Federation Naval Patrol

[Captain Seafort]

He could be talking about a actual Navy. Like water boats. Although I have no idea why there would be one...

They're probably glorified plods - just because the Federation core worlds are "paradise" doesn't mean it doesn't have crooks, and it'd be something of a waste of resources to commit Starfleet to going after them, just as the current US Navy doesn't commit a supercarrier to chasing a couple of theives in a rubber dingy.

[Teaos]

Then why would it Toms dream to join them?

It sounds like something that you get stuck with after getting turned down by starfleet.

[Captain Seafort]

Then why would it Toms dream to join them?

It sounds like something that you get stuck with after getting turned down by starfleet.

Why do people join the police today? Because they're more interested in law enforcement than traveling all over the planet (or galaxy) would be my guess.

[Mikey]

He could be talking about a actual Navy. Like water boats. Although I have no idea why there would be one...

Exactly my point. With global-travel vehicles, not mention global transporters, why have a specialized wet-only navy? If you do need a ground/atmospheric force, why limit it to the water?

[Monroe]

As others have said, watching civies, mining, deep sea study and recreation, and possibly shipping. I think there would be a need for a naval force. Just a very small one.

Also if they had good militaries they'd have military boats for the water, but... Trek doesn't have that.

[sunnyside]

He might not have gotten stationed on a core world of the Federation.

in context he just really liked the oceans and ships. It might be pretty cushy duty as well. Some environmental scanning, light action against unarmed poachers, and probably some baywatch style rescue stuff.

[Monroe]

Maybe he wanted to be stationed on Risa? I can see that from Tom.

[Mikey]

I'm not saying that there couldn't be a need for a surface/atmospheric force - I'm just saying that I can't see a need for a wet navy separate from any other ground force.

[sunnyside]

I'm not saying that there couldn't be a need for a surface/atmospheric force - I'm just saying that I can't see a need for a wet navy separate from any other ground force.

I don't think this is supposed to be a Navy, just naval. I.e. I don't think it's so much about battleships and such as thigns to fill the roles of cutters, rescue, and environmental monitoring vessels. As such they have no need to be associated with a ground force beyond calling them to pick up some poachers that made it to shore.

[Teaos]

The use of the word naval is an odd choice. It either implies boats or could be space craft, but if its the latter then why call it naval.

[Mikey]

I think that's part of it. "Naval" implies an actual wet navy, when in reality such a need could be filled by a multi-capable, planetwide surface force.

[Teaos]

But isnt the Klingon space navy known as a Navy?

[Mikey]

IIRC, it was the KDF - Klingon Defense Force.

And "Federation Naval Patrol" implies wet navy specifically, as it is a separate organization from Starfleet.

[Monroe]

IIRC, it was the KDF - Klingon Defense Force.

And "Federation Naval Patrol" implies wet navy specifically, as it is a separate organization from Starfleet.

Otherwise we surely would have seen them in DS9.
I think we're going in circles with this thread

[Mikey]

I disagree - rather, I think we're going in circles.