Posted in Data by Cameron on 04-16-22
Updated on 05-04-22
Star TrekRedshirts

A Study in Red

Data visualization is used - among other things - to reveal patterns in data that wouldn't otherwise be obvious. When applying this logic to Star Trek: The Original Series - "the number of fatalities by shirt color", a pattern immediately becomes obvious: it is very dangerous to wear a red shirt while working on the Enterprise.

The model you're looking at here is the Memory Alpha model, and I will be adding the Ex Astris Scientia model in the near future.

Why are there different models?

The Ex Astris Scientia calculates fatalities that are implied offscreen, whereas the Memory Alpha model does not. Feel free to visit the Google Sheet I made for both models (read only), explore both models using the tabs at the bottom of the sheet, then copy the data to your own Google Sheets document and massage the data as you see fit.

If you discover inaccuracies, please feel free to drop me a message about it!

Updated 4-30-2022 by Cameron M.

Choose Model
Selected Model:
Memory Alpha
Overall Fatalities
Red Shirts
Blue Shirts
Gold Shirts
Other
RedshirtsRedshirtsGoldshirtsGoldshirtsBlueshirtsBlueshirtsOtherOtherOverall Fatalities25252323202018181515131311118866331124782
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% Fatalities by Shirt Color
Red Shirts
Blue Shirts
Gold SHirts
Other
59.0%17.0%19.0%5.0%
Fatalities by Gender
Red Shirts
Blue Shirts
Gold Shirts
Other
FemaleFemaleMaleMale12334010022424181812126600Fatalities By SHirt Color Vs. Gender
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Fatalities Per Episode
Red Shirts
Blue Shirts
Gold Shirts
Other
And the Children Shall LeadAnd the Children Shall LeadArenaArenaBalance of TerrorBalance of TerrorBy Any Other NameBy Any Other NameCatspawCatspawElaan Of TroyiusElaan Of TroyiusFriday's ChildFriday's ChildObsessionObsessionThat Which SurvivesThat Which SurvivesThe AppleThe AppleThe ChangelingThe ChangelingThe Deadly YearsThe Deadly YearsThe Devil In The DarkThe Devil In The DarkThe Galileo SevenThe Galileo SevenThe Man TrapThe Man TrapThe Naked TimeThe Naked TimeThe Ultimate ComputerThe Ultimate ComputerWhat Are Little Girls Made Of?What Are Little Girls Made Of?Where No Man Has Gone BeforeWhere No Man Has Gone BeforeWink Of An EyeWink Of An EyeWolf In The FoldWolf In The Fold211113244112111211111121211554433221100Fatalities Per Episode
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Crew Meta Information

