Battlestar Wiki - User contributions [en]

The Colony

2011-10-06T17:19:55Z

Mister Oragahn: Removed the scale chart. It's pretty, is considerably flawed. Galactica is WAY TOO BIG. If the chart were right, Galactica couldn't even fit between one of the Colony's small mandibles. (Daybreak)

<noinclude></noinclude>{{Ship Data
| image=Cylon colony, "Daybreak, Part II".jpg
| title= The Colony
| race= [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]]
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= [[Humanoid Cylon]]s, [[Cylon Centurion]]s, Hybrids, Cylon War-Era Centurions
| role= Cylon Homeworld
| weapons= [[Raiders (RDM)|Raiders]], Cylon War-Era Raiders, Multiple gun batteries and missle launchers
| status= Destroyed.
| img=
}}

'''The Colony''' is a large biomechanical structure similar in composition to the [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]]. After the [[Cimtar Peace Accord]], the [[Final Five]] and the [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005]] units (with the exception of the [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005#Guardians|Guardians]]) retreated to this place, a spaceborne Cylon homeworld ([[TRS]]: "[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]").

==History and Use==

This structure was built around the original ship of the Final Five ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]] podcast). The vessel was used by [[Samuel Anders]], [[Tory Foster]], [[Ellen Tigh]], [[Saul Tigh]], and [[Galen Tyrol]] to travel to the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]] from the devastated remains of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], backtracking the path their ancestors had taken from [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] and then following the path of the twelve tribes of humanity. At one point, the ship stopped at [[The Temple of Hopes]].

The expanded structure was "home" to the [[humanoid Cylon|humanoid]] and Centurion Cylons after the war. The eight numbered humanoid models were presumably developed by Anders, Foster, the Tighs, and Tyrol here. Their original [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]] equipment was still on the Colony ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]"), as was their original sublight starship.

When the Cylons prepared to [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|attack the Colonies]], they gathered their massive fleet here and jumped directly from The Colony to the Twelve Colonies ([[TRS]]: "[[The Plan]]").

The Colony fell into the hands of the [[Number One]]s/Cavils after they usurped the Final Five. Prior to the [[Cylon Civil War]], Cavil keeps the Colony secret ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]"). Cavil moves the Colony shortly before the start of the civil war, indicating that the structure is FTL-capable ([[TRS]]: "[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]"). It is positioned in a stable orbit inside the [[w:accretion disc|accretion disc]] of a [[w:naked singularity|naked singularity]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part I]]").

The Colony serves as home base for the Ones, [[Number Four|Fours]], [[Number Five|Fives]], and [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]]. [[Hera Agathon]] is brought to the Colony for experimentation, to determine what makes her a successful human-Cylon hybrid and replicate it ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part I]]").

There are both original-model [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raider]]s (mechanical fighter craft which require pilots) and the newer autonomous Raider models inside the Colony, and both 0005 and updated Centurion units. The Colony's systems are controlled by multiple [[Hybrid]]s ([[TRS]]: "[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]", "[[Daybreak, Part II]]"). It is armed with a large array of quadruple point defence gun batteries and missle launchers ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").

The Colony is destroyed when [[Margaret Edmonson]]'s corpse inadvertantly launches several nukes at it from her Raptor, causing massive damage and the loss of its stable orbit around the singularity ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").

The final battle between humans and Cylons, the [[Battle of The Colony]], takes place here when ''Galactica'' launches a rescue mission for Hera Agathon. Among the dead in the battle are numerous Centurions, at least three Dorals, three Simons, Cavil, and Boomer, as well as any who are onboard the structure when it falls into the black hole.

== Notes ==
{{sourcebox|Cylon homeworld}}
*When Ron D. Moore was questioned why the "Cylon POV episode", "[[Downloaded]]", took place on Cylon-occupied Caprica instead of the Cylon homeworld in an interview with [http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/3206/2/ Now Playing Magazine] on February 23, 2006, he stated that the series will probably not show that planet any time in the forseeable future, explaining that:

::"That episode ("[[Downloaded]]") will not have that, and we still don’t have any plans to do that...My instinct is kind of not to go there. I feel like I don’t have a great clear vision of it; at this point if we tried to do something there it would look very familiar and not as interesting as it is in your imagination."

:Moore goes on to say that he felt it was more exciting when left to the imagination, because "It still has to be a place where bipedal creatures can walk around and do things": Presumably, it has to be able to support the humanoid Cylons, who are near-human enough that their home environment would be fairly similar to a human one, and not drastically exotic.

*In the podcast for "[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]," Moore states that originally the writers had an idea that the Cylons had a homeworld they informally called "Cylonia" but, for the reasons mentioned above, they decided not to visit it. The notion for the Colony as the Cylon homeworld instead came up during the writing of Season 4.

