NX Class Phase Cannons

[alexmann]

According to Silent Enemy, Enterprise was designed to carry 3 phase cannons. However, an examination of pics of the CGI model from Doug Drexler shows a far larger number of 8.


http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x36 ... annons.jpg

[stitch626]

Yeah...

To put it simply, she was launched in a less prepared state than the E-B.

[Captain Seafort]

To put it simply, she was launched in a less prepared state than the E-B.

She wasn't that bad - she at least had torpedoes and a medical staff.

[Captain Seafort]

According to Silent Enemy, Enterprise was designed to carry 3 phase cannons. However, an examination of pics of the CGI model from Doug Drexler shows a far larger number of 8.

When is that image from? Enterprise was refitted several times, with additional cannon added on each occasion, as Graham's analysed before.

[Teaos]

Not to mention Colombia was rather different as well. Think the ships evolved significantly over time.

But the issue isn't adding more. It could easily have fifty. But they would only be able to have 2 or 3 operational at one time.

The NX class only had a fixed energy out put which wouldn't have changed much over time. Maybe a few percent up as the fine tuned it and fitted in newer parts. But by that logic it would lose power as it wore out.

And if phase canons need to be kept "armed" for us, implying a degree of power being feed into them, then you would only be able to have the original number armed at one point.

[alexmann]

According to Silent Enemy, Enterprise was designed to carry 3 phase cannons. However, an examination of pics of the CGI model from Doug Drexler shows a far larger number of 8.

When is that image from? Enterprise was refitted several times, with additional cannon added on each occasion, as Graham's analysed before.

http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/06/ ... ise-class/

I believe that was the last CGI model they used and I just counted the number of ports.

[Lighthawk]

The number of places a gun could be isn't the same as the number of operational guns. As Teaos pointed out, energy could be a limiting factor. Those extra ports could also represent planned future upgrades.

[stitch626]

Or in the case of the early episodes... number of physical cannons available on the ship was the limiting factor.

[Teaos]

But of the power is split between them more doesnt mean better.

[alexmann]

While it would be split, I think they had enough power for more guns.

[McAvoy]

And your reasoning behind this is?

I guess presumably they could fit more cannons but there would still be a physical limitation somewhere if not power.

[alexmann]

Well maybe not at warp but my reasoning is:

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.

[McAvoy]

Yeah and then it won't be a Warp 5 ship. Ships are are all about some sort of balance. You could have the NX class this super battleship but it won't do much if it takes months to go anywhere as opposed to being there in a matter of days or even weeks.

[alexmann]

No, my point is:

When they are not at warp they can use the power that would be used for that to power the weapons systems.

[Graham Kennedy]

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.

And given that nobody said anything about the warp core being at all stressed by this, that implies to me that the phase cannon don't actually draw a whole lot of power. So does the fact that they can fire at least two phase cannon whilst at still running from enemy ships at warp. YMMV on that one.