Changes: Photonic torpedo

Revision as of 09:51, 10 July 2015

AT: "xx"

Photonic torpedoes the augments — *Enterprise* firing photonic torpedoes

A Photonic torpedo was a type of tactical photonic antimatter weapon designed for use aboard starships.

Specifications

Photonic torpedoes were equipped with a variable yield antimatter warhead. They could be launched while a ship was traveling at warp speed as well as when it was traveling at sublight speeds. They had over fifty times greater range than the previous spatial torpedoes. The variable yield was described by Malcolm Reed as being able to "knock the com array off a shuttlepod without scratching the hull, or put a three-kilometer crater into an asteroid." Antimatter to the warheads on NX-class starships was provided by the ships antimatter reserves. (ENT: "The Expanse", "Hatchery")

A warning label on the torpedo casings classified the photonic torpedo as an antimatter ordnance device that must be maintained on power at all times. It also included warnings that the photonic torpedo employed magnetic isolation fields, that if breached would release lethal levels of energetic gamma rays. The duty tactical officer was to be notified before loading or offloading the antimatter used by the torpedo. Magnetic devices were not to be operated near the torpedo, as they could interfere with the containment field. (Star Trek: Enterprise)

The label remained illegible on screen. The It's A Wrap! sale and auction provided a legible image of the label. [1]

History

Starfleet began to utilize the technology in 2153, when it began installation of the torpedoes aboard the Enterprise NX-01 following its return to Earth. These new weapons were installed in the ships armory to better prepare them for the search for the Xindi superweapon. (ENT: "The Expanse")

The use of antimatter warheads aboard Earth starships came as quite a surprise to attacking Klingons. In 2153, they sustained enough damage that they were forced to discontinue their pursuit of Enterprise on course to the Delphic Expanse. However, this form of torpedo still could not effectively penetrate the deflector shielding of a typical Klingon Bird-of-Prey when most shield power was transferred to the section under attack. (ENT: "The Expanse")

Klingon torpedo technology of the time, nevertheless, appeared to be much more advanced than both Earth and Vulcan technology, as some of their ships were already equipped with photon torpedoes. (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs")

ISS Emmette — A mirror universe ship firing photonic torpedoes

In the mirror universe, photonic torpedoes were already in use on the Emmette-type starships. The weapons were used during an assault on the Lunar colonies, that occurred some time before the introduction of the NX-class of starships in 2151. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly", "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")

Other uses

It became something of a Starfleet tradition to place dead crewmembers inside an empty torpedo casing, and often such torpedoes were launched into space. For such a burial in space by the crew, the Captain of the starship often conducted the funeral service.

Sim was buried in such a manner in 2153. (ENT: "Similitude")

Appendices

Background information

According to StarTrek.com, photonic torpedoes were the earliest model of a Starfleet photon torpedo. According to the site, photonic torpedoes were also armed with a matter/antimatter charge and an optional timer. They had simpler internal systems than the spatial torpedoes. For storage, the torpedoes were powered down to a safe mode to protect them from a failure of the magnetic field around the antimatter charge. [2]

VOY: "Living Witness" also supports the idea that photonic and photon torpedoes are synonymous. In the episode, a 31st century Kyrian calls a 24th century Starfleet photon torpedo a photonic torpedo. It is also possible the Kyrians were simply mistaken about the name. These accounts though suggest the term "photon torpedo" might be a shortening of the original term, similar to the way "cellular telephone" has been shortened over time to "cell phone."

In any case, by 2233 Starfleet was using photon torpedoes, as seen in Star Trek when the USS Kelvin was defending itself, and as they were identified in the script of the film. [3] According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual, Starfleet began work on the photon torpedo in 2215. ENT: "Sleeping Dogs" established that the Klingon Empire was using photon torpedoes as early as 2151.

A photonic torpedo casing was auctioned off in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction.

