2.19 Weapons: Photon Torpedoes
Describes photon torpedoes as the warp-capable weapon of choice, covering how they are ordered, the four launchers, variable explosive yield, limited supply, and microtorpedoes.
In brief: An energy weapon in which a small quantity of matter and antimatter are bound together in a magnetic bottle and launched at warp speed at a target. Photon torpedoes are the weapons of choice when the ship is at warp drive, because their speed is not limited by the speed of light.
How to use it: Typical orders might include: “Load forward torpedo tube, standard charge,” “Program a standard torpedo spread,” “Target the Romulan ship,” and “Fire torpedoes.”
Torpedo Launchers: There are four torpedo launchers on Voyager, two at the lower front and two at the top rear of the Engineering hull. Photon torpedoes are “smart” weapons and are capable of tracking a moving target. Torpedoes are usually launched in clusters, each independently targeted. The explosive power of a photon torpedo can be varied by the amount of antimatter loaded into the unit.
Torpedo Power: Explosive yield can be varied from level 1 (just a fireworks display), to level 5 (a standard one kilogram antimatter charge), to a maximum of level 10 (when you want to violate strategic arms limitation treaties.)
Torpedo Limitations: Voyager does not carry an unlimited supply of torpedo casings; hence it is forced to occasionally fabricate new ones from raw planetary materials. Voyager will also employ new Microtorpedoes, roughly the size of a computer chip, for a variety of missions.