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[[Image:IKS Bortas shields hit.jpg|thumb|The [[port]] shields of a {{ShipClass|Vor'cha}} take a hit from a [[photon torpedo]]]]
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[[File:IKS Bortas shields hit.jpg|thumb|The [[port]] shields of a {{Class|Vor'cha}} take a hit from a [[photon torpedo]]]]
[[Image:Galaxy class deflector shield.jpg|thumb|The deflector shields of a {{ShipClass|Galaxy}} starship's [[stardrive]] section]]
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[[File:Galaxy class deflector shield.jpg|thumb|The deflector shields of a {{Class|Galaxy}} starship's [[stardrive]] section]]
[[Image:USS Enterprise-D fires on Duras sisters b-o-p.jpg|thumb|The forward shields of a {{ShipClass|D-12}} [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] take a blast of [[phaser]] fire from the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}]]
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[[File:USS Enterprise-D fires on Duras sisters b-o-p.jpg|thumb|The forward shields of a [[D-12 class|D-12-class]] [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] take a blast of [[phaser]] fire from the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}]]
[[Image:Voyager shields.jpg|thumb|The deflector shields of an {{ShipClass|Intrepid}} starship's primary hull]]
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[[File:Voyager shields.jpg|thumb|The deflector shields of an {{Class|Intrepid}} starship's primary hull]]
[[Image:Deflector status display, Constitution class.jpg|thumb|Deflector status display of a {{ShipClass|Constitution}} starship]]
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[[File:Deflector status display, Constitution class.jpg|thumb|Deflector status display of a {{Class|Constitution}} starship]]
  +
[[File:Graviton analysis.jpg|thumb|A [[graviton]] analysis of a {{Class|Galaxy}} starship's shields]]
  +
[[File:Deflector status display, Sovereign class.jpg|thumb|Deflector status display of a {{Class|Sovereign}} starship]]
  +
:''You may also be looking for [[shield]], the hand-held namesake.''
 
'''Deflector shields''' or '''screens''', generally referred to simply as '''shields''', were a type of [[force field]] that surrounds a [[starship]], [[space station]], or [[planet]] to protect against enemy attacks or natural hazards.
   
 
== Operation ==
'''Deflector shields''' or '''screens''' - generally referred to simply as '''shields''' - are a type of [[force field]] that surrounds a [[starship]], [[space station]], or [[planet]] to protect against enemy attack or natural hazard.
 
 
Deflector shields operated by creating a layer, or layers, of energetic distortion containing a high concentration of [[graviton]]s around the object to be protected. On starships, the shield contained six sections, [[fore|forward]], [[starboard]], [[port]], [[aft]], [[dorsal]], and [[ventral]]. ({{film|10}}) Shield energies could be emitted from a localized antenna or "dish", such as a ship's [[navigational deflector]], or from a network of "grid" emitters laid out on the object's surface, such as a starship's [[hull]]. Since at least the [[23rd century]], deflector shields were essential equipment on starships.
   
 
Neither matter nor highly-concentrated energy could normally penetrate a shield. When shields were "up," or energized at a high level, most matter or energy that came into contact with the shields was harmlessly deflected away. This was important in starship combat, as shields were essential for hull protection. When the shields were up, only minor hull damage would be expected during combat. In the 23rd and [[24th century]], without deflector shields weapons were capable of causing catastrophic damage to starship hulls almost immediately. ({{film|2}}; {{film|6}}; {{film|7}})
== Operation and Use ==
 
Deflector shields operate by creating a layer of energetic distortion containing a high concentration of [[graviton]]s around the object (ship, city, etc.) to be protected. Shield energies can be emitted from a localized antenna or "dish" (such as a ship's navigational deflector), or from a network of "grid" emitters laid out on the object's surface (such as a ship's [[hull]]). On modern starships, deflector shields are essential equipment. They are raised to full power in anticipation of environmental hazards or in combat situations. {{incite}}<br />
 
   
 
