I don't think a ship this size has the space for a political officer and their henchmen.

Which I suspect would be another bonus for a Naval officer keen on command. And would likely make many officers promoted from Raider commands unconventional - at least by Imperial standards. Some officers might even prefer command of a Raider or maybe even Raider squadron command to commanding a Star Destroyer for precisely that reason. Such unconventional officers might be unpopular with certain members of Imperial high command, but if they're successful, that's all that matters. Command of Raider s and similar small capital ships might even make for a whole cult within Imperial command consisting of former Raider officers. If Admiral Thrawn is going to make it into canon, I suspect he would be the patron saint of Raider officers - and possibly a former Raider (or other corvette) commander, himself.

A fair point; I just finished reading Aftermath, which prominently features a former Imperial loyalty officer. Perhaps that's why it was on my mind.

All the same, the Empire has a habit of concentrating the best & brightest officers and crew in the largest, most impressive postings. The Death Star(s) had all of the best crews. Next would be Super Star Destroyers, followed by the newest Star Destroyers and so on. Raider crews, as with any of the smaller ships, could certainly be turned into quality "sailors" through experience & good leadership but I suspect that it would lead to a new posting on a bigger, better ship.

As an aside, I've seen other material that indicated that indicated that stormtroopers made up only a relatively small portion of the Imperial military, but it's all now of questionable veracity. We may never know the answer now that "canon" has shifted so much.

I don't think a ship this size has the space for a political officer and their henchmen.

Which I suspect would be another bonus for a Naval officer keen on command. And would likely make many officers promoted from Raider commands unconventional - at least by Imperial standards. Some officers might even prefer command of a Raider or maybe even Raider squadron command to commanding a Star Destroyer for precisely that reason. Such unconventional officers might be unpopular with certain members of Imperial high command, but if they're successful, that's all that matters. Command of Raider s and similar small capital ships might even make for a whole cult within Imperial command consisting of former Raider officers. If Admiral Thrawn is going to make it into canon, I suspect he would be the patron saint of Raider officers - and possibly a former Raider (or other corvette) commander, himself.

A fair point; I just finished reading Aftermath, which prominently features a former Imperial loyalty officer. Perhaps that's why it was on my mind.

All the same, the Empire has a habit of concentrating the best & brightest officers and crew in the largest, most impressive postings. The Death Star(s) had all of the best crews. Next would be Super Star Destroyers, followed by the newest Star Destroyers and so on. Raider crews, as with any of the smaller ships, could certainly be turned into quality "sailors" through experience & good leadership but I suspect that it would lead to a new posting on a bigger, better ship.

As an aside, I've seen other material that indicated that indicated that stormtroopers made up only a relatively small portion of the Imperial military, but it's all now of questionable veracity. We may never know the answer now that "canon" has shifted so much.

It does seem, from Aftermath , that the loyalty officer does not really have a permanent station, but goes where he's needed in the Imperial military.

We can probably also adduce that the best officers serving on board the Death Star and the Star Destroyers at Endor were as likely to be those enjoying the favor of Imperial high command. And not so much officers like master-schemer-totally-not-Thrawn-wink-wink with the last Executor -class Star Destroyer in Imperial service (if you're a good Raider commander, or a good Imperial officer and a member of the Raider cult, and the cult of the Raider is at a weak point in Imperial politics, it follows that Imperial high command would be disinclined to give their most prestigious positions to those unconventional officers). Many of the best and brightest of the Raider commands may have abandoned Imperial service after Endor and either joined the New Republic or system defense forces in or near their AO, just as much of the rest of the Imperial military dropped their flags after Endor, sold them to the New Republic, the Hutts, or whoever. (From Uprising , it does appear that Black Sun is hurting after the destruction of the Death Star, too.)

More concisely, the theory is:

-"The best and brightest" at Endor would have been more conventional officers, due to the cult of the Raider being at a low point.

-Not-Thrawn, Patron Saint of Raiders , possessor of a Super Star Destroyer was not present at Endor because he was out of favor with Imperial high command, due to his positions as patron saint of Raiders and chairmanship of the cult of Raiders .

-Given Not-Thrawn, Master Plotter's propensity for plotting, it may be possible that Admiral Sloane - and her remarks about the best and brightest of the Empire being dust in the wind - only thinks as she does because she was intentionally left in the dark by Not-Thrawn. She is also a conventional Imperial officer, perhaps this is more Grand Admiral Plotting to lure the participants of the Council of Akiva into the meeting.

-Many Raider commands and former Raider officers now commanding Star Destroyers, their small ranks largely unscathed by the destruction at the Battle of Endor, would have then been able to respond to the call of their patron saint, Not-Thrawn.

