Photonic torpedo - Revision history

Idran at 01:04, 27 December 2020

2020-12-27T01:04:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:04, 26 December 2020
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	* Fired via magnetic acceleration through launch tube		* Fired via magnetic acceleration through launch tube
	** Thruster packs trigger within tube for immediate maneuverability, resulting in small quantities of plasma backwash exhaust during launch (VOY: "Future's End, Part II")		** Thruster packs trigger within tube for immediate maneuverability, resulting in small quantities of plasma backwash exhaust during launch (VOY: "Future's End, Part II")
	* ~~Linear range essentially infinite, but effective~~ range in combat limited by thruster fuel, inner energy sources		* Effective range in combat limited by thruster fuel, inner energy sources
	** By 24th century, [[Federation]] photon torpedoes had effective range of approximately 300,000 kilometers (TNG: "The Wounded")		** Linear range not truly infinite, as eventual power failure in magnetic containment inevitable over extended timescales, would result in self-destruction from matter/antimatter annihilation (TOS Novel: ''Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow'')
	** Linear range not truly infinite, as eventual power failure in magnetic containment inevitable over extended timescales, would result in self-destruction from matter/antimatter annihilation		*** By 24th century, [[Federation]] photon torpedoes had effective range of approximately 300,000 kilometers (TNG: "The Wounded")
	** In the event of a misfire or missed target, torpedoes can be manually or automatically self-detonated to prevent loose interstellar munition (TNG: "Genesis")		** In the event of a misfire or missed target, torpedoes can be manually or automatically self-detonated to prevent loose interstellar munition (TNG: "Genesis")
	* Following launch, internal guidance systems direct torpedo to target locked in during launch sequence		* Following launch, internal guidance systems direct torpedo to target locked in during launch sequence

Idran at 15:53, 20 May 2019

2019-05-20T15:53:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:53, 20 May 2019
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	==Facts==		==Facts==

	* Thruster-propelled ~~Matter~~/antimatter warhead		* Thruster-propelled matter/[[antimatter]] warhead
	* Commonly known as "photon torpedo" (Various)		* Commonly known as "photon torpedo" (Various)
	* Fired via magnetic acceleration through launch tube		* Fired via magnetic acceleration through launch tube

Idran: Created page with "==Facts== * Thruster-propelled Matter/antimatter warhead * Commonly known as "photon torpedo" (Various) * Fired via magnetic acceleration through launch tube ** Thruster pac..."

2018-03-27T04:48:12Z

Created page with "==Facts== * Thruster-propelled Matter/antimatter warhead * Commonly known as "photon torpedo" (Various) * Fired via magnetic acceleration through launch tube ** Thruster pac..."

New page

==Facts==

* Thruster-propelled Matter/antimatter warhead
* Commonly known as "photon torpedo" (Various)
* Fired via magnetic acceleration through launch tube
** Thruster packs trigger within tube for immediate maneuverability, resulting in small quantities of plasma backwash exhaust during launch (VOY: "Future's End, Part II")
* Linear range essentially infinite, but effective range in combat limited by thruster fuel, inner energy sources
** By 24th century, [[Federation]] photon torpedoes had effective range of approximately 300,000 kilometers (TNG: "The Wounded")
** Linear range not truly infinite, as eventual power failure in magnetic containment inevitable over extended timescales, would result in self-destruction from matter/antimatter annihilation
** In the event of a misfire or missed target, torpedoes can be manually or automatically self-detonated to prevent loose interstellar munition (TNG: "Genesis")
* Following launch, internal guidance systems direct torpedo to target locked in during launch sequence
** Plasma thruster exhaust cause torpedoes to appear as bright flares (ENT Novel: ''Live by the Code'')
** If launched at warp, inner warp sustainer coils powered by small-scale consumption of warhead matter/antimatter allow torpedo to remain at FTL velocities until target is reached or torpedo goes inactive
* Low-power shield emitters help prevent premature detonation by enemy fire or environmental conditions during combat (TNG: "Half a Life")
** Torpedo shields can theoretically be tuned to match shield frequency of enemy vessel in order to allow for passage through shields to a moderate degree, though not full penetration (''Star Trek: Generations'')
*** ''Implied, as full penetration of Enterprise shields would have likely destroyed the Enterprise much more quickly''
* Detonation occurs on impact, generates sudden radiation burst (TNG: "New Ground")
** Yield strength adjustable by degree of mixing of matter/antimatter at point of detonation (''TNG Technical Manual''; TNG: "New Ground")
*** Different warhead builds provide for different minimum and maximum detonation yields
**** Different warhead types indicated in Federation technology by varying warhead class (VOY: "Scorpion")
** Largely effective only against unshielded objects, as [[deflectors|deflector shields]] tend to guard against resulting radiation, though weakened shields can allow sufficient radiation to penetrate to result in moderate damage
*** Can still cause mild vibration via flash-vaporization of outer hull layers
** On physical impact, high-intensity radiation burst coupled with physical impact usually results in hull weakening or breach coupled with radiation damage or disruption to nearby systems
*** One torpedo against a completely unshielded vessel, targeted properly, can be sufficient to destroy said vessel (TNG: "Unnatural Selection"; ''Star Trek: Generations'')
** Without shielding or with insufficient shielding, launching vessel can additionally be damaged or destroyed by close-range photon detonation (TNG: "Q Who", "The Nth Degree")

==Federation History==

* 2153: First development of photonic torpedoes by [[Earth Starfleet]], following trade agreement with [[Vissian]]s for technology exchange providing manufacturing specifications, largely replacing usage of the [[spatial torpedo]] (ENT: "The Expanse"; ''Live by the Code'' annotations)
* 2161: Federation Mark I photonic torpedo developed by combination of technologies of founding races
* 2215: Mark II photonic torpedo developed (''TNG Technical Manual'')
** ''Technically described as initial development of photon torpedo, but incompatible with Enterprise''
* By 2285: Mark VI photonic torpedo developed (''Star Trek III: The Search For Spock'')
* By 2293: Mark VII photonic torpedo developed (''Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country'')
* 2370: Mark XXV Type 6 photonic torpedo developed (''DS9 Technical Manual''; TNG: "Genesis"; VOY: "Dreadnought"; "Bliss", "Live Fast and Prosper")
** At some point, Type classification added to Mark classification
*** Type reflects broad structure, to indicate compatibility with launch systems
*** Mark continues to reflect design revisions
** Warhead itself divided into at least 10 classes, classified by detonation yield (VOY: "Scorpion, Part II"; "In the Flesh")
** ''Associating this with torpedo upgrade described in "Genesis" due to proximity of time to Voyager''

[[Category:Weapons]]