Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
2021/02/05 05:46:51
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
was hoping to find an answer to this here, tried google couldnt manage it. Basically in Star Trek, when ships are facing off say in 1v1 or 2v2 and are likely to be destroyed, why don't the ships fire off all their torpedoes rapidly? I get that phasers need to be recharged before firing again, but why not just blow all the torpedoes when they are likely to die quickly anyways?
2021/02/05 05:58:18
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
I suppose it depends on which show, but ST torpedoes oddly often need to be loaded and arming mechanisms activated. (or adjusted for such and such technobabble)
There doesn't seem to an automatic feed that would allow for massive, rapid salvos.
It also raises some uncomfortable strategy & philosophical questions and moral cans of worms. As in, if its possible at all, why not _open_ battles that way, with a massive alpha strike and replicate replacements later?
But the Federation in particular isn't supposed to be about indiscriminate vengeance and crushing firepower.
Efficiency is the highest virtue.
2021/02/05 06:25:56
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
Some ships in the EU are explicitly designed for this (but Star Trek's EU is a mess of contradictions, so mileage may vary).
The obvious answer is narrative conventions. Roddenberry also served in WWII, and in many ways the functions of star ships in Star Trek are reminiscent of the functions of warships in that time. The idea of autoloading never seemed to occur to anyone, and whenever we see a torpedo room in Star Trek it tends to resemble the loading room of a battleship or submarine. War and conflict tend to be side stories in Star Trek, not the focus. The big exception is latter seasons of DS9, which focus on the lead up to and the conclusion of the Dominion War. And in this war we do see ships firing torpedo volleys occasionally, but mostly its beam spam. Cost might be part of it. Beams were fairly simple to animate, while torpedoes involved much more complex lighting.
Various EU sources have offered multiple explanations for why we don't see more frequent use of lots of torpedoes;
-Torpedoes require components that a star ship can't replicate on demand, so they're used sparingly. Voyager sort of supports this as a notion, as there are a few times where torpedoes are talked about like a precious resource, but nothing ever really comes of it (Replicators in general are screwy when it comes to Star Trek with later writers even lamenting that they had to ignore them or write around them to tell good stories).
-Torpedoes can't get through deflector shields, and shields must first be weakened by beam weapons. This was never really an issue in the shows. It mostly comes up in video games and books based on the franchise.
-Some ships were designed to volley torpedoes. The Akira Class when it was first covered in technical manuals was stated to have 21 torpedo tubes, implying that part of the issue is the loading and preparing of torpedoes. These manuals generally aren't regarded as canon though and different ones have zigzagged.
Ultimately, the real issue is that Star Trek is not and has never been a particularly exciting or accurate depiction of space combat (The Expanse is better). It's a show that's really better at politics, mystery, and adventure. Even when the show was about war, it was about the more human elements than the technical ones.
I mean, multiple people have pointed out and questioned why no one just beams torpedoes onto enemy ships as a standard practice as soon as the shields are down. The whole firing of them seems superfluous. But yeah. Star Trek is at it's best when looking at the philosophical, moral, and emotional questions it proposes, not the technological.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2021/02/05 06:36:49
Voss wrote: I suppose it depends on which show, but ST torpedoes oddly often need to be loaded and arming mechanisms activated. (or adjusted for such and such technobabble)
There doesn't seem to an automatic feed that would allow for massive, rapid salvos.
IIRC, there was a scene where the Enterprise crew had to "clear for action" in the fashion of a Age of Sail man o'war. They removed grillwork from the torpedo launch track. The grill was needed so the crew could walk over the track during normal operations. Not a design optimized for combat operation (again, IIRC).
Trying to find the scene on Youtube.
EDIT: This isn't the scene I was thinking of, but it does show the awkward arrangement for loading and firing torpedoes.
The Wrath of Khan: such an awesome movie.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 07:39:45
I loved when Stargate Atlantis teleported nukes onto enemy ships. Iirc they took out some four or so enemy command carriers before they were able to adapt a jamming shield to block the teleporter.
