Phasers

Short for PHAsed Energy Rectification, Phasers have been the weapon of choice within the Federation since around 2265. Phasers work by releasing a vast amount of energy using the rapid nadion effect. Rapid nadions are short lived subatomic particles which can liberate and transfer strong nuclear forces within a class of crystals called fushigi-no-umi when energy is channeled through the crystal.

Hand Phasers and Rifles

Type	Description
Hand Phaser I	ST Fact Files #2 - (c) Paramount 1997 Often used as a reserve armament for personnel, this weapon is small and effective but lacks the operating capabilities, longevity and diversity of its larger brethren. It can be easily concealed and carried.
Hand Phaser II	ST Fact Files #12 - (c) Paramount 1997 The Type II is the standard weapon used aboard all Starfleet vessels and bases, as it offers a very favorable compromise between size and power. The current Type II has undergone several energy system and ergonomic alterations. This model's modifications include an improved sarium-krellide power cell, curved grip and reinforced pre-fire chamber, among others. The power cell is hot-swappable in the field and holds a total energy charge of 8.79 x 107 megajoules. The power cell is now housed within a 45 degree curved grip for improved targeting and handling. Within the optronics and energy-manipulation section, the lithium-copper pre-fire chamber has been strengthened with the addition of a wound hafnium tritonide fiber layer, which allows a pre-fire chamber energy density and plasma pressure 15% higher than that of the previous Type II unit. Control surfaces, response, and operation remain unchanged. The modern Type II unit can fire up to setting 16.
Type III Rifle	A rifle and the standard large weapon issued to Starfleet personnel, the Type III phaser of the 2360s had a 50% greater energy reserve than its Type II counterpart, although this increase allowed for longer periods of fire rather than any rise in output levels. The latest and most commonly used version of the Type III incorporates a deuterium plasma generator that can be replaced in the field, a twelve-stage plasma accelerator, a five-stage cascading pre-fire chamber and a transitional-phase pulse accelerator.