== Related Imagery ==

<gallery>
Image:Cylon World-Ship (The Colony).jpg|The Colony up close (TRS: "[[Islanded In A Stream Of Stars]]").
Image:Cylon World-Ship (Interior).jpg|Older-model Raiders within the Colony.
Image:Colony Breech.jpg|''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' rams herself into ''The Colony'' during the [[Battle of the Colony]].
Image:Colony Overview.jpg|A zoom out of the Colony, shortly before its demise.
Image:The Colony As Seen In The Plan.png|As seen in the opening of "[[The Plan]]".
Image:Colony Comm Relay.png|Device that conveys the order to jump from The Colony hybrids to the Basestars.
</gallery>

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Ships}}
{{Template:Characters (RDM Cylons)}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cylon Military]]
[[Category:Cylon Military (RDM)]]
[[Category:Descriptive terms]]
[[Category:RDM]]
[[de:Die Kolonie]]

Galactica (TRS)

2011-03-14T10:10:39Z

Mister Oragahn: /* Nuclear Warheads */

:''This article discusses the [[Re-imagined Series]] battlestar. For other meanings of '''''Galactica''''', see [[Galactica (disambiguation)]].''
{{Ship Data
| image= Galactica Overview.jpg
| title= Galactica (BS 75)
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Approximately 3,500
| length= {{Meters2Feet|1438.64}}<ref>These dimensions (in meters) were derived from the CG model and posted by [[Lee Stringer]] on the StarshipBuilder.com forums, which are no longer available. They are the most precise so far. The width with pods extended and the height are quoted here verbatim; the length was calculated by adding the posted dimension for the front of the ship (766.04m) to the posted dimension for the back (672.6m). The full set as provided by Lee Stringer is as follows: "Width (Pods out) 536.84m (Pods In) 352.34m
Engines Max 359.38m Head Max 334.58m
Length: Front (Main body) 730.65m (Antenee) 766.04m Back 672.6m
(using the center of the two arms as the middle)
Height (Armor/Mainbody) 181.825m (Details) 183.315m".</ref>
| width= {{Meters2Feet|536.84}}<ref name="podtopod">This is from flight pod to flight pod while they are extended.</ref>
| height= {{Meters2Feet|183.315}}
| otherdi= The dimensions above are from [[Lee Stringer]], who built the ''Galactica'' CG model. VFX Sequence Designer [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]] gave the length as {{Feet2Meters|4740}}.<ref>[http://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/how-big-was-the-colony/#comment-2193 Blog comment] by [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]].</ref> The reason for this twenty-foot discrepancy is unknown.
| co= Admiral [[William Adama]]
| xo= Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
| role= Carrier / battleship hybrid
| weapons= As many as 514 dual point-defense [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], 24 primary dual Kinetic Energy Weapons, at least 12 [[missile tubes]] capable of firing conventional and nuclear missiles, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Abandoned, flown into the Sun with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]
| img= Y
}}
'''''Galactica'' (BS 75)''' is a [[Galactica type battlestar|veteran battlestar]] and the last of her kind still in service with the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] at the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|destruction of the Twelve Colonies]]. Built during the early days of the [[Cylon War]], she remains the only military vessel without integrated [[Computers|computer networks]]. Without networked computers, ''Galactica'' never upgrades to the new [[Command Navigation Program|integrated defense system software]] developed by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and his [[Number Six|team]]. Because of this and other factors, she becomes one of only two known battlestars (the other being ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'') to survive the renewed Cylon attack on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]. At the time of this attack, she was part of the 75th [[Battlestar Group]] (BSG-75).

== History ==
=== The First Cylon War ===
[[Image:Mini gal top.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A dorsal view of ''Galactica''. The starboard [[flight pod]] is covered by a window to form the [[Galactica Museum|museum area]].]]
''Galactica'' was one of the first twelve battlestars to be constructed by the Colonials, each representing one of the twelve colonies; ''Galactica'' represented [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]. As such, she is some 50 years old. While solidly built, various factors during ''Galactica's'' construction led to the shipyard "cutting corners" when she was originally built, with various components not completed to spec ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]"). Following the outbreak of Cylon hostilities several more battlestars were built. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> first commander was named [[Nash]].

The original battlestars were all designed with non-integrated computer systems to avoid the Cylons' demonstrated ability to override or subvert networked command and control systems early in the war ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]"). Rather than technological sophistication, the battlestar depended on its sheer bulk and defensive / offensive capabilities to ward off any threats to itself or the Colonies.

