TOS Enterprise?

[James Wright]

Of the 430 person crew of TOS Enterprise crew which division had the largest number of personnel, Command, Science(including medical), Engineering or Security?
What kind of science studies could be done by the crew of the Enterprise with 14 science labs and wouldn't this make the Enterprise a large science vessel?
Thanks!

JDW

 

[Red Ranger]

Of the 430 person crew of TOS Enterprise crew which division had the largest number of personnel, Command, Science(including medical), Engineering or Security?
What kind of science studies could be done by the crew of the Enterprise with 14 science labs and wouldn't this make the Enterprise a large science vessel?
Thanks!

JDW

Good questions. I would say that despite the number of science labs, Enterprise is not strictly a science vessel -- we saw pure science ships first in TSFS, with Grissom. Based on its variety of missions, it is a multi-purpose vessel, a lot like ships of the line in the old English Royal Navy. As you may know, Gene Rodenberry did base Kirk on Horatio Hornblower, and the ships he served on fulfilled many functions.

I would also guess that of the divisions, science and engineering were the largest contingent of the crew, followed by security and I'd guess command was the smallest division on board, although from looking at the crew in the corridors, there may be some kind of equal division.

Red Ranger

 

[Unicron]

Probably security, so they have enough expendable redshirts.

 

[James Wright]

Which division would the ships' Quartermaster belong or is there a ships' services division?
Thanks to everyone!

JDW

 

[Wingsley]

Which division would the ships' Quartermaster belong or is there a ships' services division?
Thanks to everyone!

JDW

This is a good question as well, and there is no clear answer.

It could be that support services were either redshirts or some other unseen color that was never revealed. I would speculate this: quartermaster is a tricky analogy for the TOS universe, with all those replicators on-board.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

Of the 430 person crew of TOS Enterprise crew which division had the largest number of personnel, Command, Science(including medical), Engineering or Security?
What kind of science studies could be done by the crew of the Enterprise with 14 science labs and wouldn't this make the Enterprise a large science vessel?
Thanks!

JDW

I've said this many times in the past, but it's absolutely how I see the whole situation... and I keep hoping I can convince more people as time goes on.

The original ("standard") configuration of the Constitution-class ships (of which there were MANY... quite a few more than just 12) was a standard naval-vessel configuration, with a crew of about 200.

As the Federation grew in prominence and influence, the Federation decided it needed to enter an "expansionist" phase. And the way to do that was to set up a big "publicity-stunt"... a "Five-year-mission" of exploration well beyond the rim of known space.

Around this time, they'd developed a new technology, "replicators," to a point where they could be deployed. So twelve Constitution-class ships were upgraded... one from each of Starfleet's "subfleets."

The implementation of replicator technology allowed a lot of previous cargo/consumable storage to be converted to other purposes. And they converted these spaces into the equivalent of a full science/survey vessel's capabilities.

These ships retained their full "naval" profile but also became science vessels. They were the first "explorer" type vessels, with a crew doubled beyond that of a "stock" Constitution... 430 as compared to 200. Lots of labs that a "stock" version wouldn't have... and extended range as well.

That's how I see it.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Personally, I think the crew makeup changes depending on individual assignments. Even though the Enterprise was said to be on a five-year exploration mission in the opening credits, the ship was never so far away from Federation space to periodically return to a starbase for supplies or standard crew rotations. I think that the 5-year mission was actually composed of many different "probes" into unexplored territory and that the crew makeup changed depending on each assignment (some missions may require more scientific personnel, while others may require more security personnel if the mission is more of a tactical nature).

As far as the actual crew makeup at any given time, it's anyone's guess, IMO. Although it's by no means canon, I do kinda like the breakdown given by one of the old Ertl model kit sheets from many years ago:
57 command branch officers (including captain & first officer)
136 sciences and medical personnel
132 operations and engineering personnel
15 communications personnel
90 security personnel

 

[WendellM]

Although it's by no means canon, I do kinda like the breakdown given by one of the old Ertl model kit sheets from many years ago:

Nifty. That's an almost exact match for the (similarly non-canon) 1970s Franz Joseph blueprints:

 

[JuanBolio]

Which division would the ships' Quartermaster belong or is there a ships' services division?
Thanks to everyone!

JDW

That depends on whether Starfleet uses the army or navy definition of quartermaster. An army quartermaster deals with supplies, but a modern navy quartermaster is an assistant navigator.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

Which division would the ships' Quartermaster belong or is there a ships' services division?
Thanks to everyone!

