"
New Orleans" was the class designation given to a
kitbash model built by modelmaker
Ed Miarecki for the
Battle of Wolf 359 graveyard scene in the
TNG episode "
The Best of Both Worlds, Part II". The model was was constructed with parts from two commercial Galaxy-class model kits of differing scales, as well as some custom additions to create the appearance of a ship much smaller than the Galaxy class but of similar design.
The only New Orleans class ship ever seen onscreen was the USS Kyushu (NCC-65491). The only other notable ship of the New Orleans class was the USS Rutledge (NCC-57295), which was commanded by Captain Benjamin Maxwell during the Federation-Cardassian War of the 2350s and upon which Miles O'Brien served as tactical officer early in his career. The Rutledge was never shown onscreen, however.