-Therefore, Not-Thrawn, Master Plotter, Patron Saint of the Raider, who said, "This is how it must be. The Empire became this...ugly, inelegant machine. Crude and inefficient. We needed to be broken into pieces. We needed to get rid of those who want to see that old machine churning ineluctably forward. It's time for something better. Something new. An Empire worthy of the galaxy it will rule," has a small but sizable corps of unconventional but competent Imperial officers loyal to him and loyal to the New Order (New New Order?), bolstered by numbers of more conventional Imperial officers such as Admiral Sloane, ready to strike at the New Republic in ways the New Republic is ill-equipped to counter, particularly in the aftermath of Jakku and the last, dying gasps of Imperial conventionality.

You still will most likely have 2 Corpmen/Pharmacistsmates in charge of Sickbay oversing the droids if nothing else. More likely a Corpman and Medical Technician who can check the droids and other equipment out.

I dunno, medical droids in the OT seem competent enough to be left alone.

Since droids are fairly self-powered: you could have a fully automated medical bay that would still function in the event of a power outage. I'm not even sure if they use real doctors anymore; every surgery/birth/limb replacement seen in the movies was an entirely droid operation. Droids cut down on the number of quarters too: they just live in the area they work in.

We know doctors still exist because Obi Wan cut ones arm off in ANH. Fair enough not a very good one.

We know doctors still exist because Obi Wan cut ones arm off in ANH. Fair enough not a very good one.

He was a Ph.D., not the kind of doctor who helps people.

We know doctors still exist because Obi Wan cut ones arm off in ANH. Fair enough not a very good one.

He was a Ph.D., not the kind of doctor who helps people.

He was a surgeon, wether he was a doctor is up for debate.

We know doctors still exist because Obi Wan cut ones arm off in ANH. Fair enough not a very good one.

He was a Ph.D., not the kind of doctor who helps people.

He was a surgeon, wether he was a doctor is up for debate.

I was joking. I didn't realize it was ever specified, but I probably should have known it was somewhere, because this is Star Wars.

We know doctors still exist because Obi Wan cut ones arm off in ANH. Fair enough not a very good one.

He was a Ph.D., not the kind of doctor who helps people.

We know doctors still exist because Obi Wan cut ones arm off in ANH. Fair enough not a very good one.

He was a Ph.D., not the kind of doctor who helps people.

"I'm an astronomer, not a doctor! I mean, I am a doctor, but I'm not that kind of doctor. I have a doctorate, it's not the same ..."

- Doctor Doppler, Treasure Planet

His doctorate was in art history.

I guess now he paints.... left handed.

Really though, someone comes up to me and says "i have the death sentance in 12 systems".

I'da be asking K... so big bounty?

Hey look over there, boba fett <lightsabretoback><kickwhiledownkickwhiledownkickwhiledown>

sorry bout the mess, will pay you back with THE HUGE FRAKKING BOUNTY!.

Why don't I play scum again?

Crew:

8 - Capt + Exo + Bridge officers(pilots, comms, chief engineer).

12 - Gun crews (2 per battery. Batteries are pop-up, remotely fired).

25 - Engineer crew.

10 - Imperial Navy trooper for ship security.

1 - Sickbay droid( 2-bed sickbay).

Gun batteries are remotely controlled from the bridge. Security room doubles as armory; only security troops would be armed normally. Modular cargo hold toward the bow; basically a 2 deck high empty space that can be set up per mission ranging from spec ops insertion to mine laying to interdiction(about the size of the TIE Advanced dimensions[though carrying an Advanced internally would be unlikely]). 2nd smaller ship storage cargo hold(food stuff) as well as environmental systems rooms(water storage, waste, heat, air, at least 2 showers/toilets). Capt would have a small cabin. Exo and bridge officers share bunks near Capt and bridge. Rest of the crew share bunks. Some version of escape pods/lifeboats; centerline topside.

Another roll for the Raider is that of fleet protection as anti- fighter. I can't say that I see the Empire running what we would call a carrier group(an aircraft carrier + support ships like cruisers, supply ships and subs). SDs pretty much combined all that into 1 ship but I can see a Raider group of 3-4 Raiders being assigned to a SD as it's main staging area for missions. While assigned, at least 1 Raider stays with the SD as anti-fighter support while the other conduct missions.

I'd like a source for gun crews controlling from bridge, in ANH we see the turbolaser gunners firing from the actual guns themselves, and that's on a death star with way more room for remote groups.

I'd like a source for gun crews controlling from bridge, in ANH we see the turbolaser gunners firing from the actual guns themselves, and that's on a death star with way more room for remote groups.

No scource. To me, the actual model looks like the batteries are pop-ups. Would make sense to me that they are automated and remotely controlled. The ship seems to be built around the main engine and given the shape of the ship in general, much more sharply angled than the standard SD, there doesn't seem to be a lot a room, like a sub. To me, with the mission rolls it has, this means a higher than usual amount of automation. Just my personal thought s on it.

