From: jwindley%asylum.cs.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Jay Windley)
Subject: Re: weapons technology
Date: 2 Sep 92 16:05:59 MDT
Followup-To: rec.arts.startrek.tech
Organization: University of Utah CS Dept

(followups to rec.arts.startrek.tech)

cglover@lonestar.utsa.edu (Calvin G. Glover) writes:
>
>    why isn't there a guided photon torpedo?

All photon torpedoes can be guided.  The Tech Manual is fairly clear
on this.

Guided/Smart weapons are not guaranteed to hit their targets.  There
are certain tolerances that must be met, and certain circumstances
that must exist.  So it may appear that photon torpedoes are
inaccurate, but there are plausible reasons for this.  It isn't that
they are unguided.

One condition which must be met is that the target must be trackable.
That is, the target must emit or reflect some detectable matter or
energy.  Another important circumstance is the maneuverability of the
target.  Most targets can maneuver more radically than weapons, so
evasion is always a possibility.

>    we know that they are capable of guiding them, as shown in stvi.

The problem was not that the torpedo was not normally guided.  The
problem was that the target was invisible.  No matter how smart a
weapon is, it cannot hit something which cannot be detected.  The
torpedo would normally not detect and home on ionized gas.  Spock
theorized that such gas would be present, and if the torpedo could be
made to "see" such gas, its onboard guidance would find the target.

>    even in st.tng you hear picard and
>    whorf talking about torpedo "spreads", like they were adjusting the
>    choke on a shotgun.  shoot out a bunch and hope that one hits?  please.

If you recall, almost all scenarios which feature an unguided weapon
dispersion involve a target which is not detectable.  In this case a
series of weapons is launched and guided (either by the launch
platform or by onboard logic) in a flight path which is designed to be
difficult to evade.  Since homing weapons are not applicable (nothing
for them to home on), this is the next highest scenario for high kill
probability.

>    and it also seems to me that they would have more than just two primary
>    weapons at their disposal.  phasers and photons, that's it?

The GALAXY class starships are Explorers, not warships.  Their primary
function is exploration, and the weapons are for their own defense.
The GALAXY class is highly adaptable, and it is conceivable in time of
war that the ship could be fitted with additional armament types.

Here is a brief, non-canonical scenario I worked up during a
particularly boring staff meeting :-).  It represents a hierarchy of
complexity for guidance, sensing, and detonation capabilities for a
TNG photon torpedo.

                             G U I D A N C E

1. UNGUIDED.  The weapon simply travels at nominal velocity in the
direction of launch.
	Advantages: (1) No onboard logic; weapon is robust to
countermeasures and system failure.  (2) No tracking emissions; weapon
is EMCON secure and less likely to be detected.
	Disadvantages: (1) Low overall PK.
	Indications: Target likely to utilize effective electronic
countermeasures; weapon EMCON is a mission priority; weapon
preparation equipment damaged or unreliable.

2. PATTERN GUIDED.  The weapon traverses a preprogrammed, unaltered
flight plan.
	Advantages: (1) No tracking emissions.
	Disadvantages: (1) Weapon flight plan can be predicted to
facilitate countermeasures or evasion.  (2) Flight plan cannot be
altered.
	Indications: Target likely to employ effective tactical
countermeasures; target likely to attempt minimal evasion; target not
visible to sensing devices but localized.

3. MULTIPLE PATTERN GUIDED.  A series of weapons traverse flight plans
designed to secure significant volumes of space.
	Advantages: (1) No tracking emissions.  (2) Higher PK than
above.
	Disadvantages: (1) Acclerated exhaustion of weapon allotment.
	Indications: Target likely to employ effective tactical
countermeasures; target likely to attempt complex evasion; target not
visible to sensing devices and not localized.

4. PLATFORM GUIDED (PASSIVE).  Weapon is guided via subspace link from
launch platform; launch platform sensing devices used to track target.
	Advantages: (1) Complex, adaptable flight plan possible with
additional computer assets.  (2) Manual weapon control possible.  (3)
Weapon is ENCOM secore.
	Disadvantages: (1) Launch platform is not EMCON secure.  (2)
Subspace link can be compromised.
	Indications: Tracking criteria not detectable by onboard
sensors; onboard logic insufficient to ensure kill; manual control is
a mission priority.

