NX class torpedo launchers

[alexmann]

I was reading through some old threads in the role play forum and in the enterprise roleplay in this thread: http://ditl.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=1657 they were talking about the number of torpedo tubes (amongst other things). That got me thinking and wondering how many do they have? I had recently found a load of picturs on drexfiles of the NX class cgi model and put them together. I then marked out the number of torpedo tubes and I found six confirmed, four possibles. Now if the possibles are launchers too, this is 3-5 launchers higher than was discussed.

File is 2300 x 1639.



If you cannot see it properly go to here http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x36 ... nchers.jpg

[Reliant121]

The problem with the 4 potential launchers is they'd launch almost directly into the rear of the Saucer section. Theoretically that shouldn't be a problem, you'd expect the torpedoes to change course after launch anyway, but trek consistently shows Photonics/Photons to be more direct fire projectile weapons than tracking torpedoes.

[alexmann]

IIRC, they have been shown to track at least once or twice. I think it was in DS9 but i'm not sure.

[stitch626]

In one episode we actually see torps come from the area of 5, 6. As far as I know we never see them directly fire form there.


However, it seems they put a torp launcher in the pod thing when they upgraded to the PTs. And since the upgrade they never used the rear saucer ones again.



As for the possible launchers, not only were they never shown to fire, but hey are not large enough (based on the size of the other launchers) to be used as such. They look more like windows that were filled in.

[McAvoy]

Problem too is that the photonic torpedos ar emuch larger and of a different shape completely than the originals. Something like that would require extensive drydocking to do. Not something you can just replace a few parts with and call it day.

[Captain Seafort]

Problem too is that the photonic torpedos ar emuch larger and of a different shape completely than the originals. Something like that would require extensive drydocking to do. Not something you can just replace a few parts with and call it day.

She was drydocked for refitting before going into the Expanse - they gave her the full weapons fit intended to be introduced with Colombia.

[alexmann]

If you look carefully at the full size one you can see the phase cannon ports too. I may label them sometime.

[McAvoy]

Problem too is that the photonic torpedos ar emuch larger and of a different shape completely than the originals. Something like that would require extensive drydocking to do. Not something you can just replace a few parts with and call it day.

She was drydocked for refitting before going into the Expanse - they gave her the full weapons fit intended to be introduced with Colombia.

I meant for a long time. Something like that sort of refit should have took much longer than what we were shown. Yeah, she was given parts intended for the Columbia but in they would still have to reconstruct many of the launchers inside and outside to use those torpedos.

[Tsukiyumi]

I meant for a long time. Something like that sort of refit should have took much longer than what we were shown. Yeah, she was given parts intended for the Columbia but in they would still have to reconstruct many of the launchers inside and outside to use those torpedos.

This tempts me to make another "Fix Enterprise" thread.

[Captain Seafort]

I meant for a long time. Something like that sort of refit should have took much longer than what we were shown. Yeah, she was given parts intended for the Columbia but in they would still have to reconstruct many of the launchers inside and outside to use those torpedos.

Not necessarily. Assuming the class was designed with PTs in mind they could easily have set up the launchers so they could be slid out as a unit and replaced with the new ones.

[alexmann]

I agree. It would have made sense for them to build the torp launchers as modules and then they could just take them out in one go really easily, especially with transporters.

[Captain Seafort]

I agree. It would have made sense for them to build the torp launchers as modules and then they could just take them out in one go really easily, especially with transporters.

Assuming that transporters are accurate enough and have the capacity to do so. They'd be far better off simply designing them so that the old tubes could be slid out and the new ones slid in as a dockyard operation.

[McAvoy]

Well that makes the most sense. Modern planes are similar. Take for example the Super Hornet. When they were first introduced, they had very much the same equipment as a normal Hornet. Over time up to today, each part and piece of equipment were swapped out with recently developed technlogy to eventually there is a much larger gap between a Hornet and Super Hornet.

It is the one thing I did like about Enterprise was that it was basically a testbed for new technologies.

[Mikey]

Which would, in turn, mean that it makes sense for the components to be modular as in the F/A-18. However, making sense is something that seems to be lacking in 'Trek design.

I also agree that ENT-era transporters are both too inaccurate and too mistrusted by most people to be used for construction purposes.

[Captain Seafort]

For that matter, is there any evidence they're even capable of beaming an item from pad to a remote location, rather than vice versa?