USS NOVA Ship's Book

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USS NOVA Table of Organization
Updated SD 210101


INTRODUCTION

A Table of Organization prescribes the required structure and manpower for several levels of organization for a particular type unit. A Table of Organization also specifies the capabilities the unit has to accomplish its mission. Tables of Organization are the basis for developing authorization documents and are a vital input for determining resource requirements for use by force managers.

This document sets out the Table of Organization (TO) for the United Federation of Planets Star Fleet Navy command battlecruiser USS Nova, NCC-1776-A. It is intended to provide additional reference information for the role-playing environment aboard this unit. USS Nova is the command ship of Battlecruiser Squadron 21 of Blue Fleet in Alt.StarFleet.RPG.


OPERATIONAL CYCLES

The USS Nova has three operational phases--primary training, intermediate training, and operational. This mirrors USN practice, though the distinctions have been simplified for our purposes.

Primary Training Cycle

During the primary training cycle, the focus is on training crew, professional development of personnel (certifications, bridge watch officers qualifications, space warfare officer exams, etc). During this phase, the ship reports to what is called the "Type Command," which is behind the scenes in ASR (yet assumed to exist). Basically, the Nova is (with other ships in Blue Fleet) assigned to a cruiser division. The Type Command is responsible for seeing that software upgrades, hardware maintenance, etc. also happen during the primary training cycle.

Intermediate Training Cycle

An intermediate training cycle follows the primary one. This often may be rather short, compared to months spent in a primary training cycle. For our purposes, this is the period where the Nova is joined by her screening elements for group exercises. The ship moves from under the purview of the Type Command back to the Theater Command (Blue Fleet, BATCRURON-21).

Operational Phase

During the operational phase, the Nova and, possibly, screening elements have mission orders and are under the direct supervision of COMBATCRURON-21 and the officer-in-tactical command (see below) of a given mission.

Officer-in-tactical (mission) command: The officer-in-tactical command is the officer responsible for the overall mission. In ASR, this is most usually the CO.


WATCHES

The underway watch rotation (the only one that really concerns role play on the NOVA) consists of six four-hour watches which cycle every twenty-four. Each overall watch has two watch officers, one senior and one junior. There are subsidiary watches at OPS, TAC, and NAV, as well as ENG and CSO. While department heads may participate in the watch rotation as junior watch officers, they only takeover their primary bridge consoles doing alerts.

Officers of the Day

Beyond the permanent watch officers, there are also officers of the day. Senior officer of the day is limited to those officers who have passed the senior BrOT (bridge officer's test). Junior officer of the day is open to any junior officer who has passed the junior BrOT. Both are good experience for any ambitious officer.

Watch Cycle

0000-0400 Mid-watch 0400-0800 Morning Watch 0800-1200 Forenoon Watch 1200-1600 Afternoon Watch 1600-2000 Evening Watch 2000-0000 First Watch

Watch Rotation

Watch(es) Senior Watch Officer Junior Watch Officer
Forenoon XO JOOD
Afternoon, Evening OPS TAC
First, Mid CIC JOOD
Morning OOD NAV
  • OOD: SCI, CSO, etc (if qualified)
  • JOOD: Varies

Also bear in mind that division officers serve as watch officers for their departmental watches (operations, engineering, tactical and navigation watches). In sciences, there is no standing watch. Attending physicians rotate as shift supervisors. A shift in sickbay is two regular four hour watches; the science department may also run in eight hour shifts at the discretion of the chief science officer.


ORGANIZATION

Commanding Officer

The commanding officer (CO) is ultimately responsible and accountable to his superiors for the ship. He is a line officer, and in case of his absence or death he is succeeded by the line officer next in rank. Whatever his rank may be, the commanding officer is always called "the Captain."

The captain represents the ship; he speaks for it. He is accountable for it. He is responsible for all members of his crew and all their acts. He does not make excuses or pass blame to others. Since he is accountable for all that the ship does, for the quality of training aboard, and for the conduct of the crew at all times, he is likewise given full power to enforce Star Fleet Regulations aboard the ship and to insure that the crew behaves accordingly. In short, since his responsibility is complete, his authority must also be complete.

Though all authority, command, direction, and responsibility ultimately rests with the captain, in practice the captain delegates the duties necessary for carrying out the functions of the ship to the executive officer, to the heads of the departments, to the officer of the deck, and through them to the crew.

During primary and intermediate training cycles, the CO reports to the Type Command. During this period, the operations and logistics groups concentrate on maintaining combat readiness, keeping systems up-to-date, training personnel, continuing long-term projects (sciences). During the operational phase (i.e. when the ship has mission orders), the CO is responsible for his ship's role in the mission orders.

