The Forgotten Star Trek Ship: U.S.S. Yorktown’s Hidden History

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Summary

  • Star Trek’s iconic ships & locations act as characters in the show’s rich lore, like the U.S.S. Yorktown.
  • The U.S.S. Yorktown was originally planned as the starship name before the Enterprise stole the spotlight.
  • The U.S.S. Yorktown’s hidden history is intertwined with the Enterprise, making it a part of Star Trek lore.

The popular “Star Trek” series abounds with memorable characters and visuals. In a unique manner, the vessels and locales featured in the series can be considered as characters themselves, contributing to why numerous shows are titled after their primary spaceships (or space stations, such as “Deep Space Nine”).

For decades, enthusiasts of “Star Trek” have embarked on the legendary journeys of the starship Enterprise, which was first presented as the NCC-1701 in 1966. However, a spaceship that some fans might not even be aware of has been an integral part of “Star Trek” since its inception – the U.S.S. Yorktown.

These Are the Voyages of… Wait, Whose Trek is This?

Due to its continuous impact on popular culture and long-lasting influence, it can be effortless to overlook the fact that Star Trek encountered numerous obstacles behind the scenes. The series had a difficult time getting started initially, as some fans may recall, thanks in part to the character’s later revival in Discovery and then Strange New Worlds. Before Captain Kirk became famous, there was Commander Christopher Pike.

Jeffrey Hunter initially played Captain Pike in the initial Star Trek pilot episode called “The Cage,” but studio heads weren’t fully on board with the show. However, they recognized the series’ potential and asked for a second attempt. After some adjustments, William Shatner replaced Hunter as Captain Kirk, taking over the helm of the Enterprise from Captain Pike. The events that followed became known as Star Trek history.

Before the initial episode was even taped, a significant alteration had been implemented during the show’s creation. Originally, Gene Roddenberry envisioned a series chronicling the voyages of the starship Yorktown’s trailblazing crew. Interestingly enough, they eventually opted to rename the ship Enterprise instead – a decision that now seems quite momentous considering the name’s enduring significance. However, it’s worth noting that the Yorktown wasn’t entirely abandoned; its legacy lived on in some capacity.

Flirting With Official Star Trek Canon

In the official Star Trek lore, the U.S.S. Yorktown was eventually introduced. It was first hinted at in the episode “Obsession” of the original series where it was scheduled to meet with the Enterprise to deliver medical supplies destined for Theta VII. Later, in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, the name Yorktown resurfaced, this time as the second starship to encounter and become disabled by a strange alien probe en route to Earth.

However, beyond its screen presence, the hidden history of the ship expanded in captivating manners, mirroring the initial stages of the series’ creation and evolution. The Yorktown maintained a quasi-official connection to the Enterprise that was reminiscent of its early production lineage.

Star Trek IV: The Unofficial Yorktown

Let me preface this by saying there might be spoilers from 40-year-old movies coming up, specifically “Star Trek III: The Search For Spock”. In the story, Captain Kirk is compelled to set off an explosion on his cherished starship Enterprise (which he secretly took from Starfleet) as a final strategy against the Klingons in a fierce battle. It’s a poignant “Trek” moment that marks the goodbye of a vessel that had been a staple in science fiction for decades, and a beloved symbol of pop culture.

In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, the crew encounter a court-martial due to their actions in the previous movie. However, during their journey to the court-martial, they manage to save all of mankind after an unexpected detour for whale watching through time travel. This heroic act results in the dropping of all charges, and as a reward, they receive a freshly minted Enterprise, designated NCC-1701-A. While this ending is pleasing, it does leave room for questioning – why would a new Enterprise be prepared when the crew was supposed to face trial for violating Starfleet’s rules?

In Roddenberry’s notes for the film, he anticipated these complaints and offered an in-universe explanation: The Enterprise-A, as suggested, was actually a pre-existing ship located in Spacedock that Starfleet quickly renamed Enterprise following the events involving Kirk and his crew. This rechristened vessel? None other than the U.S.S. Yorktown itself, thus further intertwining its history with the legend of the Enterprise.

The Yorktown Returns in Kelvin-Timeline Star Trek

2016’s “Star Trek Beyond” revisits an old tradition by featuring the spaceship Enterprise encountering a technologically advanced space station known as Yorktown. An admiral based there hints that a sophisticated vessel is being built at Yorktown (foreshadowing), but it remains unfinished, leaving the Enterprise to investigate a puzzling distress signal received by the station. It quickly becomes clear that the call was part of a sinister plan, and Kirk can only helplessly watch as his ship gets dismantled piece by piece. Unfortunately for both the Enterprise and Captain Kirk, third “Star Trek” movies seem to have a tendency to cause harm to ships bearing the name ‘Enterprise’ or captains named ‘Kirk’.

In the closing scenes of the movie, everything is hunky-dory. The enigmatic new ship at Yorktown gets completed, thanks to Kirk and the crew averting a catastrophic disaster for the base. Interestingly enough, they christen this newly built vessel as the Enterprise-A. It’s plausible that the original intention might have been to name it U.S.S. Yorktown, given its construction at the base. However, since Simon Pegg was responsible for the script in this film, it seems like a deliberate nod to his love for Star Trek, an instance of fan service that beautifully blends fandom with a depth and subtleness often absent from the Kelvin-universe Star Trek movies.

As a devoted cinephile who adores the Star Trek franchise, I can’t help but marvel at its intricate and captivating in-universe lore and canon. Yet, behind the scenes, the world of Star Trek is equally complex and enthralling. Occasionally, elements from the real world seep into the universe of this beloved series. The obscure yet intriguing history of the U.S.S. Yorktown is a perfect example of this overlap.

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2025-05-04 00:07