2021/02/05 14:33:43
Subject: Re:In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
They do. They are typically fired in reloaded volleys. It take awhile to launch sets of them. This follows Real Life (TM) where ships can't typically fire all their missiles at once, but in singles or rapid fire single shot volleys.
1) in STOS Photon Torpedoes were not missiles. They were...something.
2) We only see a physical torpedo starting in Khan (as shown above). IN ST III they are fired in rapid fire volleys (IIRC) as well.
3) in Undiscovered Country, this is further shown as the missiles are launched from both ships in volleys.
TNG ramps up the missile fire.
1) They are able to bursts of 5 shots at an opponent. As shown in fighting the "Hozniak" afterwards they are able to rapid fire missiles after that. Additionally its rearward torp launcher is able to fire slower volleys of nine at an opponent (shooting at Q).
2) Ent E is able to fire rapid fire volleys
DS9 Defiant fires much slower volleys of four at an opponent, each from its own launcher. Its effectively a small frigate so thats not bad.
Voyager also fired volleys mostly, they seemed to do all kinds of things...
Discovery, doesn't exist.
EDIT:
*In Babylon 5, originally the Omega Class destroyers were supposed to be able to fire volleys of missiles from the sides (where you see the hatches along the sides) BFG style, but they couldn't afford the FX.
*I always pondered, why they didn't remove the big explorer saucers from the ENT D's and replace them with a "war" saucer in a war context, crammed with torpedo launchers or more phasers. They have the combat configuration already, just leave it like that or add on an additional weapons pod.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 14:41:35
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
2021/02/05 15:10:04
Subject: Re:In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
*I always pondered, why they didn't remove the big explorer saucers from the ENT D's and replace them with a "war" saucer in a war context, crammed with torpedo launchers or more phasers. They have the combat configuration already, just leave it like that or add on an additional weapons pod.
I think I read somewhere that the late comissioned Galaxy classes had a lot of empty space left in their saucers, large swathes of unused space, maybe even entirely unfinished decks in order to bring their big nasty phaser arrays and beefy powerplants into the Dominion War as fast as possible.
That may sound like a massive waste of resources as opposed to attaching a leaner, meaner saucer section or even running the drive section solo with a few modifications, but it's actually quite economical: That way they don't have to build a new model for the show!
Oh yea, I know it was an FX budget thing most likely, it just struck me as odd. I would have preferred fleets of Akiras, sabres, and steam runners in the last season, showing they'd run through or stowed all the explorer ships, and this is what the real Federation Navy looks like.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 16:22:57
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
2021/02/05 16:53:31
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
From the TNG technical manual (which I believe is canon, as it was written by the production designers), the photon torpedo launchers could “stack” several torpedoes in the tube for simultaneous launch, which is where you get the volley firing.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also used for “spread” firing, as they’re independently targeted.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 16:54:17
Zed wrote: *All statements reflect my opinion at this moment. if some sort of pretty new model gets released (or if I change my mind at random) I reserve the right to jump on any bandwagon at will.
2021/02/05 17:32:37
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
-Torpedoes require components that a star ship can't replicate on demand, so they're used sparingly. Voyager sort of supports this as a notion, as there are a few times where torpedoes are talked about like a precious resource, but nothing ever really comes of it (Replicators in general are screwy when it comes to Star Trek with later writers even lamenting that they had to ignore them or write around them to tell good stories).
.
My thing with voyager is i alot of time passed between episodes, so my guess is torpedos have relatively common, but unreplicatable components. so they can just pick them up, use some sort of specalized replicator to recomibjne them into torpedos.
Thankfully, Discovery kinda confirmed the Replicators NEED fuel to make like an apple or something.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Frazzled wrote: Oh yea, I know it was an FX budget thing most likely, it just struck me as odd. I would have preferred fleets of Akiras, sabres, and steam runners in the last season, showing they'd run through or stowed all the explorer ships, and this is what the real Federation Navy looks like.
Star Trek seemd to forget the Saucer can detach, and the Enterprise has a secondary bridge.
