Photonic torpedo A photonic torpedo was a type of tactical photonic antimatter weapon designed for use aboard starship s . Specifications . Photonic torpedo es were equipped with a variable yield antimatter warhead . They could be launched while a ship was traveling at warp speed as well as when it was traveling at sublight speeds . They had over fifty times greater range than the previous spatial torpedo es . The variable yield was described by Malcolm Reed as being able to " knock the com array off a without scratching the hull , or put a three - kilometer crater into an asteroid . " Antimatter to the warheads on starships was provided by the ship ' s antimatter reserves . ( ) A warning label on the torpedo casings classified the photonic torpedo as an antimatter ordnance device that must be maintained on power at all times . It also included warnings that the photonic torpedo employed magnetic isolation fields , that if breached would release lethal levels of energetic gamma ray s . The duty tactical officer was to be notified before loading or offloading the antimatter used by the torpedo . Magnetic devices were not to be operated near the torpedo , as they could interfere with the containment field . ( ) History . Starfleet began to utilize the technology in 2153 , when it began installation of the torpedoes aboard following its return to Earth . These new weapons were installed in the ship ' s armory to better prepare the craft for searching for the Xindi weapon . ( ) The use of antimatter warheads aboard Earth starships came as quite a surprise to attacking Klingon s . In 2153 , they sustained enough damage that they were forced to discontinue their pursuit of " Enterprise " on course to the Delphic Expanse . However , this form of torpedo still could not effectively penetrate the deflector shield ing of a typical when most shield power was transferred to the section under attack . ( ) Klingon torpedo technology of the time , nevertheless , appeared to be much more advanced than both Earth and Vulcan technology , as some of their ships were already equipped with photon torpedo es . ( ) " In the mirror universe , photonic torpedoes were already in use on the starships . The weapons were used during an assault on the Lunar colonies , that occurred some time before the introduction of the of starships in 2151 . " ( ) Other uses . It became something of a Starfleet tradition to place dead crew members inside an empty torpedo casing , and often such torpedoes were launched into space . For such a burial in space by the crew , the Captain of the starship often conducted the funeral service . Sim was buried in such a manner in 2153 . ( ) Appendices . Background information . In the final draft script of " The Expanse " , photonic torpedoes were described thus ; " " The torpedoes are similar to those seen in previous " Star Trek " series , but more primitive in design . " " According to StarTrek . com , photonic torpedoes were the earliest model of a Starfleet photon torpedo . According to the site , photonic torpedoes were also armed with a matter / antimatter charge and an optional timer . They had simpler internal systems than the spatial torpedoes . For storage , the torpedoes were powered down to a safe mode to protect them from a failure of the magnetic field around the antimatter charge . In any case , by 2233 , Starfleet was using photon torpedoes , as seen in the film when the was defending itself , and as they were identified in the script of the film . According to the " " , Starfleet began work on the photon torpedo in 2215 . established that the Klingon Empire was using photon torpedoes as early as 2151 . A photonic torpedo casing was sold off on the It ' s A Wrap ! sale and auction on eBay .