Ship approaching with no communications

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

OK hopefully this is appropriate for this forum.

I was watching TWOK and I came to the part where Reliant is approaching Enterprise with a communications blackout. Starfleet regulations appear to indicate that shields must be raised if a ship approaches without communications (i.e., assume they're potentially hostile.) And as an aside, I think Kirk refrained from raising shields in time because he didn't want to get made fun of for being jumpy. Purely an ego thing. But anyway...

My question is: what would, say, a US Navy destroyer do if another US destroyer approached without communication?

 

[BillJ]

And as an aside, I think Kirk refrained from raising shields in time because he didn't want to get made fun of for being jumpy. Purely an ego thing. But anyway...

I think Kirk didn't raise shields because he knew Chekov was aboard.

 

[fireproof78]

My question is: what would, say, a US Navy destroyer do if another US destroyer approached without communication?

Are we in a movie?

 

[C.E. Evans]

As Nero would say,
"FIRE EVERYTHING!"

 

[GNDN18]

Transmit 16309.

 

[Jedi Marso]

My question is: what would, say, a US Navy destroyer do if another US destroyer approached without communication?

They'd go to the ALDIS lamp once in visual range, and communications would be established.

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

No, I'm asking what a naval ship would do in real life if a 'friendly' ship was steaming toward them and refusing to communicate. Same situation as TWOK, basically.

 

[DonIago]

I'm curious to see what the responses may be from people more knowledgable about such things than I am, but I also feel it may be a flawed analogy, as contemporary naval vessels don't (to my knowledge) have an option equivalent to raising shields.

 

[fireproof78]

I'm curious to see what the responses may be from people more knowledgable about such things than I am, but I also feel it may be a flawed analogy, as contemporary naval vessels don't (to my knowledge) have an option equivalent to raising shields.

Call general quarters. Prepare countermeasures. Prepare fighters if a carrier. Attempt contact via radio and light signal if needed.

 

[MarkusTay]

They'd do a lot more than those idiots in that Jurassic Park movie...
"Sir, the ship doesn't seem to slowing down - its getting very close to the dock, refusing to answer hails, and is traveling at full speed."
Guy in-charge: "I'm pretty sure we should have EVERYONE - including civilians/reporters - all lean over the edge of the dock as far as they can waiting to stop it with their faces."

But yeah, giving the speeds of starships, the lack of friction in space, and the ability to raise purely defensive shields are all reasons that make a comparison between Trek and RW navies nigh-impossible. Its not just a matter of the very rare occurrence of someone not-nice taking over a ship, its also a known fact several species have cloaking-type tech that can disguise ships as well. Not raising shields is just idiocy.

 

[publiusr]

Complacency

 

[Ssosmcin]

I think Kirk refrained from raising shields in time because he didn't want to get made fun of for being jumpy.

Yeah this sounds like Kirk...

"Man, I better keep shields down. I don't want Bones and Lt. Lipshitz ribbing me..."

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

Good question, but I don't know of any time it has occurred, or what the protocol would be.

I wonder though, if you (or someone) contacted the Dept. of the Navy and inquired about it, unless classified info, they might offer an explanation, or steer you towards who could.

Ek-scuse me, I hav some questions for you about the nuclear wessels.

 

[shapeshifter]

Ek-scuse me, I hav some questions for you about the nuclear wessels.