Ship Phasers

Designation	Description
Type IV Dual Turret	A standard phaser type found on board most Federation starships in the early and middle parts of the 23rd century. Replaced in time by the Type VI.
Type IV Phaser	The smallest phaser array currently deployed in the Federation, the Type IV is markedly superior to the Type III phaser rifle, providing more power, range, accuracy and adaptability. As such, it has been the workhorse of Starfleet's auxiliary craft fleet for decades. Only now is it being replaced by the Type V array, a weapon of comparable simplicity but greater ability. It is not a very strong offensive measure but is capable of warding a small craft from many natural threats, such as asteroids and debris, and similar sized craft.
Type IV Phaser Cannon	The smallest phaser array currently deployed in the Federation, the Type IV is markedly superior to the Type III phaser rifle, providing more power, range, accuracy and adaptability. As such, it has been the workhorse of Starfleet's auxiliary craft fleet for decades, as well as being mounted on a number of ground-based vehicles. Only now is it being replaced by the Type V array, a weapon of comparable simplicity but greater ability. It is not a very strong offensive measure but is capable of warding a small craft from many natural threats, such as asteroids and debris, and similar sized craft. Size: 1.4m x .3m x .2m Weight: 23kg Range: 2250m (Effective) 3000 (Maximum) Rate of Fire: 5-30 rounds per minute
Type U Pulse	A relatively new development in phaser technology, the Type U Pulse Phaser is the most combat-focused development of the phaser to date. They combine large, nearly flawless emitter crystals with rapid-discharge EPS banks and high-speed beam focusing coils. The system allows the charge to be stored in the coils for a few nanoseconds, then release it as a layered pulse. Due to the nature of the pulse, shields and armour have a harder time dispersing the pulse, resulting in more damage to the target. Pulse phasers were first deployed on the USS Defiant, where they managed to cause significant damage to Jem Hadar fighters in a short space of time.
Type U+ Micro-Pulse	This weapon works on the same principles as the Type U phaser cannon but at a much smaller scale as well as reduced output. It is an armament commonly found on the Federation's fleet of fighters and a number of auxiliary craft, such as the Wyvern Hopper Class transport.
Type V Array	A phaser array generally found on small but high-powered Starfleet shuttlecraft, the Type V is generally considered to be the next feasible replacement for the Type IV array found on several thousand shuttles throughout the Federation. While not as powerful as the Type VI or Type VII, what it lacks in strength and longevity is more than made up for in its simplicity. Indeed, it rivals even the modern Type IV variant commonly found on shuttlecraft for ease of construction, maintenance and repair.
Type V Phaser Cannon	A phaser array generally found on small but high-powered Starfleet shuttlecraft, the Type V is generally considered to be the next feasible replacement for the Type IV array found on several thousand shuttles throughout the Federation. While not as powerful as the Type VI or Type VII, what it lacks in strength and longevity is more than made up for in its simplicity. Indeed, it rivals even the modern Type IV variant commonly found on shuttlecraft for ease of construction, maintenance and repair. Size 1.75m x .4m x .3m Range: 3500m (Effective) 4000m (Maximum) Rate of Fire: 2-15 rounds per minute
Type VI Array	The second largest emitter used on small craft such as runabouts, the Type VI phaser array is undeniably more powerful than its more diminutive counterparts, with faster recharge rates, ranges and, of course, offensive capabilities, but lacks several of the advantageous maintenance and power factors found in its Type VII fellow. Most remarkably, the Type VI's increase in power over its smaller counterparts is less than the equivalent difference between it and the Type VII, a characteristic explained by the (then) advanced techniques used in its construction and new methods of energy dissipation. The Type VI is not as commonly found as any of its counterparts, primarily due to the detailed work required in constructing it and the real but admittedly barely significant advantage in tactical situations it provides over the Type V. It has, however, been found to be a suitable armament for the Hunley class shuttlecraft, its intricate composition easily adaptable to the shuttle's underwater requirements.
Type VI Single Bank	The single emitter version of the Type VI Twin-Mounted Banks found on the generation of ships that included the Excelsior Class.
Type VI Single Bank – AU	The single emitter version of the Type VI Twin-Mounted Banks found on the generation of ships that included the Constitution class.
Type VI Twin-Mount Bank	The standard phaser complement of the 2280s ship of the line. The RM-12C's twin mounts can be targeted independently.
Type VI Twin-Mount Bank – AU	The greatest advancement in late 2250s Federation phasers, the Type VI Twin-Mount Bank was developed in response to the disastrous incident that saw the loss of the USS Kelvin in 2233 and was first employed on the Constitution Class of cruiser upon entering service. Capable of being targeted independently, the banks have a rapid rate of fire, high output level, impressive accuracy ratio and long service life.
Type VII Array	The largest emitter used on small craft such as runabouts and light escorts, the Type VII phaser array is considerably more powerful than its more diminutive counterparts, with faster recharge rates, ranges and, of course, offensive capabilities. Recent advances in technology have allowed Starfleet to decrease the overall size of the Type VII, thereby allowing it to be employed on vessels previously considered to be much too small to cope with the necessary machinery. As such, the Type VII is markedly superior to the Type VI phaser array but, due to practical issues, falls far short of the standard Type VIII arrays now being deployed on current starships.
Type VIII Array	The Type VIII is the phaser armament of choice for most of Starfleet's small-to medium-sized ships. While varying degrees of power and capabilities can be found from class to class - even from ship to ship - the general Type VIII operating principles remain the same and any deviations in any regard are usually negligible. This phaser type provides excellent offensive and defensive capabilities for many ship classes that, due to their size, require significant quantities of internal volume for other operations which would otherwise be consumed by larger phaser weaponry.
Type VIII Bank	The bank configuration of the common Type VIII phaser, less powerful than its array counterpart.
Type IX Array	This is the armament of choice for many of Starfleet's larger vessels and some of its medium-sized but patrol/combat-oriented craft. While bulkier and more complicated than its Type VIII counterpart, the Type IX provides excellent firepower with an impressive rate of fire that can only be bettered by Type X, Type XII or Type U weapons. Recent advances in weapons technology have allowed Starfleet to reduce the operating size for the Type IX's components, allowing for this array to be employed as the new phaser weaponry of even refitted 23rd century starships.
Type X Array	Until the development of the Type XII, the Type X was the heaviest weapon in use aboard Federation vessels, comprising the main armament of the Galaxy class starship. The Type X has since seen its incorporation into other ship classes, providing significant firepower to some of Starfleet's largest vessels.
Type XII Array	Previously designated as the 'Type X+' for security reasons, the Type XII phaser has been used in dedicated planetary defense arrays and as the main armament of heavy fortified starbases since 2363. It was considered that the Type XII was unsuitable for use on a starship because the power requirements were too high and the support systems too bulky. However, by 2368 technical improvements had allowed for considerable shrinkage in the size of the equipment, and ship power systems had become capable of supporting the weapon. The main phaser armament of the new Sovereign class starship therefore comprises Type XII phaser arrays as does the armament of the Prometheus class. These are the most powerful phaser weapons currently in use by the Federation.