NX Class Phase Cannons

[Atekimogus]

It is kinda shame....because completely out of context of the timeframe the NX Enterprise is really not so bad looking at all. And if one reads up on the development history of the model at the drexfiles they did really put a lot of thought into it, which unfortunatly was never picked up by writers. (For example they had the complete process of loading and unloading worked out and had iirc a whole system for traveling on the outside of the ship in case of repairs, unfortunatly this was never picked up by the writers, I guess they just cannot bothered to read a few notes from the designer-team, shame, really).


One of those things Drexler mentioned on the blog somewhere is, that they put a multitude of access-panels around the ship hull just for the case that they need to place a technical gagdet for an episode somewhere, so that they'd have a place for it.

Meaning that altough we see 8 holes/accessplates for phase cannons, that wouldn't necessarily mean that they have 8 phase cannons on board, just that there are 8 slots to put various stuff into it.

Considering that the NX is a technological testbed for many systems that does even make a bit of sense in universe.

[Mikey]

Not only does it make sense, it's canonical fact. To wit: the number of cannons she with which she was launched versus the on-the-go addition of a number of extry cannons.

[McAvoy]

It is kinda shame....because completely out of context of the timeframe the NX Enterprise is really not so bad looking at all. And if one reads up on the development history of the model at the drexfiles they did really put a lot of thought into it, which unfortunatly was never picked up by writers. (For example they had the complete process of loading and unloading worked out and had iirc a whole system for traveling on the outside of the ship in case of repairs, unfortunatly this was never picked up by the writers, I guess they just cannot bothered to read a few notes from the designer-team, shame, really).


One of those things Drexler mentioned on the blog somewhere is, that they put a multitude of access-panels around the ship hull just for the case that they need to place a technical gagdet for an episode somewhere, so that they'd have a place for it.

Meaning that altough we see 8 holes/accessplates for phase cannons, that wouldn't necessarily mean that they have 8 phase cannons on board, just that there are 8 slots to put various stuff into it.

Considering that the NX is a technological testbed for many systems that does even make a bit of sense in universe.

I never minded the look the of the NX class and I definitely liked the testbed aspect of it even though it really was never explicitly stated as much though.

[Jim]

Agree that you could have more, they just would not all be available at full power while at max speed. No issues with that. You don't HAVE to use everything at 100% all of the time. When in a battle and not at warp all of the power could go to the cannons as opposed to the engines. It would also give you redundant backups incase any cannons go down due to failure or damage.

[alexmann]

There have been several occasions of "transfer power to ...".

[Captain Seafort]

If they can generate enough power to propell a 280,000 metric ton starship at 125 times the speed of light, they can generate enough power for a lot more weapons.

I would love to see your calculations for the relative power required to run the warp drive and phase cannon.

Well for one thing, the first cannon test they did produced an overload that fired it at ten times normal power. So they can power at least ten normal cannons simultaneously, just by accident.

That doesn't mean the power distribution system can handle those sorts of yields without risking the whole ship blowing up.

[Graham Kennedy]

Nor does it mean that it can't.

[McAvoy]

We have heard on a few occasions that transferring power to shields, or SIF or weapons does at best a few percentage points over 100%.

[alexmann]

Well for one thing, the first cannon test they did produced an overload that fired it at ten times normal power. So they can power at least ten normal cannons simultaneously, just by accident.

That doesn't mean the power distribution system can handle those sorts of yields without risking the whole ship blowing up.

That doesn't mean they can't reinforce it from standard capacity. It's a testbed. They change their systems often, surely (not calling you Shirley, before anyone says anything) they can do that.

[McAvoy]

Beyond"Silent Enemy" can you state an episode where they verbaly enhanced the weapons or polarized plating?

[stitch626]

We've seen them firing many (more than 3) of their cannons in rapid succession while at warp.

We don't know why they were only given three to start with, but it sure as hell wasn't because they couldn't power them.

[Tsukiyumi]

Beyond"Silent Enemy" can you state an episode where they verbaly enhanced the weapons or polarized plating?

Regeneration, off the top of my head.

[Graham Kennedy]

We don't know why they were only given three to start with, but it sure as hell wasn't because they couldn't power them.

Remember that weapons were not a very high priority for these ships when they were designed. When they set out they had no idea that the galaxy was such a dangerous place. Hell, even the three cannon was a major step up in firepower over what they launched with. I suspect three was chosen on the grounds of "well three is enough for anybody, surely?"

[alexmann]

We've seen them firing many (more than 3) of their cannons in rapid succession while at warp.

We don't know why they were only given three to start with, but it sure as hell wasn't because they couldn't power them.

Thank you! I haven't watched much of Enterprise.