5. PLATFORM GUIDED (ACTIVE).  Weapon is guided via subspace link from
launch platform; combination of weapon and platform sensing devices
used to track target.
	Advantages: (1) Additional sensing assets can be employed to
track target; weapon POV transmitted to tactical control station.
	Disadvantages: (2) Weapon is not EMCON secure.
	Indications: Target partially or completely obscured to
platform sensors, but localized and trackable given adequate POV.

6. SELF GUIDED (PASSIVE).  Weapon homes on target emissions.
	Advantages: (1) Target is self illuminating.  (2) Weapon
behavior independent of platform status.  (3) Weapon is EMCON secure.
	Disadvantages: (1) Weapon sensor suite may be insufficient.
(2) Onboard logic may be insufficient or compromised.
	Indications: EMCON security is mission priority; platform
computer assets unreliable or unavialable; platform survivability is
unlikely; subspace link compromise likely;

7. SELF GUIDED (ACTIVE).  Weapon emits active sensor energy to
localize target.
	Advantages: (1) Highest overall PK.  (2) Target EMCON status
irrelevant.
	Disadvantages: (1) Weapon is not EMCON secure.
	Indications: Target likely to evade or employ electronic
countermeasures; target is EMCON secure; high PK desired.


                             S E N S I N G

1. PASSIVE EM.  Weapon senses EM emissions from target.
	Advantages: (1) Weapon is EMCON secure.  (2) Sensing hardware
is robust.
	Disadvantages: (1) Target may initiate EMCON protocol.  (2) EM
emissions not reliable at warp speeds.
	Indications: Target is not likely or unable to secure EM
emissions; target stationary or moving at sublight speeds, not likely
to exceed speed of light.

2. ACTIVE EM.  Weapon emits EM energy and detects reflections from
target.
	Advantages: (1) Target EMCON status irrelevant.  (2) EM return
signal gives target aspect and range.
	Disadvantages: (1) Weapon is not EMCON secure.  (2) EM
emissions not reliable at warp speeds.
	Indications: Target is EMCON secure; target stationary or
moving at sublight speeds.

3. SPATIAL DISTORTION.  Weapon detects distortions of space/time
caused by all masses.
	Advantages: (1) Weapon is EMCON secure.  (2) Target EMCON
status irrelevant.  (3) Target "stealth" status irrelavant.
	Disadvantages:  (1) Sensing hardware is not robust.  (2)
Target discrimination impossible.  (3) Mass reduction effect of warp
travel may reduce gravitational signature.
	Indications: Target is moving at warp speeds and is EMCON
secure.  Target employs "stealth" antidetection technology.

4. SUBSPATIAL DISTORTION.  Weapon detects subspace distortions caused
by warp drive.
	Advantages: (1) Weapon is EMCON secure.  (2) Target EMCON
status irrelevant.  (3) Subspace distortion not likely to be masked.
	Disadvantages: (1) Sensing hardware complex and not robust.
	Indications: Target employs traditional warp propulsion.


                        D E T O N A T I O N

1. PHYSICAL IMPACT.  Weapon detonates after sensing deceleration
suggestive of impact.
	Advantages: (1) Weapon robust to countermeasures.
	Disadvantages: (1) Deflection shield impact does not register
as deceleration.
	Indications: Target is not a starship.

2. ELAPSED TIME/DISTANCE.  Detonation point is specified in flight
plan.
	Advantages: (1) Detonation independent of sensing suite.
	Disadvantages (1) Method is not robust to changes in target
range or aspect.
	Indications: Target is invisible, but likely to lie inside KZ
of warhead.

3. PROXIMITY TO TARGET.  Detonation occurs when sensing suite
determines that target lies within KZ of warhead.
	Advantages: (1) Target need not be previously localized.  (2)
Protocol is robust to changes in target aspect.
	Disadvantages: (1) Proximity detonation requires arming
interval; precludes sections of weapon flight plan.
	Indications: Target is likely to attempt evasion or is not
localized.

4. PLATFORM COMMAND.  Platform instructs weapon to detonate.
	Advantages: (1) Compensates for partial failure of onboard
logic.  (2) Avoids stray ordnance in melee combat scenario.
	Disadvantages: (2) Communication lag reduces weapon accuracy.
	Indications: Weapon onboard logic is compromised; melee combat
conditions.


In conclusion (at last!), the idea of smart or guided weapons is a
great one, but these still follow the first axiom of military science
-- no plan survives contact with the enemy.
--------------------------------+---------------------------------------
Jay Windley                     | jwindley@asylum.cs.utah.edu
Department of Computer Science  +---------------------------------------
Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City   | I was a rutabaga in a former life.
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