how powerful is a photon torpedo
Offically declared a Weapon of mass destruction by froggy city, in defiance of the Pietopia Decleration. If you were to set off a nuclear device near a ship in the vacuum of space, it would likely heat up the ship considerably but I doubt you'd see the ship get torn apart. A photon torpedo is a much larger and more powerful weapon, used for ship to ship combat, and delivering something like 65 megatons of explosive power. Slightly less powerful than they need to be. (ENT: "Regeneration") Although they were powerful weapons, even a direct hit from a quantum torpedo might not destroy solid neu… That turns out to be about 60 megatons, equivalent to a very large nuclear bomb. So its maximum yield would be 3 kg converted to energy (1.5 of antimatter, and 1.5 of matter). So, say (hypothetically, that a photon torpedo puts out 100 "space units" of energy in the case of a hit. The photon torpedo is a powerful, long-range weapon that has been in use aboard Federation starships for over one hundred and fifty years. [9] On one occasion such a device was used to transport a Federation diplomat to an urgent rendezvous. Photon torpedo Photon torpedoes are a standard ship-based weapon armed with an antimatter warhead. The loading and pre-fire stages can hold up to four photons simultaneously, but the launch tube itself is only of sufficient size to fire one weapon at a time. [7] Some advanced models are fitted with full warp drives for use as long range high speed probes - the Class VIII probe can cover up to 120 light years, or reach Warp 9 [8], while the Class IX probe can cover 760 light years or reach the same speed. Torpedo tube (2nd class) : Dating from the late 2200's, this model is now only in service on the Excelsior, Miranda, Centaur, Oberth, and Constellation classes. When it detonates, it does so in a spherical explosion. ... Maybe a little slash fic. ^ Memory Alpha.org is not canon. In 'A Taste of Armageddon', for example, Kirk is captured whilst on the surface of the planet Eminiar VII. So the actual explosive yield would be around 30 MT. A quantum torpedo has a minimum yield of 50 isotons, or 135 megatons. Once the field goes down, the antimatter reacts with ordinary matter resulting in total conversion of mass to energy with nearly … According to the TNG Technical Manual, Photon torpedos use 1.5 kg of matter and 1.5 kg of antimatter. Overall rate of fire is therefore one torpedo per second. In "Q-Who" they talk about being too close to the photon blast and that it would damage the Enterprise if they fired. A phaser … This weapon comprises an elongated elliptical body some 210 cm long and 76 x 45 cm across. Standard Torpedo Tube : A modern version of the 2nd class torpedo tube, this model can fire a torpedo every two seconds. [2], The antimatter discharge from a 2290s era photon torpedo could be simulated by a resonance burst from a starship's main deflector dish. Just a two-meter long slug of metal (no antimatter or whatever warhead) fired at warp or even impulse can probably do a lot of damage. That’s all it is. In TNG, a torpedo can heavily damage a ship with out shields but with shields, it looks like it makes a 25% drop in shields. A photon torpedo was a projectile weapon commonly used by Federation starships throughout the 23rd and 24th centuries. Shouldn't it be the size of a nuclear bomb at the very least? Description. So its maximum yield would be 3 kg converted to energy (1.5 of antimatter, and 1.5 of matter). In the original Star Trek series there is, surprisingly, a near total lack of any data on how powerful photon torpedoes are. > For the fastest Photon Torpedo, get the Kelvin Timeline Photon - 4 seconds rather than 6. The most impressive and immediately destructive effect of a nuclear bomb is its shockwave. Data from the TNG and DS9 tech manuals suggests a yield of 45.88 Megatons near the beginning of TNG. A photon torpedo is basically just a chunk of antimatter in a containment field. According to the TNG technical manual, a photon torpedo can carry 1.5 kg of antimatter. Proton torpedoes were a type of explosive ordnance used throughout the galaxy. Plus it got half the travel time as well, flying at hargh'peng speed. Photon torpedoes are directed against Threat force targets at distances from 15 to nearly 3,500,000 kilometers from the starship. According to the TNG technical manual, a photon torpedo can carry 1.5 kg of antimatter. Burst Fire, Type 4 : The type 4 is the most powerful photon torpedo tube currently in service with the Federation. The principle of the photon torpedo was antimatter annihilating matter, giving off a HUGE amount of energy. The way to think of this is that "per unit of time, the torpedo is more powerful" but that the phaser can exercise itself over longer periods of time. In 'A Taste of Armageddon', for example, Kirk is captured whilst on the surface of the planet Eminiar VII. No slash fic. Landis recognizes the challenges, though he points out that since you'd only need a tiny bit of antimatter to create an effective weapon, a photon torpedo could theoretically be smaller a nuke. The Photon Torpedo is a powerful, long range weapon in use aboard Federation Starships for over one hundred and fifty years - early models differed from later versions of the weapon only in the level of sophistication and the power of the warhead. It is more compact than the older model, has lower maintenance requirements, and is less prone to overheating with prolonged use. That's assuming the torpedo is fully charged, and that the annihiliation is 100% efficient. It fires a compact torpedo with a much smaller warhead than the standard models. If I remember correctly, it's something like 50%. Also, it doesn't make any sense that 64 Megatons would be the top end yield for 24th century photon torpedo. It can fire a burst of twelve torpedoes every five seconds, and currently is only fitted to the Sovereign class battlecruiser. The way to think of this is that "per unit of time, the torpedo is more powerful" but that the phaser can exercise itself over longer periods of time. A photon torpedo was discovered when a scientist fired 2 photons at each other. (DS9: "Valiant") When a ship was destroyed with quantum torpedoes, the explosion left antimatter residue on the hull fragments. Scotty created this technique to break the Enterprise B free from the Nexus Energy ribbon. As an aside, I doubt a nuclear weapon in space would act the same as one detonated underground or in an atmosphere. The Type 1 model can load and fire a cluster of four photons every 2.85 seconds; although this makes the tube almost three times as bulky as a standard tube, it allows many targets to be engaged simultaneously. While the megaton yield of a photon torpedo may sound really impressive, physics still come into play here a bit. The photon torpedo used shaped charges of antimatter that, when they came in contact with conventional matter or hard energy barriers, released massive amounts of gamma ray photons, hence the weapon's name. Torpedo range can be extended by utilizing the matter / antimatter warhead to power the sustainer, although this causes a corresponding loss of warhead yield.1 For a mid-range yield the torpedo can achieve ranges of some 3,500,000 kilometres at sublight speeds. The warhead consists of a maximum of 1.5 kilos of antimatter and 1.5 kilos of matter. ... humility in the face of forces that are much more powerful than we are. Burst Fire, Type 1 : One of the most important advances in torpedo tube technology, the burst fire tube allows more than one torpedo to be launched simultaneously. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A photon torpedo is significantly more powerful than a nuke. I find it hilarious that a Photon torpedoes either shakes the entire ship up like crazy or just makes a computer beep beep. Learn the secret behind the destructive power of a photon torpedo! A number of torpedo designs were shielded to protect them from being shot down by either skilled pilots or the target's defensive flak guns. The weapon comprises an elongated elliptical body some 210 cm long and 76 x 45 cm across. Its most notable feature is its cloaking device. The warhead consists of a maximum of … The warhead of the Type S torpedo is four times more powerful than the photon torpedo. This is because we were only ever given a very vague idea of how destructive these weapons could be. Klingons began using photon torpedoes by at least the mid-22nd century. A photon torpedo is a high-explosive device. As would, come to think of it, even a MODERN DAY anti-satellite missile at its maximum velocity. It then goes on to say that the theoretical limits of traditional photon torpedo technology, 25 isotons, was reached and that the Quantum torpedo was developed to exceed those limitations. They were developed in part due to the requirement for a weapon, … Furthermore, it's currently impossible for me to even guess at the power of a Quantum Torpedo. The photon torpedo used shaped charges of antimatter that, when they came in contact with conventional matter or hard energy barriers, released massive amounts of gamma ray photons, hence the weapon's name. I think they said they are matter-antimatter explosion devices... and I remember them making fun of nuclear weapons some ship had on TNG. Trek isn't consistent on screen, so the in universe explanation is probably nonsense. The warhead of the photon torpedo comprises a maximum of 1.5 kilos of antimatter and 1.5 kilos of matter. The warhead strength is three times that of the photon torpedo; Type S: The type S is the typical version of this weapon. The principle of the photon torpedo was antimatter annihilating matter, giving off a HUGE amount of energy. We use cookies on our websites for a number of purposes, including analytics and performance, functionality and advertising. Clearly, they are optimized for wearing out the electric shields of ships, not doing widespread damage to physical objects. 