Continuous or extremely powerful energy discharges could progressively dissipate the integrity of a shield to the point of failure. Shield capacities varied according to many variables, from the power available to environmental concerns, making definitive and universal calculations of how much damage they could take difficult to estimate. Therefore, during combat tactical officers would continually report on shield strength, usually as a percentage of total effectiveness, with 100% meaning that the shields were at full capacity, and lower percentage scores indicating weaker shield conditions. Specific sections of the shield grid could take more damage than other sections, and be reinforced with additional power reserves, so tactical officers would report on the health of the shields by section if need be. Shields were said to be "holding" if damage was not sufficient enough to allow a compromise; if the shields were "buckling" or "failing," then a total loss of shield protection was imminent. ({{film|6}})
Neither matter nor highly-concentrated energy (i.e., weapons fire) can normally penetrate a shield. When shields are "up," or energized at a high level, most matter or energy that comes into contact with the shields will be harmlessly deflected away. In contemporary starship combat, shields are essential for hull protection. When shields are up, only minor hull damage can be expected during combat. Without deflector shields, modern weapons are capable of causing catastrophic damage to starship hulls almost immediately. ({{film|2}}, {{film|6}}, {{film|7}})
 
   
 
Shields operated within a range of [[shield frequency|frequencies]] to allow certain specific types of energy and matter to pass through, or to increase the effectiveness of blocking them. The frequencies of shields were not usually discernible without examining the controls on board the ship deploying them, meaning that it was very difficult to tune weapons to the exact frequency of an opponent's shields to bypass them. ({{DS9|The Jem'Hadar}}; {{film|7}})
Continuous or extremely powerful energy discharges can progressively dissipate the integrity of a shield to the point of failure. Shield capacities vary according to many variables, from the power available to environmental concerns (such as nebulae), making definitive and universal calculations of how much damage they can take difficult to estimate (there is no way to know exactly how many phaser hits will cause a failure, for instance). Therefore, during combat, tactical officers continually report on shield strength. Usually, the officer reports shield strength as a percentage of total effectiveness, with 100% meaning that the shields are at full capacity, and lower percentage scores indicating weaker shield conditions. Often, specific sections of the shield grid (e.g. aft or starboard) will take more damage than other sections, so tactical officers will report on the health of any section that needs reinforcement with additional power reserves. Shields are said to be "holding" if damage is not sufficient enough to allow a compromise, while if the shields are "buckling" or "failing," then a total loss of shield protection is imminent. ({{film|6}})
 
   
 
In combat situations, starships would match their own shield and weapon frequencies so their shielding did not interfere with their own weapons. Some weapons technologies, including those commonly used by the [[Borg]], had rapidly adjustable frequencies, meaning that they could quickly penetrate a shield that was using a static frequency. An effective counter was to repeatedly and randomly alter the shield harmonics to minimize the effectiveness of the weapon's retuned frequencies. ({{film|7}}; {{TNG|The Best of Both Worlds}})
Shields operate within a range of [[shield frequency|shield frequencies]] to allow certain specific types of energy and matter to pass through, or to make them more effective at blocking them. The frequencies of shields are not usually discernible without examining the controls on board the ship deploying them, meaning that it is very difficult to tune weapons to the exact frequency of an opponent's shields to bypass them. ({{DS9|The Jem'Hadar}}; {{film|7}})
 
   
 
It took time to activate a deflector shield. A [[refit]] {{Class|Constitution}} starship needed exactly 13.5 seconds to lower and raise its shields when taking a [[shuttlecraft]] on board via its [[tractor beam]], though that included the time required to tractor in the shuttle during an automated docking; flying the shuttle in manually reduced this time significantly. ({{film|5}})
In combat situations, starships match their own shield and weapon frequencies so their shielding does not interfere with their own weapons. Some weapons technologies, including those commonly used by the [[Borg]], have rapidly adjustable frequencies, meaning that they will more rapidly penetrate shields with static frequencies. An effective counter is to repeatedly and randomly alter the shield nutations to minimize the effectiveness of the weapon's retuned frequencies. ({{film|7}}; {{TNG|The Best of Both Worlds}})
 
   
 
Shields on a {{Class|Nova}} starship could be fully recharged after charging the shield emitters for 45 seconds. This task required the shields to be dropped. ({{VOY|Equinox}})
It takes time to activate a deflector shield. A refit {{ShipClass|Constitution}} [[starship]] needs exactly 13.5 seconds to lower and raise its shields when taking a [[shuttlecraft]] onboard via its [[tractor beam]], though this includes the time required to tractor in the shuttle during an automated docking; flying the shuttle in manually reduces this time significantly. ({{film|5}})
 
   
 
Normally, [[transporter]]s were not capable of penetrating shields. ({{TOS|Arena}}) 23rd century [[Federation]] starships, such as the ''Constitution''-class {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}, could not even transport through their own shields, but later starships such as the {{Class|Intrepid}} and {{Class|Sovereign}} vessels could transport personnel and objects freely to and from without having to lower their shields. ({{VOY|Tsunkatse}})
Shields on a {{ShipClass|Nova}} starship can be fully recharged after charging the shield emitters for 45 seconds. This task requires the shields to be dropped. ({{VOY|Equinox}})
 
