Why does not the Federation use fighters ?

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2003-11-20 08:00am

So why does not the Federation use fighters ? It is no as if they lack the technology to make them. As the Defiant and the Delta Flyer shows the Federation can build small but powerful ships.

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2003-11-20 08:24am

The Federation does use fighters. There are numerous mentions of fighter wings in DS9 and we see croups of fighters attacking Cardassian and Jem'hadar ships. See DS9:"Sacrifice of the Angels" for example.

Jason von Evil · Post by **Jason von Evil** » 2003-11-20 08:28am

*coughcoughperegrinescoughcough*

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2003-11-20 08:31am

Sir Sirius wrote: The Federation does use fighters. There are numerous mentions of fighter wings in DS9 and we see croups of fighters attacking Cardassian and Jem'hadar ships. See DS9:"Sacrifice of the Angels" for example.

But those fighters are huge. In "Caretaker" we see closeup of Chakotays fighter and it's about 40m in size.

And the Federation lacks any carriers. So how do they carry fighters into battle ?

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2003-11-20 08:50am

evilcat4000 wrote:But those fighters are huge. In "Caretaker" we see closeup of Chakotays fighter and it's about 40m in size.

So, is there a universal size limit on fighters that I haven't been told about? Those crafts are called fighters and used as fighters. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

evilcat4000 wrote:And the Federation lacks any carriers. So how do they carry fighters into battle ?

Their fighters appear to be warp capable.

----------*EDIT*-------------
I forgot to mention, but Chakotay's raider isn't the same class as the Federation fighters seen in DS9.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-11-20 09:03am

evilcat4000 wrote:
Sir Sirius wrote: The Federation does use fighters. There are numerous mentions of fighter wings in DS9 and we see croups of fighters attacking Cardassian and Jem'hadar ships. See DS9:"Sacrifice of the Angels" for example.
But those fighters are huge. In "Caretaker" we see closeup of Chakotays fighter and it's about 40m in size.

And the Federation lacks any carriers. So how do they carry fighters into battle ?

that ship was a Maquis Raider. larger than a Perigine IIRC

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2003-11-20 09:14am

that ship was a Maquis Raider. larger than a Perigine IIRC

Sorry about the mistake.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2003-11-20 09:15am

So, is there a universal size limit on fighters that I haven't been told about? Those crafts are called fighters and used as fighters. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

I was just saying that trek fighters are bigger than ones we see in others shows like Babylon 5 or movies like Star Wars.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-11-20 10:28am

Starfleet uses the Peregrine Tactical Fighter. It is a small eight meter fighter with its own warp engines, a single seat cockpit, and a modular weapons loadout. Each wing can carry three modular weapon systems and the nose of the fighter has two more. That makes for 8 weapon hardpoints. The wing hard points can be loaded with first and second generation Micro PPCs, Micro Torpedo launchers, or beam phasers. The nose mount can carry either beam phasers or turreted micro torpedo launchers.

The Tactical Fighter is not related to the main class of ships used by the Maquis. There is a particular model of Maquis ship that is slightly larger then the Tactical Fighter (its comparable to the Runabout in size) and there exists the larger version which Chakotay used. However, the Maquis have been shown to use a handful of Tactical Fighters.

paladin · Post by **paladin** » 2003-11-21 11:53pm

Alyeska wrote:Starfleet uses the Peregrine Tactical Fighter. It is a small eight meter fighter with its own warp engines, a single seat cockpit, and a modular weapons loadout. Each wing can carry three modular weapon systems and the nose of the fighter has two more. That makes for 8 weapon hardpoints. The wing hard points can be loaded with first and second generation Micro PPCs, Micro Torpedo launchers, or beam phasers. The nose mount can carry either beam phasers or turreted micro torpedo launchers.

The Tactical Fighter is not related to the main class of ships used by the Maquis. There is a particular model of Maquis ship that is slightly larger then the Tactical Fighter (its comparable to the Runabout in size) and there exists the larger version which Chakotay used. However, the Maquis have been shown to use a handful of Tactical Fighters.

How fast is the Tac Fighter?

