Federation Torpedo Technology

[@blakew.2327]

One reason the older style launchers wouldn't be able to fire the newer style torpedoes could be based off of the internal guidance systems being two different the processing power required might be too great for the older style torpedo launch systems to handle but the newer style systems can easily handle the requirements for the internals of the older style torpedoes, or it could be as simple as the external dimensions of the newer style torpedoes are completely incompatible with older style launchers Maybe, just a couple ideas.

[@quentinking4351]

Mk is the abbreviation for "Mark" when referring to weapons. It's like "Model" or "Type." As to why the torpedo launchers are backwards but not forwards compatible--IRL naval history has shown us several iterations on torpedo tubes that are just that. A few reasons for it: 1)While the torpedo is the same diameter, the new torpedos are longer and don't fit. (Probably not the case here--onscreen torpedos stay very similar sizes). 2) New propulsion systems need different/stronger external power connections to "power up" the torpedo. Old tubes just don't have the power to turn it on. 3)New data transfer systems. Remember the "surgery on a torpedo?" At some point someone would have added "sniff out cloaked ships" sensors to the standard torpedos, but you might not be able to program that with the older data link. IRL the most modern torpedos trail a command wire back to the launching sub so the torpedo can be guided in by the sub's better sensors/computers (They can run without it when needed). But if you don't have a plug for that wire, you can't guide that torpedo even if you get it out the tube. 4) You do occasionally fire things out a torpedo type that isn't a torpedo. ST has a few torpedo-based probes, and IRL subs can launch independent decoys out their torpedo tubes. Sometimes that stuff doesn't get converted to new standard right way, so you still need to interface backwards. 5) Sometimes you find out the new stuff is a dud. Right before the Falkland Islands War, the Royal Navy discovered their fancy new torpedos didn't work reliably. So when Conqueror sank the Admiral Belgrano, she had to use WWII vintage non-homing torpedos, because they knew those worked fine. The story they gave the press was that they wanted the bigger warhead to crack through the thick armor of Belgrano. The reliability issue was made public after the Brits won the war.

[@shaunkelly9053]

Honestly we see a torpedo at the end of Star Trek two and Star Trek 6. They look pretty much the same as the ones used in TNG and later. Same casing anyway. The hardware inside might be different but they should fit in any launcher. There’s no data link between launcher and torpedo. It’s from the ship itself. The more advanced launchers were simply able to fire faster, either burst fire or rapid fire.

[@HeadlessChickenTO]

Just a theory not based on anything canon; but maybe the crippling of older launchers was deliberate. As the delivery system advances to launch higher yield ordanance, older tech designs find their way into more open hands, like the Maqis. To limit the potential of that older tech, new security protocols are added that only next generation launchers have to be compatible with new munitions...like an activation sequence to arm torpedos higher than X isotons. My best guess...

[@paulbeaney4901]

Underrated comment.

[@Tuberuser187]

Its a good idea, you would have a lot of safety measures and encryption keys for arming them, to prevent accident or sabotage so it would be easy to ensure newer torpedoes had a different handshake protocol. There could be ways of manually firing it, bodging something together like fitting a higher yield warhead into an old casing but it would probably lose some functionality and effectiveness.

[@JasonS76]

I'm pretty sure ambassadors have type 9 phasers

[@miamijules2149]

Mk. = Mark. So, for example, a Mk. VI torpedo is a Mark 6 Torpedo. Mark refers to an iteration of a design or a weapon. So, it starts mark 1, mark 2, and so forth. Sometimes you can have a Type and a Mark like Type X Mark II = Type 10, Mark 2 and traditionally you would say the whole word, not just ‘mk’.

[@onetruekeeper]

The older torpedoes could carry a single human in a stasis suit across several hundred light years.

[@trekwars5400]

And the new ones do the same thing too. Remember the episode of Wolf's kids, mama.

