How does the gunnery crew now work?

[Captain Tylor]

If you need 1000 and you have 500, does it mean you will have full reload speed if you only fire half of the guns?

[Tindahbawx]

As I understand it, less guns will be crewed, so you will only be firing half your guns, but at full rate on those guns.

[GrizzlyGreen]

As I understand it, less guns will be crewed, so you will only be firing half your guns, but at full rate on those guns.

Thats right. I tested it earlier on a simple Navy Brig I had lying around. I activated the boarding prep and my gun crews went down to 20. It was 5 crew per gun so I had 4 out of my 8 guns reloading at full speed.