Tri-Cobalt Torpedoes

Information on this device is derived primarily from two episodes, Voyager "Caretaker" and "The Voyager Conspiracy." The former gave us little information, suggesting it was more like a traditional torpedo explosive that was somehow more effective at destroying things, in this case the Caretaker Array. The latter episode allows us to infer much more information as Seven investigates the incident surrounding the first episode. The purpose of using the two tricobalt explosives was to ensure that little of the Array would be left intact for the Kazon to make use of, and scans afterward show little more then metal vapor of some unknown alloy. The blast managed to cause a tear in subspace, where we learn a tetryon reactor was pushed.

Unlike photon and quantum torpedoes whose explosive potential is measured in isotons (much like 20th Century atomic weapons being measured in the equivalent amount of TNT in tons needed to cause such an explosion) the tricobalt torpedoes in this episode were calibrated to a yield of 20,000 terracochranes, which is said to be more then enough for the Caretaker array and caused a subspace tear to form. Cochranes are the unit used to measure subspace field stress, such as in warp fields.

Therefore, we can assume that the purpose of using tricobalt devices is to distort space around an object by causing subspace instability, and that fields around 20,000 teracochranes can actually tear the fabric between normal space and subspace for short periods of time. The subspace field needed to propel a ship at Warp 9 is around 1000 cochranes, so the distortion of space as a result of these devices is enormous in comparison, and could easily destroy objects through means of a shearing force. It's comparable in some respects to an earthquake, and how the shearing forces can crumble a building that's normally stable.