Pattern Sierra

[Photon]

When alternate time line Picard fired, PT's at the 3 BoP he used pattern sierra. Never had seen that before in Trek (that I remember), when one torp became 3 smaller torps and hit their target.

Was that type of torpedo fire seen before or after?

 

[erastus25]

I can't think of another time. They should have combined it with the "heat seaking" PT from TUC. That would have been an awesome torpedo.

 

[USS Excelsior]

Voyager used it against Kazon ships.

 

[Trekker4747]

I doubt it was three torpedoes that became three, but rather three single torpedoes bunched together looking like one that separated after a distance.

And I'm pretty sure there's been other times this has happened, when the Enterprise fires at the ancient alien ship and some asteroids in "Booby Trap", for example. (IIRC)

 

[Ln X]

When alternate time line Picard fired, PT's at the 3 BoP he used pattern sierra. Never had seen that before in Trek (that I remember), when one torp became 3 smaller torps and hit their target.

Was that type of torpedo fire seen before or after?

Wasn't 'pattern sierra' in Yesterday's Enterprise?

 

[Orac]

^ I do believe that's the alternate timeline photon is refering too.

If memory serves, the footage of the Enterprise firing 3 torpedoes at once originated in The Arsenal of Freedom. I don't think it was refered to as Pattern Sierra in that episode though.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

The TNG tech manual states that the torpedoes were launched in a cluster and then split up to be guided independently. It was first done in "Arsenal of Freedom" (the footage was recycled in "Yesterday's Enterprise", and in "Pen Pals" a similar volley was fired, though it was only four torpedoes in that one. In later episodes they seem to switch from this format to rapid-fire bursts of one torpedo at a time.

In "Basics, Part 1" Janeway once did command a sierra firing pattern, but all we saw was the usual one-at-a-time shots. Sierra is more likely about how and where you want your torpedoes to hit the ship, rather than how they're fired.

Mark

 

[Newton]

The TNG tech manual states that the torpedoes were launched in a cluster and then split up to be guided independently. It was first done in "Arsenal of Freedom" (the footage was recycled in "Yesterday's Enterprise", and in "Pen Pals" a similar volley was fired, though it was only four torpedoes in that one. In later episodes they seem to switch from this format to rapid-fire bursts of one torpedo at a time.

In "Basics, Part 1" Janeway once did command a sierra firing pattern, but all we saw was the usual one-at-a-time shots. Sierra is more likely about how and where you want your torpedoes to hit the ship, rather than how they're fired.

Mark

We have a winner!

To quote the TNG Tech Manual, " ...launchers can be loaded with as many as ten torpedoes at one time for simultaneous launch. In such cases, all torpedo devices are ejected from the tube in a single impulse and remain together for approximately 150 meters. At this point, individual control programs assume flight and targeting control for each torpedo..."

I don't think that the phrase "pattern sierra" appears in the manual, and was likely not used consistently in the show.

@Mark_Nguyen: I'm impressed at your knowledge of torpedo firing sequences.

Yes, I have almost worn out my copy of the TNG Tech Manual.

 

[Trekker4747]

Yes, I have almost worn out my copy of the TNG Tech Manual.

Ew.

 

[Newton]

Yes, I have almost worn out my copy of the TNG Tech Manual.

Ew.

Touché.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

I wouldn't want to touché your manual.

Besides, I've got my own manual to leaf through. Manually.

Mark

 

[Trekker4747]

I will say, my Tech Manual is quite tattered and torn too.

One of these days I may hop on e-Bay or something and get a clean, "like-new" copy. I would kill to have a re-issue done with the slick pages and pretty, clean, diagrams and drawings in it like the DS9 Tech Manual.

 

[Newton]

Hmm, I haven't got the DS9 Tech Manual. I'm only getting back into Trek after a 10 year absence. Is it any good? And, is there anywhere I can get it new for a decent price? A Google search suggests I can get it new, but for much, much more than I would want to pay.

 

[Trekker4747]

The DS9 tech manual is nice-looking, with slick beautiful pages with very nice drawings but the content is somewhat lacking. It's not written nearly as "technically" as the TNG one is. The TNG one reading it I felt like I was actually reading a tech book from the 24th century. The DS9 one read quite a bit simpler.

 

[Newton]

The DS9 tech manual is nice-looking, with slick beautiful pages with very nice drawings but the content is somewhat lacking. It's not written nearly as "technically" as the TNG one is. The TNG one reading it I felt like I was actually reading a tech book from the 24th century. The DS9 one read quite a bit simpler.

Thanks for the reply. I might pick it up if I can find it for a reasonable price.

 

[Forbin]

I believe the proper pronunciation is "See edda!"

 

[Trekker4747]

The DS9 tech manual is nice-looking, with slick beautiful pages with very nice drawings but the content is somewhat lacking. It's not written nearly as "technically" as the TNG one is. The TNG one reading it I felt like I was actually reading a tech book from the 24th century. The DS9 one read quite a bit simpler.

Thanks for the reply. I might pick it up if I can find it for a reasonable price.

USED ONES available from Amazon starting from $12.

 

[Ln X]

I think I may get a DS9 tech manual, it would be a great help for story writing (you know getting the technical details right).

 

[SonOfMogh]

Picard's dialogue is actually something like, "dispersal pattern Sierra, and fire". I'd guess that a dispersal pattern refers to the cluster of torps as opposed to the ship movement etc.

 

[Photon]

I believe the proper pronunciation is "See edda!"

Heh, noticed that too.