posted
I was thinkin last night about what the mechanism for making a torpedo go at warp speed. Or in "Enterprise" what makes it go fast? Magnets? A burst of Matter/antimatter?
posted
In the later series, the initial launch is probably magnetic. After that, any warp flight would most likely require a M/AM reaction and onboard systems to generate a warp field. The Tech Manual probably has details on this.
posted
First you stack a bunch of torpedos, make sure you give enough space for them to breathe, preferably in a cross pattern or teepee, then you pour large quantities of gasoline on them. Stand back strike a match and throw it on the stack. Presto, a torpedo fire.
-------------------- "and none of your usual boobery." M. Burns
Registered: Oct 2001
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They use some sort of magnetic linear accelerator to propel them out of the launching tube. And in order to have a torp go warp speed, it must be fired while the ship is at warp speed.
posted
According to my one direct e-mail with Mike Okuda, circa 1994 (yes, I was a mere lad of 14 then), the torpedo glow is from the warp sustainer engine; i.e., the same glow that one sees on nacelles.
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That sounds unreasonably inefficient. Wasting all that gas every time you want to fire a torpedo? And having to repressurize before you can fire again? We have the ability now to fire things really quickly w/ magnetic propulsion (a/k/a railguns). I doubt that technology would be lost in the future.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Yes, but one of the reason why photon torpedoes are torpedoes instead of missiles could be because it uses compressed gas to launch them. Also, the magnetic fields used in a rail gun could disrupt the electronics of the torpedoe, maybe even interfere with the antimatter containment fields.
-------------------- "God's in his heaven. All's right with the world."
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
I think it's generally held that guided projectile weapons in the Trek universe are called "torpedoes" rather "missiles" solely due to Starfleet sticking to naval rather than air force terminology. The launch mechanism is essentially irrelevant in their naming in real life, too... IIRC there are assorted prototype torpedoes that are rocket-powered and therefore essentially misiles turned 90 degrees.
(Aside: I know Bernd's grumbled that somehow the NX-01 weapons should be called missiles as proof of their more primitive nature, an argument that's gone right over my head, I'm afraid)
-------------------- "I was surprised by the matter-of-factness of Kafka's narration, and the subtle humor present as a result." (Sizer 2005)
Registered: Mar 1999
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