Is there a rule of thumb for space needed by an admiral's staff on a modern ship?
Short answerPlan for about fifty people per star and often more for coalition operations.
NotesThe suggested planning allowance is roughly fifty people per flag-officer star: fifty for a commodore, one hundred for a rear admiral, and one hundred fifty for a vice admiral. A joint task group with a brigadier and commodore needs at least one hundred places, with two hundred suggested when coalition attachments are expected. These are allowances for the whole supporting organization, so a smaller direct staff can still require that much capacity. Communications, intelligence, logistics, engineering, medical and liaison personnel must be accommodated. The follow-up illustrates the watchkeeping burden with four communications personnel on each of three watches, already twelve people before the other departments are counted.