[omegaman]

In the episode TNG Yesterday's Enterprise we learn that the Enterprise C was lost some 20 odd years before the Enterprise D was launched. I find the length of period between ships overly long. Obviously the Federation had other ships as their flag during this period.

So here are my questions:

1) is there any mention of the other ships that acted as the flag vessel?

2) is there any mention of the reason for the long gap between C and D?

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

I've always imagined that the gap was a result of research and development time going into the new Galaxy class. That's nothing official of course, just the way I imagine it.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

I don't recall there ever being a mention of the previous Flag ship before Enterprise D

[omegaman]

Originally Posted by Captain Tom Coughlin

I've always imagined that the gap was a result of research and development time going into the new Galaxy class. That's nothing official of course, just the way I imagine it.

Seems strange that such a important and notable vessel as the Enterprise would simply disappear from the fleet for over 20 years.

None of the novels mention this at all?

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

Originally Posted by omegaman

Seems strange that such a important and notable vessel as the Enterprise would simply disappear from the fleet for over 20 years.

None of the novels mention this at all?

They may, I can't say for sure.

[omegaman]

Originally Posted by Captain Tom Coughlin

They may, I can't say for sure.

Hmm… a mystery to be written about or an avenue for a new series.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

In a way, I prefer the gap. It makes it more realistic for me. I would imagine that there would be other ship names of significance, and other crews and leaders as well.

[horatio]

Putting a historical event which made a difference between war and peace too closely to the present of TNG would have been unrealistic. Viewers would have wondered why the Klingons have been ready to wage total war upon the Federation a few years ago.
Although TUC has been filmed afterwards from an in-universe perspective it happens before "Yesterday's Enterprise" so in hindsight you frame this episode into the TUC-TNG era which features slow and uneven progress towards peace.

There is now law that says that there has to constantly be an Enterprise around. Seems as if the Federation managed perfectly well without calling any ship Enterprise during its first hundred years.

[Jim in St. Louis]

Originally Posted by Captain Tom Coughlin

I've always imagined that the gap was a result of research and development time going into the new Galaxy class. That's nothing official of course, just the way I imagine it.

I like this explanation. Today it can take 20+ years to develop a new military weopons system (V22 = 24yrs from development contract to entering service). Imagine developing and testing the systems for a Galaxy Class Starship.

[omegaman]

Originally Posted by Jim in St. Louis

I like this explanation. Today it can take 20+ years to develop a new military weopons system (V22 = 24yrs from development contract to entering service). Imagine developing and testing the systems for a Galaxy Class Starship.

As it's as good as any explanation I suppose, however I tend to think the normal course of refits would see the Enterprise span these 20 years as with the original TOS ship. Maybe the loss was such a shock that the Federation took its time before rebirthing the Enterprise. There would have been other ships available as in the "A" situation in TVH, that could have been renamed in honour of her.