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Memory Alpha

Phase weapons, or Phase-modulated energy weapons, were a type of directed energy device, a particle weapon, used by the Earth Starfleet. They were first used in the early 2150s, and had both non-lethal stun and lethal firing settings

Malcolm Reed showed Jonathan Archer a phase pistol for the first time in 2151 shortly before the first time Archer faced down the Silik, recovering the Klingon agent Klaang from Silik's Suliban Helix. (ENT: "Broken Bow")

The Enterprise (NX-01) was refitted with internaly mounted retractable phase cannons during the first year of its interstellar exploration mission. (ENT: "Silent Enemy")

Spock's remark in TOS: "Balance of Terror" that the Earth-Romulan War was fought with atomic weapons suggests that phase weapons may have utilized a form of atomic energy. This is assuming, of course, that the weapons were used during the war, which is likely. However, because an overload of the phase cannon's phase modulators caused a plasma recoil, it seems likely the weapons are operated on plasma. It is possible that Spock's comment did not mean the war was fought entirely with atomic weapons, although that may have been the primary weapon employed during the conflict.


Types of Phase weapons

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