Is a space marine fleet crewed by space marines?

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**Metaljunx**

I know their crew are humans but their captain of ship should be a space marine . And is there only a space marine in their battle barge commanding

Automatically Appended Next Post:
How many space marines should be in there

**WarOne**

In theory, Space Marine should be in charge.

However, depending on the chapter, the fleet can be predominately surfs, servitors, and allies. If it is a fleet based chapter with a large concentration of marines located within said fleet, most of the ships would be commanded by space marines.

However, I can see SMs allowing non-SMs the ability to pilot ships if there isn't enough super warriors to go around.

**KommissarKiln**

Not that we should just go around accepting what any author has written (*cough, cough, GOTO*) but in Space Wolf the Fist of Russ is piloted by just some guy from Fenris. He's obviously involved with the Space Wolves, but he's not one of em.

**Imperator_Class**

Generally it is an SM ship captain with serf and servitor crewmen.

**AegisGrimm**

In most of the fluff Space Marines automatically are treated with respect as officers (and security/boarding parties) when they are aboard, but otherwise the crews are loyal chapter serfs and the obvious servitors.

I would assume that if the captain of a ship is a non-Astartes, they still have the usual ultimate authority over all aboard (even Astartes) like a normal Imperial Navy captain, because they have been granted that expressly by the Chapter.

I would also assume it varies greatly by Chapter, of course.

**Silverthorne**

My impression is that there are generally around 10-12 marines on board an escort like a frigate, with the remaining crew being all humans / servitors / washouts. A battle barge would have at least a company, and probably slight more, so around 100-150 marines at a minimum, sometimes as high as 5-600. All other ships fall in between.

I think typically the senior marine has command. We know the head of the chapter's fleet is a marine so it makes sense that the ships are also commanded by marines by and large.

**Veteran Sergeant**

I think it's best to think of the Space Marines like an admiral. Technically it's their ship, and they tell it what to do and where to go, but the crew, including the captain, are regular humans and in charge of actually running the thing.

You use Marines for Mariney things. That's why they're Marines (naval infantry). You have a navy to do the naval things.

**Silverthorne**

Veteran Sergeant wrote:

You use Marines for Mariney things. That's why they're Marines (naval infantry).

Like propping up the stock price of Red Bull and getting the entire fleet placed on liberty restriction, or buying a 2014 Challenger at 43% APR on a $16.6k salary. WooooHoooooo!

**Veteran Sergeant**

More or less. But at least we look good doing it.

**Metaljunx**

In the book of Rynn's world the crimson fist chapter master Pedro kantor could be seen in the book talking with a captain of the fleet . That person is the commander of crimson fist fleet

**Trickstick**

Taken from this BFG resource:

Unlike the vessels of the Imperial Navy, a Space Marine ship has a relatively small crew. A Space Marine is far too valuable to waste in manning a gun or watching a surveyor screen, and so only the officers aboard a vessel are likely to be Space Marines, as well as the few Techmarines who oversee the engines and perform other mechanical duties. Almost all the ship’s systems are run and monitored by servitors; half-human cyborgs who are wired into the vessel’s weapons, engines and communications apparatus. There are also a few hundred Chapter serfs to attend to other duties, such as routine cleaning and maintenance, serving the Space Marines during meal times and other such honoured tasks. These serfs come from the Chapter’s home planet or the enclave they protect, many of them Novitiates or applicants who have failed some part of the recruiting or training process. These serfs are fanatically loyal to their superhuman masters, and indoctrinated into many of the lesser orders of the Chapter’s Cult. Although human, they still benefit from remarkable training and access to superior weaponry than is usually found on a naval vessel, making them a fearsome prospect in a boarding action – even without the support of their genetically modified lords.