Battlestar
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Battlestar Galactica (1978-1980)
General information
Battlestars are the premier capital ship in the Colonial navy, which is the space equivalent of an aircraft carrier of the Twelve Colonies, and they have fought for at least five hundred yahren in the Thousand Year War against the Cylon Alliance. They are about 1265 meters (4150 feet) in length. The hull is divided into the main hull with the bridge and propulsion systems and winged hangar bays on the port and starboard sides. Each hangar bay typically carries 75 Viper Starfighters and several shuttles, giving a normal Battlestar a complement of 150 fighters. The fuel for a Battlestar and its Vipers is called tylium, a mysterious material that can be found on certain planets. For defense, a Battlestar mounts energy dispersing armor plate and several anti-fighter and anti-ship laser batteries plus anti-ship missiles.Specifications
Dimensions
Hull:
- Length: 1547 metres (4,640ft)
- Beam: 600 metres (1,802ft)
- Draft: 194 metres (580ft)
- Length: 617 metres (2,025ft)
- Beam: 114 metres (374ft)
- Draft: 67 metres (220ft)
Battlestar armament
Laser turrets
The laser turret is basically the same weapon as a Viper's laser cannon based on appearances alone. There are three known types of turret. One, the anti-ship type, is a slow-tracking heavy turret found along the outer edge of both hangar bays. They have longer barrels than other turrets, presumably to focus the shot for more power. Above each anti-ship turret is an anti-fighter turret. They are flatter and thinner in appearance and track much faster. Their barrels are smaller and closer together for superior accuracy against fighter craft, but lack the punch to slug it out with capital ships. The third type, of which there is only one example, is the dorsal turret. It is situated a little forward of the midline on the main hull. The purpose of this turret is harder to decipher, but it appears to be placed almost as an afterthought. The dorsal surface is otherwise devoid of any weapons.Note: The lasers used in Battlestar Galactica are not true lasers. They move slower than light and are visible in the vacuum of space, which is impossible for real world lasers. The term "laser" is either a misnomer or a laser simply plays a part in the firing of the actual weapon discharge.
Forward lasers
The forward lasers have only been seen in The Living Legend Pt. 2 and The Hand of God and are often confused with anti-ship missiles (see section below). They are very powerful, orange-beamed weapons solely for capital ship use. They give a Battlestar the offensive firepower to pose somewhat of a threat to a base star. Their use must be a significant drain on ship power because they are typically reserved for close range, knockout blows on base stars. The location of their emitters on the hull is unknown.Anti-ship missiles
These heavy missiles give a Battlestar enough firepower to utterly destroy at least two base stars. The only example of their use is in The Living Legend, Part 2. Each Battlestar carries a limited supply of these potent missiles, though. They probably carry solenite warheads. They are often confused with the forward lasers because they were fired at the same time in the above-mentioned episode. However, the most likely explanation is that the missiles and lasers were used in conjunction to batter down the base stars' defences quickly.Battlestar armor
The armor plate of a Battlestar is unique in that it acts like an energy shield would in any other science fiction universe. It disperses the energy from a weapon bolt quickly over a large portion of the hull to ward off damage. However, as the armor is overheated during an engagement, hull breaches and fires will develop where energy leaks through. Both Battlestars and Vipers have this special armor, while Cylon craft either have an energy shield or no defenses at all.List of Battlestars
It has been believed that many Battlestars were constructed during the duration of the Thousand Yahren War, and only five were known to survive by the time the original movie took place.Count Baltar's own was lost at the Peace Conference, it was the Acropolis, Pacifica, or the Triton.
NOTE: Most "Battlestar Lists" are purely conjectural; created by fans with no filmed or creative evidence.
- Last surviving Battlestar, built 500 yahren before the close of the Thousand Yahren War. Commanded by Commander Adama. The Galactica has about 150 Vipers aboard, a mixture of its own, some from the other Battlestars at the Peace Conference, and a great amount of fighters from the Pegasus.
- Battlestar Atlantia
- Battlestar Pacifica
- Battlestar Solaria
- Battlestar Pegasus
- Battlestar Rycon
- Battlestar Columbia?
Battlestar Galactica (2003)
Battlestars Galactica, Atlantia, Triton, Solaria, Columbia and Pegasus are named. At the start of the Cylon War, twelve Battlestars were made, one representing each colony (with Galactica representing Caprica). By the time of the miniseries, there were more than one hundred Battlestars - some 30-34 are lost during the opening wave of the Cylon attack, a loss that is described by Starbuck as "a quarter of the fleet". It is unknown how many of these 120+ Battlestars were constructed before/during/after the war (Battlestar production was most likely ramped up during the war due to anticipated heavy losses).Configuration
The design common to Galactica and its sister ships can be broken down into two main sections: the main hull, and the twin retractable flight pods.Main hull
This comprises the bulk of a Battlestar, and can be divided into three sections:The brow "Alligator head" contains the primary living space for the crew, recreational facilities, mess halls, shipboard operations centres (such as the CIC and Situation Room); water storage tanks and the forward control thrusters.