''Galactica'' took part in [[Operation Raptor Talon]] which then Lieutenant [[William Adama]] served on. After crash-landing on the ice planet the operation took place over and witnessing the experiments on humans, Adama contacted ''Galactica'' to take out the [[Guardian basestar]] which had just launched, but was informed by ''Galactica'', which had dispatched a [[SAR]] [[Raptor]] for him, of the Armistice. Adama wouldn't learn the truth of what he'd seen until the [[Battle of the Guardian basestar]] over forty years later. After the [[Final Five|rather mysterious]] Cylon [[Armistice Station|armistice]], and their withdrawal from Colonial space, ''Galactica'' and her sister ships served the Twelve Colonies in a variety of roles. While her surviving sister ships were scrapped or upgraded to match the systems capabilities of newer Colonial vessels, ''Galactica'' continued in service without her systems being fully networked or integrated, making her unique among Colonial military vessels. '' Galactica'' was relegated to intra-system duties for at least 20 years prior to her decommissioning.<ref>This is inferred by [[Saul Tigh]] in his reaction to Commander Adama's decision for a [[FTL]] jump ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").</ref>

=== Decommissioning ===
[[Image:Ragnarbattle3.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' provides cover for civilian ships during the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]].]]
With her active career drawing to a close, a decision was taken to retire ''Galactica'' and decommission her from service. Colonial Fleet chose not to scrap her, but to turn her into a combination of living museum to the original Cylon War and an educational center, with her conversion being overseen by her final commander, [[William Adama]].

At the time of her formal decommissioning ceremony, ''Galactica'' is stripped of all but one of her operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] Mark VII squadrons, her munitions are destroyed, and her starboard landing pod is converted into a pressurized [[Galactica Museum|museum]] which houses (among other things) a full squadron of [[Viper Mark II|Mk. II Vipers]] as well as a Viper model that appears [[Viper (TOS)|older than the Mark II]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").

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=== Return of the Cylons ===
[[Image:Mini side fleet.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].]]
With the renewed and unexpected Cylon hostilities, ''Galactica'' is quickly brought back to combat condition and sorties several Mark IIs retrieved from her museum, engaging in her first battle with the Cylons in over 40 years (all but one last Mark VII squadron were sent to Caprica for reassignment). She survives a direct hit by a tactical nuclear missile, and later [[FTL|jumps]] successfully to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] to replenish her empty ammunition stores at this strategic depot.

''Galactica'' emerges from the anchorage and engages one [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] with her gun batteries, providing cover for [[The Fleet (RDM)|a fleet of 75 civilian ships]] harboring survivors of the Twelve Colonies. Once the entire civilian fleet successfully jumps away, and as a second basestar approaches to join the battle, ''Galactica'' recovers her remaining Vipers and jumps to the rendezvous point beyond the [[Red Line]], never to return to Colonial space ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries]]").

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=== Leading a Ragtag Fleet ===
[[Image:Ep212battle.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' and [[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]] work together during the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]].]]
Since the exodus of the Colonials from their overrun homeworlds, ''Galactica'' becomes both protector and provider for the Fleet. She provides covering fire for the Fleet during Cylon attacks no fewer than 240 times ([[TRS]]: "[[33]]": "[[Act of Contrition]]"). The battlestar provides much of the Fleet with recycled water ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]") and she is the primary source of medical care, where groups of civilians are periodically brought aboard for check-ups and treatment ([[TRS]]: "[[Litmus]]"). ''Galactica'' also undertakes internal policing duties within the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]"; "[[Bastille Day]]").

''Galactica'' successfully goes on the offensive against the Cylons, capturing a [[tylium]] fuel mining and processing plant in the process ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]").

The [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''Pegasus'', commanded by Admiral [[Helena Cain|Cain]], joins ''Galactica'' approximately 6 months into their exile (See the series [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]] for special information about this milestone). The two battlestars destroy two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] as well as a critical Cylon support ship known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. After Admiral Cain's death, President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] promotes William Adama to Admiral, restoring him to overall Fleet command, but now with two battlestars at his disposal ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").

===New Caprica===
[[Image:Leaving New Caprica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'', and the orbiting fleet prior to leaving [[New Caprica]].]]
Following the founding of [[New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' is assigned to the orbital defense force that protects the planet. During this time the majority of her crew are allowed to the surface in an effort to populate the planet and restore the human race, a majority of whom are seemingly convinced that the Cylons will never find New Caprica. The diminished crew inevitably results in standard maintenance becoming overlooked or ignored; basic military responses, such as the launching of alert fighters and routine training exercises become difficult to execute. One year following the founding of New Caprica, a fleet of Cylon ships jump into orbit of the planet. Severely limited in their abilities, Admiral Adama orders the defense fleet to jump away from New Caprica along with a handful of civilian ships still in orbit of the colony. They vow to eventually return to New Caprica and liberate it from the Cylon invaders ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]").

