Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) is forever linked to the USS Enterprise, but his prior ship, the USS Farragut, has also had an important Star Trek legacy. Kirk became Captain of the Enterprise in 2265, inheriting the United Federation of Planets' flagship from Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Just as various versions of the Enterprise have played vital roles in the Federation's history, the USS Farragut has also made an impact, albeit often in ing or background roles.
The USS Farragut's history spans Star Trek's 23rd and 24th centuries as well as the Prime and Kelvin timeline of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies. There have been at least 4 starships named Farragut of various classes. Different versions of the Farragut have crossed paths with various versions of the Starship Enterprise, and like the Enterprise, the Farragut has also been destroyed by Starfleet's enemies. Here are the major moments and encounters of the USS Farragut and which iconic Star Trek characters have served aboard the starship.
The USS Farragut In Strange New Worlds & Star Trek: TOS
In the 23rd century, the USS Farragut was a Farragut Class starship with the Starfleet registry NCC-1647. The Farragut was commanded by Captain Garrovick, and it was Lt. James T. Kirk's (Paul Wesley) first deep space posting. In addition, Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) was stationed on the Farragut before she was assigned to Captain Pike's USS Enterprise. The Farragut encountered a dikironium cloud creature in 2257 that killed most of the crew, including Captain Garrowick. Nurse Chapel wore a pin of the Farragut on Remembrance Day in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1.
In the alternate future of Strange New Worlds season 1's finale, James T. Kirk was Captain of the Farragut instead of the Enterprise. Kirk's Farragut ed Pike's Enterprise in pursuit of a cloaked Romulan Bird-of-Prey, which sparked a generations-long war with the Romulans in the now-deleted timeline. In Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "Obsession," Captain Garrovick's son, Ensign David Garrovick (Stephen Brooks), attempted to exact revenge on the dikironium cloud creature who killed the crew of the Farragut. Ensign Garrovick later crashed on Planet 0042692 and inspired that world's inhabitants to become the Enderprizians, as seen in Star Trek: Prodigy season 1.
The USS Farragut In J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Movie Kelvin Timeline
In J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2009, the USS Farragut was part of a Starfleet armada deployed to Vulcan, which was under attack by the Narada, a Romulan mining vessel commanded by Nero (Eric Bana) that time traveled from the 24th century and sparked the creation of the alternate Kelvin timeline. By the time the USS Enterprise arrived at Vulcan, Nero had destroyed the Farragut as well as the rest of Starfleet's ships. Ensign Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) narrowly avoided death as was initially assigned to the Farragut before Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto) reassigned her to the Enterprise.
The USS Farragut In Star Trek Generations & DS9
The 24th-century USS Farragut was a Nebula Class starship with the Starfleet registry NCC-60597. At the end of Star Trek Generations, the Farragut was one of the Starfleet ships that assisted in the recovery of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D from Veridian III. The Enterprise was attacked by Klingon sisters Lursa (Barbara March) and B'Etor (Gwynyth Walsh), and the separated saucer section crash-landed on Veridian III. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5, the Farragut was a casualty of the Federation-Klingon War following Lt. Commander Worf's (Michael Dorn) assignment to DS9. Assigned to assist the colonists of Ajilon Prime, the Farragut was attacked by the Klingons near the Lembatta Cluster and destroyed.
The USS Farragut In Star Trek: DS9's Dominion War
It didn't take long for Starfleet to resume the legacy of the USS Farragut. The next Farragut was an Excelsior Class starship that first appeared later in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5. The Farragut, along with the USS Yaeger, made multiple visits to Deep Space Nine, where it docked near the USS Defiant. In DS9 season 6, the Farragut brought the genetically-engineered individuals who befriended Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) to the station. The Farragut made five more visits to Deep Space Nine in seasons 6 and 7. Most notably, the Farragut brought Nog (Aron Eisenberg), who lost his leg in battle with the Jem'Hadar at the Siege of AR-558, home to Deep Space Nine.