IDNameEpisodeSexShirt ColorPositionCause of Death
1BarnhartThe Man TrapMaleOtherCrewmanKilled by an M-113 creature for sustenance
2DarnellThe Man TrapMaleBlueMedical AssistanKilled by an M-113 creature for sustenance
3GreenThe Man TrapMaleGoldSecurity OfficerKilled by an M-113 creature for sustenance
4Arlene GalwayThe Deadly YearsFemaleBlueScience OfficerRapid aging caused by radiation
5CarlisleThe ChangelingMaleRedSecurity OfficerKilled by Nomad
6ComptonWink Of An EyeMaleRedUnknownDied from a small wound that turned fatal due to him experiencing hyper-acceleration
7D'AmatoThat Which SurvivesMaleBlueGeologistKilled by Losira
8Dehner, ElizabethWhere No Man Has Gone BeforeFemaleBluePsychiatristKilled by esper Gary Mitchell
9GaetanoThe Galileo SevenMaleGoldRadiation specialistKilled by a Taurus II anthropoid
10Mitchell, GaryWhere No Man Has Gone BeforeMaleGoldHelmsmanKilled by James T. Kirk after exposure to galactic barrier
11GrantFriday's ChildMaleRedSecurity OfficerStabbed with a Capellan kleegat for showing hostility
12HarperThe Ultimate ComputerMaleRedEngineerVaporized by the M-5 computer
13HendorffThe AppleMaleRedSecurity OfficerPoisoned by contact with a Gamma Trianguli VI pod plant
14JacksonCatspawMaleGoldUnknownKilled by Sylvia using 'sympathetic magic'
15Tormolen, JoeThe Naked TimeMaleBlueScience OfficerStabbed himself, exacerbated from polywater intoxication
16Watkins, John B.That Which SurvivesMaleOtherTechnicianKilled by Losira
17KaplanThe AppleMaleRedSecurity OfficerVaporized when struck by lightning created by Vaal
18Tracy, KarenWolf In The FoldFemaleBlueMedical TechnicianStabbed to death by Redjac
19KellyThe Devil In The DarkMaleRedSecurity OfficerKilled by a Horta's acid
20LangArenaMaleGoldTactical OfficerKilled by Gorn soldiers on Cestus III
21LatimerThe Galileo SevenMaleGoldNavigatorKilled by a Taurus II anthropoid
22Kelso, LeeWhere No Man Has Gone BeforeMaleGoldNavigatorStrangled by esper Gary Mitchell
23Thompson, LeslieBy Any Other NameFemaleRedUnknownTransformed into a crystalline block by Rojan; Rojan then crumbled the block, killing her
24MalloryThe AppleMaleRedSecurity OfficerDied after stepping on an explosive mineral formation
25MarpleThe AppleMaleRedSecurity OfficerKilled by the Vaalians
26MathewsWhat Are Little Girls Made Of?MaleRedSecurity OfficerPushed over a cliff by Ruk
27O'HerlihyArenaMaleRedTactical OfficerKilled by Gorn soldiers on Cestus III
28O'NeillThe Galileo SevenMaleRedUnknownKilled by Taurus II anthropoids
29RayburnWhat Are Little Girls Made Of?MaleRedSecurity OfficerSuffocated by Ruk
30RizzoObsessionMaleRedSecurity OfficerDied aboard the Enterprise as a result of the dikironium cloud creature's attack
31Tomlinson, RobertBalance Of TerrorMaleGoldPhaser control specialistExposed to phaser coolant
32SturgeonThe Man TrapMaleBlueScience OfficerKilled by an M-113 creature for sustenance
33UnidentifiedThe ChangelingMaleRedSecurity OfficerKilled by Nomad
34UnidentifiedThe ChangelingMaleRedSecurity OfficerKilled by Nomad
35UnidentifiedThe ChangelingMaleRedSecurity OfficerKilled by Nomad
36UnidentifiedObsessionMaleRedSecurity OfficerKilled by the dikironium cloud creature
37UnidentifiedObsessionMaleRedSecurity OfficerKilled by the dikironium cloud creature
38UnidentifiedAnd The Children Shall LeadMaleRedSecurity OfficerWere beamed down to Triacus; however, since the Enterprise had left the orbit of the planet, these men died
39UnidentifiedAnd The Children Shall LeadMaleRedSecurity OfficerWere beamed down to Triacus; however, since the Enterprise had left the orbit of the planet, these men died
40WatsonElaan Of TroyiusMaleRedEngineerKilled by Kryton
41WyattThat Which SurvivesMaleRedTransporter CheifKilled by Losira

The Statistical Percentage Theory

Red Shirts
Blue Shirts
Gold SHirts
Survived
10.0%5.0%13.0%72.0%

There is a theory that wearing a redshirt on the Enterprise is actually the safest color to wear because the pool of Redshirts is so much larger the the pool of other colors available.

According to this article at StarTrek.com, there were 430 crewmembers on the Enterprise, and theoretically 239 of them were redshirts (folks in Security, Engineering, and Operaitons).

This mean that statistically, it's actually 3.4% safer to wear a redshirt than it is to wear a goldshirt!

Sources & Citations