How many of Capt. Kirk's crew didn't survive the 5 year mission?

Question

I'd recently watched the first few episodes of the old Star Trek show. With 4 years, 11 months, and 2 weeks remaining of the 5 year mission (Kirk's 1st episode), Capt. James T. Kirk had already lost 3 officers. 2 of them were crucial positions.

Kirk lost his version of Lt. Commander DATA, the 5th highest ranking officer on board. Trek fans would know who the top 4 were.

Capt. Kirk had also lost his version of Counselor Troi. The 1st woman crew member killed in action during Kirk's command was the ship's psychiatrist, played by Sally Kellerman. http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:Elizabeth_Dehner.jpg

After only a few episodes, the body count was already at 8.

4 were officers and 4 were enlisted. All 3 uniform colors were represented.

How many of the 430 were left at the end? Some didn't die. There was a girl who chose to stay with Kahn. http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:MarlaMcGivers.jpg

Answer 1

It's impossible to tell exactly how many crewmen died during the series because sometimes the ship was attacked by Klingons or Romulans or some big bad alien and the ship sustained significant damage with some loss of life but they did spell it out as in "Bones? Is everyone OK?" with reply "No, Jim, we lost Watkins and 5 others in red shirts."

You presumed there was loss of life due to the heavy damage sustained by the ship but no actual dialgoue spelled out the exact numbers.

Plus, of course, they were stopping at Star Base this or that and getting fresh victims.... er, new crewmen, on a regular basis.  So, generally, Kirk had a crew of 430 all the time, give or take a few casualties.

But I bet at least 100 people died during the course of the series. Some of those attacks they withstood... and lets not forget stuff like the crew aging at an accelerated rate and people croaking of old age... all the other dangers....

Ah, you bring back memories... almost enough to make me see if they still have the sets of the original series available at Sam's Club so I can get it on DVD.

Answer 2

I'm sorry, I don't know the exact answer to that but I do know that if you were a red-shirt getting sent down to explore a new planet with a couple of better-known characters then you weren't expected to live long (or indeed prosper... ) ;)

Answer 3

Well, there are always new recruits. No one ever said Starfleet was easy, especially if you wear a red shirt.  The trick is to get to an officer position where you seem to die just as frequently, but somehow get restored to full health before the hour is up.

Now, try and count the number of shuttles destroyed/lost in Voyager.  At least 5-6 per season.  Not sure what the original compiment was, but it can't have been this many!

Answer 4

ROTFLMAO! I actually know people who would know exactly how many crewmen (male or female) died in the first series but, sorry, I just do this because I look great in the costumes at conventions.

I would guess, just based on memory, that something like 60 or 70 perished in the 1st series. After all, there were many episodes where he lost 1 crewman; several where he lost 2 or more; and only a handful where nobody died. Like that one where the couple was going to marry and the groom got killed, I don't think he was the only casualty.

Good question.

Answer 5

I would say that over the 78 episode run, he lost about 40 or so (Nomad took care of a lot)

Answer 6

That really is a difficult question to answer since crew members, like Sally Kellerman's character, only really existed for the one episode.

As far as the series regulars, unlike TNG where Denise Crosby's character was killed, they all survived.

Edit:  Denise Crosby's character was Tasha Yar