The USS Drake was a 24th century Federation starship operated by Starfleet. During the brief Federation-Klingon War in 2373, the Drake and the USS Armstrong were ambushed by a Klingon battle group and both ships suffered heavy casualties before escaping to Deep Space 9. (DS9: "Apocalypse Rising") According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd ed., p. 471), this ship was an Andromeda-class starship, with the registry NCC-70956. It was the successor of the Wambundu-class USS Drake.