It makes sense, a more automated ship. But in a universe with individual breach loaded turbolasers 30 years back(source Revenge of the Sith). Going to the Death Stars manual AA gun style turbolasers (source death star scenes in ANH). It just makes sense that they are crewed a'la WWII to vietnam era boats.

It makes sense, a more automated ship. But in a universe with individual breach loaded turbolasers 30 years back(source Revenge of the Sith). Going to the Death Stars manual AA gun style turbolasers (source death star scenes in ANH). It just makes sense that they are crewed a'la WWII to vietnam era boats.

I agree that they are most likely crewed, even if the turrets themselves are retractable. Looking at the deck plans for WWII Destroyers and their main batteries, the turrets themselves are only about a half deck taller than some of the compartments. Seeing as how most of this is probably armor that protects the gun itself and the Raider is about 36m longer than the Destroyer I'm referencing (the Fletcher) I would guess that the turrets could be about the same size. I can't post an overlay from my phone, but I'm sure that someone who has access to wikipedia and powerpoint could do one really quick.

OK. Crew

Captain. On a small ship might be a Lieutenant Commander in rank.

http://starsidergalaxy.com/forum/index.php?topic=21163.0 For rank. I recognise it's not canon.

2IC/EXO next rank down.

After that, everything is double for two shifts and trebled for three. This depends your interpretation of wartime, how many troops are available, trained,ship availability etc.

Also remember, battle stations, is usually all hands. My dad was is the army, so it's a little different, but if I interpret navy staffing protocol, you generally have three shifts, but everything is not manned to full strength continuously, although bridge stations are always manned. Think maybe running crew x 2.5

Bridge would be Comms, Engineering, Sensors, Sheilds, Weapons, Pilot, Navigation (etc?). Some of these will have double stations for redundancy and better efficiency, during battle stations.

Within the ship, Chiefs for each section, their subordinates that run other shifts, their lackeys. just among the commissioned officers which tend to run about 1 every 10 or so grunts.

With this in mind, taking into account all shifts, my best guess is along the lines of (approx):

Bridge Crew - 15

Gunnery - 30

Engineering - 40 so long as there is a lot of droids.

Medical - 3

Storm Troopers and their superiors - 22

Probably another bunch of guys that do all the other stuff that droids are bad at. - 25

Not getting out of this for under 135 I reckon.

In answer to someone else's query, ships don't leave a third of the crew in port during any operation. I can't see that being a thing. You never know where you are going to end up or be ordered to.

I think the turrets are controlled at the source, not from a central location. This is the Empire. They have been hardened by the Clone Wars and fights fir power consolidation, and the beginnings of the Rebellion. They don't make ships that look good on paper as the most efficient use of space. They make war ships that go out and take a punch and keep fighting. If all the turrets are controlled in one place, one hit can take out all your fire control. I think there's a command center, a secondary command center for if the command center gets hit, and individuals controlling each turret at its location. If they're remote turrets, they still might be controlled close by so they can be accessed by the crews in emergencies. If they're remote turrets, there's probably a way to control two from the same gunnery station in case one station gets hit or the gunners get taken out of action.

This is probably only true with a full complement of crew, wartime shortagesight make things operate a little differently.

Thanks Pimpbacca, for the clarification. So the LCS link meant 3 crews rotated, 2 ships existing, and one deployed (assumably with 2 crews rotating while the third was in dock with the 2nd ship?

OK. Crew

Captain. On a small ship might be a Lieutenant Commander in rank.

http://starsidergalaxy.com/forum/index.php?topic=21163.0 For rank. I recognise it's not canon.

2IC/EXO next rank down.

After that, everything is double for two shifts and trebled for three. This depends your interpretation of wartime, how many troops are available, trained,ship availability etc.

Also remember, battle stations, is usually all hands. My dad was is the army, so it's a little different, but if I interpret navy staffing protocol, you generally have three shifts, but everything is not manned to full strength continuously, although bridge stations are always manned. Think maybe running crew x 2.5

Bridge would be Comms, Engineering, Sensors, Sheilds, Weapons, Pilot, Navigation (etc?). Some of these will have double stations for redundancy and better efficiency, during battle stations.

Within the ship, Chiefs for each section, their subordinates that run other shifts, their lackeys. just among the commissioned officers which tend to run about 1 every 10 or so grunts.

With this in mind, taking into account all shifts, my best guess is along the lines of (approx):

Bridge Crew - 15

Gunnery - 30

Engineering - 40 so long as there is a lot of droids.

Medical - 3

Storm Troopers and their superiors - 22

Probably another bunch of guys that do all the other stuff that droids are bad at. - 25

Not getting out of this for under 135 I reckon.