JDW

That depends on whether Starfleet uses the army or navy definition of quartermaster. An army quartermaster deals with supplies, but a modern navy quartermaster is an assistant navigator.

Well, for better or worse, I believe that at some point it was established that in Starfleet, "Quartermaster" means "supplies and logistics guy."

I believe that such a person needs to be assigned to the ship. I'm sure that there's also a Personnel Officer aboard. Both of these guys are "command staff" positions and thus would, logically, be "gold-wearing" officers. (I'm talking "command gold," not "security gold" as we got with TNG, just so ya know). Kirk's quartermaster would've worn the same color as Kirk, in other words.

It's just a non-glorious posting... a preparatory post for better things, hopefully, to come later. But like Ben Finney (the "Records officer"), I'm sure it's not where the real fast-track guys are put.

 

[James Wright]

Who handles legal matters that may come up while the ship is on patrol, is there a JAG officer on the Enterprise?
Thanks,

JDW

 

[Cary L. Brown]

Who handles legal matters that may come up while the ship is on patrol, is there a JAG officer on the Enterprise?
Thanks,

JDW

Nahhh... on-board, that's the purview of the commanding officer. Once you get to a base, however, there's absolutely a JAG office. This is pretty well established in the episode "Court Martial."

Sort of like how every cop car doesn't have an on-board "internal affairs" guy, ya know?

 

[WendellM]

Well, for better or worse, I believe that at some point it was established that in Starfleet, "Quartermaster" means "supplies and logistics guy."

Indeed. In Tomorrow is Yesterday, regarding Captain Christopher's flight suit, Kirk says to Spock, "Why don't you have the quartermaster issue him something more suitable? "

I'm sure that there's also a Personnel Officer aboard.

Yes. The personnel officer is shown in Court Martial to be a redshirt (or, rather, redskirt ) ensign:

SHAW: I now call the personnel officer for the Enterprise.
COMPUTER: Service rank, Ensign. Position, personnel officer. Current assignment, USS Enterprise.

 

[Major Chord]

Which division would the ships' Quartermaster belong or is there a ships' services division?
Thanks to everyone!

JDW

I'd assume red, for ship's services. ST Enterprise uses the same color groups, and red is defined as ship's services/engineering/security. So, I'd go with that.

As for the 5year mission, I always took that to mean that the ship would be on 5 years of constant active duty, She may go explore something, then go back to a starbase to refuel, and resupply, but then she's off to another place. All this would probably entail minor crew rotations, and minimal shore leave. After the 5 years, the ship heads back to her " home port' and goes " off duty". The crew gets a nice period of shore leave, and if any of the department heads/bridge/comand crew are to be rotated, replaced, or promoted, this is when it will happen. I'm also guessing that the ship will recieve a nice overhaul during this period. No major refit, but replacing any major system that needs it, installing any minor new technology, and standard maintenence, like cleaning the warp core, and replacing hull/deck plates, etc. This may take a few months to a year, and then she's off on another 5 year duration mission. Just my guess, but it seems to make sense, at least to me.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

As for the 5year mission, I always took that to mean that the ship would be on 5 years of constant active duty, She may go explore something, then go back to a starbase to refuel, and resupply, but then she's off to another place. All this would probably entail minor crew rotations, and minimal shore leave. After the 5 years, the ship heads back to her " home port' and goes " off duty". The crew gets a nice period of shore leave, and if any of the department heads/bridge/comand crew are to be rotated, replaced, or promoted, this is when it will happen. I'm also guessing that the ship will recieve a nice overhaul during this period. No major refit, but replacing any major system that needs it, installing any minor new technology, and standard maintenence, like cleaning the warp core, and replacing hull/deck plates, etc. This may take a few months to a year, and then she's off on another 5 year duration mission. Just my guess, but it seems to make sense, at least to me.

Well, let's look at the naval model. Naval crews are regularly rotated out. My understanding is that it's really very unusual for a crew to spend their entire career... or even more than two or three years!... on a single vessel. (Anyone who served in the Navy, please confirm that if you can?)

I was recently peripherally involved in some of the activities involving the return of the USS Truman from a cruise. The entire crew was rotated off, the airwing was withdrawn... personnel were being sent off to new assignments. And that's just from a relatively short cruise... certainly nothing like a "5-year mission."

On subs, they often have multiple crews which rotate through missions. So a the sub may be deployed most of the time, but the same crew isn't aboard for that entire rotation. (It's a psychological thing as I understand... long-term deployment in a sub leads people to go a little bit batty!)