But, Creating a "War Saucer" for various different ships makes less sense, when you can make a brand new, more compact ship armed to the teeth, like the Warship Defiant.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 17:35:38
5000pts 6000pts 3000pts
2021/02/05 17:42:21
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
My thing with voyager is i alot of time passed between episodes, so my guess is torpedos have relatively common, but unreplicatable components. so they can just pick them up, use some sort of specalized replicator to recomibjne them into torpedos.
Thankfully, Discovery kinda confirmed the Replicators NEED fuel to make like an apple or something.
Voyager was notorious for jettisoning its scarcity narrative after the first season or two. Don't judge anything involving narrative continuity based on that.
The primary component of a photon torpedo that cant be replicated is the anti-matter warhead itself. The casing is just a tube with guidance and propulsion tech inside, all of which can be readily fabricated (in fact its an almost identical construct to several types of probes).
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 17:42:29
2021/02/05 18:30:18
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
Frazzled wrote: Oh yea, I know it was an FX budget thing most likely, it just struck me as odd. I would have preferred fleets of Akiras, sabres, and steam runners in the last season, showing they'd run through or stowed all the explorer ships, and this is what the real Federation Navy looks like.
There are two options when it comes to DS9:
1. The Federation just didn’t use those ships, or the Sovereigns and Intrepids, in the war. They also didn’t fire torpedo volleys. They are the dumb.
2. They did all that stuff, but due to chance (vfx constraints), we just happen to be seeing the parts of the battle where they aren’t visible.
I prefer option 2.
As for why phasers seem to be used more by galaxies, keep in mind the photon torpedo has not changed in size, and this in theoretical maximum payload, since Khan while phasers have gone through many marks, had larger power plants, and been collumated. It’s not until the quantum torpedo that torpedo effectiveness has caught up to “modern” technology.
Also, it’s a darn shame how many potential technologies Starfleet just ignores. The subspace teleporter from that episode banned in the UK could pass through shields and transport bombs, for example.
hotsauceman1 wrote: Well,
Considering UberCadet Wesley has a science fair prject using antimatter, it might not be too difficult to get a hold of.
Getting a hold of it isn't the problem. It's getting enough of it that you have stockpiles to deploy it as weapons when it's the thing literally keeping your ships in the sky, and doing so in a way that doesnt atomize your ship.
Also, point of note, Wesley's project in that episode was a means of generating a miniscule amount of antimatter. The boy effectively built himself a space centrifuge and demonstrated how to make enriched uranium.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 18:47:28
2021/02/05 19:04:42
Subject: Re:In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
Frazzled wrote: Oh yea, I know it was an FX budget thing most likely, it just struck me as odd. I would have preferred fleets of Akiras, sabres, and steam runners in the last season, showing they'd run through or stowed all the explorer ships, and this is what the real Federation Navy looks like.
There are two options when it comes to DS9:
1. The Federation just didn’t use those ships, or the Sovereigns and Intrepids, in the war. They also didn’t fire torpedo volleys. They are the dumb.
2. They did all that stuff, but due to chance (vfx constraints), we just happen to be seeing the parts of the battle where they aren’t visible.
I prefer option 2.
As for why phasers seem to be used more by galaxies, keep in mind the photon torpedo has not changed in size, and this in theoretical maximum payload, since Khan while phasers have gone through many marks, had larger power plants, and been collumated. It’s not until the quantum torpedo that torpedo effectiveness has caught up to “modern” technology.
Also, it’s a darn shame how many potential technologies Starfleet just ignores. The subspace teleporter from that episode banned in the UK could pass through shields and transport bombs, for example.
They were also up against The Dominions frankly astounding Ship building capacity. That adds a pressure just to keep up in terms of numbers, let alone ship for ship strength. The Akira Class and it’s cousins were designed to fight The Borg, and were quite far into development. The Defiant Class remained highly experimental (hence O’Brien’s many modifications, some of which Nog used when he, an actual Ensign, didn’t pull rank on Acting Captain Arsebrain). They had to make do with what they had - hence we also saw Miranda and Excelsior classes assembled for fleet duty.
