Possible Roles For Fighters

[SomosFuga]

Fighters generally = shuttles in trek

Yep, tha's pity, i would like to see more fighters and maybe a carrier on trek, espetially for DS9.

[Lazar]

Yep, tha's pity, i would like to see more fighters and maybe a carrier on trek, espetially for DS9.

Fighters and infantry were both rather neglected in Trek.

[Sonic Glitch]

Yep, tha's pity, i would like to see more fighters and maybe a carrier on trek, espetially for DS9.

Fighters and infantry were both rather neglected almost completely ignored in Trek.

Fixed

[Graham Kennedy]

As generally depicted, fighters were pretty much an obsolete concept in Trek.

[Aaron]

Yeah, seems they just used them in DS9 cause they needed every ship they had.

[Sionnach Glic]

Aye, only useful as distractions. In Trek, power generaly increases with size. So such small craft would be useless.

[SomosFuga]

What about a couple dozens of fighters carring 6 or 8 quantum torpedoes each, that would be some distraction.

My point is: if we saw a Danube Class fighting a Jem'hadar attack ship in DS9 ep "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River" why can't they have a ship of similar size, not being a multirole craft but a dedicated fighter, no cargo or passenger areas but with greater fire power, better shielding and much more maneuverability; would probably be short-range but that is why they need a carrier.

[Mikey]

Now you're talking about a ship 1/3 the (purported) size of the Defiant, with a considerable investment in materials and materiel. Hardly a fighter. And I don't recall ever seeing a fighter carry QT's.

[Lazar]

Now you're talking about a ship 1/3 the (purported) size of the Defiant,

The Defiant's length is very uncertain, but certainly nowhere near 1/3 the mass.

[Mikey]

I never said anything about mass. And according to visual canon, the Defiant's length is sometimes in the vicinity of 60 - 70m (among other figures.) In any event, the runabout's size and format make it noticeably different from a fighter. 'Trek fighters would be more like... the fighters we saw. And what ep showed those carriers you mentioned?

[Tsukiyumi]

...'Trek fighters would be more like... the fighters we saw...

I'm sure they could build a heavier fighter if needed. Regardless, you'd think they could slap a full-size photon on each one, have them fire a wave of ordinance, and then return to whatever ship launched them.

[Lazar]

I never said anything about mass. And according to visual canon, the Defiant's length is sometimes in the vicinity of 60 - 70m (among other figures.)

Well you didn't specify whether by size you meant length or mass; but yes, the visual canon can put the Defiant anywhere between 60 m and 170 m. I think the most reasonable figure would be about 120 m; EAS does have a picture of the Defiant (shown as about 170 m) dwarfing a runabout.

And what ep showed those carriers you mentioned?

I didn't mention carriers.

[Lighthawk]

...'Trek fighters would be more like... the fighters we saw...

I'm sure they could build a heavier fighter if needed. Regardless, you'd think they could slap a full-size photon on each one, have them fire a wave of ordinance, and then return to whatever ship launched them.

You should be able to slap a couple full sized photons on each. A torp isn't much bigger than a lot of missiles/bombs/what-have-you that modern fighters/bombers carry, and is smaller than some of said weapons. And modern warplanes tend to carry more than one boom tube with them at a time.

A dozen or so fighters with just a pair of torps each would be a pretty powerful little force, at least for a volley or two.

[Tsukiyumi]

...A dozen or so fighters with just a pair of torps each would be a pretty powerful little force, at least for a volley or two.

Agreed. 24 photons would be more than double a GCS volley, while only putting 12 people in harm's way. Lather, rinse, repeat. I think fighters could be effective; the Federation just chooses not to field them.

[SomosFuga]

Now you're talking about a ship 1/3 the (purported) size of the Defiant, with a considerable investment in materials and materiel. Hardly a fighter. And I don't recall ever seeing a fighter carry QT's.

That would be a huge fighter but is not what i had in mind. If we take DITL numbers as at least roughly acurate, and i think most of them are, this is what we have.

Danube Class:
Length : 23.1 m
Beam : 14 m
Height : 5.4 m
Decks : 1
Mass : 158.72 metric tons
Crew : 1, 40 evacuation limit

Defiant Class:
Length : 170.68 m
Beam : 134.11 m
Height : 30.1 m
Decks : 46
Mass : 355,000 metric tons
Crew : 50, 150 evacuation limit

So a Danube is not 1/3 the size of a Defiant. You could have a fighter of about 20m long. That would be much heavier than a Peregrine.

About the torpedoes, you don't have to get the torpedo inside the ship, there are hardpoints. Of course the fighter may have other weapons like pulse or regular phasers too.