Unlike the proposed "Galaxy-class" mission (which, remember, TNG abandoned very quickly anyway), the Constitution "explorers" wouldn't have been sent off to spend their entire time outside of "civilized space."
As someone else already posited, more likely they'd make a series of "loops" beyond the border, from one edge-of-space Starbase or another. It'd look more like a spirograph drawing than anything else (at least in 2D).

Each of these ships was intended to be able to operate without support for an extended period of time, and probably could have done so for the entire period if nothing unplanned were to happen. But occasionally it would, and the ship would need to go back to pick up a new Ion Pod, or a replacement shuttlecraft, or to replace a piece of equipment damaged in battle, or whatever... or to restaff any crew billets whose prior occupants had been killed in the line of duty. And, of course, if a hostile power were to, say, make moves to invade in the vincinity of a little agricultural planet like Organia, you'd probably redeploy these ships to the area as quickly as you could, since they wouldn't be the most flexible in terms of their missions.

 

[TEH BABA]

Way to many officers. Need more enlisted on that chart.

 

[SchwEnt]

Way to many officers. Need more enlisted on that chart.

I guessed it's based on Roddenberry's assertion that everyone aboard the Enterprise would be a qualified astronaut.
In the 1960's, all astronauts were officers.
So there ya go.

 

[James Wright]

On TOS Enterprise what part of the crew was able-crewmen and ordinary-crewmen?

JDW

 

[Jimmy_C]

Of the 430 person crew of TOS Enterprise crew which division had the largest number of personnel, Command, Science(including medical), Engineering or Security?
What kind of science studies could be done by the crew of the Enterprise with 14 science labs and wouldn't this make the Enterprise a large science vessel?
Thanks!

JDW

I've said this many times in the past, but it's absolutely how I see the whole situation... and I keep hoping I can convince more people as time goes on.

The original ("standard") configuration of the Constitution-class ships (of which there were MANY... quite a few more than just 12) was a standard naval-vessel configuration, with a crew of about 200.

As the Federation grew in prominence and influence, the Federation decided it needed to enter an "expansionist" phase. And the way to do that was to set up a big "publicity-stunt"... a "Five-year-mission" of exploration well beyond the rim of known space.

Around this time, they'd developed a new technology, "replicators," to a point where they could be deployed. So twelve Constitution-class ships were upgraded... one from each of Starfleet's "subfleets."

The implementation of replicator technology allowed a lot of previous cargo/consumable storage to be converted to other purposes. And they converted these spaces into the equivalent of a full science/survey vessel's capabilities.

These ships retained their full "naval" profile but also became science vessels. They were the first "explorer" type vessels, with a crew doubled beyond that of a "stock" Constitution... 430 as compared to 200. Lots of labs that a "stock" version wouldn't have... and extended range as well.

That's how I see it.

That's a really good idea. It fits nicely with there being 12 ships like the Enterprise, but there being more Constitution-class vessels than just those 12.

 

[webb3201]

Of the 430 person crew of TOS Enterprise crew which division had the largest number of personnel, Command, Science(including medical), Engineering or Security?
What kind of science studies could be done by the crew of the Enterprise with 14 science labs and wouldn't this make the Enterprise a large science vessel?
Thanks!

JDW

I've said this many times in the past, but it's absolutely how I see the whole situation... and I keep hoping I can convince more people as time goes on.

The original ("standard") configuration of the Constitution-class ships (of which there were MANY... quite a few more than just 12) was a standard naval-vessel configuration, with a crew of about 200.

As the Federation grew in prominence and influence, the Federation decided it needed to enter an "expansionist" phase. And the way to do that was to set up a big "publicity-stunt"... a "Five-year-mission" of exploration well beyond the rim of known space.

Around this time, they'd developed a new technology, "replicators," to a point where they could be deployed. So twelve Constitution-class ships were upgraded... one from each of Starfleet's "subfleets."

The implementation of replicator technology allowed a lot of previous cargo/consumable storage to be converted to other purposes. And they converted these spaces into the equivalent of a full science/survey vessel's capabilities.

These ships retained their full "naval" profile but also became science vessels. They were the first "explorer" type vessels, with a crew doubled beyond that of a "stock" Constitution... 430 as compared to 200. Lots of labs that a "stock" version wouldn't have... and extended range as well.

That's how I see it.

That's a really good idea. It fits nicely with there being 12 ships like the Enterprise, but there being more Constitution-class vessels than just those 12.

You convinced me as well...nice explanation that still works in canon.