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

===[[Battle of New Caprica]]===
[[Image:BONC.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' takes a pounding during the [[Battle of New Caprica]].]]
Four months after their escape, ''Galactica'''s staff is still in the process of developing a rescue strategy with 16 training exercises having been completed and a 17th underway when an accident causes its early cessation ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]"). This forces both a change in strategy and the reformulation of a rescue plan to deal with personnel who have not seen conflict in 16 months. While ''Galactica'' fights to liberate the Colonials on-planet, ''Pegasus'' is assigned to protect the remaining civilian Fleet and continue its search for [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Precipice]]"; "[[Exodus, Part I]]").

After coordinating with the [[New Caprica Resistance]], ''Galactica'' leaves ''Pegasus'' to guard the space-bound members of humanity while it uses a series of drones to misdirect the bulk of the Cylon Raiders and avoid immediate detection by baseships, thus allowing the civilians on the planet to escape to their ships and flee New Caprica.

''Galactica'' then jumps into low orbit, plummeting from an altitude of 100,000 feet. As the ship falls, Admiral Adama orders the launch of all remaining Vipers. ''Galactica'' then jumps back into orbit. In the subsequent battle with the orbiting basestars, ''Galactica'' is overtaxed, out-gunned, and faces destruction when ''Pegasus'' unexpectedly arrives. ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> salvos draw the attention of the basestars away from ''Galactica'', buying ''Galactica'' time to bring her [[FTL|FTL drives]] back on-line and escape, but at the cost of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> destruction ([[TRS]]: "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

''Galactica'' bears the scars of the battle with significant scorching and dents to the hull. Nonetheless, the battlestar remains combat ready, holding off a superior Cylon force for a short duration in the [[Battle of NCD2539]] ([[TRS]]: "[[A Measure of Salvation]]"), and threatening to use its nuclear arsenal twice after New Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"). Given the loss of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' now boasts a larger crew, Viper and Raptor complement, to the point where there are more pilots than there are ships to fly ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"), although the training of new recruits is still ongoing ([[TRS]]: "[[Dirty Hands]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"; "[[He That Believeth in Me]]"). Further, there are various redundancies between the two crews that are appropriately dealt with (e.g. [[Lee Adama]] in a [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 3 (RDM)|deleted scene]] from "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

Colonel Tigh comments that ''Galactica'' took so much damage in this battle that it would "take six weeks in dry dock just to bang out the dents" ([[TRS]]: "[[A Day in the Life]]"). This indicates that the damage is extensive enough to require a significant amount time (probably months) for full repair, and would be unlikely to survive a massive battle again.

=== Resuming the Search for Earth ===
''Galactica'' takes aboard a significant quantity of civilians following the exodus from New Caprica, as several civilian ships are lost during the escape from the failed colony. Cramped conditions increase as crew and civilians struggle to adapt to life back aboard a ship. The civilians reside on the refurbished starboard hangar deck as a refugee camp nicknamed "[[Camp Oil Slick]]" and later "Dogsville" ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"; "[[The Woman King]]").

During a [[The Passage|food shortage crisis]] caused by contamination of the Fleet's food processing systems, ''Galactica'' (along with her Raptors acting as pilot ships) guides the civilian Fleet through an area of intense heat, light and radiation caused by a [[Passage (star cluster)|dense star cluster]] to reach edible resources on the [[algae planet]]. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> heavy armor and radiation shielding protect her from the intense effects of the cluster, but the ship still suffers hull damage and decompressions.

The ship confronts a Cylon fleet and barely escapes a nova during [[Eye of Jupiter|the events over the algae planet]], jumping out at the last moment after recovering its ground teams and additional data on a way-point to Earth known to the Colonials as the [[Ionian nebula]] ("[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", "[[Rapture]]"). Repairs continue on the journey to the Ionian nebula. Damage to one particular airlock nearly causes the deaths of Galen and Cally Tyrol during what they expected to be a quick repair of a hull micro-fracture ([[A Day in the Life]]).
[[Image:BOTIM.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Galactica'' is outnumbered during the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula]].]]
When the Fleet reaches the nebula, four Cylon baseships are detected following an unexplained power outage. With the entire Fleet crippled and unable to escape, ''Galactica'' scrambles her Vipers and prepares for a lopsided fight, outnumbered and outgunned ([[Crossroads, Part II]]). During the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula|following battle]], ''Galactica'' manages to hold off the main attack of the massive Cylon attack force. Despite the damage suffered in previous engagements, the old warship wields her main guns and point defense batteries effectively again in defense of the Fleet. During the battle ''Galactica'' takes many hits while covering the Fleet although without crippling damage. Despite having the advantage, and managing to destroy or damage several civilian ships, the Cylons retreat in the middle of the battle, after detecting one of the [[Final Five]] among the Colonials ([[He That Believeth in Me]]).

