ThinksMarkedly wrote:SharkHunter wrote:Here's a fun thought...
What if HMS Unconquered very briefly returned to active duty post-Yawata Strike, using whatever crew is aboard. Assuming a temporary position wedge-ward to intercept any late-falling orbital debris, obviously to be replaced on-duty ASAP by the first available fast merchant marine ships.
Who's in on-board command of the ship?
On-board a museum ship? No one. Just starting the engines would have taken longer than the debris did falling. And there were plenty of wedges available around Manticore, Unconquered's wouldn't add much.
USS Constitution has a crew of 7 officers (may include the Chief's Mess as well as the wardroom) and 40 petty officers and sailors, based on the picture on the Command web site. Which is probably 10 per cent of the crew while she was in active commission. They are augmented by at least as many non-crew when she sets out for her turn-around cruise. That's not enough to navigate her, never mind to fight her.
Even though
Unconquered is minimally functional, that still means she needs reactor, power generation and distribution, some minimal damage control, communication, life support, services (mess, supply, medical and dental, Masters at Arms, personnel, etc.). So, 250 to 500 crew, including an Exec who is actually command qualified. A lot of these may be people who are on pre-retirement assignment, restricted duty, or first term. Probably not a lot of mid rank petty officers and commissioned officers.