A science vessel sent to the Genesis planet.
The USS Grissom was an Oberth-class science vessel under the command of Captain J.T. Esteban. In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, it was sent to study the newly formed Genesis planet, carrying David Marcus and Lieutenant Saavik.
When they detected an unexpected life form on the surface, David and Saavik beamed down and found that Spock's body had been regenerated by the Genesis effect as a child who was growing rapidly. They also learned that David had used unstable protomatter in the Genesis device, which meant the planet would soon tear itself apart.
The Klingon commander Kruge, who wanted the secret of Genesis, arrived in his cloaked Bird-of-Prey and fired on the Grissom. The shot was meant to disable it, but it destroyed the ship and killed everyone still aboard. David and Saavik were captured on the planet, and David was later killed by Kruge's crew.