[CommanderDJ]

Hey all,
I was wondering whether we have any canon info as to the crew size of cruisers such as the Fenris and Leviathan? And any others while we're at it. I've checked the wiki pages of those cruisers and there's nothing on their crew size there.
Thanks,
CommanderDJ

[MatthTheGeek]

I think it's assumed that destroyers are crewed by thousands of people. I can't tell more than that, try to check failure debriefings in missions where your are supposed to defend things.

[The E]

I don't think that information was ever mentioned in dialogue or a briefing.

However, consider this: A Fenris is about the size of a modern aircraft carrier (which have a crew complement north of 5000).



We also know that an Orion carries a crew of 10000. So, just to pull a few numbers out of my ass, a typical Fenris would like ly have a crew somewhere under 1000 people, 300 to 600 would probably sound right.

[CommanderDJ]

I don't think that information was ever mentioned in dialogue or a briefing.

However, consider this: A Fenris is about the size of a modern aircraft carrier (which have a crew complement north of 5000).



We also know that an Orion carries a crew of 10000. So, just to pull a few numbers out of my ass, a typical Fenris would like ly have a crew somewhere under 1000 people, 300 to 600 would probably sound right.

That's a pretty kickass picture for scale reference there. Hmm, somehow it looks more than 10 times smaller than the Orion... so yeah, a few hundred should be alright for a rough guide.

Thanks! And I'm stealing that pic btw.

[Dilmah G]

Well, I suppose you could try and derive something from logic.

What are the systems a cruiser has? Sensors, weapons, comms, engine, radar dish?

Sensors presumably takes about 10 people max to operate. Weapons? About the same, perhaps 15 if we're being generous. Comms? Perhaps 5 people. Engine? 8-12? Radar? Let's tie that into sensors.

That gives us about 40-45 people. Now we add logistics and maintainance staff, about 20. Now we add the bridge crew of about 10. 75 people 'round about. Plus a repair crew? 10 people. 85 people.

Keep in mind, when making a carrier comparison/contrast, a Fenris doesn't have pilots, or aviation techies. It doesn't have associated aircrew officers, it definetely does not have a large marine complement. It doesn't have a crew large enough to quantify 100 people paid to peel potatoes. It doesn't need a large bridge crew. It doesn't have a large deck that needs people to coordinate it, it doesn't have any large places besides the enlisted mess that needs people to clean it.

[The E]

Granted. But, let's take modern-day frigates as an example. The british Type 23 carries a crew of 180. The german F125 Sachsen has a crew of 243. The american Oliver Hazard Perry, again, has 170 guys on board.

Given the sheer size of a Fenris, doubling that number just for purposes of damage control etc gives us a number between 300 and 500 guys, which does not sound that unrealistic.

Also, I am kinda assuming that a GTVA cruiser performs the same kind of policing/anti-piracy missions current frigates do, so you'd probably want a couple of warm bodies to do boarding actions and stuff like that.

[MatthTheGeek]

Also, I am kinda assuming that a GTVA cruiser performs the same kind of policing/anti-piracy missions current frigates do, so you'd probably want a couple of warm bodies to do boarding actions and stuff like that.

Now explain me how you want to board things with a frakking cruiser.

[The E]

By docking with them?

[Thaeris]

Indeed. Use the docking ring.

[MatthTheGeek]

I am so picturing a Fenris maneuvering to present its side docking ring to a disabled Poseidon and then sliding to dock, when it would be so easy to call for an Elysium full of marines.

[-Norbert-]

Remeber the Hallfight video?
The marines could just jump out of the airlocks and then use their magneticed boots to fix themselfs on the hull of the enemy ship, even if the cruiser can't dock. They might also have specialized troopers with a harness of manouvering thrusters for such operations.

And what is a poseidon? The only ship by that name I remember at the moment is a non-canon EA carrier form Babylon 5.

[General Battuta]

Remeber the Hallfight video?
The marines could just jump out of the airlocks and then use their magneticed boots to fix themselfs on the hull of the enemy ship, even if the cruiser can't dock. They might also have specialized troopers with a harness of manouvering thrusters for such operations.

And what is a poseidon? The only ship by that name I remember at the moment is a non-canon EA carrier form Babylon 5.

Terran freighter. Quite small.

[MatthTheGeek]

Hum, point. Especially for boarding small pirate ships like freighters or gunships. Still, I don't think the GTVA is short on Elysium for those tasks.

[kaloonzu]

Cruisers probably have a rather large crew. You have to take into account that every person probably has an 8 hour shift, so two others doing the same thing, and also some backups for that position in addition to the standard crew. PLUS, I believe it is generally accepted among the community that turrets (at least some of them) are manned. Oh, and support crew would be rather large, even on a cruiser. They are designed as the patrol craft when the Shivans aren't messing around in the backyard. So crew of around 400-750 sounds good.

[Scotty]

Hum, point. Especially for boarding small pirate ships like freighters or gunships. Still, I don't think the GTVA is short on Elysium for those tasks.

They don't have to be short on them for one not to be available in the next ten minutes for a boarding action on a fleeing pirate.

[Thaeris]

Remeber the Hallfight video?
The marines could just jump out of the airlocks and then use their magneticed boots to fix themselfs on the hull of the enemy ship, even if the cruiser can't dock. They might also have specialized troopers with a harness of manouvering thrusters for such operations.

And what is a poseidon? The only ship by that name I remember at the moment is a non-canon EA carrier form Babylon 5.

That's always bothered me. Pilots have (assumably) fully-sealed pressure suits, where the visor would probably snap out then back in very rapidly to seal the atmosphere inside the suit so as to prevent the pilot from dying. Marines however? Why do they not get full pressure suits? Reason: most likely budget and time restraints.

From watching "hall fight," one would assume the Shivans were within... almost a Terran environment, or at least one with an inert gas providing enough pressure to keep those marines alive... before they were barbequed, of course. Unless, of course, marines have a type of fielding which encloses an atmosphere about them, which is heinously impractical...

[MatthTheGeek]

They don't have to be short on them for one not to be available in the next ten minutes for a boarding action on a fleeing pirate.

You don't try to board a fleeing ship, you disable them before. That's what Disruptors and Akhetons are for.

[Scotty]

That's not really the point.  The point is, possible time constraints make relying on Elysiums impractical at best, and catastrophic at worst.

[ChronoReverse]

I'd compare these ships to submarines actually.  An Ohio class submarine has a crew complement of 155 already.  So a number at minimum twice that doesn't seem too far off.  They'd have to have at least three shifts (if not four) to continuously operate in those conditions.

[Paladin327]

i'd think about 300-500 crew (not counting marines) would be about right, assuming 3 shifts, plus damage control techs, etc. and no, they wouldnt need flight crew, recovery equipment, less extensive fire  supression as a carrier, but would still need it. i also read somewhere that the orion has 10k crew, and we know from the command breifings of fs2 that the hecates (maybe just the flagship aquatane) have 10k crew also