Difference between revisions of "Picard maneuver"

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The '''Picard Maneuver''' is a famous tactic used by [[Starfleet]] [[captain]]s to ambush enemy starships.
[[Image:Picard maneuver.jpg|thumb|right|''[[USS Stargazer]]'' executes the Picard Maneuver]]
 
The '''Picard Maneuver''' is a famous tactic used by [[Starfleet]] [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]] to surprise and destroy an enemy [[starship]].


==Theory==
==Theory==
The Picard Maneuver involves warping from one location to another, within the enemy's visual range, then firing all ship weapons in an [[alpha strike]]. In general, the maneuver attempts to create a "double image" of the ship. If the defending ship is unprepared, it may waste its weapons fire on the image of the ship rather than true ship, resulting in the defending ship's destruction if the attacker's alpha strike can quickly overwhelm the defender's shields.
The Picard Maneuver involves warping from one location to another, within the enemy's visual range, then firing all weapons in an [[alpha strike]]. The quick warp jump enables the attacker to outrun light from it's starting position to a closer position; light from the original position is still arriving at the target when the attacker reaches its new location, creating the illusion of the attacker being in two places at once.  The target's weapon systems -- presumably relying upon lightspeed sensors -- remain locked on the attacker's original position, and the [[humanoid]] crew of the target can't respond quickly enough to redirect fire to the attacker's new location.


The Picard Maneuver was not widely used in the Dominion War, possibly because it is more advantageous to divert warp power to shields and approach heavily shielded. In TNG "Hero Worship" Geordi diverted fusion power to the shields, resulting in a doubling in shield strength.
Unless the target knows in advance what is happening, it will probably waste its weapons fire on the image of the ship rather than the true ship.  If the attacker's alpha strike is sufficiently powerful, it can quickly overwhelm the target's [[shields]], possibly destroying the ship.


Additionally, more accurate faster-than-light sensors could have rendered the Picard Maneuver obsolete. An obvious countermeasure to the Picard Maneuver is to fire at both the image and the true ship.
==In Practice==
The Picard Maneuver was not widely used in the [[Dominion War]], possibly because it is more advantageous to divert [[warp core|warp power]] to shields and approach heavily shielded. In TNG "Hero Worship", Geordi diverted [[impulse engine|fusion power]] to the shields, resulting in a doubling of shield strength; directing warp power to the shields would provide an even greater increase.


Picard himself rarely used the tactic in combat, possibly because he was aware of these pitfalls. The Picard Maneuver appears to rely on a tactical officer's inexperience in combat and slow human reflexes. A competent tactical officer could program his console to fire at the final position of a starship, rather than the image, and additionally could program his console to fire at an approaching enemy vessel without input. Such possible pre-programmed responses are evident in TNG "The Wounded" when the Enterprise-D raises its shields automatically to a sneak Cardassian attack, or [[Star Trek V: The Final Frontier|''The Final Frontier'']] where the Enterprise-A detected an incoming Bird of Prey but was not programmed to automatically raise its shields.
The Picard Maneuver appears to rely on a tactical officer's inexperience in combat and slow human reflexes. A competent tactical officer could theoretically program his console to automatically target and attack any enemy ship that suddenly appears on its sensors, removing much of the benefit of this maneuver. Such possible pre-programmed responses are evident in TNG "The Wounded" when the [[Enterprise-D]] raises its shields automatically in response to a [[Cardassian]] sneak attack, or [[Star Trek V: The Final Frontier|''The Final Frontier'']] where the [[Enterprise-A]] detected an incoming [[Klingon Bird of Prey|Bird of Prey]] but was not programmed to automatically raise its shields.


==Implications==
==Implications==
The Picard Maneuver causes the target to see two images of the maneuvering ship.  This happens because the maneuvering ship changes position faster than lightLight from its original position is still reaching the target when the ship arrives at its new, closer position; the target therefore sees the ship in two places at once.
The success of this tactic depends on the inability of the target to follow the faster-than-light movement of the maneuvering ship.  This tracking limitation implies that at combat ranges, warships rely heavily on lightspeed [[sensor]]s to track other vessels and verbal orders to direct fire.
 
==Usage Examples==
As far as we know, the Picard Maneuver has only been successfully used once.  [[Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Picard]], then captain of the ''[[USS Stargazer]]'', used it to counter-attack a [[Ferengi]] ship that ambushed the ''Stargazer'', destroying the attacker in one salvoAs noted above, starship captains seldom use this tactic, since it would typically be more advantageous to use the same power to strengthen the ship's shields.  The ''Stargazer's'' shields had already been depleted in the initial Ferengi assault to the point that diverting extra power to them would be useless, but the warp engines were still in good condition, leaving this maneuver as his best option.