[@ilejovcevski79]

An interesting observation, in Search For Spock, with it's port tube damaged, the Enterprise still manages to fire 2 torpedoes from the starboard one. So maybe these earlier launchers can fire two torpedoes in relatively short succession, but they need to be preloaded that way. Also, in Undiscovered Country, after the first two torpedoes fired from the two separate tubes, the Enterprise A fires again from one of the tubes, just a few seconds after. Proposal: perhaps we should refer to these tubes as single/dual stage tubes, to distinguish them from the pulse fire tubes that fire in rapid succession (3 to 4 torpedoes in a salvo) and the burst fire tubes that fire bursts of at least 7-8 torpedoes in quick succession or packets of torpedoes at the same time? EDIT: P.S. also, variable yeald warheads

[@AgeCobra]

1701 -A is different than 1701 and that Miranda is powered down .They can take Quantum launcher like the Lakota kick ass one I like TMP era ship .They can kick ass with the rest if refitted .

[@trekwars5400]

You have never seen anything about rift class starships. Those old ships being would have quantum torpedos. Send me a link if you know it. I'll review Thanks for the info and Merry Christmas.

[@spartan078ben]

Deep Space Nine spammed photon torps when the Klingons came.

[@Phil-D83]

If the projectile is of similar dimensions, the launchers and haul can be refitted to fire anything.

[@ptaylor5014]

I wonder how much damage the refit Enterprise photon torpedoes would cause to a Galaxy class with shields down?

[@trekwars5400]

HULL 1,040,000 Galaxy class before Dominion war. Old torpedo 65,000 power scall for the old torpedo. With the shields down, it could take 16 shot Before the ship was destroyed.

[@ilejovcevski79]

@@trekwars5400 also, that's only structural damage to hull plating or bulkheads. If a torpedo manages to penetrate through the plating and detonate inside the decks, and cause direct damage, it could result in a much more catastrophic impact. Like a hit at the warp core could cripple or destroy the entire ship, even worse for anti-matter containment units. Hit at the fusion-impulse drives-generators could immobilize the ship on top of extra damage from secondary detonations. Finally, any hit to a secondary or primary system may result in a surge through the EPS conduits, causing minor damage to various systems or structural components across the entire ship. How many torpedoes does it take to destroy a ship? If you're lucky (or unlucky), sometimes only one.

[@davidbull4217]

Photon Torpedos use a matter antimatter warhead

[@randybentley2633]

Greetings, I would like to propose an upgrade package for the standard Mark XXV photon torpedo, enhancing its shield-penetrative capabilities and destructive capacity for Tactical Operations, Ordnance Division. My addition would involve a meter-long compartment cap containing six micro-torpedoes, their launchers, and a proximity sensor to detect the optimal launch point for either shield scatter/depletion or hull penetration ahead of the main torpedo. While this will take up one torpedo's worth of space per every three launch volleys, the increased penetration and destructive capacity will make up for the lack of that third torpedo. My reasoning behind developing this augmentation is to give vessels either unequipped with quantum launchers or lacking in said torpedoes the option to fire a system that is as close an approximation of the quantums. If Tactical Operations finds this to be a viable addition to the fleet, please let me know, and I will transmit my designs.

[@trekwars5400]

All I have to say is brilliant.!!!!

[@Phil-D83]

Tranphasic torpedoes. Damage 10,000,000

[@jaredcolon4535]

Quantum Torpedoes are not souped-up Photon Torpedoes Photon torpedoes require matter and antimatter to be interacted with at definition and for use as a fuel source Quantum torpedoes while having an antimatter payload mostly function at a Quantum level utilize Zero Point Energy interactions at the Quantom level and use antimatter as a fuel source not just for traveling from launcher to Target but to power the warp field sustainer which allows you to fire Torpedoes while at warp and allows those Torpedoes to continue traveling at the speed is or was traveling at

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Didn't the DS9 manual basically say a Quantum Torpedo explosion is like a micro Big Bang explosion?

[@vonbismark4432]

My dude, one sounds rather silly pronouncing the abbreviation for a word instead of pronouncing the actual word itself. To say nothing of it potentially confusing a lay person and in the worst case… influencing them to make the same verbal error. Case in point: “MK” is an abbreviation for “Mark”. You are talking about a Mark 12 torpedo launcher. The abbreviation MK 12 Torpedo Launcher is a written shorthand only. You are not meant to turn a written shorthand into a pronounced verbal shorthand… When you see “MK” before… torpedo launcher, or warp core or phaser array you are meant to say aloud and even in your head, “Mark” not “MK”. Cuz for real…. What is an “MK 12 torpedo launcher”…? I do not know. But I do know what a “Mark 12 torpedo launcher” is.