About the crew vs automation debate.
Read about them, had some thoughts I would like to place here.
The Japs, the Europeans and the SoKos are reducing crew not for maximising weapon fitment or to increase survivability or any other reason - they are reducing them because they find it increasingly impossible to man the ships they are building.
Heck the RN cant even man existing ships, and several of the Type 23s (excellent fucking ships - last of the once great British design and build yards) are laid up for lack of crew. Same is the fate with their nuke sub fleet.
so, lets get that out of the way - they are reducing crew strength out of sheer desperation.
Why do we have highish crew numbers - because WE CAN. It is always helpful to have extra hands on paper, if not in reality. Nearly every ship sails with 90 - 95 % of on paper strength, thanks to leaves, sickness, TDs, etc etc.
And in actual operations, every crew position should ideally have 3 men/women. To operate in shifts and maintain peak performance. IN can still a 6 shift watch cycle thanks to this crew numbers (the offrs get fucked - ask me how i know and there's a story of a grumpy XO doing goddamn fire drills during Dog Watch)
