Archer Class crew complement -- 14 isn't enough! 2nd try

[Nathan]

First of all I think the Archer class ship is a great idea and loved it use in the Vanguard series and that it was featured in the That Which Divides.

So I really just have a nitpick. I think the crew should be at least doubled in size. Yeah I read that everyone has multiple disciplines. But for a crew that is out in possible enemy/unknown space, I think there needs to be more people.

Assume everyone works a 12 hours shift 7 days a week. That is asking a lot, but I’ll buy into it. (I think it’s a tall order cuz when I was in the @$$ end of Afghanistan working that shift, it was grueling for a year), but like I said, I’ll buy into saying that only elite Starfleet folks get assigned to the Archer class.

Since the ship is designed as scout-type missions I think of this…

2 people are assigned at the bridge stations are skilled in helmsman, sensors/navigation, communications are skilled is astronomy and space phenomena per shift (for a total of 4 people as the other two folks work the night shift.

Say the Captain and First Officer are also the medical doctors and have degrees/specialty training in the earth sciences (biology, ecology, geology). Hence they are cross trained and no need for a medical department as they are covering.

I think you would need two people to run engineering per shift. One guy monitors the engines etc and the other guy walks around the ship doing checks, maintenance, diagnostics etc. Besides have the engineering background, they also double as the security officers/crewman. That’s a total of 10 folks.

There is probably another two folks who double as security and the earth sciences...as if the Captain and First Officer on an away mission, the CPT and First Officer y aren’t gonna get saddled with doing the science stuff as there is probably planetary folks they have to interact with + all the command responsibilities, they won’t be doing all the science experiments alone and will delegate that stuff to the assistants.

That’s a total of 12 folks.

They remaining two folks are land scouts/sorta like the MACOs and could double as one of the bridge shifts (helmsman, communications etc). Yeah, I already mentioned the security guys with the engineering guys, but doing security on a ship is different that infantry/scout skills on a planet. Plus, I think if there are land crafts that the MACOs would operate etc. And could fill in for any spot say someone gets sick with the flu.
I was an Army Ranger but am not qualified to be a security officer on a Navy ship as it is different skill sets (nor could the Navy guy on the ship do a route recon).

Again, ain’t saying it can’t be done, but its stretching the crew pretty thin. Plus, it’s not like the ship is patrolling the area from Earth to Jupiter, but its unknown space.

I say again, I do love the Archer Class ideas but think the crew should be doubled in size. Just my two cents.

Your thoughts???

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[C.E. Evans]

It depends on how big the ship is, its mission, and standard deployment time, IMO. If the Archer-class is a fairly small vessel or is designed only to be little more than a PT boat, then fourteen people might actually be more than enough. The ship may only really need four people to really run it during a standard duty shift.

 

[Nathan]

CE, I thought the same only 4 folks running it during a duty shift, but with a night shift you are up to 8 folks, and that 's not when the ship is being shot at, under attack, battling a spatial anomolies etc. Even when it's business as usual, only 6 folks are left. I just saying it getting thin to be a scout vessel. Its one think to be patrollling say along the coast of the US, but another when in the Persian Gulf.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Some PT boats operated in deep waters during World War II with a crew of only 12 and were involved in heavy combat (often going up against much larger vessels). The Archer-class could operate on the same principle.

 

[tenmei]

I always pictured the Archer Class vessels as akin to the Armidale Class boats used by the Royal Australian Navy - they have a crew compliment of approximately twenty one.

Featured in the tv-show Sea Patrol, we know the bridge crew can be whittled down to two on a night shift (helmsman and one other to man the other stations).

 

[Relayer1]

I'd say for normal cruising you need a helmsman/navigator and watch commander/tactical officer on bridge duty and an engineer in, er, engineering. That's three people - six allowing for two shifts.

The other crew fit around this basic requirement as and when for surveys, repairs, combat etc. With everyone cross trained you would have more than enough and even be able to have a day off...

 

[MatthiasRussell]

I tend to think David Mack and company put some thought into this matter and picked an appropriate crew complement. A significant amount of thought went into the Saggitarius.

 

[David Mack]

^ One thing to keep in mind is that in the 23rd century, there is a significant degree of automation aboard the ship, which makes it possible for a smaller number of people to maintain and run the vessel during routine operations.

 

[Nathan]

I guess I'm the odd one out then. I still think to maintain 12 hour shifts 7 days a week you still need a few more people. What happens when the ship is under attack or on red alert during the day shift, do the night shift folks still get to sleep?

nevertheless, I like the concept of the Archer Class and hope to see more its usage in Trek Lit.

 

[Deano2099]

I'd assumed 8-hour shifts, two 5s and a 4. So everyone rotates a work-shift, an off-shift and a sleep shift. In reality people can work part (or all) of their off-shift (I mean, there isn't much else to do) so you always have at least 9 people immediately available.

It's not a ship designed for combat, so if it gets into fights I can see it being all hands on deck. Catch up sleep in your next off-shift.

 

[captcalhoun]

when any warship is involved in combat or potential combat everyone on board is needed for the situation.

"ALL HANDS, MAN YOUR BATTLESTATIONS!"

ring any bells? that means every man-jack aboard goes to where he (or she) has to be and gets ready for action; whether it's manning a fire-control station, manning engine spaces, readying weapons reloads or manning a damage control party.