# If the USS Enterprise had been an actual military vessel... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479 "2015-07-07T15:02:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/41 "2015-07-07T21:28:15Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > I think you mean [eight times over](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_United_States_Navy_named_Enterprise) As someone who served on board the latest version, I have to admit that the thread title threw me for a moment! ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/42 "2015-07-07T22:46:10Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Ten-Forward would serve Navy coffee, milk, and Coca-Cola. None of this “prune juice” shit. You forgot orange and red juice. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/43 "2015-07-07T22:46:59Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > There wouldn’t have been whole families on board. > > The helmsman would repeat navigation changes. > > The high ranking officers wouldn’t leave on “away missions”. Are away missions even a real thing? > > Please continue. To be fair, in the original Shatner series (and the prequel series _Star Trek: Enterprise_) there were no families on board. That was only in \*TNG \* where it represented Roddenberry’s hope for an even more peaceful, civilian future (IOW when it kinda became _The Love Boat_ even including oh-so progressive [skirts for men!!](http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Starfleet_uniform_%282350s-2370s%29#Skant)) 😃 Also in\* TOS \*I think Sulu _et al._ usually did repeat commands. Top officers leaving on landing party/away missions was just an unavoidable storytelling device… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/44 "2015-07-07T23:03:03Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The Royal Navy did a lot of that in its heyday. Even today the US Navy has a pretty big scientific effort. > > As it is, the we are not military is bullshit. When the Dominion comes calling, who does the Federation turn to? Starfleet. Yes, but how often does an honest-to-God war come along? Armed forces have to do _something_ to keep them busy in peacetime. I’m willing to go along with “semimilitary,” so long as Starfleet’s primary mission is exploration and research. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/45 "2015-07-07T23:19:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In the RN of Nelsons period, it wasn’t uncommon for the Captain’s wife to sail along. With a chest full of French letters? :dubious: 😕 :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/46 "2015-07-07T23:20:30Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > To be fair, in the original Shatner series (and the prequel series _Star Trek: Enterprise_) there were no families on board. That was only in \*TNG \* where it represented Roddenberry’s hope for an even more peaceful, civilian future (IOW when it kinda became _The Love Boat_ even including oh-so progressive [skirts for men!!](http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Starfleet_uniform_%282350s-2370s%29#Skant)) 😃 > > Also in\* TOS \*I think Sulu _et al._ usually did repeat commands. Well, Kirk did perform marriages of crew members. Or at least he would have if the Romulans hadn’t so rudely interrupted. I recall Sulu et al repeating speed more often than direction. Or just a generic “course laid in”. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/47 "2015-07-07T23:26:12Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Well, Kirk did perform marriages of crew members. It was generally assumed in _ **TOS** _ that there were husband-and-wife teams of scientists and other personnel aboard. It was also assumed that strict policies regarding birth control and pregnancy were enforced. As has been noted sadly elsewhere, Roddenberry had already started his decline by the time _ **TNG** _ came along. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/48 "2015-07-07T23:26:27Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The closest analogy is the British Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries. “Cabinboy! Oh cabinboy!” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/49 "2015-07-07T23:27:48Z")
“The traditions of the Royal Navy are three in number: Rum, sodomy and the lash.” - Churchill ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/50 "2015-07-07T23:35:13Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > “Cabinboy! Oh cabinboy!” _Roger_ the cabinboy? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/51 "2015-07-07T23:44:01Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _Roger_ the cabinboy? :dubious: No, Wesley… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/52 "2015-07-07T23:53:15Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > No, Wesley… Seaman Staines! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/53 "2015-07-07T23:54:07Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > As the flagship of the fleet, it wouldn’t go anywhere alone. How many times were capital ships in the Star Trek universe basically screwed because there wasn’t another ship nearby to offer help? Particularly when they ran into Romulans or Klingons, and they would _always_ have at least three ships. Agreed. A first line ship like the Enterprise should have been the flagship of a squadron. There should have been a captain on the Enterprise who was in charge of just that ship and a commodore or admiral, also on the Enterprise, who was in overall command of the squadron. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/54 "2015-07-08T01:24:17Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > “Cabinboy! Oh cabinboy!” The Rear Admiral wants you. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/55 "2015-07-08T01:26:59Z")
There would be enlisted people. Petty Officer First Class TonyFop (ret.) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/56 "2015-07-08T01:42:03Z")
> [@tonyfop](#): > > There would be enlisted people. > > Petty Officer First Class TonyFop (ret.) Chief Miles O’Brien is a petty officer. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/57 "2015-07-08T01:48:26Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > I think you mean [eight times over](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_United_States_Navy_named_Enterprise) I think _you_ mean at least [twenty-three times over](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Enterprise) including British warships ;). ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/58 "2015-07-08T02:03:07Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Chief Miles O’Brien is a petty officer. One word of advice: don’t ever call a Chief a Petty Officer. Yes, their rank is Chief Petty Officer, but don’t ever call them that. Roddenberry had designed it so that everyone on TOS Enterprise were officers, since they were all astronauts. O’Brien is even called Lieutenant in a few early episodes of TNG. It wasn’t until GR gave up control that he was designated a Chief. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/59 "2015-07-08T02:10:29Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > “Cabinboy! Oh cabinboy!” Seriously, wasn’t sodomy punishable by death in the Royal Navy, basically for this exact reason? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479/60 "2015-07-08T02:16:40Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > The Rear Admiral wants you. What about Master Bates? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-uss-enterprise-had-been-an-actual-military-vessel/724479.md?page=4)