''Galactica'' is once forced to prepare for a battle against the rebel [[Basestar (RDM)|Cylon basestar]], but the ''[[Demetrius]]'' arrives to defuse the situation. In the wake of the basestar disappearing from the Fleet ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]), [[Saul Tigh]] assumes command of ''Galactica'', jumping along with the Fleet ([[Sine Qua Non]]).

After [[Kara Thrace]] picks up a strange signal in [[Starbuck's Viper|her Viper]], the Colonials have a direct bearing towards Earth. Shortly later, after several years of searching, ''Galactica'' and her Fleet finally make the last jump to Earth ([[Revelations]]).

=== Post-Earth ===

After discovering [[Earth]] is a nuclear wasteland, discipline and morale on ''Galactica'' fall dramatically and the overall cleanliness of the ship suffers, e.g. outside [[CIC]], the words "Frak Earth" are spray-painted on the walls ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]). When former deck chief [[Galen Tyrol]] disables the FTL drive, foiling the mutineers' escape with the ship, he discovers multiple tears in the chamber's walls, a sign that the aging battlestar's structural integrity is faltering ([[Blood on the Scales]]).
[[Image:Damaged Galactica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A heavily damaged ''Galactica''.]]
A structural survey of the ship finds several torn supports and weakened areas in the hull, and a more in-depth examination finds endemic metal fatigue throughout the ship, with virtually every part of the hull riddled with small cracks and fissures.

''Galactica's'' advanced age, the corners cut during construction and the abuse it has been put through since the war started contributed to its condition. Tyrol suggests treating the damaged parts of the ship with an [[Cylon organic resin|organic Cylon resin]] from the [[Rebel Baseship]], which would fill the cracks and bear the stresses, which Adama at first refuses. However, Adama finally appreciates ''Galactica's'' dire condition when he finds a tear in a bulkhead in his quarters, and orders Tyrol to carry out his plan to repair the ship ([[No Exit]]). Tyrol later says that the resin will buy more time but the ship's integrity has been fundamentally weakened and it might not survive more FTL jumps- it is impossible to say how long she can hold. ''Galactica'' is dying of old age and accumulated battle damage.

Later ''Galactica'' is damaged even further when [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] jumps away very close to the hull. The resulting spatial distortion of her Raptor's FTL jump causes what appears to be buckling and explosive decompression in several sections of the alligator head of ''Galactica'' on her port side ([[Someone to Watch Over Me]]). This causes a chain reaction of explosions, structural failures and power outages throughout many parts of the ship including CIC.

At first refusing to accept the reality of the ship's fate, Admiral Adama gives the emotionally painful order to stop the repairs and begin the process of abandoning ship, moving to the Rebel Baseship as the Fleet's new flagship ([[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]).

As the ship is slowly offloaded of parts and personnel, the Admiral relents one last time, stops the scrapping of the battlestar, and calls for volunteers for what will likely be a ''Galactica's'' final mission- to get the kidnapped Hera back from Cavil's Cylon colony ([[Daybreak, Part I]]).

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=== Endgame: [[Battle of The Colony|Battle of The Colony]] ===

[[Image:Battleofthecolony.jpg|thumb|right|200px|right|''Galactica'' takes massive hits seconds after jumping to [[The Colony]].]]
With a skeleton crew and a frail battlestar, Admiral Adama executes a daring mission to rescue Hera Agathon.

''Galactica'' jumps to the Colony at point-blank range. Besieged by the Colony's gun batteries at first, the ship is pummeled relentlessly (destroying the dorsal Colonial roundel) until the Hybrid Anders manages to take them and the Colony's Hybrids offline. As ''Galactica's'' Vipers engage incoming Raiders, her Raptors jump directly from their berth in the starboard [[flight pod]] (causing extensive damage to it) and maneuver to board the Colony.

Adama does the unbelievable: he rams ''Galactica's'' bow into the Colony, forming not only a second breech for his search teams to enter, but also forming an alternate escape route.

The rescue is successful thanks to Boomer's help (before Athena kills her), but ''Galactica'' is far from safe. The Raiders are still attacking the ship, destroying at least one of its remaining heavy gun batteries. The rescue teams are pursued back to ''Galactica'' by Cavil and his troops, determined to recapture Hera. Platoons of enemy Centurions swarm into the ship. Cavil personally leads an attack on CIC but is foiled.

