Grappler

The grappler was a piece of technology used on starships to move objects. The grappler consisted of a shaft with claws on one and a launcher.

History[]

In 2151, the Enterprise used the grappler on various occasions. These occasions included snagging a Suliban ship, attempting to recover Shuttlepod 1 from a comet, and again to recover a shuttlepod from a Klingon hijacker. (ENT episodes: "Broken Bow", "Breaking the Ice", "Sleeping Dogs")

In 2156, the Enterprise used the grapplers on a M'klexa vessel in order to pull it to safety. (ENT - The Romulan War novel: To Brave the Storm)

In 2159, Starfleet had developed tractor beam technology, rendering the grapplers obsolete. By May, the Enterprise was refitted and her grapplers were replaced by tractor beams. Shortly after the Enterprise left spacedock, the tractor beam was used to pull the USS Coto out of a protostellar nebula. (ST video game: Legacy)

Some commercial vessels retained grapplers in the 23rd century. Cervantes Quinn's outdated vessel Rocinante was fitted with a grappler instead of a tractor beam. It consisted of a grappling magnet attached to duranium cable. In 2265, Quinn used it to reel in a sensor drone. (VAN novel: Summon the Thunder)

In the 2260s, Agonite space eagles used magnetic grapplers to secure auxiliary vehicles. (TOS comic: "The Eagles Have Landed")

Early in 2266, the Space Rescue Bug used two magnetic grapplers to capture a floating ejection capsule. (TOS comic: "Target: Zargot")

In the 2380s, insectoid Orishans had vessels which used grapplers. (TTN novel: Sword of Damocles)