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From: wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Starship losses
Message-ID: <680@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Apr-85 11:42:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.680
Posted: Fri Apr 26 11:42:59 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Apr-85 08:31:33 EDT
References: <706@rayssd.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
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> 
> 	Look at the losses!  At least four ships lost in ~15 years of
> peacetime!  Has the US lost 4 aircraft carriers in the same amount of
> time?  Starfleet must allow total dunderheads to command their ships!
> :-= (Gnashing of teeth!) :-)
> 

You're comparing the wrong eras... the ST universe, with its vast amount of
unknown area to be explored, and unknown numbers of unknown dangers to be
faced, should be compared with, say, around 1500 or so, when the new world
had just been discovered.  Take a look at the losses back then- the major
powers were probably losing 6 or so capital ships a year, not to mention
smaller ships.

In addition, look at the accident rate for the US carriers.  Every couple
of years, one of them rams another ship, or has critical fires, or
whatever.  Similar accidents in space would likely cause complete loss of
the vessel.

I realize you were toungue-in-cheek there, but it is an interesting
subject, and, besides, I haven't posted anything for two or three hours
now... :-)

				       Ron Wanttaja
				       (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

"The best diplomat I know of is a fully-charged phaser bank!"