Replicating Torpeadoes

[Stark]

i agree. for the same reason you can't fire a .45 ACP and a 9MM Parabellum from the same gun. sure the may look similar as they wizz by you but they most certainly are not.

If the torp casings are launched by their own engines or thrown by forcefields, it doesn't matter what kind of torp it is. The tube is much larger than the actual torpedo - don't forget we've SEEN torps, we've SEEN the port on the outside, and we've SEEN the GCS fire five torps through the port simultaneously. I don't see why not, and this isn't what DW is suggesting anyway. The Federales probably bought parts or converted local torpedoes.

EDIT --- More specifically, we've seen VOYAGERS launchers and they're more than 2m across too.

[Howedar]

However, we've seen the insides of a torpedo launcher, and they just barely fit a single torpedo in. A burst-fire torpedo launcher is probably just a collection of single-fire launchers like this.

[TurboPhaser]

I've always wondered about that "warp plasma". In a TNG episode, we see a bunch of mercenaries going after the warp plasma on the Enterprise, which was identified as WASTE from the Enterprise's engines. It was also highly volitile and considered a huge danger to be carrying around. We watched it blow up an entire vessel at the end of the episode.

So why doesn't the Federation use this for a type of primary or secondary weapon to put in their torpedoes? It's waste that can be used, not just stored somewhere, putting yet another ticking timebomb on the ship?

In reguards to the topic, though, they did make a big deal in the beginning that supplies were limited, but convienently forgot about it later on. The ship only carried like 32 or 38 or something torpedoes from what I've read, and that seems consistant with the first few seasons where they were extremely cautious with regards to them. Like the shuttles, I think this is just one of those things that was solved by writer stupidity than most else, otherwise it simply doesn't make much sense about them worrying about torpedo supplies in the beginning, but firing them off like a frickin peez dispenser later on.

Thats a bloody good point. Voyager presumably generated the same waste, they coulda shoved that stuff in some torps, and make some equal or superior weapons to Photons.

And just for the record, Voyager fired a total of 96 out of their 32 torpedoes during their stay in the DQ.

[Stark]

However, we've seen the insides of a torpedo launcher, and they just barely fit a single torpedo in. A burst-fire torpedo launcher is probably just a collection of single-fire launchers like this.

The only 'tube workings I've seen are those in ST:TUC, and that could have been a feed for the main tube. But true; hardly conclusive. I still figure it couldn't be hard to construct a rough analog from DQ parts tho. They were cut off from SF, not from everyone. When they were totally out of offical torps it wouldn't have been out of the question to modify the launcher anyway.
OT, I agree totally with the multi-launcher thing. Some seem to think that *every* tube hole in TNG is a five-pack like the GCS (notably the Akira).

[Uraniun235]

However, we've seen the insides of a torpedo launcher, and they just barely fit a single torpedo in. A burst-fire torpedo launcher is probably just a collection of single-fire launchers like this.

The only 'tube workings I've seen are those in ST:TUC, and that could have been a feed for the main tube. But true; hardly conclusive. I still figure it couldn't be hard to construct a rough analog from DQ parts tho. They were cut off from SF, not from everyone. When they were totally out of offical torps it wouldn't have been out of the question to modify the launcher anyway.
OT, I agree totally with the multi-launcher thing. Some seem to think that *every* tube hole in TNG is a five-pack like the GCS (notably the Akira).

You haven't seen Wrath of Khan?

[Jeremy]

You ever see a replicator bigger then a large microwave? I sure as hell haven't. Maybe they just can't make something that big.

Oh I am sure they could rig something up with a holodeck, a transporter and a kitchen replicator though judging from how succesful the Federation's Holodeck technology is making a photon torpedo could be quite... dangerous.

[Sea Skimmer]

Yeah though I believe they can make AM using their fusion reactors(hence why they are always looking for deuterium), it's a net-loss process but it creates anti-matter.

Trek ships are supposed to carry anti matter generators. The biggest hurdle may be what fraction of the fusion reactors power can be devoted to them, while still keeping life support and other functions going.

[Sarevok]

Janeway and Chakotay seem concerned about concerving their photon torpedoes at the beginning. It's possible they can't replicate them, but then bought a large supply of them.

In the first season Voyger episode "The Cloud" Chakotay told Janeway that Voyger has only 38 photon torpedoes remaining and they can not replace them.

Janeway did heed his comment. Voyger rarely used torpedoes unless absolutely necessary. Most battles were fought exclusively with phasers. For example most Kazon ships were dealt with phasers only. Only the 2 km long Oglas were engaged with torpedoes.

However still many torpedoes were fired. Interestingly Janeway may have reloaded their torpedo complement just before encountering the Borg. In "Scorpion" Seven of Nine mentions that Voygers weapons include 32 photon torpedoes. Voyger fired more than 6 of her 38 torpedoes before that so Janeway must have found a way to reload.-

Replicators can't make antimatter; if they could, it would be ridiculous for Voyager to be running around searching for fuel. Therefore, they can't make photon torpedoes, since they're pretty much useless without the antimatter charge.

Photon torpedoes use only 1.5 kg of anti-matter when set on max yield. From your site a GCS carries 480 tons of anti-matter. While an Intrepid much smaller it too would have many tons anti-matter on board. So anti-matter for the torpedoes is not going to be a problem.

Yeah though I believe they can make AM using their fusion reactors(hence why they are always looking for deuterium), it's a net-loss process but it creates anti-matter.

But the process is very slow. In "Deadlock" Voyger could not produce enough anti-matter to keep their lifesupport running.

So why doesn't the Federation use this for a type of primary or secondary weapon to put in their torpedoes? It's waste that can be used, not just stored somewhere, putting yet another ticking timebomb on the ship?

The Romulans do have plasma torpedoes.

From whom could they buy Federation-standard torpedos?

With slight modifications DQ Photon torpedoes may be compatible with Intrepid class torpedo launchers. Some DQ races do have photon torpedo technology. Many who do not have them are at least aware of it. For example the alien captain in "The Void" expressed interest about Voygers torpedoes. In another episode an alien race requested some photon torpedoes for use on their fighters. In both cases ships were compatible with Federation photon torpedoes.

[TurboPhaser]

My theory on how everyone seems to have Photon Torpedoes is that in the Trek universe, Photon torpedoes are like machine guns on our planet.

Everyone knows about them, and they are just a standard space weapon. For example, the USA has machine guns, and so does Australia. They may be different models, but they are basically the same.

Same thing with ya Photons I think. Just a natural, predictable space development. Like how humans were using bows and arrows (primitive space missiles) then we developed guns (Photon Torpedoes).

What do ya think?