6 64 megaton bombs would take out the entire State of Texas. It has been mentioned however that a 54 isoton explosion from a modified gravimetric torpedo (which is based on a photon torpedo design) is able to destroy a small planet, and this output was increased to 80 isotons). Spatial torpedoes are the ship's most powerful and primary ship-to-ship weapon before the installation of phase cannons. It would barely make it more powerful than current day nuclear weapon - which simply doesn't keep track with 360-odd years of exponential developments. [10], There are eight major photon torpedo launch systems in use with the Federation [11], From the late 2360s, the Photon torpedo began to be suplemented by the Quantum Torpedo.[12]. The Photon Torpedo is a powerful, long range weapon which has been in use aboard Federation Starships for over one hundred and fifty years - early models differed from today's weapon only in the level of sophistication and the power of the warhead. [5], The photon torpedo carries a guidance system and can home in on a target. The DS9 tech manual lists the explosive yield of the regular photon torpedo with a fictional number, 18.5 isotons. It is not very consistent though, I remember in "Q Who", the episode were Q takes the Enterprise to first meet the Borg, the torpedoes did massive damage, removing chunks from the Borg Ship. (ENT: \"Fight or Flight\", \"Sleeping Dogs\", \"Judgment\", \"The Expanse… [N 1], Also included in the torpedo are target acquisition, guidance and detonation assemblies and a warp sustainer unit. The whole point of this thread is to work out, via canon, what the average yield of a photon torpedo is. The weapon most widely used by Starfleet vessels is the Type 6. A photon torpedo is a flashlight. Shield damage amounts I can let slide a bit. "A photon torpedo with a 25 isoton yield can destroy an entire city within seconds.". That's the realistic explanation. A phaser beam … If desired, they could certainly use a smaller charge and get a smaller yield. ಠ_ಠ. level 2. e8ghtmileshigh. However, a large fraction of that energy would be released as harmless neutrinos. With the ability to add ans subtract anti-matter easily, they might be barely able to blow up a rock (as in ST V), or in the hundreds of megatons range (maybe more). The Enterprise-E had twelve phaser arrays and five torpedo tubes designed for use with the new quantum torpedoes, a more powerful alternative to the classic photon variety. Star Trek news and discussion. If a photon torpedo has a 64 megaton yield, why does it take 6 to take out a city? The weapon comprises an elongated elliptical body some 210 cm long and 76 x 45 cm across. The blast wave, which requires matter, is what you see the effects of in videos of nuclear explosions. A photon torpedo was a projectile weapon commonly used by Federation starships throughout the 23rd and 24th centuries. Proton torpedos deliver a fraction of that, about 10 or so megatons based on some calculations, but are much more accurate and manueverable. The most powerful warship in the Klingon Defense Forces at its introduction in the late 23rd Century, the K't'inga-class battle cruiser became the primary vessel for their war-machine. A photon torpedo is the most powerful weapon in the froggy city arsenal. It requires 33% more power than a photon and cycles 28% slower. That turns out to be about 60 megatons, equivalent to a very large nuclear bomb. The Type 1 is fitted to the Ambassador class as well as various starbases and space stations. The weapon most widely used by Starfleet vessels is the Type 6. Voyager's photon torpedoes (which were type VI at the time) were mentioned by the Borg to have an explosive yield of 200 isotons. The Bird-of-Prey is the umbrella term given to several different classes of Klingon warships deployed by the Empire during the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th centuries. The DS9 tech manual lists the explosive yield of the regular photon torpedo with a fictional number, 18.5 isotons. As would a nuclear-tipped spatial torpedo with a W-60 warhead or 22nd century equivalent. A photon torpedo was discovered when a scientist fired 2 photons at each other. The warhead strength is three times that of the photon torpedo; Type S: The type S is the typical version of this weapon. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. A photon torpedo is the most powerful weapon in the froggy city arsenal. A POWERFUL weapon in the arsenals of the major powers of Star Trek. The warhead of the Type S torpedo is four times more powerful than the photon torpedo. The pulse fire tube therefore fires four rounds in one second, then pauses for three seconds to reload with the next four photons. So, say (hypothetically, that a photon torpedo puts out 100 "space units" of energy in the case of a hit. Today the weapon most widely used by Starfleet vessels is the Type 6. The torpedo masses 247.5 kilos when not loaded. By the time of Voyager a new model of photon torpedo has been introduced with a yield of 496 Megatons, also using data from the tech manuals. We have no idea how shields work, so that's a big missing piece of the puzzle. This tube is capable of firing one photon torpedo approximately every four seconds. Sci-Fi Weapons Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. This is because we were only ever given a very vague idea of how destructive these weapons could be. Spatial torpedoes are themselves superseded by more powerful photonic torpedoes. Proton torpedoes came in a wide array of sizes and yields, from massively powerful capital ship weapons designed for orbital bombardment, to small but nimble fighter-grade weapons like those Luke Skywalker employed against the first Death Star. Except in Star Trek Online... where they're faster and have LESS damage. The Federation quantum torpedoes contained a plasma warhead (DS9: "For the Uniform") and used casings similar in shape to photon torpedoes and photonic torpedoes. However, a large fraction of that energy would be released as harmless neutrinos. Did that ever happen again? In docked flight, targeting data is gathered from the ship's various sensor systems and processed at FTL speeds in the main computers, then relayed through the Tactical bridge station to the forward and aft torpedo launchers. This spreads the warhead’s energy out in a 360 degree radius from the center of the detonation. So its maximum yield would be 3 kg converted to energy (1.5 of antimatter, and 1.5 of matter). It then goes on to say that the theoretical limits of traditional photon torpedo technology, 25 isotons, was reached and that the Quantum torpedo was developed to exceed those limitations. In my head one of them should be able to explode maybe 1/4 of the Enterprise if it blew up? Eventually, four more phasers and five more torpedo tubes were added. This allows them to be quite destructive against planetary surfaces, although this feature is of little use in combat against shielded starships. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. It requires 33% more power than a photon and cycles 28% slower. The latter is charged by the launching vessels own drive field at launch, boosting the torpedo speed up to Vmax = Vl + (0.75 Vl / c), where Vl is the velocity of the launching vessel. Fictional Future Friday: Space Wars entry on, Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual Page 128, Star Trek Deep Space Nine Technical Manual Page 86, Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual Page 130, Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual Page 131, Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual Page 117. I can't think of the actual episode names, other than Star Trek V, but I think there are a few times where a photon torpedo blows something up on a planet and the explosion isn't all that big. The torpedo masses 247.5 kilos when not loaded. In the original Star Trek series there is, surprisingly, a near total lack of any data on how powerful photon torpedoes are. mlsnoopy wrote: There is an episode of Voyeger where they expected to toataly vaporise a nickel/iron asteoride. Burst Fire, Type 3 : Developed to arm the Galaxy and Nebula classes, this tube can fire up to ten torpedoes every five seconds - a 25% increase over the type 3 - or alternately can fire single rounds at a high rate of fire. Pulse Fire : Developed for the Akira class, the Pulse fire tube is a modification of the burst fire tube. Star Treks' enormously powerful Quantum Torpedoes were use in the late 24th century against the Borg and the Dominion. According to the DS9 Technical Manual, the explosive force from a Photon torpedo is 18.5 isotons (a fictional measure that doesn't translate directly into megatonnes) with a theoretical upper limit of 25 isotonnes given ideal conditions. However, a large fraction of that energy would be released as harmless neutrinos. Featuring disruptors, phasers, and photon torpedo launchers, this ship was a powerhouse for its time, so much so that it actually aged pretty decently. