A Torpedo Tube?

[James Wright]

Do starships with forward & aft torpedo tubes have an advantage over ships with a single forward tube?

JDW

 

[C.E. Evans]

Having an aft launcher is good when you want to be able to fire from multiple angles. Or perhaps to cover what would otherwise be a weapons blind spot against more maneuverable ships that may try to outflank you.

 

[LeadHead]

I Agree, an aft Torpedo Launcher would provide a definite advantage. In Addition to being able to fire from multiple angles, it allows you to use Torpedoes while executing escape maneuvers.

 

[James Wright]

Is there an advantage to be gained by removing a torpedo tube from a starship, say like the K't'inga?

JDW

 

[kv1at3485]

Given the technical capabilities of the missiles, and the low-mobility nature of combat, I'd say there is little disadvantage to lacking an aft tube. Except perhaps at warp, and that's assuming that the missile can't execute manoeuvres in that state of things.

 

[Unicron]

It would depend on why it's removed. There certainly might be some advantages, if you wanted to modify the ship for scouting or research purposes where combat would not be a huge risk. It's all in the mission profile.

 

[Timo]

OTOH, the K't'ingas without torpedoes in DS9 "Way of the Warrior" could have been specifically modified for bombardment of space stations and planets. They were older vessels, after all, perhaps no longer fit for ship-to-ship combat duty.

If Gowron's military campaign was to involve lots of bombardment, the red-beam weapon might have been superior for that, there being no demand for extreme range or any degree of maneuverability. And a large old battle cruiser would be an excellent platform for mounting this weaponry.

When the beam is seen again in "Rules of Engagement", it is in a low-intensity scenario - a turkey shoot at a transport convoy. Even a suboptimal, bombardment-modified vessel could be sent to do that. Especially if the Klingon plan involved sacrificing the vessel in order to make a political point. Who knows if the old cruiser even had a crew on board...?

Timo Saloniemi