In answer to someone else's query, ships don't leave a third of the crew in port during any operation. I can't see that being a thing. You never know where you are going to end up or be ordered to.

The 115 meter Consular -class, uh... "cruiser" (it's not really a cruiser, unless Star Wars is messed up in their ship classification - it's a light corvette IMO) has a crew of nine: A captain, pilot, two co-pilots, a navigator, a communications officer, and three technicians - under old canon.

Going to a similar ship with a similar design philosophy and similar real world inspirations, we have Star Trek's Defiant -class escort. Of course, where the Raider is intended to handle ships smaller than itself, the Defiant is intended to handle ships many times larger than itself. None-the-less, both are aggressive, maneuverable, fast capital ships with relatively narrow missions, both are clearly inspired by relatively claustrophobic ships like submarines. The Raider is roughly 150 meters in length, the Defiant is roughly 170 meters in length. The crew complement of the Defiant is between 40 and 50 officers and crew, with a maximum emergency capacity of 150.

Having said that, real world naval vessels of comparable size to the Defiant and Raider have much larger crews: The 138 meter Oliver Hazard Perry -class frigate has a crew of 176, the Knox -class frigate has a complement of 257. But ships of a more similar mission profile, like the LCS, have a basic crew of 50 to 70.

So I would start with that figure and work my way backwards - with an upper limit of 150. I suspect the "right" total crew complement would be about 70-80. Bridge crew would probably be fairly small - I seem to remember the CR90, like the Consular -class, has a relatively small bridge or command cabin. Although it likely has more similarities with the Arquitens -class, which has a fairly spacious bridge - while being a larger ship, albeit with a crew perhaps even smaller than the Raider .

And I would urge that the Stormtrooper complement be dropped - I doubt that ships such as the Knox -class have a native Marine contingent.

Thanks Pimpbacca, for the clarification. So the LCS link meant 3 crews rotated, 2 ships existing, and one deployed (assumably with 2 crews rotating while the third was in dock with the 2nd ship?

quote from wiki: " The ship is the first LCS to deploy under the "3-2-1" manning concept, swapping fully trained crews roughly every four months. Under this concept three rotational crews will support two LCS ships and maintain one deployed ship."

Well, that's a new one on me (as well as the navy it seems). I have no idea how that works. 4 month rotations etc. fascinating.

So at sea, it's still running 110-125

The idea posted further back from the old RPG could reduce stormtrooper numbers a little. Two squads of 8 and a sub-lieutenant =17. I mean StormTroopers are ubiquitous. The ship has to have some.

I suppose with automation the engineering and sundry duties could be dialed back a bit. 25 and 15 respectively, plus droids.

Also undermanning the guns during 'code green' could bring the gunnery team down to 18 plus a lieutenant.

Maybe 91 crew if you're going toward the leaner end of town. IMO

The 115 meter Consular -class, uh... "cruiser" (it's not really a cruiser, unless Star Wars is messed up in their ship classification - it's a light corvette IMO) has a crew of nine: A captain, pilot, two co-pilots, a navigator, a communications officer, and three technicians - under old canon.

I remember looking into this when I was into Traveller RPG. In ye olde days of early sail, the term 'cruiser' was used as role, more than an indication of ship size. Wait, well there ya go, wikipedia says a similar thing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser etc...

The Star Wars Essential Guide to Warfare (which is now non-canon) references the Anaxes War College classification system, which classifies capital ships according to two systems: a formal mode of classification based on keel length, and an informal shorthand based on size & capability.

• Starfighters are their own class, further subdivided into interceptors/superiority fighter and snubfighters
• Ships smaller than 100 meters are Space Transports
• Ships 100-200 meters are Corvettes
• Ships 200-400 meters are Frigates
• Ships 400-600 meters are Cruisers
• Ships 600-1000 meters are Heavy Cruisers
• Ships 1000-2000 meters are Star Destroyers
• Ships 2000-5000 meters are Battlecruisers
• Ships 5 kilometers+ are Dreadnaughts
• Ships could move up or down a classification based on armament and role

The informal system is used during engagements. Corvettes, transports, and other ships acting as warships in-theater are classified as gunships. Frigates and smaller cruisers, the most prevalent warships, were identified as cruisers. Big ships-of-the-line that could swing a battle by their mere presence were called battleships.

The Anaxes system is supposed to be the most prevalent, but the whole thing is complicated by the fact that different races & military traditions all have their own systems of classification. Calling a ship by a particular classification doesn't really seem to mean a whole lot.

One thing Star Wars does a LOT is mix ship names away from class types.

a some Star Destroyers are battlecruisers or even star dreadnoughts, the old republic Dreadnought class is a medium cruiser etc etc etc. Some patrol cruisers are corvettes...