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
Can an Actual Ensign pull rank like that?
I mean Captain Ralph would not have let him either way, he has First Officer Karen as his back up.
And they where all cranky from missing their nap
5000pts 6000pts 3000pts
2021/02/05 20:07:50
Subject: Re:In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
Frazzled wrote: Oh yea, I know it was an FX budget thing most likely, it just struck me as odd. I would have preferred fleets of Akiras, sabres, and steam runners in the last season, showing they'd run through or stowed all the explorer ships, and this is what the real Federation Navy looks like.
There are two options when it comes to DS9:
1. The Federation just didn’t use those ships, or the Sovereigns and Intrepids, in the war. They also didn’t fire torpedo volleys. They are the dumb.
2. They did all that stuff, but due to chance (vfx constraints), we just happen to be seeing the parts of the battle where they aren’t visible.
I prefer option 2.
As for why phasers seem to be used more by galaxies, keep in mind the photon torpedo has not changed in size, and this in theoretical maximum payload, since Khan while phasers have gone through many marks, had larger power plants, and been collumated. It’s not until the quantum torpedo that torpedo effectiveness has caught up to “modern” technology.
Also, it’s a darn shame how many potential technologies Starfleet just ignores. The subspace teleporter from that episode banned in the UK could pass through shields and transport bombs, for example.
Indeed. An angry Fed Navy would use:
*Transmatter cloaks (Pegasus)
*Genesis Torpedoes. (STII)
*Time warfare. (STIII, STOS)
*Subspace torpedoes (ST whatever...I never saw it) and Antiship mines (Houdinis but biggie sized)
*Dedicated guided antimatter missiles with Transmatter cloaks, and shields and something more on the order of a multigigaton warhead.
*Dedicated missile cruisers carrying the above.
They would cloak into enemy space with unmanned missile cruisers, which would deploy cloaked Gen torps and gigaton torps in spam waves. Even if the enemy defeats the cruisers, their planets are all gone, or now turned into planet sized Carne Asadas. mmm...carne asade....
That doesn't include Captain Lensflare's "red matter." Don't like someone? shoot five thousand black holes at him.
They could even go back in time with transmatter cloaked vessels, and plant them in the middle of potential enemy planets. At the signal they just go off.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 20:11:37
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
2021/02/05 20:14:55
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
hotsauceman1 wrote: Can an Actual Ensign pull rank like that?
I mean Captain Ralph would not have let him either way, he has First Officer Karen as his back up.
And they where all cranky from missing their nap
Ensign may be the lowest rank, but they’re still a commissioned officer. Acting Captain Idiot O’Dumbass and Acting First Office Deathwish McSuicide wouldn’t have a choice - they’re simply outranked.
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
According to the TNG Technical Manual (can't believe that book is 30 years old!), there were two photon torpedo technologies; the second, more powerful and longer ranged one came into service in 2271 - which is Enterprise refit time.
The Galaxy class held 275 casings, but they had to have their M/AM reactants loaded just prior to launch, four of which could be loaded up at a time. Apparently, they could hang onto them for a short time and dump ten of them through a launch tube at once.
2021/02/05 20:37:14
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
The Federation actually has more planet-killing technology than the Empire and First Order combined. Remember when they accidentally created an FTL planet killer from an attempt at more efficient cargo transportation?
Canonically, we know that the Federation of the future prevents time travel by the Federation in the past when it goes against their interests...and apparently allows time travel pretty often otherwise. I suspect the reason we don’t see many time-traveling Klingons, Romulans, or Borg (other than that one time that ended up eliminating the queen) is that the future Federation doesn’t allow it. Only the winners get to play the time game.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I would LOVE to see some of Section 31’s doomsday scenario plans.
“-Launch ship full of loyal Betazeds at the Great Barrier.
-Use time travel to clone Rashan Uxbridge, place her in danger.
-Shrink warfleet, trans-warp beam them into enemy space.
-trans warp beam loyal nanites onto enemy home worlds.