Things appear to settle down after Cavil and Adama call a ceasefire. Cavil agrees to let ''Galactica'' leave with Hera in exchange for the information needed to bring back [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection technology]]. Part of the deal is that Cavil will leave humanity alone forever as well. The Raiders return to the Colony, while the Vipers return to ''Galactica''. Unfortunately, as the Final Five begin to download their knowledge into the Colony, they are exposed to each other's secrets; Galen Tyrol learns that Tory Foster murdered his wife [[Cally Tyrol]] ([[The Ties That Bind]]). Tyrol flies into a rage and kills Foster, severing the download. Chaos ensues and the ceasefire ends. The Raiders renew their attack on the ship. In CIC the Simon, Doral and Cavil there open fire but Apollo and Starbuck kill Doral and Simon while Cavil, realizing the hopelessness of the situation, kills himself.

Meanwhile [[Racetrack]]'s Raptor, drifting in space after all aboard were killed, is hit by a stray asteroid, causing the Raptor to launch its nuclear missiles into the Colony. The Colony's orbit immediately decays, pulling it into the black hole--threatening to take ''Galactica'' with it. But Kara Thrace jumps the ship, using coordinates she had extrapolated from [[The Music]] at the last second.

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=== Journey's End ===
[[File:Battlestar Over Africa.jpg|thumb|left|200px|right|A crippled ''Galactica'' seen in orbit over the Sahara Desert.]]
Unfortunately, the ship does not retract its flight pods as Kara Thrace executes the emergency jump; this, as well as the cumulative stresses of the previous battle and the past four years turn out to be the death knell for the old battlestar. ''Galactica'' experiences a series of fatal structural failures that send shockwaves rippling through the ship. While the Cylon organic resin applied earlier prevents the ship from snapping in two, the ship permanently loses its FTL ability as its structual integrity is compromised (Col Tigh mentions red lines through the ship's lateral structural members). However the ship's other systems are still online, including life support and propulsion. The fear of being stranded in space are short-lived as ''Galactica'' arrives in the vicinity of a lush, blue-green habitable world, already populated by tribes of primitive humans who naturally evolved there.
[[File:The fleet's end.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Galactica'' and her Fleet heading straight into the Sun.]]
The population of the Fleet, arriving later, agree to leave their technology behind and start new lives on the planet they decide to call "[[Earth (RDM)#A New Earth|Earth]]". The Rebel Cylons also decide to stay on the planet. With this decision, the Rebel Baseship is left to the Centurions, who leave to seek out their own destiny. Anders, still acting as ''Galactica's'' Hybrid, brings the battlestar's adventures to a close as he pilots ''Galactica'' and the last ships in the Fleet into the Sun, destroying ''Galactica'' and her Fleet. Commander Adama is the last person to leave the ship, departing in his Viper Mk II from his service in the Cylon War.

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== Equipment ==
Apart from any technological upgrades that may have been made to her sister ships, ''Galactica'' was built to the general technical specifications of her [[Galactica type battlestar|class]].

===Starboard Flight Pod===

The starboard landing bay is eventually restored to usable condition, evidenced when Major Lee Adama lands his Raptor in the starboard pod. However, it is possible that this is due to a previously issued quarantine order and not because the flight pod is in regular use ([[A Measure of Salvation]]). The starboard hangar deck is designated an [[Dogsville|area of refuge]] for civilians displaced from lost ships (The Woman King).

During the last mission of Galactica, this pod held a number of Raptors ready for launch, these deployed out of the pod by FTL jump with the result that the shock waves fatally weakened the pods structure and the pod blew open to space. ([[Daybreak part 2]])

Strangely at least part of the museum setup survives all the way to Daybreak part 2, despite a hull breach and part of it being flattened by a heavy raider [[Scattered]]. It's unclear why the museum was kept intact and/or repaired, though it's possible it was put right during the year on New Caprica before the Cylons found the planet, since this is probably the only period when the crew would have any spare time to fix it. This serves as a minor plot hole that may never be resolved.

The museum would certainly have been destroyed in the jump shock wave from the Raptors leaving the pod during the [[Battle of the Colony]] or the decompression immediately after that point, any remains were sent into the sun with the rest of the ship.

===Nuclear Warheads===
[[Image:Galactica nukes.jpg|200px|thumb|''Galactica'''s nuclear arsenal.]]
''Galactica'' has five nuclear warheads as of "[[Bastille Day]]". Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] uses one warhead to destroy the Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] orbiting Kobol ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), and Dr. [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] cannibalizes one to use in his [[Cylon detector]]. He later gives the warhead to [[Gina Inviere]], who detonates it aboard ''[[Cloud Nine]]''.

It is unknown how many nuclear warheads ''Pegasus'' has when it encounters ''Galactica'', but the two ships pool their nuclear ordnance stockpiles after that. As of "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", ''Galactica'' possesses at least seven warheads ([[missile tube]]s 4 through 10).