When a commanding officer of a ship also serves as the officer-in-tactical command for a given mission, the CO is responsible for all Star Fleet assets under his purvue (including escorts and support craft). If there is a flag officer or other senior officer aboard who is the officer-in- tactical command, the CO is accountable to said officer for his ship's role in the mission, but remains the absolute authority in matters pertaining to the ship itself.

Mission specialists and the commander of any independent marine detachment (rump battalion or larger) report directly to the officer-in-tactical command. Regardless of the CO's actual rank, his position is that of the ship's captain and he is addressed as such.

Executive Officer

The executuve officer (XO, exec) is responsible above all else for the day-to-day operation of the ship. The XO is also the professional development officer and assists department heads in facilitating training of all line officers. The XO designs and administers all watch officer exams, certifications, and qualifying exams as they relate to the shipboard operations and command. The XO is also responsible for the ship's routine and for keeping crew discipline. All department heads report to the XO. Regardless of his rank, he is senior to all naval officers who are part of the ship's permanent company.

Command Master Chief

The senior enlisted man aboard the ship. He acts as a liason between the crew and the XO.

Combat Information Department

The Combat Information Department works closely with the Operations Department. It is composed of a single division, one of the largest divisions onboard NOVA. The primary functions of department is to collect, evaluate, and disseminate information for the Commanding Officer and Battle Group Commanders to fight the ship or protect national interests throughout the world. All of these tasks are accomplished in the confines of the Combat Information Center(CIC) using various electronic gear and sensor systems. CIC is considered the "Nerve Center" of Nova where this information is compiled and displayed for possible engagement. An easy way to explain the job of the CIC is, "Find the good guy's, find the bad guy's." The department is commanded by the Combat Information Center (CIC) Officer. Common rating: OS.

Operations Department

The operations department is commanded by the operations officer (OPS). The divisions consists of five divisions.


Flight Deck (OF) Division

The OD Divisivision is responsible for the operations, care and maintenance of the ship's mooring equipment, embarked craft, and all life saving equipment. Common ratings: BM, SQ, SE, SL, SA, SM, SC.


Communications (OC) Division

The OC Divisizion is responsible for setting up and maintaining all communications circuits that are used by the Combat Information Center. The division performs maintenance on all short range interna/external communications systems insuring the operability of those circuits. The division receives and distributes all incoming messages to appropriate offices throughout the ship and send all outgoing messages pertinent to shipboard situations and occurrences. They are responsible for maintaining diligent security on all cryptographic equipment and materials. Its personnel operate and maintain the computer networks that assist in the speed and reliability of information that is vital to proper communications onboard. The division is led by the Communications Officer. Common rating: CN, IC.


Computer and Sensor (OS) Division

The OS Div is responsible for maintenance of the computer operating and file systems and for insuring the proper calibration and operation of all sensor systems (navigational, long range, short range). In general, sensor software is maintained by the operations department while the G and E divisions in engineering maintain the hardware. Common rating: OS.


Cryptology and Intelligence (OZ) Division

The OZ Division provides time sensitive intelligence information to the Commanding Officer and Tactical Action Officers. The division is commanded by the Cryptology Officer. Common ratings: CT, IS.

Engineering Department

The engineering department is commanded by the chief engineering officer (ENG). The department is responsible for the repair, maintenance, and functioning of the ship's physical components. Engineering is broken down into six divisions, four technical (P, A, E, G) and two logistical (R, DC) in nature. All division officers report to the chief engineering officer.


Propulsion (P) Division

The P Division is responsible for operations of the maneuvering engines, impulse engines, warp drives, and dimensional warp nodes. Propulsion is the largest of the engineering divisions. It is subdivided into warp, d-warp, and impulse centers commanded by junior or warrant officers who report to the Propulsion Officer. Common ratings: WT, DR, IT.


Auxilliary (A) Division

The A Division is responsivble for the operation and maintenance of the life support systems, recycling systems, heating and refrigeration systems, climate control equipment, replicator systems, and transporters. It is commanded by the Auxiliaries Officer. Common ratings: TT, RT, MM.


Electrical (E) Division

The E Division has a wide range of responsibilities consisting of short range and navigational (electro-magnetic) sensor maintenance, power distribution systems, maintaining and issuing portable electronic tools to the crew, and responsible for all electrical equipment outside of main spaces. It is headed by the Electrical Officer. Common ratings: EM, IM.


Gravitics (G) Division

Gravitic systems encompass many apparently unrelated systems on the ship including long range sensors, subspace communications, tractor beams, shields. The Gravitics Officer is responsible for the maintenance and operating efficiency of these systems. Common ratings: SG, CG.


