(covers information from several alternate timelines)
Pulse Phaser array | |
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Phaser array firing in multiple directions which shows the near omnidirectional capabilities of the array | |
Type: |
primary energy weapons system |
The Pulse Phaser array or as it's commonly termed as basically the phaser array was the primary energy weapons system for most Earth or multiversal allied ships from the 23rd to the 27th century.
The array is comprised of a linear arrangement of numerous phaser emitters located in strategic areas of a starship, space station, or other vessels outer hull.
In the 23rd century, phaser arrays had smaller numbers of emitters, and were commonly mistermed as phaser banks and were more like heavy gun batteries on 18th to 20th century warships.
By the 24th century Starfleet began to fit its vessels and facilities with phaser arrays as ships standard that spanned across the ship's hull and contained much larger numbers of emitters.
These were often termed by engineering crews as "Phaser strips." The arrays aboard a Galaxy-class starship could channel vast energy in a short time frame, capable of cutting through a mile of solid granite in seconds.
Systems configuration and operation[]
Galaxy-class ships, in the docked configuration, generally exhibited eleven phaser arrays. Two large arrays encircled the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the command module. The other nine arrays were on the engineering module: two upper aft arrays inward of the saucer impulse engines, one on the ventral surface of the engineering section, two lateral arrays on the warp nacelle pylons, and two aft arrays each on the dorsal and ventral pylon surfaces proximate to the aft photon torpedo launcher.
An additional array, on the "cobra head" of the engineering module, was only exposed and usable when the ship was separated into its two components.
Intrepid class vessels were equipped with thirteen phaser arrays plus at least four separate phaser banks.
On the primary hull, there were two main arrays (one starboard, one port) on each of the dorsal and ventral surfaces, and two smaller aft arrays (also one starboard and one port) on each surface. One behind the bridge. The other five arrays were on the engineering section: one on the ventral surface, two lateral ventral arrays on the warp nacelle pylons, and two aft arrays on the underside of the lateral pylon.
Two separate phaser banks in the aft torpedo launchers, one aft phaser bank was located behind the second tractor beam emitter, in the aft section of Deck 14, and an embedded emitter was located on the ventral surface of the ships right nacelle.
During the firing sequence of some ship-mounted arrays. In order to maximize both energy usage and output, phaser energies would travel along the emitter strip and converge at the best position for targeting.
Systems History[]
Alternate universe history[]
In Universe Delta phaser arrays were introduced by the crew of the USS Enterprise-C to the Imperial fleet so their heavy cruiser Warships could compete with the heavier weapon capabilities of Vulcan frigates.
Bu the early 24th century phaser arrays were expanded and adapted into a secondary direct energy weapons system placed in a hull wide grid of emitter strips used in tandem with Photonic torpedos.
The emitters of these ships fired a energy yield near similar to that of Phaser cannons earning some emitter arrays installed on larger defense ships the term of Heavy Phaser arrays.
Unlike a few strategically placed arrays the placement of a grid (termed as a Assault Platform) of arrays placed across the entire ships surface allows for near omnidirectional point defensive beams from any point or angle the ship could be struck at.
By the end of the century phaser array platform grids were replaced with Terran Meson disruptors due to higher energy impact and more efficient energy usage.
During the Multiversal crisis created by Q in the early 25th century a dictatorial variant of Starfleet is encountered known as the Confederation of Earth which had the most powerful version of Phaser arrays to date. The warships of the Confederation were equipped with arrays with the blast force equaling that of Mega-Phasers.
As well as a central heavy system termed as a Juggernaut Array, a heavy array whose energy output is near equal to Vaadwaur Polaron arrays or Quantum heat emitters with each blast producing enough yottawattage to pierce most energy shielding and easily incinerate large areas of planetary surfaces or sever most physical matter in seconds
External Links[]
- Phaser array article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Phaser array article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Console - Universal - Heavy Phaser Assault Platform article at The Star Trek Online Wiki.