-Extract warp-field psychic manipulation knowledge from Wesley Crusher, uplift selected agents to near-godhood.
-Thomas Riker an army of Soong type androids.”
And so on.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/05 20:55:18
Frazzled wrote: Oh yea, I know it was an FX budget thing most likely, it just struck me as odd. I would have preferred fleets of Akiras, sabres, and steam runners in the last season, showing they'd run through or stowed all the explorer ships, and this is what the real Federation Navy looks like.
There are two options when it comes to DS9:
1. The Federation just didn’t use those ships, or the Sovereigns and Intrepids, in the war. They also didn’t fire torpedo volleys. They are the dumb.
2. They did all that stuff, but due to chance (vfx constraints), we just happen to be seeing the parts of the battle where they aren’t visible.
I prefer option 2.
As for why phasers seem to be used more by galaxies, keep in mind the photon torpedo has not changed in size, and this in theoretical maximum payload, since Khan while phasers have gone through many marks, had larger power plants, and been collumated. It’s not until the quantum torpedo that torpedo effectiveness has caught up to “modern” technology.
Also, it’s a darn shame how many potential technologies Starfleet just ignores. The subspace teleporter from that episode banned in the UK could pass through shields and transport bombs, for example.
Indeed. An angry Fed Navy would use:
*Transmatter cloaks (Pegasus)
*Genesis Torpedoes. (STII)
*Time warfare. (STIII, STOS)
*Subspace torpedoes (ST whatever...I never saw it) and Antiship mines (Houdinis but biggie sized)
*Dedicated guided antimatter missiles with Transmatter cloaks, and shields and something more on the order of a multigigaton warhead.
*Dedicated missile cruisers carrying the above.
They would cloak into enemy space with unmanned missile cruisers, which would deploy cloaked Gen torps and gigaton torps in spam waves. Even if the enemy defeats the cruisers, their planets are all gone, or now turned into planet sized Carne Asadas. mmm...carne asade....
That doesn't include Captain Lensflare's "red matter." Don't like someone? shoot five thousand black holes at him.
They could even go back in time with transmatter cloaked vessels, and plant them in the middle of potential enemy planets. At the signal they just go off.
Dont forget the gun that can shoot through walls and armor
5000pts 6000pts 3000pts
2021/02/05 23:12:03
Subject: Re:In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
Frazzled wrote: Oh yea, I know it was an FX budget thing most likely, it just struck me as odd. I would have preferred fleets of Akiras, sabres, and steam runners in the last season, showing they'd run through or stowed all the explorer ships, and this is what the real Federation Navy looks like.
There are two options when it comes to DS9:
1. The Federation just didn’t use those ships, or the Sovereigns and Intrepids, in the war. They also didn’t fire torpedo volleys. They are the dumb.
2. They did all that stuff, but due to chance (vfx constraints), we just happen to be seeing the parts of the battle where they aren’t visible.
I prefer option 2.
As for why phasers seem to be used more by galaxies, keep in mind the photon torpedo has not changed in size, and this in theoretical maximum payload, since Khan while phasers have gone through many marks, had larger power plants, and been collumated. It’s not until the quantum torpedo that torpedo effectiveness has caught up to “modern” technology.
Also, it’s a darn shame how many potential technologies Starfleet just ignores. The subspace teleporter from that episode banned in the UK could pass through shields and transport bombs, for example.
Indeed. An angry Fed Navy would use:
*Transmatter cloaks (Pegasus)
*Genesis Torpedoes. (STII)
*Time warfare. (STIII, STOS)
*Subspace torpedoes (ST whatever...I never saw it) and Antiship mines (Houdinis but biggie sized)
*Dedicated guided antimatter missiles with Transmatter cloaks, and shields and something more on the order of a multigigaton warhead.
*Dedicated missile cruisers carrying the above.
They would cloak into enemy space with unmanned missile cruisers, which would deploy cloaked Gen torps and gigaton torps in spam waves. Even if the enemy defeats the cruisers, their planets are all gone, or now turned into planet sized Carne Asadas. mmm...carne asade....