Repair (R) Division

The R Division has a wide range of responsibilities consisting of certification of all tanks (deuterium storage, oxygen storage, etc) and voids, piping and structural repairs, various machinist work, shipboard engraving, and maintenance of the vacuum, collection, holding, and transfer system. The Repair Officer commands the Repair Division. Common rating: HT.


Damage Control (DC) Division

The DC Division is responsible for training all hands in shipboard damage control and fire fighting, chemical, biological, and radiological defense, hazardous material spill cleanup, and damage control system maintenance. Common ratings: DC.

Combat Systems Department

The combat systems department is headed by the chief tactical office (TAC). TAC is assisted by five division officers who handle key parts of the offensive and defensive ship systems.


Electronics (CE) Division

The CE Division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of Identification Friend of Foe (IFF) systems, tactical sensors, and targetting systems. The division is commanded by the Electronics Maintenance Officer . Common rating: ET.


Systems Test (CS) Division

The CS Division is responsible for the coordination of systems testing, the operation and training of the personnel who man Combat Systems Maintenance Central and maintenance of the technical library. The CS division is composed of the Systems Test Officer(STO), the Combat Systems Maintenance Manager(CSMM), the Combat Systems Technician and Public Librarian. The STO is in charge of the Ship's Electronic Readiness Team(SERT) and the Combat System's Training Team(CSTT). The SERT team coordinates the operation and maintenance of the combat system's to ensure that the different systems in the combat systems suite integrate and operate properly and that the ship's combat systems suite is ready at all times. CSTT trains the combat watch teams in both tactical and technical aspects of war fighting. The CSMM insures that combat maintenance personnel are trained in the proper way to bring equipment on and off line, and emergency procedures for equipment fire and electrical shock. Common rating: ET.


Electronic Warfare (CW) Division

The CW Division conducts Command and Control Warfare drills to ensure that the ship's electronic countermeasure capabilities are maintained in high order. The division is commanded by the Electronic Warfare Officer. Common rating: EW.


Strike (CT) Division

The CT division is responsible for the performance and operation of the ship's photon torpedo system, both regular and quantum-flux. The torpedo crews, who handle loading and launch manually in the event of system failure, report to the Strike Officer. The Strike Officer is responsible for the training of torpedo crews and for torpedo stores. Common Ratings: GM(T), FT.


Phaser (CP) Division

The CP Division is responsible for the performance and operations of the ship's phaser systems, including conventional, cannon, and pulse cannon systems. Gun crews, who handle local fire control in the event of a system failure, report to the phaser division officer. The Phaser Officer is responsible for the training of gun crews. Because of Terran naval tradition, the Phaser Officer is referred to as "Guns" on many ships. Common Ratings: GM(P), FT.

Navigation/Astrogation Department

The navigation officer (NAV) is responsible for plotting the safest, most efficient course of travel and for coordinating with OPS and TAC to take into account their considerations for plotting approaches to systems, etc. Moreover, NAV handles stellar cartography and keeps star charts updated.


Quartermaster (NX) Division

This division is responsible for plotting the ship's position and navigating the ship. The best Quartermasters, known as Master Helmsmen, have gained the Commanding Officer's trust to drive his ship in precarious situations and steer the ship during special evolutions. The helm officer is responsible for the quartermaster division. Common rating: QM.


Stellar Cartography (NC) Division

This division is responsible for maintenance of star charts and for providing navigational information as necessary. The stellar cartography division officer is responsible for this division. Common rating: QM, DP.

Security Department

This is a relatively small department. It is responsible for maintaining crew discipline and enforcing Star Fleet Regulations, investigating any crimes which occur while the ship is under way and recommending incidents for internal discipline or for remanding to JAG, and for small weapons including type I hand phasers, type II heavy hand phasers, type III phaser rifles, and type IV semi-portable phaser cannon and for maintaining the ship's armory. The division is commanded by the Ordinance Officer. The department head is often a warrant officer, even on vessels as large as Nova. On smaller vessels, may be a senior non-commissioned officer (the Chief Master at Arms). On vessels where the TAC serves as CSO, there is a CMAA who reports directly to the TAC/CSO. Common ratings: MA, CI, FI.

Science Department

The science department (Sciences) has a dual role aboard a Solar-class ship. First, and foremost, the science department is tasked with solving problems of a scientific nature brought to it by the command staff. These problems may be mission-related, or may reflect the challenges of space travel and exploration in a more general sense. A good chief science officer (SCI) will study the mission briefing material for ways in which the science department may support overall mission goals. This aspect of the science department's role is most obvious during an operational phase.

