Quantum Torpedoes

[Mark]

You know, something about Quantum Torpedoes has always bothered me. They are "supposed" to be more powerful than the standard photon torpedo, yet the casings look identical. The Lakota was upgraded to carry them, and the Excelsior class is one of the oldest still being fielded by Starfleet. Wouldn't you think they would upgrade as many other ships as they could to use these things? How hard could it be?

Plus, I've seen ALOT of speculation over the benifets of the Quantum Torpedo vs the Photon Torpedo, everything from being more effective against shields to being a "safer" alternative that won't accidentally detonate in the tube. Does anybody actually have any hard info? If it is more powerful, how much more, and if so, why are they still using photons? Each must have some different kind of benifet I suppose.

Sorry, I'm rambleing

[Thorin]

The TM says the quantums are about 2.5 times more powerful than the photons, and that they're not replicitable, meaning photons must still be employed. That's not canon but it's the best explanation I've heard.

[KuvahMagh]

Likely a cost/resources factor is involved. Sure you can refit the ship but is it worth it to refit all of your ships. Even with new builds like the Sovereign it still relies almost totally on Photons. It isn't until you start getting into the Pure Warship area where you see full load out Quantums, ie the Defiant and Prometheus, both of which are new. Lakota was likely a one off refit given what it was meant to do in the episode, mainly protect the take over until it could be completed.

As to Cannon Strength figures, so far as I know they don't exist.

[Teaos]

*in before Deeps rant*

Yeah I always thought they were harder to make so while you could upgrade ships to fire them you couldnt stock them.

As for why they are better, like you have said its been covered a lot.

[Tsukiyumi]

They're better because they're blue. End of story.

[Thorin]

ie the Defiant and Prometheus, both of which are new.

The Promethues had photons as well.

And, of course, they're better because you know... quantum.
...Rather than photon...

[KuvahMagh]

ie the Defiant and Prometheus, both of which are new.

The Promethues had photons as well.

And, of course, they're better because you know... quantum.
...Rather than photon...

Are you sure, according to DITL it uses Quantums and while I haven't seen the episode in a while I don't remember there being any Photons.

[Tsukiyumi]

Are you sure, according to DITL it uses Quantums and while I haven't seen the episode in a while I don't remember there being any Photons.

Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKFMgDVGaos

At about 2:00 they fire a photon, which accidentally hits one of the Defiants.

[KuvahMagh]

I stand corrected...

[Sionnach Glic]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; I've yet to see anything to suggest quantum torpedoes are anything other than photons set to 'blue'.

[Blackstar the Chakat]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; I've yet to see anything to suggest quantum torpedoes are anything other than photons set to 'blue'.

Well 4 of them were enough to destroy a borg sphere, so I guess they're more powerful or something.

[Thorin]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; I've yet to see anything to suggest quantum torpedoes are anything other than photons set to 'blue'.

Well 4 of them were enough to destroy a borg sphere, so I guess they're more powerful or something.

As compared to a unknown number of photon torpedos to destroy a borg sphere. Besides the fact there is no comparison, the Borg Sphere was clearly weakened from both the Cube's destruction (it took out an Akira) and the temporal vortex, which probably, like the E-E, took out its shields. Not that I disagree that quantum's are more powerful - them being on the only flagship and only warship, but there isn't any quasi-concrete evidence to support it. So I - personally - just go along with the TM in this case.

[Teaos]

I suppose you could also compare it to the two types of nukes there are. The older more primitive type that has an upper limit to how big it can be built, and the newer more powerful typre that to my knowledge has no upper limit.

[Sionnach Glic]

Well 4 of them were enough to destroy a borg sphere, so I guess they're more powerful or something.

And? We have no idea of how well shielded that sphere was, if at all. We have no idea if the sphere was damaged by the battle earlier. We have no idea how four photorps would do in that situation.
So, basicaly, that incident is useless for gauging firepower.

For the sake of argument, I go along with the TM's number and assume they're more powerful. That makes sense. I'm just pointing out that we've never seen anything in the show itself to suggest it.

[Captain Seafort]

The TM says the quantums are about 2.5 times more powerful than the photons, and that they're not replicitable, meaning photons must still be employed. That's not canon but it's the best explanation I've heard.

Given the lack of evidence on screen for a bigger bang, I think it would be more precise to say that they're more effective than PTs. There'd be no point in having them if they didn't confer some sort of advantage, and they obviously aren't easier to produce as we still see PTs far more frequently. My preferred theory is that they've got some kind of tunnelling warhead, or a shaped charge, given that the QTs we've seen only appear visible due to their effect on the target, rather than the explosion itself.