   
 
There were at least two different shield configurations commonly used by Federation starships. One type projected an ellipsoid shield bubble around the ship and a relatively large region directly adjacent to the ship. The other shield configuration used a contour-conforming shield layer projected a few meters outside the main hull.
Normally [[transporter]]s are not capable of penetrating shields. ({{TOS|Arena}}) Older Federation starships, such as the ''Constitution''-class {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}, could not even transport through their own shields, but later starships such as the {{ShipClass|Intrepid}} and {{ShipClass|Sovereign}} vessels could transport personnel and objects freely to and fro without having to lower their shields.
 
   
 
{{bginfo|The ellipsoid shield configuration isn't shown until the [[24th century]]. Though shield harmonics can be adjusted to change the shape of shields of the 24th century, it is unclear if ships could produce both shield configurations.}}
There are at least two different shield configurations commonly used by starships. One type projects an ellipsoid shield bubble around the ship in addition to a relatively large region directly adjacent to the ship. In the other shield configuration, a contour-conforming shield layer is projected a few meters outside the main hull.
 
   
 
Some starships had a shield system advanced enough to allow protection of only specific areas of the ship, leaving other areas unprotected. This was useful in times when power reserves are low. Lowering portions of the shields would allow the use of transporters without completely sacrificing the protection that shields provide. This was also useful if a [[captain]] wanted to leave a section of the ship unshielded, like a [[cargo bay]]. ({{VOY|Equinox, Part II}})
:''The ellipsoid shield configuration isn't shown until the [[24th century]]. Though shield harmonics can be adjusted to change the shape of shields of the 24th century, it is unclear if ships could produce both shield configurations.''
 
   
 
Shields could be "extended" to encompass another vessel which couldn't use its own shields. ({{TNG|The Next Phase}}) This could also be used on ships with weaker shields, by matching the ships' [[shield emitter]] frequencies. ({{TOS|Mudd's Women}}; {{TNG|The Defector|Deja Q}}; {{VOY|Equinox}}) While the extended shielding could provide some protection in the event of a shield failure on one ship, this technique put a strain on that ship's systems, and the overall strength of the extended shields was generally not as strong as two independent shield systems.
Certain starships have a shield system advanced enough to allow protection of only specific areas of the ship while leaving other areas unprotected. This is useful in times when power reserves are low. Lowering portions of the shields also allows usage of transporters without completely sacrificing the protection that shields provide.
 
   
  +
== Strength ==
This was also useful to [[Captain]] [[Kathryn Janeway|Janeway]] on the {{USS|Voyager}} when she wished to extract information from a renegade crewman concerning the whereabouts of Captain [[Rudolph Ransom|Ransom]] in [[2375]]. In this instance, she lowered the shields around a [[cargo bay]], with the crewman inside, to allow the [[nucleogenic lifeform]]s to attack him.
 
 
Shield strengths seemed to vary, making an exact calculation of how much damage they could take impossible. However, there were some examples:
 
*A {{Class|Constitution}} starship's shields could take the equivalent of ninety [[photon torpedo]]es at once. ({{TOS|The Changeling}})
 
*The type of deflector shield used by the [[Lysian Central Command]] had an output of 4.3 [[Joule|kilojoules]] and could have easily been taken out with a single photon torpedo. ({{TNG|Conundrum}})
   
  +
== Use ==
Shields may be "extended" to encompass another vessel, which is often accomplished by matching the ships' [[shield emitter]] frequencies. ({{TOS|Mudd's Women}}; {{TNG|The Defector}}; {{VOY|Equinox, Part II}}). While the extended shielding can provide some protection in the event of a shield failure on one ship in a convoy, this technique can put a strain on ship systems, and the overall strength of the extended shields is generally not as strong as two independent shield systems.
 