The midships area contains the pod retraction mechanisms, crossways linking the hangar pods for the transfer of equipment and personnel, as well as all the necessary hoists for such transfers. Main munitions stores and distribution mechanisms to "local" munitions stores for main and secondary batteries; fabrication facilities; etc.
The stern section contains sub-light engines, FTL drive coils, Control thrusters, etc. Note that 4 of the sub-light engines are mounted externally in articulated engine pods, with 2 more mounted between the pods, in the stern of the Battlestar's main hull.
The 512 smaller projectile weapon turrets, which comprise the bulk of Galactica's ability to defend herself from small craft or missile attack, are sited between the ribs. With the ribs separating the turrets from one another, these stations are quite well protected against taking mutiple losses to a single hit. Even after being struck by a nuke on the way to Ragnar, all the defensive stations on the Galactica's port flight pod were active and firing.
Flight pods
The flight pods are mounted on either side of the hull and contain a Battlestar's offensive Viper force. During normal operations, they are extended away from the main hull. During FTL jumps, the pods are retracted against the hull. Each pod comprises two main decks for flight operations: the upper landing bay, which extends the full length of the pod; and the lower launch bays, which provide some 40 paired launch tubes per pod.The landing bay serves as a recovery area for incoming Vipers and Raptors. Approaches are made from the stern. The preferred approach is a slow run into the hangar, prior to making a vertical landing on a defined landing area. However, in emergencies, "rolling" combat landings can be made, in which a Viper or Raptor approaches at speed and makes a running landing on its undercarriage.
The forward end of the landing bay also serves as a launch area for Raptors and shuttles. Each hangar bay is large enough to accept a variety of other Colonial vessels, at least as large as "heavy" passenger ships such as Colonial Heavy 798. Docking collars are located throughout the upper sections of the landing bay in order to provide a pressurised connection between docked vessels and the Battlestar.
The hangar bays in the pods are used as general dispersal areas for Vipers. The hangar bays are used for maintenance & repair of Vipers / Raptors, re-fuelling, re-arming and launch operations. The hangar bay runs the length of the flight pod, but can be divided and sealed off into five sections for damage control purposes. Each hangar bay section has eight launch tubes, two launch control stations, and an elevator that leads to the landing bay above. Viper flight operations are overseen by a Landing Signal Officer, with each launch supervisor being directly responsible for all launch operations for a group of four launch tubes.
Specifications
Dimensions
Hull:
- Length: 1415 metres (4,640ft)
- Beam: 554.74 metres (1,820ft) (flight pod to flight pod - extended)
- Draft: 176.78 metres (580ft) (source: SciFi.com)
- Length (approx.): 615.39 metres (2,019ft)
- Beam (approx.): 109.73 metres (360ft)
- Draft (approx.): 64.31 metres (211ft)
Systems
Propulsion
- 2 x FTL engines and drive coils
- 6 x sub-light engines
- * 2 x Hull-mounted
- * 4 x outrigger engine pods
- 40 x maneuvering engines (10 clusters of 4 apiece)
Endurance
Battlestars are intended to operate for long periods without resupply. Their water purification capabilities alone are very efficient, capable of recycling at nearly 90% efficiency, all used water. Indeed, barring an emergency or unforeseen event, a Battlestar can operate without re-tanking "for several years before replenishing". Vegetable stores and canned goods are kept in titanium lockers.Battlestars also appear capable of undertaking large-scale repairs following battle damage, and have manufacturing/fabrication facilities on-board. Specifically, the ability to manufacture new Vipers out of raw materials is mentioned in the episode "Scar". This is consistent with the Battlestar being a much bigger, more independent and more advanced version of a real-world aircraft carrier with its basic repair capabilities.
Computer systems
The original Battlestar vessels deliberately avoided the use of networked computer systems and wireless devices, as the Cylon enemy were adept at infiltrating and subverting such systems.Although they do employ computers for such functions as FTL calculations, navigation, damage control and fire control, these are not connected with each other. This design is intended to naturally quarantine individual systems in the event that one becomes compromised.
Defense
Armament
- 24 large-caliber turrets (mounting 2 guns apiece)
- 392 smaller turrets (mounting 2 guns apiece)
Each flight pod mounts 48 guns, 64 are mounted on each side of the mid-ship, 52 on each side of the prow section and 32 on the port and starboard flight pods. Giving the ship a total of 196 guns on each side (392 total).
- A variety of small and large non-nuclear ordnance including class D warheads.
- The ship is also armed with 5 nuclear warheads (Bastille Day), although it is impossible to determine what its original armament would have been during service
Armor
Galactica was shown to have armored "ribs" on the exterior hull. In the miniseries, these ribs were shown to have enough strength to withstand a direct nuclear detonation. The battlestar Pegasus has full armor plates and has been shown to take at least three nuclear hits.Air group
The Battlestar Galactica would originally have been equipped with 80 Viper MK I air/space superiority fighters, these were upgraded to Viper MK II fighters at some point during the Cylon war. In addition to improved maneuverability, the MK II fighters were also equipped with 2 light missile racks.It is also equipped with numerous jump-capable "Raptor" gun ships, used for transportation, reconnaissance, scouting and electronic counter-measures.
