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Summary of Phaser types
type-2 phaser, as used by Voyager's crew in 2371; this version became Starfleet issue in 2366
type-2 phaser with holster, as used by Voyager's crew from 2372 onwards
type-3a compression phaser rifle, used throughout Voyager's travels in the Delta Quadrant
type-3b compression phaser rifle, first seen in use in 2373 [Macrocosm];
(first seen in use in 2373 in [Star Trek: First Contact])
Personal Phaser
The default setting is for a phaser beam fired in a fairly narrow burst in single target acquisition mode. The screenshot shows the effect of a phaser beam set on stun (fired by Chakotay) upon a target (Tom Paris).
 [#150 Repression] |
 [#150 Repression] |
 [#88 Vis à Vis] |
 [#88 Vis à Vis] |
| Phasers can be fired on wide beam, termed multiple acquisition or wide dispersal mode, to give a broad spread of fire. |  [#13 Cathexis] |
 phaser [#27 Maneuvers]
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Voyager's crew normally use the phaser type-2 (also known as "type II") which is designed to be operated with one hand. Where a hip-holster is used it can be both unholstered and operated with one hand. Originally its predecessor, the type-1 (also known as 'type I' or 'phaser 1') was a smaller, flatter design as seen in [TOS], and was/is used by Starfleet personnel who prefer not to be conspicuously armed. Like all such weapons the type-1 could be adjusted to a variety of settings including stun, heat and disruption. It was not as powerful as the later type-2 [TOS: The Devil in the Dark], but some versions of the type-1 were designed to fit into a pistol grip unit to form the more powerful phaser type-2, classed as a medium-sized handheld weapon no longer considered to be discreet in size like the type-1. Early versions of the type-2 were pistol-like in appearance (and were/are often called 'phaser pistols'), then they were developed into the size and style as used by Starfleet personnel starting in 2366 (as seen aboard USS Enterprise-D in [TNG] season three). That version is used by Voyager's crew in 2371 (i.e. Season One) but in 2372 (Season Two) the unit received a downward curving handgrip.
With the type-2 phaser being issued as the normal sidearm, Starfleet practice is to issue the type-1 phaser only as a backup [source: DS9 Tech]. |
earlier phaser type-2, in use 2371
[#11 State of Flux]
earlier phaser type-2, in use 2371
[#27 Maneuvers]
 phaser type-2 deployed using the two-handed grip for steadier targeting [#54 Macrocosm] |
 [#54 Macrocosm] |
 Tuvok and Chakotay fire phasers, and in the background Lt Ayala aims a phaser rifle [#20 The 37's] |
 Janeway aims a phaser [#20 The 37's] |
 [Maneuvers]
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The phaser types 1 and 2 have power levels designated 1 to 8, with the phaser type-2 having an additional eight levels up to 16 [TNG: Frame of Mind]. See Phaser Power Settings. The type 1 is not seen on [Star Trek: Voyager] (but I am still checking; Neelix fires a small weapon that looks rather like the type-1 in [#1 and #2 Caretaker] but I assume it is probably his own). The additional settings 9 to 16 all involve high proportions of nucleur disruption energy, with individual emitter segments capable of directing a maximum of 0.01 megawatts (by comparison, Voyager's phaser banks, i.e. the ones structurally incorporated into the ship's hull, which are Type X collimated phaser arrays, have individual emitter segments capable of directing up to 5.1 megawatts). The type-2 phaser modifications include an improved sarium-krellide power cell, 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° 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 fibre layer, which allows a pre-fire chamber energy density and plasma pressure 15% higher than that of the previous type-2 unit. Control surfaces, response, and operation remain unchanged. |
In [Extreme Risk] Torres improvises a portable containment field when multiple breaches threaten the Delta Flyer on its maiden flight, by jury-rigging a device that includes an EPS relay (EPS = electroplasma system) taken from the transporter control circuitry and a personal phaser.
 Both the power and the dispersal field on the phaser are on low settings. [Extreme Risk] |
 The power setting and the dispersal field are increased and, together with the EPS relay, a containment field is established. [Extreme Risk] |
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