:''The yield of these weapons is unknown. It is likely they are of a "dial a yield" design which is common in real-life nuclear weapons. Because the physics of nuclear weapon design is a measurable science, and based on the size of the weapons seen on screen, the yield of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons may lie between 5 and 150 kilotons.''<ref>This is extrapolated from the size of the weapon, compared to a modern day ([[w:W80|W80]])-class nuclear warhead used by the United States.</ref> ''However, the energetic properties of [[tylium]] are so formidable that if a warhead design were to properly exploit even only 50% of the refined ore's enthalpy, a mere kilogram of it would allow for a yield of nearly 60 kilotons, and a one megaton yield warhead would require over 16.7 kg of refined tylium. The fact that the ore can also be used for explosives such as improvised mines ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]) opens a vast field of opportunities for heavy high yield weapons, not necessarily restricted to nukes in the traditional sense. If indeed a "dial a yield" capacity were part of the stock warhead's design, then it's possible that the addition of a weapon grade level of refined tylium would allow said yield to be considerably increased. Besides, the required high levels of pressure and heat could even be achieved with mere chemical implosion phases instead of atomic ones (ref. Fat Man bomb).''

===Vipers===
:''For information on the fighter squadrons stationed on ''Galactica'' see: [[Squadrons of Galactica]]''

[[image:1104Tube Mini.JPG|right|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark II]] in a launch tube.]]
[[image:Kg zoic-studio screen-caps-065.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark VII]] in the port [[Flight pod]].]]
Early in the flight of the Fleet, ''Galactica'' carried "40 Vipers and 21 pilots" ([[Act of Contrition]]) , of which at least six were Mark VIIs. Following the advent of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' receives supplies that aid in the repair and refurbishment of her initial fighter complement ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]). Some time later, new Mark VII Vipers are constructed at ''Pegasus''s' Viper construction facilities utilizing the raw ore mined in an asteroid belt ([[Scar]]), and several of those are assigned to ''Galactica''.

With ''Pegasus'' destroyed at the [[Battle of New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' absorbs the former's fighter squadrons and personnel, and her Viper complement now counts approximately 80 planes. <ref>Dialogue from "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]" and "[[Sine Qua Non]]" establishes that 40 Vipers have been transferred to a Cylon basestar, which comprises half the ship's air wing.</ref>

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===Raptors===
[[image:Raptor port.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A [[Raptor]].]]
The number of [[Raptor|Raptors]] available to ''Galactica'' is portrayed inconsistently. The assumption prior to joining up with ''Pegasus'' is that the battlestar has at least five Raptors, having left [[Ragnar Anchorage]] with at least eight. After the Battle of New Caprica, ''Galactica'' takes on ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Raptors. The subsequent number of available craft is unknown, but is at least 30, considering how many Raptors are deployed to rescue to the resistance fighters on Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]") and still have enough to move people from ship to ship through out the Fleet.

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===Other Craft===
[[image:Blackbird FotP.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The [[Blackbird]], a special stealth ship, was construted on ''Galactica''.]]
[[image:AtmoShutt.jpg|right|thumb|200px|One of ''Galactica'''s [[Atmospheric shuttle| shuttle]] craft.]]
*''Galactica'' possesses two [[Heavy Raider]]s. One is hit by ''Galactica''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defensive fire and crashes into the starboard flight pod with unknown, but probably extensive, damage ([[TRS]]: "[[Scattered]]"). The other returns in operational status from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part I]]"). One of these Heavy Raiders is relieved of its FTL navigation system for use on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]").
* A Raider from the first Cylon War may be on board ''Galactica'' after one follows Starbuck into one of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> landing bays and is shot down ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor]]"). A Cylon War era Raider, or at least a replica of one, was present in the [[Galactica Museum]], but has not been mentioned since.
*A second [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]] comes into ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> possession after [[Daniel Novacek]]'s "escape" from a basestar, replacing the one retrieved by [[Kara Thrace]] and lost during the quest for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]").
*An experimental stealth fighter, the [[Blackbird]], is constructed using spare parts ([[TRS]]: "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]") and used in a critically successful reconnaissance mission to explore the nature of what comes to be known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The Blackbird is destroyed after completing its [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship|first combat mission]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").
*''Galactica'' possesses [[fuel tanker]]s used to supply fuel to Vipers and Raptors in flight without the need to dock with the ship. These may be dedicated craft or specially fitted shuttles or Raptors ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]").