External link

Photonic torpedo at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{at|xx}}
-[[File:Photonic torpedoes.jpg|thumb|Photonic torpedoes in ''Enterprise''{{'}}s armory (2153)]]
+[[File:Photonic torpedoes the augments.jpg|thumb|''Enterprise'' firing photonic torpedoes]]
 A '''Photonic torpedo''' was a type of [[tactical]] [[photonic weapon|photonic]] [[antimatter weapon]] designed for use aboard [[starship]]s.
 ==Specifications==
+[[File:Photonic torpedoes.jpg|thumb|Photonic torpedoes in ''Enterprise''{{'}}s armory (2153)]]
-The photonic [[torpedo]] is equipped with a variable yield [[antimatter warhead]]. It has  over fifty times greater range than the [[spatial torpedo]]. The variable yield was described by [[Malcolm Reed]] as being able to "knock the [[com array]] off a [[shuttlepod]] without scratching the [[hull]], or put a three-[[kilometer]] crater into an [[asteroid]]." Antimatter to the warheads on {{ShipClass|NX}} starships is provided by the ship's antimatter reserves. ({{ENT|The Expanse|Hatchery}})
+Photonic [[torpedo]]es were equipped with a variable yield [[antimatter warhead]]. They could be launched while a ship was traveling at [[warp]] speed as well as when it was traveling at [[sublight]] speeds. They had over fifty times greater range than the previous [[spatial torpedo]]es. The variable yield was described by [[Malcolm Reed]] as being able to "knock the [[com array]] off a {{dis|shuttlepod|22nd century}} without scratching the [[hull]], or put a three-[[kilometer]] crater into an [[asteroid]]." Antimatter to the warheads on {{class|NX}} starships was provided by the ships antimatter reserves. ({{ENT|The Expanse|Hatchery}})
+A warning label on the torpedo casings classified the photonic torpedo as an antimatter ordnance device that must be maintained on power at all times. It also included warnings that the photonic torpedo employed [[Magnetic field|magnetic isolation fields]], that if breached would release lethal levels of energetic [[gamma ray]]s. The duty [[tactical officer]] was to be notified before loading or offloading the antimatter used by the torpedo. Magnetic devices were not to be operated near the torpedo, as they could interfere with the [[containment field]]. (''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'')
+{{bginfo|The label remained illegible on screen. The [[It's A Wrap! sale and auction]] provided a legible image of the label. ''[http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/image.pl?21c15576d149cd5167e2c279a5f7ca7e]''}}
-{{bginfo|An illegible warning label on the torpedo casing calls the photonic torpedo an antimatter ordnance device to be maintained on power at all times. There is a magnetic isolation field, that if breached will release lethal levels of energetic gamma rays. Also, magnetic devices operated nearby may interfere with the antimatter containment fields.}}
 ==History==
-[[Starfleet]] began to utilize the [[technology]] in [[2153]], when it began installation of the torpedoes aboard the [[Enterprise (NX-01)|''Enterprise'' NX-01]] following its return to [[Earth]]. These new weapons were installed in the ship's [[armory]] to better prepare them for the [[Xindi incident|search for the Xindi superweapon]]. ({{ENT|The Expanse}})
+[[Starfleet]] began to utilize the [[technology]] in [[2153]], when it began installation of the torpedoes aboard the {{EnterpriseNX}} following its return to [[Earth]]. These new weapons were installed in the ships [[armory]] to better prepare them for the [[Xindi incident|search for the Xindi superweapon]]. ({{ENT|The Expanse}})
-The use of antimatter warheads aboard [[Earth starships]] came as quite a surprise to attacking [[Klingon]]s. In 2153, they sustained enough damage that they were forced to discontinue their pursuit of ''Enterprise'' on course to the [[Delphic Expanse]]. However, this form of torpedo still could not effectively penetrate the [[deflector shield]]ing of a typical [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey (22nd century)|Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] when most shield power was transferred to the section under attack. ({{ENT|The Expanse}})
+The use of antimatter warheads aboard [[Earth starships]] came as quite a surprise to attacking [[Klingon]]s. In 2153, they sustained enough damage that they were forced to discontinue their pursuit of ''Enterprise'' on course to the [[Delphic Expanse]]. However, this form of torpedo still could not effectively penetrate the [[deflector shield]]ing of a typical {{dis|Klingon Bird-of-Prey|22nd century}} when most shield power was transferred to the section under attack. ({{ENT|The Expanse}})