That doesn't include Captain Lensflare's "red matter." Don't like someone? shoot five thousand black holes at him.
They could even go back in time with transmatter cloaked vessels, and plant them in the middle of potential enemy planets. At the signal they just go off.
Dont forget the gun that can shoot through walls and armor
Not to mention the X-ray vision headpiece that goes with the gun.
2021/02/06 00:09:26
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
Frazzled wrote: Oh yea, I know it was an FX budget thing most likely, it just struck me as odd. I would have preferred fleets of Akiras, sabres, and steam runners in the last season, showing they'd run through or stowed all the explorer ships, and this is what the real Federation Navy looks like.
There are two options when it comes to DS9:
1. The Federation just didn’t use those ships, or the Sovereigns and Intrepids, in the war. They also didn’t fire torpedo volleys. They are the dumb.
2. They did all that stuff, but due to chance (vfx constraints), we just happen to be seeing the parts of the battle where they aren’t visible.
I prefer option 2.
As for why phasers seem to be used more by galaxies, keep in mind the photon torpedo has not changed in size, and this in theoretical maximum payload, since Khan while phasers have gone through many marks, had larger power plants, and been collumated. It’s not until the quantum torpedo that torpedo effectiveness has caught up to “modern” technology.
Also, it’s a darn shame how many potential technologies Starfleet just ignores. The subspace teleporter from that episode banned in the UK could pass through shields and transport bombs, for example.
Indeed. An angry Fed Navy would use:
*Transmatter cloaks (Pegasus)
*Genesis Torpedoes. (STII)
*Time warfare. (STIII, STOS)
*Subspace torpedoes (ST whatever...I never saw it) and Antiship mines (Houdinis but biggie sized)
*Dedicated guided antimatter missiles with Transmatter cloaks, and shields and something more on the order of a multigigaton warhead.
*Dedicated missile cruisers carrying the above.
They would cloak into enemy space with unmanned missile cruisers, which would deploy cloaked Gen torps and gigaton torps in spam waves. Even if the enemy defeats the cruisers, their planets are all gone, or now turned into planet sized Carne Asadas. mmm...carne asade....
That doesn't include Captain Lensflare's "red matter." Don't like someone? shoot five thousand black holes at him.
They could even go back in time with transmatter cloaked vessels, and plant them in the middle of potential enemy planets. At the signal they just go off.
And at that point they are no longer the federation...
Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!
So basically the answer is each torpedo needs to be reloaded in a way that takes significant time/effort, another thing that also might make sense is if the torpedo tube itself gets super hot after each fire and has to cool down
2021/02/07 06:14:49
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
Also, each torpedo spread has to be specifically ordered step by step by the captain, then typed on a touchscreen by the tactical officer. Meanwhile, the captain has to give orders regarding the shields, diverting power, phasers, which maneuvers to engage. Each shot of the torpedoes requires a conversation.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/07 06:15:11
bat702 wrote: So basically the answer is each torpedo needs to be reloaded in a way that takes significant time/effort, another thing that also might make sense is if the torpedo tube itself gets super hot after each fire and has to cool down
Given the torpedo tube is essentially an electromagnetic linear accelerator, it’s not going to be “hot”, but they do need time to degauss before firing again.
Zed wrote: *All statements reflect my opinion at this moment. if some sort of pretty new model gets released (or if I change my mind at random) I reserve the right to jump on any bandwagon at will.
2021/02/07 11:45:38
Subject: In Star Trek why don't they fire all their torpedos?
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Also, each torpedo spread has to be specifically ordered step by step by the captain, then typed on a touchscreen by the tactical officer. Meanwhile, the captain has to give orders regarding the shields, diverting power, phasers, which maneuvers to engage. Each shot of the torpedoes requires a conversation.
Saying each shot requires a conversation isn't something I'm looking for as far as answers to my question, I could imagine it would be as simple as saying something like, FIRE ALL THE FREAKING TORPEDOS WE ABOUT TO DIE