  +
In [[2369]] [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[Jadzia Dax]] re-calibrated the inner deflector shield subsystems of [[Deep Space 9]]. ({{DS9|Duet}})
   
  +
== Hand-held ==
Shield strengths seem to vary from time to time, making an exact calculation of how much damage they can take impossible. However, there are some examples:
 
  +
[[File:Hunter deflector shield.jpg|thumb|The hand-held variation of the Hunters]]
 
  +
In [[2369]], [[Starfleet]] made [[first contact]] with a [[species]] from the [[Gamma Quadrant]], the [[Hunter]]s. The first contact ended in a shootout on the [[Deep Space 9]] [[Promenade]] in which the Hunters used a hand-held deflector shield, integrated into their uniforms on their left arms. These shields collected the [[phaser]] fire and bundled the fire, letting the Hunters take several phaser shots without being hit. ({{DS9|Captive Pursuit}})
*A {{ShipClass|Constitution}} starship's shields could take the equivalent of 90 [[photon torpedo]]es at once. ({{TOS|The Changeling}})
 
  +
{{bginfo|The script for this episode refers to this technology as optical deflector shields.}}
 
*The type of deflector shield used by the [[Lysian Central Command]] had an output of 4.3 kilo[[joule]]s and could have easily been taken out with a single photon torpedo. ({{TNG|Conundrum}})
 
 
:''To give further perspective to the Federation's 24th century encounter with the Lysians, the [[phase cannons]] found on the [[Enterprise (NX-01)|Enterprise NX-01]] were rated at 500 gigajoules, suggesting that the 24th century Lysians were significantly behind even [[22nd century]] Starfleet technology. ({{ENT|Silent Enemy}})''
 
 
=== See also ===
 
* [[Military technology]]
 
   
 
== Shield types ==
 
== Shield types ==
  +
*[[Auto-regenerative shielding]]
 
*[[Covariant shield]]
 
*[[Covariant shield]]
 
*[[Defense field]]
 
*[[Defense field]]
 
*[[Immersive shielding]]
 
*[[Immersive shielding]]
 
*[[Metaphasic shield]]
 
*[[Metaphasic shield]]
  +
*[[Metaphysic shield]]
 
*[[Multi-adaptive shield]]
 
*[[Multi-adaptive shield]]
 
*[[Multi-spatial force field]]
 
*[[Multi-spatial force field]]
  +
*[[Multi-spectrum shielding]]
 
*[[Multiphasic shield]]
 
*[[Multiphasic shield]]
 
*[[Paratrinic shield]]
 
*[[Paratrinic shield]]
  +
*[[Refractive shield]]
 
*[[Regenerative shield]]
 
*[[Regenerative shield]]
 
*[[Structural integrity field|Structural integrity shield]]
 
*[[Temporal shield]]
 
*[[Temporal shield]]
 
*[[Unimatrix shield]]
 
*[[Unimatrix shield]]
* [[Structural integrity field|Structural integrity shield]]
 
   
 
=== See also ===
  +
* [[Chromodynamic shield]]
 
* [[Military technology]]
  +
 
[[Category:Shield technology]]
   
 
[[cs:Štítový systém]]
 
[[cs:Štítový systém]]
 
[[de:Schutzschild]]
 
[[de:Schutzschild]]
  +
[[es:Escudos]]
  +
[[fr:Bouclier déflecteur]]
  +
[[ja:ディフレクター・シールド]]
 
[[pl:Deflektor]]
 
[[pl:Deflektor]]
  +
[[pt:Escudo defletor]]
[[Category:Technology]]
 

Revision as of 21:24, 15 October 2014

IKS Bortas shields hit

The port shields of a Vor'cha-class take a hit from a photon torpedo

Galaxy class deflector shield

The deflector shields of a Galaxy-class starship's stardrive section

USS Enterprise-D fires on Duras sisters b-o-p

The forward shields of a D-12-class Klingon Bird-of-Prey take a blast of phaser fire from the USS Enterprise-D

Voyager shields

The deflector shields of an Intrepid-class starship's primary hull

File:Deflector status display, Constitution class.jpg

Deflector status display of a Constitution-class starship

Graviton analysis

A graviton analysis of a Galaxy-class starship's shields

Deflector status display, Sovereign class

Deflector status display of a Sovereign-class starship

You may also be looking for shield, the hand-held namesake.

Deflector shields or screens, generally referred to simply as shields, were a type of force field that surrounds a starship, space station, or planet to protect against enemy attacks or natural hazards.

Operation

Deflector shields operated by creating a layer, or layers, of energetic distortion containing a high concentration of gravitons around the object to be protected. On starships, the shield contained six sections, forward, starboard, port, aft, dorsal, and ventral. (Star Trek Nemesis) Shield energies could be emitted from a localized antenna or "dish", such as a ship's navigational deflector, or from a network of "grid" emitters laid out on the object's surface, such as a starship's hull. Since at least the 23rd century, deflector shields were essential equipment on starships.

