[BengalTiger]

If it was 10k for a flagship, I'll bet that the other Hecates have smaller crews (by even many hundred- after all, a flagship needs more facilities for mission planning etc).

Also notice that the Hecate isn't exactly smaller than an Orion, it's also far better armed, IIRC has a few times more engines, and more strike craft, yet the crew is the same.

Makes me wonder if the Aeolus had an increase in crewmembers over the old cruisers, and how many more people served on corvettes.

[Scotty]

Most destroyers are flagships.  It's practically in their job description (it might be, actually).

[BengalTiger]

Well, since each fleet has more than one GTD/GVD, I'll assume that only one is a flagship per fleet.

[Scotty]

Well, since each fleet has more than one GTD/GVD, I'll assume that only one is a flagship per fleet.

Source please.

[MatthTheGeek]

it's also far better armed

Now that is funny. And I guess the Aten is more powerful than the Lilith too.

But yeah, we can safely guess that each fleet has several destroyers, given the number the NTF is using : no less than 8 are canonically depicted in the main campaign - and the NTF fleet is supposed to be only made of the 6th fleet and possible defectors. Even if they recommissioned some old Orions or build a couple of them in the Regulus shipyards (I don't think you can build half a dozen destroyers in a few months, let alone train the crew to man them), that still make for several destroyers in a standard fleet.

[Scotty]

However, we don't know canonically if any of those destroyers were operating in flagship positions that weren't necessarily fleet size formations.  Task forces, task groups, and flotillas still need a command ship, and destroyers fit the bill like no other ships in FreeSpace.

Slightly more concise version:  We have no canonical evidence that those destroyers were not operating in flagship roles.

[Kie99]

The Orion has more firepower, undoubtedly, but the Hecate has far better anti-fighter defences.

[MatthTheGeek]

However, we don't know canonically if any of those destroyers were operating in flagship positions that weren't necessarily fleet size formations.  Task forces, task groups, and flotillas still need a command ship, and destroyers fit the bill like no other ships in FreeSpace.

Slightly more concise version:  We have no canonical evidence that those destroyers were not operating in flagship roles.

Never said the contrary. When I think flagship, I think fleet flagship. Like, one per fleet, coordinating the whole fleet. The point of my previous post was about the canonical evidences of there being several destroyers per fleet, not at all about which one were flagships or not.

I don't think task group or flotilla "flagships" have special crews and/or command systems. It's just a temporary assignment for the operation the task group/flotilla is formed for.

The Orion has more firepower, undoubtedly, but the Hecate has far better anti-fighter defences.

Given the ability to deploy fighter cover from the hangar bay, it's not as much an issue as the lack of direct anti-capship firepower. In most standard engagements (I mean, fleet engagements, where you are likely to be against any class and any kind of ship), an Orion will always be able to defend itself against medium to relatively high bomber raids with its few AAA and its fighter cover, but the Hecate can suffer a lot more damage from capital ships (even corvettes or cruisers) before its bomber complement and its few beams negate the threat.

[Iranon]

I've always got the idea that cruisers had a fairly large complement, with an emphasis on the ability to carry out long missions with minimal support rather than cramming the biggest amount of power into the smallest possible ship.

The Lilith may have been built along very different lines, only referred to as a cruiser because it fits for a vessel of the size: Extensive automation to make room for armour, bigger weapons and the power plants to operate them. Probably less able to act independently for extended periods of time.

Afaik, there is no canon information to support this speculation though.

[Droid803]

Canonically, a Sobek has 8000 crew.
So I'd guess some of the larger cruisers have one or two thousand? I donno.

[DOCTOR DOOM!!!]

I thought the Orion had a crew of 8000 and the Hecate had a crew of 10000!

[SpardaSon21]

Nope, listen to Rear Admiral Koth in Feint! Parry! Riposte!.  While doing the evil speech thing from the bridge of his Orion he mentions he has ten thousand men ready to die for Neo-Terra.

[Droid803]

Also the Carthage is listed has having 10k, in the same mission that sobeks are listed as having 8000.

[headdie]

I've always got the idea that cruisers had a fairly large complement, with an emphasis on the ability to carry out long missions with minimal support rather than cramming the biggest amount of power into the smallest possible ship.

The Lilith may have been built along very different lines, only referred to as a cruiser because it fits for a vessel of the size: Extensive automation to make room for armour, bigger weapons and the power plants to operate them. Probably less able to act independently for extended periods of time.

Afaik, there is no canon information to support this speculation though.

Traditionaly as employed in the real world yes a cruiser is a warship designed to operate for prolongued periods away from friendly terretory but in FS the squewed designation scheme i would place a cruiser in the corvette/frigate/destroyer bracket operating as a more home defence and support role.  thinking about it if you went far enough pre T-V war you would probably find ships of cruiser size designated as such and the designation stuck to ships of that size bracket insted of its role.

personaly i would favor crews in the region of 200-300 with only a tiny number of marines to counter bording actions

[Dilmah G]

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.

Fair enough, but you're forgetting those vessels employ between one and two helicopters as well. So that's about 20 crewmen, not including pilots you've got on those figures.

I don't really see the logic in doubling the size of the crew just for sheer size. I mean, an aircraft carrier has a deck, several hangars, and lots of aircraft. Therefore it does make sense for them to have a large crew more or less. The largest part of a cruiser would probably be the enlisted mess, and it only has a few systems that need manning.

I've never, ever, seen a Fenris attempt to dock with another cruiser directly. I mean, there's the *small* problem of the ship getting torn to pieces by the 'dockee' vessel's defensive armament. That said, having a small complement of marines on-board to counter boarding actions in the event the vessel is stripped of its armament makes sense as previously stated. But even then, I'd suppose the GTVA might have a policy similar to the US Marine Corps, or the ADF, in which all members are trained in some basic IMT to provide local security, so in the event of a boarding action, those not on shift would comprise the armed crew complement. 

The most valid argument I can see for a larger crew would be so you have 2-3 crew rotations. That would up the figure to about 200 people max, I think that makes sense.

Most destroyers are flagships.  It's practically in their job description (it might be, actually).

Fair enough, Fleet CO usually resides on a destroyer. It makes very, very, little tactical sense to have a ship class dedicated for your Fleet Commander. So now if your destroyer were to bite it, you have no place within the fleet to coordinate operations, and the single largest weapon in the fleet is gone. It makes sense to have perhaps 2-3 destroyers, I mean, they aren't called destroyers for nothing! When there are concurrent offensives, or different parts of the system that fall under a fleet's jurisdiction, it makes sense to deploy more than one. Although, I'd imagine the Flagship had more C3 duties than the other destroyers.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Whenever I see a Fenris or Leviathan, the first number that comes into mind when I guess their crew count is 250.

On a side note, HLP's active members could man the GTC LoneWolf.

[jr2]

I don't think you can build half a dozen destroyers in a few months, let alone train the crew to man them), that still make for several destroyers in a standard fleet.

Yay for the Ready Reserves (drilling reservists) and Individual Ready Reserves (non-drilling former active duty or drilling reservists filling out the rest of their contract; they can be called back into active duty if necessary).

[MatthTheGeek]

Yay for the Ready Reserves (drilling reservists) and Individual Ready Reserves (non-drilling former active duty or drilling reservists filling out the rest of their contract; they can be called back into active duty if necessary).

I was talking about the NTF here. I don't think a rebel organization which have only been operating for a few months would have that many reservists.

[Dilmah G]

Well **** the reserves, I think they'd want everyone on active-duty.

[jr2]

NTF?  Yeah.  They would.  I was thinking GTVA.