Photon Torpedo

It has been generally accepted that the photon torpedo is the weapon of choice for warp velocity ship-to-ship conflict, as well as the delivery system for non-standard warhead packages. Ship mounted phasers have traditionally been of little use during warp flight, due to the light speed barrier for EM energy. Recent developments in subspace technology have pushed the phaser into the FTL arena, but the photon torpedo is still more favorable followed on by the higher energy quantum torpedo.

The basic external configuration of the photon torpedo carried onboard starships and space stations has changed little from 2271 to 2375. The body is an elongated elliptical tube fabricated from moulded gamma expanded duranium and a plasma bonded titanium outer skin. The current casing measures 2.1 by 0.76 by 0.45 metres and masses 186.7 kilograms dry weight, slightly less than the previous design. The standard internal components include deuterium and anti-deuterium supply tanks, central combiner tank and their respective magnetic suspension components: target acquisition, guidance, detonation assemblies and warp sustainer engine. The hafnium-titanide supply and combiner tank shells have an increased capacity of 5 percent, resulting in a slightly higher explosive yield, now rated 18.55 isotons. Reduced optronics components complexity had driven the tankage increase.

The warp sustainer engine benefits somewhat from the increased tankage in the form of increased range, to an upper limit of 4,050,000 kilometres, depending on manoeuvring capability balanced sustained powered flight time. This is only applicable to firings from starships at warp. In launches from space stations or sub light starships, the initial velocity remains at high sublight and will never reach warp 1. This does not imply that the torpedo is impractical for station defence; it has been shown that even at low impulse the standard photon torpedo is effective against close in threat vessels.

Recent developments of the Quantum Torpedo have pushed the Photon back slightly, however due to the fact that a starship can carry more Photon Torpedoes than it can Quantums, means that the Photon is going to remain as an important part of starfleet's armament and with more modern versions being produced, including types that can actually track a hostile vessel rather than being a straight firing deal, means that the Photon Torpedo is as deadly as ever.