An orbital weapon platform fires a plasma torpedo.
A plasma torpedo is a weapon consisting of a torpedo armed with a charge of plasma, most often used as a starship mounted weapon.
History and specifications[]
Many Romulan, Gorn and Klingon starships are equipped with types of this plasma weapon. The Cardassians use them in their orbital weapon platforms. (TOS episode: "Balance of Terror", DS9 episodes: "Tears of the Prophets", "Image in the Sand", "Shadows and Symbols") [citation needed]
The Wellington-class Federation light cruiser starship mounted the "long lance" variant plasma torpedo, which was designed to disrupt sensors and computers at long distances. (FASA RPG module: Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual)
History[]
By the mid 23rd century, plasma torpedoes like the people of Kiley 279 used were described as 21st century technology by Captain Christopher Pike, and those who had developed warp technology generally had moved past the point of using such weapons technology. Pike was surprised when the Kiley used plasma torpedoes as he thought they had developed warp drive. (SNW episode: "Strange New Worlds")
The Romulan Empire continued developing plasma torpedoes and by the mid 23rd century had created extremely powerful plasma torpedoes that could envelop and destroy a target, even targets made of hard materials like cast rodinium. However the weapons had limited range and would dissipate after a few minutes of high warp travel. (TOS episode: "Balance of Terror")
The Bismark subclass of the Excelsior-class carried F-type torpedoes. (ST video game: Starfleet Command)
- In the ST video game: Starfleet Command, Excelsior class starships were never referred to by name, despite having Excelsior hulls.
Plasma torpedo launchers were ranked by the sizes of the largest casings these launchers could fire. Type-R plasma torpedo launchers were the largest and were first fielded by the Romulans. Type-S casings were somewhat smaller and had less range than Type-R casings. Type-G torpedoes were first fielded by the Gorns. Finally, Type-F were the smallest casings available. (ST video game: Starfleet Command)
Appendices[]
Connections[]
| torpedo weapons |
|---|
| fusion torpedo • gravimetric torpedo • kaon torpedo • Kessok torpedo • MIRV photon torpedo • microtorpedo • phased plasma torpedo • photon torpedo • photonic torpedo • pion torpedo • plasma torpedo • polaron torpedo • quantum torpedo • spatial torpedo • transphasic torpedo • trilithium torpedo |
External link[]
- Plasma torpedo article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.