- At the start of the mini-series, the Galactica only had its Port launch bay in service, its active squadron consisted of 20 MK VII fighters. This squadron left the ship after the decommissioning ceremony and was re-directed to intercept the Cylon invasion fleet. The squadron was disabled by a computer virus and destroyed by Cylon raiders.
- As part of its museum exhibit the Galactica also had a squadron of 40 MK II fighters which were pressed into service to defend the ship.
- An unspecified number of MK VII fighters were seen escorting the fleet of ships gathered by President Roslin. Most likely they were homeless vipers from destroyed Battlestars, however one was the Mark VII that Apollo flew to Galactica in originally. These vipers were stowed and taken with the fleet when it jumped to Ragnar to rendezvous with the Galactica. Upon arrival these vipers were transferred to the Galactica where they formed the squadron of 20 MK VIIs depicted in the escape from Ragnar Anchorage. There have been roughly 6-7 Mark VII's seen on screen at a time.
- Using this data, the Galactica had anywhere up to 61 fighters onboard when the war broke out, though many of these have been destroyed in action. In the fourth episode, "Act of Contrition", Apollo specifically says that they have 40 Vipers (of mixed models) left. By the time they encountered Pegasus, they had 34 left. (In "Flight of the Phoenix", 42 Vipers are visible on screen, but Ron D. Moore admitted that this was a visual goof).
- Chief Tyrol took it upon himself to deal with the dwindling complement of Vipers and decided to investigate limited production within the fleet of a smaller simpler Viper. The project prototype proved that production, even on a limited basis was impractical but the prototype did hold one redeeming quality: it was nearly impossible to track with DRADIS scanning technology. Essentially, he had created a 'Stealth' ship, the Blackbird, which was not a Viper at all.
- The battlestar Pegasus has production facilities that enable it to produce replacement Vipers. The fleet currently has enough resources to construct two complete squadrons of 20 Vipers each, at least one of which will be assigned to Galactica.
- According to the latest information from the series, a battlestar can carry a maximum of 180 vipers (6-8 squadrons plus 1 reserve). They can launch 80 vipers at once.
Crew
Galactica's crew complement prior to her scheduled decommissioning was approximately 2,800. This figure is higher for a fully staffed Battlestar, somewhere around the 5,000 mark. After the Cylon attack, Galactica's crew complement has been in the 2,600s.The newer model Battlestars, including the Mercury class, appear to rely more on automation and possibly computer networks requiring far fewer actual crew members.
Comparisons between the CICs of the Pegasus and the Galactica would seem to confirm this, as there are definitely fewer crew in the Pegasus CIC and bridge. Also references to "clumsy manual valves" in the pilot about Galactica would also seem to indicate this is no longer the case in 'current' ships of the line.
After the settlement of New Caprica, Galactica's complement was gradually reduced as crew members left the ship and joined the civilians on the planet surface. When the cylons reappear 380 days after the establishment of settlements on New Caprica, Galactica is manned by a skeleton crew that can barely launch a squadron of vipers for training, much less fly an efficient combat air patrol. Based on this evidence, it is likely that Galactica's complement is less than half of what it was before New Caprica was settled.
A battlestar's crew, aside from the Marine Corps component present aboard the vessel, are Colonial Fleet personnel. As such, the crew falls into a common, hierarchical, military rank structure. This hierarchy is divided into two broad groups: Commissioned Officers who exercise command oversight; and Enlisted personnel (including Non-Commissioned Officers) who perform technical duties or exercise first-line supervisory authority.
List of Battlestars
There are estimated at least 120 Battlestars in service at the time of the Cylon sneak attack. Most of these are likely of more modern type than the Galactica, given the ship's stated age and obsolesence. However, at least one Battlestar wreck seen above Caprica in the miniseries featured a ribbed hull and overall configuration similar to that of the Galactica, suggesting it could also be a refitted older-style Battlestar or an intermediate class.
- Battlestar Galactica
- Survived Cylon attack on the Colonies. During its service, the Galactica formed a part of Battlestar Group 75 (BSG 75), a Colonial naval force. At the time of the attack, Galactica was undergoing formal decommissioning to be turned into a museum. Commanded by William Adama
| Vehicles from Battlestar Galactica | |
|---|---|
| Colonial Military | |
| Battlestars | |
| Galactica | Pegasus | |
| Military Vehicles | |
| Viper | Raptor | Blackbird | |
| 'The Fleet' | |
| Colonial One | Astral Queen | Cloud Nine | Olympic Carrier Miscellaneous Ships | |
| Cylon Vehicles | |
| Basestar | Raider | Heavy Raider | 'Resurrection Ship' | |
External links
- [BattlestarGalactica-Forum.com]
- [Battlestar Wiki: Battlestars]
- [Battlestar Wiki: Galactica]
- [Galactica Technical Manual]
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