Alexandria compliment question.

[OrionsGambit]

I'm currently watching Zeta Gundam (AWESOME!!!) and having reached episode 29 (Crisis at Side 2) have noticed something really strange about tthe Alexandria.

Now when Jerid is going over the operation 25 MS pilots are seen sitting in the conference room listening to him. Now including himself and Yazan who chose not to participate that would give the Alexandria 27 pilots total.

Now when the battle actually starts we get to see a total of 14 Titans ms, 12 Hi-Zaks and 2 Gabthleys, which would bring the compliment to 14. Now there has been poor pilot to ms ratios before, Zeon's Aces Corps had 27 pilots stationed on a ship with only 23 MS on board. Also having looked around the forum since its been awhile I noticed the comment that ships seem to be able to carry 50% more then their standard compliment in the Endra threads.

However this would make it seem the Alexandria may have double its compliment seeing the number of pilots it has???

[bluemax151]

I'm assuming your numbers are correct because I don't have Z with me atm.

Well if it's not carrying an extended compliment of MS it's still possible that during protracted battles or even during regular operations only certain pilots are "on call" and they rotate in shifts to keep them well rested. We saw in 0083 and even Gundam that because of low staff issues both the Albion and White base crews were over worked quite frequently. In 0083 they were even taking stims just to keep going towards the end. Then there is always the possibility of pilot attrition (deaths/debilitating injuries) exceeding MS losses and needing to man mobile suits after they have been put in working order again.

[jam!]

Wow that actually makes complete sense to have spare pilots or rather pilots working on shifts.

Does this happen in the military though? I've seen photos of fighter jets with the name of the pilot and the co-pilot marked near the lip of the cockpit so does that mean the jet is specifically for their missions or do other pilots use it too?

[Albireo_818]

In the military, i'm pretty sure that one's jet is his own (for a time, at least).

As for in Gundam, mayhap the pilots are multi-skilled and work as mechanics/crew when not on call?

[toysdream]

Yeah, I noticed that bit in episode 29 as well. The fact that the Alexandria's briefing room only has twelve seats suggests that its regular pilot contingent is limited to a dozen; the other people in the room are standing up, which looks a lot less comfortable. (And the crowd includes Captain Gady, who isn't a pilot, so some of the other standing folks might not be pilots either.)

Although only the Alexandria and its 14-odd mobile suits participate in the gas attack of episode 29, I note that in the following episode - which takes place immediately afterwards - the Alexandria is being escorted by two Salamis cruisers. I figure that the extra dozen or so pilots in the briefing room are actually stationed aboard these escort ships, and don't participate in the mission itself. Perhaps they're stationed outside Side 2 to guard against AEUG interference, only rejoining the Alexandria in episode 30 to assist in Gady's ambush of the Argama and Radish.

Incidentally, in episode 30, the Alexandria and its escort ships launch at least 19 mobile suits (Yazan's Gaplant, the two Gabthleys, twelve Hizacks and six Marasais). This seems like a reasonable figure after whatever losses they suffered in the previous episode.

-- Mark

[amagee]

Just because you have 27 pilots on one ship may not mean they are all coming from the same ship. They could just be from the other ships for some reason.

Like was said earlier, they may be pilots rotated for battle. I know at least in the days of WWII sometimes multiple pilots would be on standby occassionally and only fly in emergencies.

[Albireo_818]

or they could have been picked up in space after a battle, drifting through a field of debris!