A particle weapon is a type of weapon that is used by many technologically developed or equipped civilizations. They operate by bombarding a target with energetic particles via a particle beam. (ENT: "Fight or Flight")
Several species utilized what was descibed as particle weapons during the mid-22nd century as both ship-mounted and side-arm weapons. Ship-mounted particle weapons are typically referred to as particle cannons.
- The terms "particle cannons" and "particle weapons" have been used interchangable on numerous occasions to describe the ship-mounted armaments of numerous species.
Side-arms
Vulcans utilized hand-held particle weapons as early as the mid-20th century. (ENT: "Carbon Creek") By the mid-22nd century, Coridan rebels were armed with particle weapons. (ENT: "Shadows of P'Jem") The Tandarans were also armed with particle weapons, during this time. (ENT: "Detained") Xindi-Reptilians were, likewise, armed with particle weapon side-arms. (ENT: "Hatchery") The Suliban also used particle weapon-sidearms, which were capable of stunning their victims. (ENT: "Cold Front")
The Earth Starfleet issued phase pistols side-arms during the mid-22nd century. One of these type of particle beam side-arms, known as the EM-33, required the user to compensate for particle drift when firing. (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs") The particle yield of phase pistols can be doubled by cross-polarizing the power cells. (ENT: "Regeneration")
Ship-mounted weaponry
The results of firing ship-mounted particle weapons are signified by particle impacts that typically leave scorch marks of a ships hull. In the case of high-yield particle impacts, the particle residue may cause oxidization and thermal shock effects to the hull. (ENT: "Fight or Flight")
Shortly after the introduction of the phase cannons utilized by Earth Starfleet starships it was determined that they could not be fired at warp due to the particle discharge. According to Malcolm Reed, "It would destabilize [their] warp field and most likely blow out both [their] nacelles." (ENT: "Fallen Hero") To the Klingons of the 22nd century, these cannons were described as "low-yield particle cannons," and were deemed little threat to a D5 class battle cruiser. (ENT: "Judgment")
Many other species encountered by Earth Starfleet during the 22nd century were armed with similar ship-mounted weapons.
- Suliban cell ships utilized high-yield particle weapons. (ENT: "Broken Bow", "Shockwave, Part I")
- Xindi-Insectoid ships were armed with up to half a dozen ship-mounted particle cannons. (ENT: "Hatchery")
- In relation to Vulcan technology, Andorian warships were armed with "standard" particle cannons. (ENT: "Kir'Shara")
- Tellarite cruisers were also armed with particle cannons, which leave a signature unique to Tellarite technology. (ENT: "Babel One")
- The armament of Enolian shuttles consisted of fore and aft particle cannons, which were less than a match for an NX class starship. (ENT: "Canamar")
- Xandoras shuttles were equipped with low-power particle beams. (ENT: "The Breach")