Neither matter nor highly-concentrated energy could normally penetrate a shield. When shields were "up," or energized at a high level, most matter or energy that came into contact with the shields was harmlessly deflected away. This was important in starship combat, as shields were essential for hull protection. When the shields were up, only minor hull damage would be expected during combat. In the 23rd and 24th century, without deflector shields weapons were capable of causing catastrophic damage to starship hulls almost immediately. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; Star Trek Generations)

Continuous or extremely powerful energy discharges could progressively dissipate the integrity of a shield to the point of failure. Shield capacities varied according to many variables, from the power available to environmental concerns, making definitive and universal calculations of how much damage they could take difficult to estimate. Therefore, during combat tactical officers would continually report on shield strength, usually as a percentage of total effectiveness, with 100% meaning that the shields were at full capacity, and lower percentage scores indicating weaker shield conditions. Specific sections of the shield grid could take more damage than other sections, and be reinforced with additional power reserves, so tactical officers would report on the health of the shields by section if need be. Shields were said to be "holding" if damage was not sufficient enough to allow a compromise; if the shields were "buckling" or "failing," then a total loss of shield protection was imminent. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Shields operated within a range of frequencies to allow certain specific types of energy and matter to pass through, or to increase the effectiveness of blocking them. The frequencies of shields were not usually discernible without examining the controls on board the ship deploying them, meaning that it was very difficult to tune weapons to the exact frequency of an opponent's shields to bypass them. (DS9: "The Jem'Hadar"; Star Trek Generations)

In combat situations, starships would match their own shield and weapon frequencies so their shielding did not interfere with their own weapons. Some weapons technologies, including those commonly used by the Borg, had rapidly adjustable frequencies, meaning that they could quickly penetrate a shield that was using a static frequency. An effective counter was to repeatedly and randomly alter the shield harmonics to minimize the effectiveness of the weapon's retuned frequencies. (Star Trek Generations; TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds")

It took time to activate a deflector shield. A refit Constitution-class starship needed exactly 13.5 seconds to lower and raise its shields when taking a shuttlecraft on board via its tractor beam, though that included the time required to tractor in the shuttle during an automated docking; flying the shuttle in manually reduced this time significantly. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier)

Shields on a Nova-class starship could be fully recharged after charging the shield emitters for 45 seconds. This task required the shields to be dropped. (VOY: "Equinox")

Normally, transporters were not capable of penetrating shields. (TOS: "Arena") 23rd century Federation starships, such as the Constitution-class USS Enterprise, could not even transport through their own shields, but later starships such as the Intrepid-class and Sovereign-class vessels could transport personnel and objects freely to and from without having to lower their shields. (VOY: "Tsunkatse")

There were at least two different shield configurations commonly used by Federation starships. One type projected an ellipsoid shield bubble around the ship and a relatively large region directly adjacent to the ship. The other shield configuration used a contour-conforming shield layer projected a few meters outside the main hull.

The ellipsoid shield configuration isn't shown until the 24th century. Though shield harmonics can be adjusted to change the shape of shields of the 24th century, it is unclear if ships could produce both shield configurations.

Some starships had a shield system advanced enough to allow protection of only specific areas of the ship, leaving other areas unprotected. This was useful in times when power reserves are low. Lowering portions of the shields would allow the use of transporters without completely sacrificing the protection that shields provide. This was also useful if a captain wanted to leave a section of the ship unshielded, like a cargo bay. (VOY: "Equinox, Part II")

Shields could be "extended" to encompass another vessel which couldn't use its own shields. (TNG: "The Next Phase") This could also be used on ships with weaker shields, by matching the ships' shield emitter frequencies. (TOS: "Mudd's Women"; TNG: "The Defector", "Deja Q"; VOY: "Equinox") While the extended shielding could provide some protection in the event of a shield failure on one ship, this technique put a strain on that ship's systems, and the overall strength of the extended shields was generally not as strong as two independent shield systems.

Strength

Shield strengths seemed to vary, making an exact calculation of how much damage they could take impossible. However, there were some examples:

Use

In 2369 Major Kira Nerys and Lieutenant Jadzia Dax re-calibrated the inner deflector shield subsystems of Deep Space 9. (DS9: "Duet")

Hand-held

Hunter deflector shield

The hand-held variation of the Hunters

In 2369, Starfleet made first contact with a species from the Gamma Quadrant, the Hunters. The first contact ended in a shootout on the Deep Space 9 Promenade in which the Hunters used a hand-held deflector shield, integrated into their uniforms on their left arms. These shields collected the phaser fire and bundled the fire, letting the Hunters take several phaser shots without being hit. (DS9: "Captive Pursuit")

The script for this episode refers to this technology as optical deflector shields.

Shield types

See also