Phobos, NCC 525[2] Deimos.

NCC Number	Name	Notes	Author notes
500	Saladin
501	Jenghiz
502	Darius
503	Alaric
504	Sargon	ex-Nikolai
505	Xerxes
506	Pompey
507	Kublai
508	Suleiman
509	Etzel
510	Tamerlane
511	Alexander
512	Hannibal
513	Ahriman
514	Rahman
515	Adad
516	Hashishiyun
517	Azrael
518	Hamilcar
519	Shaitan
520	Siva	Subclass leader
521	Lucifer
522	Molock
523	Hathor
524	Ares
525	Mars	Starfleet Academy training vessel until NCC 2252.
526	Tyr
527	Jugurtha
528	Iblis
529	Loki
530	Cochise	Subclass leader
531	Alva
532	Pontiac
533	Ney
534	El Cid
535	Geronimo
536	Cortez
537	Alvarado
538	De Ruyter
539	Hektor
540	Lysander
541	Drake
542	Appollyon
543	Samson
544	Perseus
545	Al Mahdi
546	Nelson
547	Ajax
548	Akbar
549	Abu Bekr
550	Fletcher	ex-Ivan
551	Achilles
552	Theseus
553	Scipio
554	Martel
555	Cimon
556	Justice	ex-Guannada
557	Alleyne
558	Diekman
559	Strong
560	Wilkes
561	Harley
562	Brookings
563	Quigley
564	Joyner
565	Thomason
566	McWhirter
567	Manly
568	Haggerty
569	Packard
570	Nixon
571	Claxton
572	Humes
573	Drake
574	Tipps
575	Murrel
576	Danley
577	Tucker
578	Trehlow
579	Leblanc

Author's Notes: U.S.S. Mars is one of the few remaining Saladin class destroyers in service that were not converted to Akula Flight I specifications. Perfect for the training role as a small, modern technology starship. Capable of simulating both tactical and scientific roles. The Saladin class (Siva variant refit) was the destroyer class of the 2270s, 2280s and early 2290s, rather like the USN Spruance class destroyers of the 1970s and 1980s and the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyers from the same era.

As with the former USS Arthur W Radford (DD-968) and USS Paul F Foster (DD-964), Saladin class were used for experimental roles such as defensive systems and warp drive nacelle prototypes. Those with high hull frame hours were used in these roles, those with lower hours got refit into Akula class Flight I specifications.

The Mars was the predecessor to U.S.S. Republic in the training role. The Mars is now being retired after half a century of service.