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NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:28 pm
by 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.

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

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:43 pm
by stitch626
Yeah...

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

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:44 pm
by Captain Seafort
stitch626 wrote: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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:46 pm
by Captain Seafort
alexmann wrote: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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 3:16 am
by 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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:22 am
by alexmann
Captain Seafort wrote:
alexmann wrote: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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 12:28 am
by 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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 3:03 am
by stitch626
Or in the case of the early episodes... number of physical cannons available on the ship was the limiting factor.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:39 am
by Teaos
But of the power is split between them more doesnt mean better.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:21 pm
by alexmann
While it would be split, I think they had enough power for more guns.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:48 am
by 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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 2:06 pm
by 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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:44 pm
by 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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:25 pm
by 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.

Re: NX Class Phase Cannons

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:04 pm
by 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.