Diagram of a Constitution-class fwd. phaser bank.
Tech. journal diagram of a Constitution-class primary phaser.
A phaser bank was an area from which phasers were mounted aboard late 23rd century Federation starships. (Star Trek: The Original Series; Star Trek: The Animated Series) They were utilized as early as 2257, when Lieutenant James T. Kirk was manning the phaser station aboard the USS Farragut. (TOS: "Obsession")
In the 2260s, Constitution class starships were equipped with at least four phaser banks, each with two emitters. The main phaser bank was located on the lower half of the vessel's saucer section, forward of the sensor dome. An additional bank was located on the ship's stern, above the shuttlebay. Port and Starboard banks covered the ship's flanks. (TOS: "Arena", ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")
By the 24th century, individually assorted phaser banks had been replaced by a wider arrangement of phaser arrays. (Star Trek: The Next Generation) However, phaser banks were still of some usefulness to the Maquis in 2370. (DS9: "The Maquis, Part I") Template:PhaserTechnology