(covers information from several alternate timelines)
| Pulse phaser bank | |
|---|---|
| |
|
Class: |
Primary weapons |
|
Type: |
Primary particle beam |
|
Yield: |
4 to 5 isotons |
|
Lethal Range: |
10 parsecs |
Pulse phaser banks are the central Primary Nadion particle beam based Weapons delivery system placed aboard all Starfleet and various iterations of Starfleet star and warships throughout the known Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Each bank contains between 1 to 4 Pulse phaser cannon emitters from which the beam energy was actually released but which had shared common power sources and targeting systems.
History[]
The system was first utilized as early as 2257. Built and designed as a replacement system for both Laser and Phase cannons of earlier-era ships, the Phaser bank was built as its earlier predecessor as a basic energy weapons system of both energy economy and high impact.
The first starship to be outfitted with this new system was the USS Farragut. Mid-2260s phaser banks consisted of only one emitter each and drew power from rechargeable power sources separate from the main ship's power. By the 2260s all Constitution-class starships were equipped with a minimum of 12 phaser banks, though they tended to be (and still are) fired in pairs.
The main banks used to be located on the lower and upper halves of a ship's forward or saucer section, also known as the primary hull, forward of the main sensor array. Additional banks were located on the ship's stern section, above the shuttle bay. Port and Starboard banks covered the ship's flanks.
In the 2270s a new system that tied the main power generators was developed. While it did increase phaser power it had the disadvantage of cutting off most or all power if the generators were ever damaged.
Specifications[]
A small pulse phaser bank is powered by a 4.2-gigawatt matter/anti-matter power battery generator.