- For other uses, see photon.
A photon torpedo launcher was a kinetic weapon technology, a projectile weapon launcher on installed on starships and spaceborne-installations like starbases and other space stations. Such launcher fired a photon projectile at a target, dealing a heavy amount of kinetic damage. This damage output was reduced by the target's deflector shields. As a torpedo launcher, it had a 90° firing arc. Compared to other projectile weapon launcher types, photon space weapons dealt a low amount of damage but benefitted from a fast reload time. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
History and specifics[]
USS Excelsior firing photon torpedoes.
Earth Starfleet first encountered photon torpedo technology aboard the Klingon Raptor-class IKS Somraw in the year 2151. (ENT episode: "Sleeping Dogs")
Starfleet transitioned from the spatial torpedos to the photonic torpedo in 2153. These weapons were a match for Klingon starships. (ENT episode: "The Expanse")
Photon torpedo launchers were standard weapons aboard Federation Starfleet starships like the Einstein-class by the 2230s decade. (TOS movie: Star Trek)
In the year 2256, the Malachowski-class light cruiser was equipped with a standard-issue photon torpedo launcher. The photon torpedoes of the Klingon Empire at the time were green and drew a comet-like trail. Their Starfleet counterpart look similar except for being white-and-blue colored. (STO - Tutorial mission: "Reporting In")
In 2270, Starfleet's Pioneer-class utility cruiser carried a standard issue photon torpedo launcher as well. 23rd century photon torpedoes were white-blue in color. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Earthward Bound")
Starfleet developed the quantum torpedo as an improvement over the photon torpedo in the 24th century. In 2371, the Defiant-class was launched with quantum torpedo launchers. (DS9 episode: "The Search")
Visually, photon torpedoes appeared in the 2400s and 2410s decades of the 25th century as red balls of light. They were available with different ratings of advancement, ranging from mark I to mark XV, plus unrated variants. These torpedo launchers could be modified by personnel to improve accuracy, critical severity, critical chance and damage output. Aboard starships, photon torpedo launchers could be slotted in fore and aft emplacements. In contrast, a photon mine launcher could only be placed in an aft slot. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Photon torpedo launcher types[]
- standard issue photon torpedo launcher[1]
- advanced piezo-photon torpedo launcher
- bio-molecular photon torpedo launcher
- bio-molecular warhead launcher[2]
- disrupting photon torpedo launcher[2]
- enhanced bio-molecular photon torpedo launcher
- gravimetric photon torpedo launcher
- Kelvin timeline photon torpedo launcher
- piezo-photon torpedo launcher
- prolonged engagement photon torpedo
- saboteur delivery vehicle photon torpedo launcher
- Terran Task Force photon torpedo launcher
- withering photon torpedo launcher
Appendices[]
References[]
- ↑ STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 STO - In Shadows mission: "Mind Game".
External links[]
- Photon torpedo launcher article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Photon Torpedo Launcher article at Star Trek Online Wiki.