I hope I'm wrong but; I got a hunch they don't die.
Because can you have your navigation officer, change in for your watch officer or torpedo officer?? All these positions seem to have personnel who are permanently assigned. (All the cheesy story & rpg elements that go with them)
Perhaps the model/looks/background story might be modded in, but barring the mods, the game is designed as it is and how would they make it work if the cook dies (in a flooding situation) or the watch officer is shot? Then do they get replaced back at port?
No previews mention anything about recruiting new personnel at port or anything like that, so this is one of those unknowns but likely a negative feature of the game..
