HMS Rigel (BC-591)

HMS Rigel was a Nike-class Battlecruiser within First Fleet. Commanded by CAPTJG Christopher Vicchitto, Rigel claimed Alexandria, VA as her charter city.

History

Commissioned in 2014 under Captain Eric Schulman<ref name="BSD120704">BuShips Directive 1207-04</ref>, Rigel was the final hull for a crew with a lineage dating back to HMS Artegal. In 2015, command shifted to Captain Ed Wandall<ref name="BSD140401">BuShips Directive 1404-01</ref>, then to Captain Alice Fawcett later that year<ref name="BSD151012">BuShips Directive 1510-12</ref>, where it remained until mid 2021, when it changed over to her final command team<ref name="BSD210605">BuShips Directive 2106-05</ref>. While under the command of Captain Fawcett, Rigel was assigned to BatCruRon 11, within BatCruDiv 112.<ref name="ND5OC03">Naval Directive 15OC-03</ref>

Later, Rigel had declared her home con to be BetaCon in northeastern Pennsylvania, though the crew are actively seeking additional cons to give their patronage. The crew has a strong history of gaming, at present manifesting as monthly gaming nights and D&D at Captain Vicchitto's home. To augment this, they held monthly virtual ships meetings, of wide and varied topics.

Decommissioning

Rigel was decommissioned 17 November 2023, with BuShips Directive 2311-06.

Commanding Officers

#	Name	Assumed	Relieved
1	CAPTSG Eric Schulman	04 March 2014	01 Month 2014
2	CAPTJG Ed Wandall	01 April 2014	30 October 2015
3	CAPTJG Alice Fawcett	30 October 2015	28 June 2021
4	CAPTJG Christopher Vicchitto	28 June 2021	17 November 2023

Crew Lineage

• 12 JUL 2012: Launched as HMS Artegal and assigned to First Fleet.<ref name="BSD120704">BuShips Directive 1207-04</ref>
• 27 OCT 2012: Recommissioned as HMS Leopard and assigned to First Fleet.<ref name="BSD121007">BuShips Directive 1210-07</ref>
• 04 MAR 2014: Recommissioned as HMS Rigel and assigned to First Fleet.<ref name="BSD140302">BuShips Directive 1403-02</ref>

Command Staff

• Commanding Officer: CAPTJG Christopher Vicchitto, KDE, CBM, RMN
• Executive Officer: CAPTJG Alice Fawcett, OG, ME, CGM, EM, RMN
• Ship's Bosun: CPO Robert Hamlin, (Post Nominals), RMN

Ship's Honors

Decorations

File:Fleet excellence award (ribbon) (gold).png

• Fleet Excellence Award with Gold E: Awarded 23 May, 2015, as part of the awards issued at MantiCon 2015.
• Royal Meritorious Unit Citation: Awarded 21 September 2021, by order of RADM Sir Jon Stout. "For outstanding group performance as the highest achieving Home Fleet chapter in the 'Run for the Cats 2021' event, the Royal Meritorious Unit Citation is hereby awarded to the crew of HMS Rigel. Congratulations!"<ref name="RMU1">Home Fleet "Run for the Cats 2021" Awards</ref>

Ship's Orders

Ship's Orders are subordinate to, and expand upon or amplify Admiralty Orders, Naval Directives, and First Fleet Orders. They are applicable to Rigel operations and personnel.

Order No.	Effective Date	Subject	Status
HMS Rigel Ship's Order XXXX-XX	24 August 2016	Place Holder for Future Orders	Inactive

See Also

Battlecruisers
Royal Manticoran Navy
Agamemnon (BC-P)	Agamemnon (lead) - Achilles - Ajax - Andromeda - Black Rose - Dienekes - Diomedes - Hector - Helen - Heracles - Leonidas - Menelaus
Homer (BC)	Homer (lead) - Atropos
Nike (BC)	Artemis - Beowulf - Callisto - Excalibur - Horatius - Juno - Musashi - Penelope - Rigel - Truculent
Reliant (BC)	Reliant (lead) - Athena - Claymore - Enterprise - Invincible‡ - Ishtar - Phantom - Royalist - Shiva - Victorious
Grayson Space Navy
Courvoisier (BC)	Madrigal
Courvoisier II (BC-P)	Randolph Candless - Maria Waltham
Imperial Andermani Navy
Blücher (BC)	Buddenbrock
Warlord-D (BC)	Hrolf Kraki