Why are basic infantry tactics almost never employed in Star Trek?

[awiltz2]

When the main gang and their unnamed Redshirts (usually a group of 3-5) beam down to either an unknown planet (most episodes of TOS) or an unfamiliar ship (Stat Trek: The Wrath of Khan), despite the fact that we often have not only a Starfleet Captain (or Admiral at times) Kirk, but also a Lieutenant Commander Spock, they never seem to employ even the most basic infantry tactics.

They casually walk around with their phasers (usually set to stun), without anyone making sure that there is a constant 360 degree view across all members of the squad (to avoid an ambush, in the event that one occurs).

When under attack, they never go back-to-back or employ the standard backup strategies that are second nature in today's military.

The only time I've seen Kirk use any infantry tactics is in "The Savage Curtain" when he takes advantage of high-ground positions, in order to avoid a surprise attach.

Other than this episode, however, they simply walk around carelessly! They should hug the walls in general (never done to my knowledge). When they reach a new corner, they should have someone peek to make sure it is safe (never done to my knowledge). When they're in dangerous territory, they should have someone scout the area first (never done to my knowledge). When they are travelling in general, they should always have someone in the rear looking back to make sure nothing is preparing to attack (if they did this, Spock wouldn't have been parasitized in "The Devil In The Dark").

I suppose this might not be the way Starfleet would like to be interpreted. If their first impression is that of battle stance, it may counter the peaceful nature Starfleet is trying to maintain.

I can't imagine how many Redshirts would still be alive if they had been more tactically and strategically sound in their overall deployment.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Mainly it's because of dramatic necessity. But it could also be said that Starfleet relies on technology that renders such tactics pointless. Tricorders and starship sensors allow them to know where life-forms are. Transporters also allow to them to arrive directly at specific locations in force. When stealth is required or when they don't have access to their technology, then they do things the old-fashioned way (sneaking around).

But I do recall seeing landing parties/away teams in which the team leader did send someone off to scout ahead in unfamiliar territory or accompany them as a rear guard. They may not always do it infantry style, but that might be because tricorders generally tell them when someone is trying to outflank them and they move to evade them.

But when a story requires it, however, all of that will go out the window in a heartbeat.

 

[The Wormhole]

"It's just a TV show." The main purpose of Trek is to entertain an audience, not provide a picture-perfect portrayal of military protocol and porcedures. Hell, most TV shows which are set in the modern-day military are rarely 100% accurate, so why should Trek be any different? Realism is boring anyway.

 

[Knight Templar]

1) Drama- the characters in the Star Trek universe would be all but invulnerable if they properly used their technology.

2) Cameria angles- the characters being filmed have to be accessible for the camera when filmed on locations and this restricts their movements.

3) Writers- you really don't think most Star Trek writers have a clue about infantry tactics do you?

 

[Star Wolf]

How about the technology factor. Even though a Federation redshirt may carrier just a hand phaser one of him or a Klingon warrior with a disruptor should have the reach and firepower that a Mobile Infantryman of the Starship Troopers novel had. Thus putting your supporting wingman out of the camera shot

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I think the MACO's use some, if not all, of the tactics mentioned by the OP

 

[Captain Rob]

Starfleet needs ninjas on their landing parties.

 

[Yevetha]

How good are MACO's when it comes to tactics?

 

[Mage]

Thing is, most writers don't know anything about this stuff. And 999.999 out of a million tv-viewers don't know it either. So no one really notices, except for a view.

 

[Yevetha]

They could have a Navy Seal or SWAT vet as an advisor, they do that other series involving military action.

 

[Mage]

Yes, they could. But those advisors cost money. And for a show set in present day revolving heavily on situations where military is involved, they do.

But this is Star Trek, set in the future where things don't really need to be like they are today. So they are not going to spend money on advisors.

 

[Yevetha]

I don't see how small squad tactics would be different.

 

[Timo]

Well, small squad tactics have changed the most throughout the centuries, as the fundamental nature of infantry weapons has changed drastically. A squad defending itself with swords is worlds apart from one defending itself with rapid-firing ranged weapons. It's the larger formations that still might operate roughly comparably to their millennia-old predecessors, as even the recent improvements in mobility or weapons range and destructiveness are only relative rather than game-changing.

Yet one wonders why a landing party would need to use infantry tactics in the general case - as the general case does not involve ambushes or indeed opposition of any conventional sort. When beaming down to your average planet, a landing party does not enter hostile territory, but merely unknown land, generally pre-scanned carefully enough to preclude a combat encounter. The most useful tactics would be those practiced by geological or biological survey teams in demanding environments such as arctic wastes or jungles. And those include sticking together in open terrain with good lines of sight when getting one's bearings; spreading out at targets of interest with a centrally rather than peripherally stationed armed guard; and covering ground systematically and with minimum effort, rather than choosing unexpected paths that generally aim to surprise the enemy exactly by being so difficult to utilize.

A TOS landing party from the very outset seems built to exploit these tactics. Its armed guards are wearing bright colors for best possible visibility, and its clear-cut division of labor makes the most of the special skills of the personnel while defeating any attempt at combat unity or hierarchy. Unlike today's survey parties, though, it travels light, without camping or crossing gear, let alone means of digging in, because this is an efficient way to cover the necessary ground on foot while leaving logistics and evacuation to the transporter.

How often does Kirk really beam down in anticipation of conventional hostilities? His redshirts tend to get killed by godlike superbeings that smite from above, or by traitors or people with unpredictable behavior patterns; infantry tactics won't help against that. Quite possibly Starfleet has special troops and tactics for infantry action, but none of that actually takes place in TOS. And statistics support the apparent Starfleet conviction that the average planet poses no threat of combat to the surface team.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[The Badger]

As I recall, in Star Trek 09, when Kirk and Spock beam aboard the Narada they employ appropriate tactics, moving and shooting in a coordinated fashion to give the best odds of success.

It's not necessary to have a full time tactical advisor to get something that feels right. When I wrote my fanfic I had Marines move in staggered snake formation and employ 'button hook' room clearing manoeuvres, most of which I got from playing Rainbow 6, plus some quick Google searches. It may not have been one hundred per cent accurate, but it added verisimilitude.

Let's face it, some Trek fight scenes are dismal! I'm thinking here of Riker and Worf in Nemesis rushing down a corridor, not keeping an eye out all around. A bunch of Remans shoot at them from behind, and miss! Scenes like this make everyone involved look shockingly amateur.

 

[Timo]

Thankfully, NEM was the only time we had a "corridor fight" in the Trek movies, unless one counts the walk of the assassins from ST6, or wants to include the unseen fights against the Borg in ST:FC. The entire premise is pretty absurd when one realizes that the starship corridors themselves should be considered weapons: the operators of the ship ought to be able to control the movement of bulkheads; adjust the lighting, temperature and air quality and quantity at will; and even mess with gravity.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Star Wolf]

How good are MACO's when it comes to tactics?

As good as Sergeant Saunder squad on Combat, or the platoon on Tour of Duty. Enterprise being a modern production with lighter firearms then a 10lb M1 rifle they also usual take an aiming stance when advancing so no shooting from the hip.

 

[Yevetha]

Is Tour of Duty worth watching?

 

[Star Wolf]

It is Combat for the Vietnam generation. I don't remember the Americans as villians being a plot point like in Platoon or Casualties of War. The first season they were a grunt platoon in the boonies. The second they were local security for a major base and in the last LRRPs.

 

[Yevetha]

Do they portray Vietnam as the dirty war nobody understands or is it the heroic WW2 kind of war?

 

[Star Wolf]

I would say both, it is from a grunt's eye view. But then Combat showed both in WWII also.