Otherwise, the science department engages in ongoing research. When not called upon to perform specific tasks, the members of the department will be pulling together work done on previous missions, writing classified material up for Star Fleet and unclassified material up for publication, as well as conducting their own personal research. The SCI has a control function, making certain that Star Fleet by and large ends up funding research of some utility to the organization as a whole.

The chief science officer is not, necessarily, a scientist, but rather the chief administrator of the sciences department . In this task, SCI is assisted by division officers who are also administrators, and are typically junior officers of varying ranks. Their most important tasks are to serve as an interface between the scientists and the command staff. In that, they are tasked with translating mission related demands into a scientific framework, putting together project teams (multi-disciplinary or otherwise), and judging between competing demands for resources. The specific number of divisions will vary at a given time, but be grouped around loosely related fields: social sciences, physical sciences, biological sciences, etc.

Division officers are assumed to have undergraduate degrees (but no more) in the discipline which they supervise. 'Supervise' is a term used loosely because they are not supervising the content of research, but rather supporting the efforts of ongoing scientific study. Most of the scientists in their divisions will outrank them considerably (and have advanced degrees); however, they report to the DivO in an administrative sense. Also, the DivO's are responsible for making the SCI aware of potentially mission relevant research done in their division, as these things occasionally work the other direction as well. Common ratings: ST, DP, DS, LS.

Administrative Department

The Administrative department, the smallest department on the ship. Its mission is to support the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and crew in all official off ship correspondence, maintenance of service records, correction and maintenance of ship's instructions, processing of legal matters, awards, processing of pay documents, training programs, career counseling, religious services, and educational services.

On smaller ships, the administrative department reports to the Executive Officer. On larger vessels, such as NOVA, there is an Administrative Officer who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of this department. Common ratings: LN, PN, YN, RP, EP, JO, MU.

On Nova, the department is divided into six divisions:

  • Captain's Office and Ship's Administration
  • Personnel Office
  • Training and School of the Ship (enlisted professional development)
  • Education Services Office and Command Career Counselor (commissioned professional development)
  • Civilian Education Services (education for civilian dependants aboard ship)
  • Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office

Supply Department

The Supply Department performs many of the logistical functions required to maintain a modern starship in space. The department provides all of the material and services necessary to enable the ship to operate away from port over extended periods of time. Supply also accounts for all expenditures on readiness as well as all houskeeping services.

Ultimate responsibility for all these functions rest with the Supply Officer who is directly responsible to the Commanding Officer. He is assisted by the Assistant Supply Officer, the Principal Assistant for Logistics, the Principal Assistant for Services, and the other Supply Corps officers assigned who advise, assist and implement his policies in the accomplishment of the department's functions.


The Stores Division

The Stores Division supplies and inventories all parts, replacements, and supply stocks aboard the ship.


The Food Service Division

Responsible for operating the mess halls aboard Nova.


The Sales and Service Division

Provides the crew with health and confort services such as the barber shop, laundry, and ship's shops.


The Disbursing Division

Responsible for the crew's pay. They account for all payrolls, advance funds and claims to all personnel.


The Post Office

Responsible for sending and receiving all personnel packages aboard ship.


The supply department is also responsible for the supply and operations of the officers' mess, the officers' lounge, the main lounge, the chief petty officers' mess; maintaining the captain's office and quarters; and general housekeeping aboard ship. Common Ratings: PC, MS, SD, SK, SR, SH.

Medical Department

The Nova maintains a 23-bed inpatient facility which includes a state-of-the-art operating room, a three bed intensive care unit, a 16-bed inpatient ward, and four isolation beds. Ancillary services include a fully capable laboratory, optometry, and preventive medicine divisions. Nova is also equipped with facilities suited to limited medical research and experimentation while under way.

On a Solar-class command battle cruiser, the department's officer's normally include the chief medical officer, a general surgeon, two general medical officers, a dentist or dental surgeon, the head nurse, and four staff nurses. The Enlisted medical staff is normally comprised of one senior chief petty officer, two chief petty officers, 12 hospital corpsman of various specialties, and one dental technician to assist in providing quality patient care to the crew. The department is also supported in research and laboratory operations by a number of enlisted medical laboratory technician. Common ratings: HM, DT, LM

Also part of the medical department is the office of the Ship's Councelor which sees to the mental health of the crew of Nova. The counselor coordinates with the Administrative Department to assist in career counseling and personnel evaluations. The counselor is also responsible for research of alien psychology during first contact and other applicable situations. The Ship's Counselor is assisted by enlisted personnel with the rate of Naval Counselor, NC.