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. The TM rates this at 18.7 isotons, for a conversion of 2.7 megatons per isoton. July 23, 2017 The photon torpedo is a powerful, long-range weapon that has been in use aboard Federation starships for over one hundred and fifty years. "If you need, say, a 100-kilogram superconducting magnet to create the fields needed to suspend a 1-gram sphere of antihydrogen, your photon torpedo's going to be a little bigger than a beach ball." [6], The warhead of a photon torpedo can be removed and replaced by sensor packages or other equipment. Unlike photonic torpedoes or any of the warhead's successors, spatial torpedoes are launched at sub-light velocity and can be used much in the manner of a missile, having the warhead on a fly-by-wire. Offically declared a Weapon of mass destruction by froggy city, in defiance of the Pietopia Decleration. If launched at low impulse flight the torpedo will accelerate to a 75% higher sublight velocity; launch at high impulse speed will not push the torpedo into warp. The Photon Torpedo is a powerful, long range weapon which has been in use aboard Federation Starships for over one hundred and fifty years - early models differed from today's weapon only in the level of sophistication and the power of the warhead. A maximum yield photon torpedo has been stated to be 200 isotons, or 540 megatons. It is typically equipped with photon torpedoes, disruptor cannons, and deflector shields. Wouldn't any matter/anti-matter weapon be just so ginormously powerful as to wipe out any ship with a single hit? A maximum yield photon torpedo has been stated to be 200 isotons, or 540 megatons. According to the TNG technical manual, a photon torpedo can carry 1.5 kg of antimatter. Photon torpedoes can penetrate and travel through the ground quite easily, as seen in several TNG episodes when they "burrowed" underground. Burst Fire, Type 2 : Designed for larger vessels, the type 2 burst fire torpedo tube can fire up to eight photons every five seconds, giving a greater overall rate of fire and increasing the number of targets which can be engaged simultaneously. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Later in the series, they either did jack diddly because the shields protected the Borg or not enough damage. This is consistent with their performance relative to photon torpedoes; since photon torpedoes release perhaps 24 megatons of energy at the target (with the rest being wasted in inefficiencies or directed away from the ship), so it would take less than 3 seconds for a phaser beam to deliver more energy than a maximum-yield photon torpedo. Micro tube : This system was developed to arm small vessels such as Runabouts and shuttlecraft. [2], The warhead of the photon torpedo comprises a maximum of 1.5 kilos of antimatter and 1.5 kilos of matter. Because what is a photon? It’s complicated. They used them extensively on board Raptor-class scout vessels, D5 class battle cruisers, and Birds-of-Prey. A photon is a particle of light. This weapon comprises an elongated elliptical body some 210 cm long and 76 x 45 cm across. In comparison, during that same period, Earth's Starfleet was still employing the spatial torpedo, although they soon upgraded to photonic torpedoes, the precursors to the photon torpedo. That turns out to be about 60 megatons, equivalent to a very large nuclear bomb. What ever the script demands of them. If we could piece together the mechanisms and functionality of shields, we could determine what effect an explosive might have on them. Small starfighters like the Rebel Alliance X-win… These are divided into many thousands of small pellets suspended in a magnetic field - smaller yields can be achieved by reducing the number of such pellets in the torpedo. Also referred to as conventional torpedoes, spatial torpedoes are 22nd century weapons used by Enterprise. I do believe that photons have exploded directly on the ship and land before have they not? They were developed in part due to the requirement for a weapon, … If launched during warp flight the torpedo will continue at warp until the sustainer is exhausted. https://scifi-weapons.fandom.com/wiki/Photon_Torpedo?oldid=4187. Like nuclear warheads, they have variable yields (the U.S. navy refers to such weapons as 'dial a yield warheads'). A quantum torpedo has a minimum yield of 50 isotons, or 135 megatons.