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-11-22 12:15am

paladin wrote:
Alyeska wrote:Starfleet uses the Peregrine Tactical Fighter. It is a small eight meter fighter with its own warp engines, a single seat cockpit, and a modular weapons loadout. Each wing can carry three modular weapon systems and the nose of the fighter has two more. That makes for 8 weapon hardpoints. The wing hard points can be loaded with first and second generation Micro PPCs, Micro Torpedo launchers, or beam phasers. The nose mount can carry either beam phasers or turreted micro torpedo launchers.

The Tactical Fighter is not related to the main class of ships used by the Maquis. There is a particular model of Maquis ship that is slightly larger then the Tactical Fighter (its comparable to the Runabout in size) and there exists the larger version which Chakotay used. However, the Maquis have been shown to use a handful of Tactical Fighters.
How fast is the Tac Fighter?

Comparable to the Runabout. Thats fairly fast.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-11-22 12:23am

Are you sure it's 8m long?

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2003-11-22 12:23am

Comparable to the Runabout. Thats fairly fast.

What about firepower and shielding ?

paladin · Post by **paladin** » 2003-11-22 12:25am

Alyeska wrote:
How fast is the Tac Fighter?

Comparable to the Runabout. Thats fairly fast.[/quote]

Is that at both warp and impulse? Any idea of top warp speed for tac fighters?

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-11-22 12:30am

Vympel wrote:Are you sure it's 8m long?

Doh, I figured a larger size. That is rather small. I forget the exact figures but I think it was around 14-16 meters in length. This makes it comparable but smaller than a Runabout.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-11-22 12:31am

paladin wrote:Is that at both warp and impulse? Any idea of top warp speed for tac fighters?

Yes, both Warp and Impulse. Warp speed, I haven't a clue. I would hazzard to guess its not all that fast OR its not all that long of range.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2003-11-22 12:52am

Hmm. Interesting. Never knew this. Then again, I haven't watched every Trek episode ever aired, and I'd imagine that they don't show up very much. You'd think they'd load some on starships, though. Are the squadrons kept on starbases, or what?

Dark Primus · Post by **Dark Primus** » 2003-11-22 04:30am

Peregrine is the larger fighter, Tac fighter are the smaller ones seen in Sacrifice of Angels.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-11-22 11:09am

Dark Primus wrote:Peregrine is the larger fighter, Tac fighter are the smaller ones seen in Sacrifice of Angels.

Not quite. The Peregrine is a known class with no picture to go with it. Its unofficaly been labeled as the same thing as the Tac-Fighter for the most part.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2003-11-22 11:20am

Not quite. The Peregrine is a known class with no picture to go with it. Its unofficaly been labeled as the same thing as the Tac-Fighter for the most part.

So the fighter ships seen in DS9 are Tac fighters. BTW what about the two man fighter ships that the maquis used in TNG ?

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-11-22 11:55am

evilcat4000 wrote:
Not quite. The Peregrine is a known class with no picture to go with it. Its unofficaly been labeled as the same thing as the Tac-Fighter for the most part.
So the fighter ships seen in DS9 are Tac fighters. BTW what about the two man fighter ships that the maquis used in TNG ?

Those are Raiders. There are two models of that particular craft. One is about Runabout sized, the other is the one Chackotay had.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-11-22 12:48pm

Wheren't Nebula Class ships developed into carriers? And i seem to remember some other feddie ship carrying a squadron of tac-fighters.

Posbi · Post by **Posbi** » 2003-11-22 12:50pm

I think the Akiras carry fighters.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2003-11-22 11:22pm

Lord Pounder wrote:Wheren't Nebula Class ships developed into carriers? And i seem to remember some other feddie ship carrying a squadron of tac-fighters.

You're thinking of the Galaxy MK-III ships, which had a larger main shuttlebay to accomidate more fighters. I used to have pictures of them, but I'm sure Alyeska has a few.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-11-23 06:11am

While it's clear that the Federation Starfleet does use fighter, it's another matter why they don't use them more often. Some people have suggested that it's for cultural reasons that Starfleet is reluctant to use fighters to any significant degree.