# TNG: why didn't starfleet develop cloaking technology? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 22, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087 "2010-06-22T03:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/21 "2010-06-22T20:01:23Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m sure someone’s mentioned the treaty Picard once alludes to that prohbits it… Yes, I did, in the second post. :rolleyes: 😉 Both your and **Maus Magill** ’s fanwanks seem pretty plausible. Governments sometimes give something away through treaty that they have no intention of doing or taking advantage of, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/22 "2010-06-22T20:18:45Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > To defend Roddenberry, you could argue that in Earth’s past certain once-used military weapons were outlawed and not used again. Poison gas was widely used by both sides in World War I and virtually not at all in the second (we’ll leave out the Holocaust because those weren’t military operations). In the case of WWII all sides pretty much agreed to not use poison gas. This is very different from the Federation, who, for reasons that are not readily apparent, had agreed to forgo the development or use of cloaking devices in order to secure a peace treaty with the Romulans. I hope they got something really good in return for leaving the Romulans with a tactical advantage. I just chalk it up to TVisms. Things that just don’t make sense. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/23 "2010-06-22T21:43:35Z")
I’ve seen a couple of fanwank-type explanations, at least from the TOS time-frame. One was, I think from the old FASA role playing game that said the device Kirk stole was installed into a new ship, then Federation politicians kept pushing for a grandstanding demonstration well ahead of what the scientists wanted. They got their way, the ship went out full of Federation dignitaries, the ship cloaked–and then never decloaked. This cooled Federation enthusiasm towards the technology. The other, and I don’t remember where this came from, was a finding that cloaking technology has an overall harmful effect on the mental health of those aboard the ship. That would work with TOS-era Klingons and Romulans, perhaps not the TNG-era Klingons, though. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/24 "2010-06-22T23:10:58Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Yes, I did, in the second post. :rolleyes: 😉 > > Both your and **Maus Magill** ’s fanwanks seem pretty plausible. Governments sometimes give something away through treaty that they have no intention of doing or taking advantage of, anyway. I don’t how to use the scroll controls, Isildur, you know that. :: runs & hides :: ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/25 "2010-06-22T23:21:45Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > And let’s keep in mind that eventually the Federation _was_ allowed to have cloaking technology, so long as it was only put on ships that were designed and used to fight The Dominion. Ship. Only the Defiant itself had a cloak. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/26 "2010-06-22T23:41:37Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Ship. Only the Defiant itself had a cloak. And her replacement, the _San Pablo_ as I recall. [San Paulo](http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Defiant_%28NCC-75633%29)? Gack! I am mistaken. San Pablo had no cloaking device. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/27 "2010-06-22T23:48:40Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Ship. Only the Defiant itself had a cloak. As I recall, initially the Defiant was required to have a Romulan liaison on board but they quickly dropped that after a few subsequent episodes. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/28 "2010-06-22T23:52:48Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > As I recall, initially the Defiant was required to have a Romulan liaison on board but they quickly dropped that after a few subsequent episodes. No, no, no. The Romulan liaison is always there, as the agreement requires. You just never see her on camera. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/29 "2010-06-23T00:01:27Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > No, no, no. The Romulan liaison is always there, as the agreement requires. You just never see her on camera. 😛 Duh. She’s CLOAKED! ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/30 "2010-06-23T00:14:51Z")
The thing about Star Trek is that there’s a point where even they give up on trying to maintain continuity in the face of stupid writing. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/31 "2010-06-23T00:45:05Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > The thing about Star Trek is that there’s a point where even they give up on trying to maintain continuity in the face of stupid writing. :: sighs :: Okay, I’m gonna need my rubber gloves and a waste pan and a good-sized brush to clean that up. Then I should dab the stain with hydrogen peroxide, right? Wait–I have to check the carpet in the closet first to make sure the peroxide won’t bleach the color. Then I’ll have to dab the discolored area with the peroxide using a white cloth. And I better get a face mask too, 'cause the whole deal is gonna stink. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/32 "2010-06-23T00:46:59Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Okay, I’m gonna need my rubber gloves and a waste pan… You have my encouragement, Skald. Launch the flying/flaming/fornicating monkeys! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/33 "2010-06-23T00:54:12Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > You have my encouragement, Skald. Launch the flying/flaming/fornicating monkeys! If I had flying, fire-breathing monkeys, I would be sure to remove their testes, for reasons left as an exercise for the class. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/34 "2010-06-23T00:55:55Z")
Because fried monkey balls are delicious? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/35 "2010-06-23T00:56:21Z")
Of course, Old Fellow. Be a shame not to. Jolly good! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/36 "2010-06-23T01:04:16Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Because fried monkey balls are delicious? Don’t be silly, Old Boy. He doesn’t want them to reproduce, what oh? Memo to self: Do not sat up reading P.G. Wodehouse so bloody late. Right oh. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/37 "2010-06-23T01:17:11Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Because fried monkey balls are delicious? That’s chilled monkey brains, a staple of Cantonese cuisine. In Niger, they use fried monkey balls to force confessions. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/38 "2010-06-23T01:18:56Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > In Niger, they use fried monkey balls to force confessions. From the monkey, Old Chap, or prisoners of the human variety? What oh. dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/39 "2010-06-23T01:28:59Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > From the monkey, Old Chap, or prisoners of the human variety? > > What oh. > dammit. I have instructed the orderlies to take away your books, your drawings, and your toilet seat. You’ll get them back when I feel you have improved. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087/40 "2010-06-23T01:33:50Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > My personal fanwank is that during the 70 Years between ST4 and TNG, Federation cloaking technology was outpaced my Romulan detection technology. Didn’t they basically prove in Star Trek VI that cloaking technology can easily be circumvented by jury-rigged gas sampling equipment hooked up to a photon torpedo? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tng-why-didnt-starfleet-develop-cloaking-technology/544087.md?page=3)