The success of this tactic depends on the inability of the target to follow the faster-than-light movement of the maneuvering ship. This tracking limitation implies that at combat ranges, warships rely heavily on lightspeed [[sensor]]s to track other vessels.
Under the influence of a Ferengi mind-control device, Picard attempted to repeat the attack against the ''[[Enterprise-D|Enterprise]]'', but knowing what to expect, the ''Enterprise'' crew were able predict where the ''Stargazer'' would drop out of warp by detecting the compression of trace hydrogen ahead of it, allowing them to immobilize the ''Stargazer'' with a [[tractor beam]].<ref>[[TNG]] "The Battle"</ref>.  Since they had experience with the maneuver, they knew that the second, "new" image would be the correct one.


==Usage Examples==
==Debate==
As far as we know, the Picard Maneuver has only been successfully used once.  [[Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Picard]], then captain of the ''[[USS Stargazer]]'', used it to counter-attack a [[Ferengi]] ship that ambushed the ''Stargazer'', destroying the attacker in one salvo.  Under the influence of a Ferengi mind-control device, Picard attempted to repeat the attack against the ''[[Enterprise-D|Enterprise]]'', but knowing what to expect, the ''Enterprise'' crew were able predict where the ''Stargazer'' would drop out of warp by detecting the compression of trace hydrogen ahead of it, allowing them to immobilize the ''Stargazer'' with a [[tractor beam]].<ref>[[TNG]] "The Battle"</ref>
The Picard Maneuver is occasionally referenced as an example of [[warp strafing]], but this maneuver ''specifically'' involves dropping out of warp before firing weapons.


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 22:42, 15 December 2014

USS Stargazer executes the Picard Maneuver

The Picard Maneuver is a famous tactic used by Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard to surprise and destroy an enemy starship.

Theory

The Picard Maneuver involves warping from one location to another, within the enemy's visual range, then firing all weapons in an alpha strike. The quick warp jump enables the attacker to outrun light from it's starting position to a closer position; light from the original position is still arriving at the target when the attacker reaches its new location, creating the illusion of the attacker being in two places at once. The target's weapon systems -- presumably relying upon lightspeed sensors -- remain locked on the attacker's original position, and the humanoid crew of the target can't respond quickly enough to redirect fire to the attacker's new location.

Unless the target knows in advance what is happening, it will probably waste its weapons fire on the image of the ship rather than the true ship. If the attacker's alpha strike is sufficiently powerful, it can quickly overwhelm the target's shields, possibly destroying the ship.

In Practice

The Picard Maneuver was not widely used in the Dominion War, possibly because it is more advantageous to divert warp power to shields and approach heavily shielded. In TNG "Hero Worship", Geordi diverted fusion power to the shields, resulting in a doubling of shield strength; directing warp power to the shields would provide an even greater increase.

The Picard Maneuver appears to rely on a tactical officer's inexperience in combat and slow human reflexes. A competent tactical officer could theoretically program his console to automatically target and attack any enemy ship that suddenly appears on its sensors, removing much of the benefit of this maneuver. Such possible pre-programmed responses are evident in TNG "The Wounded" when the Enterprise-D raises its shields automatically in response to a Cardassian sneak attack, or The Final Frontier where the Enterprise-A detected an incoming Bird of Prey but was not programmed to automatically raise its shields.

Implications

The success of this tactic depends on the inability of the target to follow the faster-than-light movement of the maneuvering ship. This tracking limitation implies that at combat ranges, warships rely heavily on lightspeed sensors to track other vessels and verbal orders to direct fire.

Usage Examples

As far as we know, the Picard Maneuver has only been successfully used once. Captain Picard, then captain of the USS Stargazer, used it to counter-attack a Ferengi ship that ambushed the Stargazer, destroying the attacker in one salvo. As noted above, starship captains seldom use this tactic, since it would typically be more advantageous to use the same power to strengthen the ship's shields. The Stargazer's shields had already been depleted in the initial Ferengi assault to the point that diverting extra power to them would be useless, but the warp engines were still in good condition, leaving this maneuver as his best option.

Under the influence of a Ferengi mind-control device, Picard attempted to repeat the attack against the Enterprise, but knowing what to expect, the Enterprise crew were able predict where the Stargazer would drop out of warp by detecting the compression of trace hydrogen ahead of it, allowing them to immobilize the Stargazer with a tractor beam.[1]. Since they had experience with the maneuver, they knew that the second, "new" image would be the correct one.

Debate

The Picard Maneuver is occasionally referenced as an example of warp strafing, but this maneuver specifically involves dropping out of warp before firing weapons.

References

  1. TNG "The Battle"