Marine Detachment

The commanding officer of the ship's Marine detachment, although not a department head, occupies a somewhat similar position with respect to the administration of the Marines aboard in matters pertaining strictly to the Marine Corps.

The role of the marine complement also varies a great deal from ship to ship. On a command cruiser, the marine complement is that of a rump battalion composed of three companies of four platoons each. A rump battalion is also the smallest independent marine command in SFMC, and the battalion commander has an XO, an OPS, and an adjutant, as well as an administrative staff. The size of the Nova's marine complement is approximately 300 marines. The marine commander is responsible to the CO of the ship for the discipline of his marines. A battalion commander will generally designate an officer to serve as a liaison to the XO or OPS for requesting ship's resources and may deal directly with the CSO on matters of joint training.

While the marine commander is accountable to the CO for the discipline of his marines, and to the officer-in-tactical command for their role in the mission, a battalion commander also reports to a regimental commander who is part of the fleet's marine division. This is analogous to the Type Command, and is the entity to which the battalion commander is accountable for training and performance of the marine unit.

On smaller ships, the marine complement is not an independent command (company on light cruisers, platoon on destroyers). In these circumstances, the marine complement is detached to the ship and the marine commander reports directly to the XO as if he/she were a department head.

While the security department is responsible for the discipline of the crew, the marines (when they are present on board a ship) are responsible for the ship's safety--garrisoning sensitive areas, repelling boarders, etc. and for protection of away team missions. They also handle dignitary details, provide color guards for ceremonies, etc. When marines are providing such services, they report to the XO. Aboard Nova, Marines also serve as members of gun crews to supplement the combat systems department. In this capacity, they are responsible to the tactical officer for training conducted under his supervision, and for the care, preservation, and operation of such equipment, supplies, and spaces as are assigned to the Marine detachment by the department head and the Marine commander acts as one of the division officers of the combat systems department.

GROUPS

The departments are grouped into 8 groups:

  • Command
  • Operations
  • Engineering
  • Flight Operations
  • Sciences
  • Medical
  • Intelligence
  • Marines

. These distinctions are most important during the training phases. They also reflect the uniform colors employed aboard the USS Nova. During operational phases, these groups become less important as the entire ship becomes mission-focused.

The Comamnd Group

The Command group consists of the senior line officers (except OPS) and the Combat Information department. All of these officers would wear uniforms with red piping.


Operations Group

The operataions groups consists of operations, combat systems (tactical), security and protocol. On USS Nova, all of these people wear mustard as on May 2419. This group is responsible for the performance of the ship while under way, particularly in combat. The operations officer is the senior member of this group and is accountable to the XO for the overall readiness during training cycles.


The Engineering Group

The Engineering group, the largest aboard the ship, consists of the Engienering department and all of its divisions. These officers, responsible for maintainign the hardware of the ship, wear uniforms piped in orange.


The Fight Operations Group

Flight Operations is made up of personnel who oversee all incoming and outgoing craft from Nova, including all flight operations and their maintenance. These personnel wear uniforms piped in dark slate gray.


The Sciences Group

Sciences is made up of all of the ship's scientists, science technitians, and science department administrators. These officers wear uniforms piped in dark blue.


The Medical Group

As members of the Medical Corps, officers of this group are not line officers and may not command starships. This group provides specialized professional services (medicine and counseling) to the ship. The chief medical officer and ship's counselor report separately to the XO. Its personnel wear uniforms piped in sky blue.


The Intelligence Group

Intelligence officers, often found working in Combat Information or as special liaisons tot he Nova, wear uniforms piped in white.


The Marine Group

Like the medical group, the marines are a member of a Corps, in this case the Star Fleet Marine Corps, and are not Naval line officers. Uniforms for their corps differ slightly from the norm of the Star Fleet Navy. Shipboard duty uniforms for the fleet marine force are similar in style to those of the Star Fleet Navy and use green as a group color.

CONCLUSION

Hopefully, this document provides a better understanding of the organization of the USS Nova and one possible organizational concept for a 25th century Star Fleet naval vessel. The commanding officer has written this document as an aid to role play in the various departments by further detailing the responsibilities of each department on the ship. This document is a reference and the commanding officer in no way expects people to know it by heart.

Respectfully,

Jeffrey Jenkins
CAPT J. Robert Brooks, jr.
Commanding Officer, USS Nova (NCC-1776-A)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

This material is based on a number of modern sources, the Chain of Command document written for Indigo Fleet, and upon the TO of the USS Quasar, NCC-1911E. Both have been used with permission and quoted liberally.

Sources include:

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