 Klingon torpedo technology of the time, nevertheless, appeared to be much more advanced than both Earth and [[Vulcan]] technology, as some of their ships were already equipped with [[photon torpedo]]es. ({{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}})
 [[File:ISS Emmette.jpg|thumb|thumb|A [[Unnamed Emmette type starships|mirror universe ship]] firing photonic torpedoes]]
-''In the [[mirror universe]], photonic torpedoes were already in use on the {{ShipType|Emmette}} starships. The weapons were used during an assault on the [[Lunar colonies]], that occurred some time before the introduction of the {{ShipClass|NX}} of starships in [[2151]].'' ({{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}})
+''In the [[mirror universe]], photonic torpedoes were already in use on the {{type|Emmette}} starships. The weapons were used during an assault on the [[Lunar colonies]], that occurred some time before the introduction of the {{class|NX}} of starships in [[2151]].'' ({{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}})
 ==Other uses==
@@ Line 22: / Line 26: @@
 [[Sim]] was buried in such a manner in [[2153]]. ({{ENT|Similitude}})
-==See also==
+==Appendices==
+===See also===
 *[[Antimatter torpedo]]
 *[[Photonic missile]]
 *[[Photonic warhead]]
-==Background information==
+===Background information===
+According to [[StarTrek.com]], photonic torpedoes were the earliest model of a [[Starfleet]] photon torpedo. According to the site, photonic torpedoes were also armed with a matter/antimatter charge and an optional timer. They had simpler internal systems than the spatial torpedoes. For storage, the torpedoes were powered down to a safe mode to protect them from a failure of the magnetic field around the [[antimatter charge]]. {{st.com|photonic-torpedo|}}
-The precise distinction between photon and photonic torpedoes remains unclear, since both seem to have antimatter warheads with variable yields, and the casings for [[22nd century]] photonic torpedoes and [[23rd century|23rd]] and [[24th century|24th century]] photon torpedoes are very similar. It is possible that "photon torpedo" is a shortening of the original term, similar to the way "cellular telephone" has been shortened over time to simply "cell phone." This possibility is supported by {{VOY|Living Witness}}, in which the [[31st century]] [[Kyrian]]s describe a Starfleet photon torpedo as a "photonic torpedo." However, in {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}}, when [[Hoshi Sato]] and [[Malcolm Reed]] examine the controls of a derelict [[Klingon]] {{ShipClass|Raptor}} ship, both are puzzled by a description (in [[Klingonese]]) of "photon torpedoes," although Reed and [[T'Pol]] are subsequently able to use the torpedoes with reasonable effectiveness.
+{{VOY|Living Witness}} also supports the idea that photonic and photon torpedoes are synonymous. In the episode, a [[31st century]] [[Kyrian]] calls a [[24th century]] Starfleet photon torpedo a photonic torpedo. It is also possible the Kyrians were simply mistaken about the name. These accounts though suggest the term "photon torpedo" might be a shortening of the original term, similar to the way "cellular telephone" has been shortened over time to "cell phone."
-If photonic torpedoes are different from the later photon torpedoes, it is unclear when Starfleet upgraded to the later weapons, although the change had apparently been made by [[2233]], as seen in {{film|11}}. The ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual]]'' indicates that Starfleet began work on the photon torpedo in [[2215]]. {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}} indicates that the [[Klingon Empire]] had photon torpedoes as early as [[2151]].
+In any case, by [[2233]] Starfleet was using photon torpedoes, as seen in {{film|11}} when the {{USS|Kelvin}} was defending itself, and as they were identified in the script of the film. [http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Star-Trek.html] According to the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual]]'', Starfleet began work on the photon torpedo in [[2215]]. {{ENT|Sleeping Dogs}} established that the [[Klingon Empire]] was using photon torpedoes as early as [[2151]].
-According to [[StarTrek.com]], photonic torpedoes were in fact the earliest model of a [[Starfleet]] photon torpedo. Photonic torpedoes were also armed with a matter/antimatter charge and an optional timer. They had simpler internal systems than the spatial torpedoes. For storage, the torpedoes were powered down to a safe mode to protect them from a failure of the magnetic field around the antimatter charge. {{st.com|photonic-torpedo|}}
 A photonic torpedo casing was auctioned off in the [[It's A Wrap! sale and auction]].
+===External link===
+*{{mbeta}}
 [[cs:Fotonické torpédo]]