How far can automation reduce a warship's crew while retaining an adequate safety margin?
Short answerThe technical minimum is less important than how much damage control, maintenance, casualty tolerance, and system integration a navy is willing to surrender.
NotesA ship can automate routine control functions, but battle damage creates irregular problems that sensors and fixed responses may not diagnose or repair. Redundant machinery can delay failure, yet every backup adds cost, volume, and maintenance of its own. A very small crew also has less capacity to absorb casualties and continue fighting while repairing the ship. Later ships in a class are not automatically more efficient, because new automated systems may interact poorly with older equipment and create additional demands for human supervision.