Federation attack fighter vs Klingon Bird-of-Prey in a fight

[Jasonb]

If Federation attack fighter very heavly armed I think fair fight who ever got first shot wins.

[Cocytus]

I'm afraid I have to disagree. In "Sacrifice of Angels" the Cardassian Galors and Hidekis had little trouble shooting down the fighters, even though those fighers which didn't get destroyed got a few good hits in. They were heavily armed for their size, but lacked significant defense. Immediately after the credits, we see one Galor take out three fighters with ease. Later that same battle, a fleet of Klingon ships goes blasting right through a Galor. In "Way of the Warrior" we see Dukat's Galor come under fire from two Birds-of-Prey which handily overpower it.

A Bird of Prey would have little trouble dispatching a Federation fighter.

[2046]

No.

I could go on about their widely differing performance against Cardassian Galors, or I could explain in detail the difference between a lowly 1-2 man 25m fighter versus even the small 100-ish meter KBoP, or that two such fighters fought three Runabouts to a draw whereas we've never had any indication a Runabout could take a Bird of Prey in a fight . . . but really, I think "No" is sufficient.

Forgive me if that seems short. I do approve of your neverending questions that bring discussion to the board (though I'd kill to get you a grammar checker) . . . but, still, "No."

[sonofccn]

Count me in on the one fighter can't take a BOP. However how would a full squadron fair? It's been a while since I've seen them in action but I recall they did chew up a Galor pretty bad, at the cost of being more or less wiped out, but my mind has played tricks on me before. Assuming I'm not misremembering I'd wager the BOP would at least have a fight on it's hands.

[Praeothmin]

sonofccn, I agree that a squadron would be a threat to a small BOP, but not one of the larger ones (especially not the ones almost as big as a GCS as seen in "Redemption", last episode in TNG season 4)...

[Mike DiCenso]

In a straight up, one-on-one fight, the fighter loses. But a squadron Fed fighters would probably even things out against the smaller classes of BoP.
-Mike

[sonofccn]

sonofccn, I agree that a squadron would be a threat to a small BOP, but not one of the larger ones (especially not the ones almost as big as a GCS as seen in "Redemption", last episode in TNG season 4)...

Up against a large BOP I would guess the fighters would be wiped out but not before giving the ship a bloody nose or two. The BOP wouldn't be threatened with destruction but enough damage that could weaken it in a fight against a larger federation vessel which it appears is all the Trek fighter is expected to do. My two cents of course.

[2046]

How large a squadron are we talking about? The term has variable definitions, so let's talk numbers. 5? 10? 20? Eventually we get up into equal-mass territory, at which point it isn't cost effective in dudes.

Also, don't forget that KBoPs of the smallish type that were smacking around Dukat's doomed Galor in WotW had an aft weapon, which given the low resilience of fighters against full-size starship weaponry could be a significant threat to an inadequate number of fighters.

[sonofccn]

How large a squadron are we talking about? The term has variable definitions, so let's talk numbers. 5? 10? 20? Eventually we get up into equal-mass territory, at which point it isn't cost effective in dudes.

I had in mind 10-12 for the number of fighters. I think that would be enough to harm a BOP and threaten the smaller variants but I admit I could be in error.

Also, don't forget that KBoPs of the smallish type that were smacking around Dukat's doomed Galor in WotW had an aft weapon, which given the low resilience of fighters against full-size starship weaponry could be a significant threat to an inadequate number of fighters.

I imagine the fighters are only going to get a couple passes at most before they are all, or nearly all, destroyed. As you said the average fighter lifespan in combat appears to be measured in seconds against even a Galor class vessel.

[2046]

10-12 being able to hurt/annoy a BoP seems plausible enough, especially in close range combat flying around the BoP like Federation starships around a Borg cube.

The trick is getting them into position to do so. As seen in TNG's "Preemptive Strike", a photon torpedo detonated in the middle of a fighter and raider group can toss them all about rather nicely, and as they approach they could face fire from the BoP's main guns.

[Jasonb]

If the Federation attack fighter was to stay behind a Kinglon Bird of prey main engines. The Kinglon bird prey weapons would be useless. Also we have seen Federation attack fighter fire photon torpedoes before. I do not known how many it would take destroy Kinglon bird prey.

[Cocytus]

As was previously noted, the Bird of Prey has aft weaponry which we saw used on the Defiant in "Way of the Warrior."

[Jasonb]

How come (DS9: "Shattered Mirror") a Rebel fighter was able to destroy Klingon Bird of prey one photon torpedo. How come (DS9: "Shattered Mirror") a Rebel fighter was able to destroy Klingon Bird of prey one photon torpedo. Federation attack fighters are also armed with quantum torpedoes. It might take few one quatum torqedoe to destory smell Klingon Bird of prey.

[2046]

No, no, and no.

1. Do not attempt to apply mirror universe information on the prime universe without good cause (e.g. "this is the same as my ship!"). Otherwise you might as well apply Galactica's information to a Galaxy Class.

2. Mirror Bashir's ship was not of the same type as the Federation fighter. Note the huge runabout cockpit instead of the cramped little shuttlepod cockpit.

3. There is no evidence for quantum torpedoes on Federation attack fighters, nor indeed any torpedoes whatsover (where the devil would you put them?).

4. Yes, KBoPs do smell, I'd wager, but that has nothing to do with the number or type of torpedoes required to destroy them.

[Roondar]

4. Yes, KBoPs do smell, I'd wager, but that has nothing to do with the number or type of torpedoes required to destroy them.

Nonsense, we all know that matter/antimatter explosives excel at getting rid of that pesky smell :P

--

Slightly more on topic: I've always wondered why the Federation even bothered with the fighter ships in the DS9 fleet-combat episodes. They seemed nothing more than cannon fodder to me, which would be rather wasteful.

On the other hand, at least the fighters performance against capital ships was what should be expected given the existance of shields and highly agile beam weaponry. Not that this did the fighters any good, mind you.