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== Crew ==
:''For information on Senior Staff, see : [[Senior Staff of Galactica]]''
:''For a list of pilots, see: [[List of Pilots]]''
:''For a list of deckhands, see: [[List of deckhands]]''
:''For a list of marines, see: [[Colonial Marine Corps]]''

Before the attack, ''Galactica'' has approximately 2,900 crewmen. By the time of the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', attrition has reduced this number to about 2,660. (c.f. [[Crew tally]])
It is unknown whether the Colonial Marines account for members or not.
*Between "[[Act of Contrition]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> offensive capability is also greatly hampered by the number of [[List of Pilots|qualified pilots]] available, and their lack of flight simulators with which to train more. Since ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> reunion with ''Pegasus'', this has ceased to be an issue ([[TRS]]: "[[Scar]]").
== Blue prints of Galactica ==

[http://media.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/File:BSG_Blue_prints.png]

==Related Imagery==
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:BSG Ortho Top & Bottom.jpg|''Galactica'' - [[Zoic]] rendering    
Image:BSG Ortho Front, Back & Starboard.jpg|''Galactica'' - Zoic rendering    
Image:Galactica's top side.jpg|''Galactica'''s top side.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-049.jpg|''Galactica'''s front - Zoic
Image:Battlestar stern.jpg|''Galactica'''s stern.
Image:Galactica retraction.jpg|Flight pod retraction area.
Image:Galactica's bottom-023b.jpg|''Galactica'''s bottom.
Image:Bsg damaged.jpg|''Galactica'' with battle damage. (High Res)
Image:Cylon War-era Galactica, "Razor" Flashback 1.jpg|''Galactica'' in the [[Razor]] Flashbacks.
Image:Galactica - flight pods retracted.jpg|''Galactica'' with flight pods retracted.
Image:BSG landing alcove.jpg|''Galactica'' landing alcove.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-037.jpg|A cluster of rail guns.
Image:Battered Battlestar.jpg|Bow view of ''Galactica''.
Image:GalPeg.png|''Galactica'' overlooking the [[Pegasus]].
Image:Pointdefence2 101 1080i.jpg|''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> point defense batteries in action    
Image:Galactica fights off missile salvos.jpg|''Galactica'' establishes a defense perimeter.
Image:Raptor scramble.jpg|''Galactica'' scrambles [[Viper]]s and [[Raptor]]s.
Image:Colony Breech.jpg|''Galactica'' rams herself into [[The Colony]].
Image:Img0059.jpg|''Galactica'''s main batteries.
Image:Galactia's end.jpg|''Galactica'' and the Fleet depart for the sun, with the African continent in the background.
Image:CIC Overview 1.jpg|''Galactica'''s CIC.
Image:Cicweaponscontrol1.jpg|Weapons control.
Image:Cictacticalstation1.jpg|Tactical station.
Image:Cic commstation.jpg|Communications.
Image:The Mess.jpg|The Officers' mess hall.
Image:Cicdmgcontrol.jpg|Damage control.
Image:Ftl2.jpg|FTL Drive.
Image:Bsg-1-10.jpg|The "War Room".
Image:Porthangardeck.jpg|The port hangar bay on ''Galactica''.
Image:DutyLocker.jpg|Crew quarters.
Image:GalacticaInterior Sickbay1.jpg|Sickbay
Image:Galactica Museum, "Daybreak, Part II".jpg| The ''Galactica'' museum in the starboard flight pod.
Image:Galactica corridor.jpg|The "A-shaped" corridors.
Image:BSG Blue prints.png|Schematics from the [[Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game|roleplaying game]].
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Galactica crew facilities (RDM)|Galactica crew facilities]]
*[[:Category:Galactica Areas (RDM)|Galactica Areas]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Ships}}

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{{featured article}}

[[de:Galactica (RDM)]]
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[[zh:卡拉狄加 (RDM)]]

Galactica (TRS)

2011-02-20T01:35:42Z

Mister Oragahn: /* Nuclear Warheads */

:''This article discusses the [[Re-imagined Series]] battlestar. For other meanings of '''''Galactica''''', see [[Galactica (disambiguation)]].''
{{Ship Data
| image= Galactica Overview.jpg
| title= Galactica (BS 75)
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Approximately 3,500
| length= {{Meters2Feet|1438.64}}<ref>These dimensions (in meters) were derived from the CG model and posted by [[Lee Stringer]] on the StarshipBuilder.com forums, which are no longer available. They are the most precise so far. The width with pods extended and the height are quoted here verbatim; the length was calculated by adding the posted dimension for the front of the ship (766.04m) to the posted dimension for the back (672.6m). The full set as provided by Lee Stringer is as follows: "Width (Pods out) 536.84m (Pods In) 352.34m
Engines Max 359.38m Head Max 334.58m
Length: Front (Main body) 730.65m (Antenee) 766.04m Back 672.6m
(using the center of the two arms as the middle)
Height (Armor/Mainbody) 181.825m (Details) 183.315m".</ref>
| width= {{Meters2Feet|536.84}}<ref name="podtopod">This is from flight pod to flight pod while they are extended.</ref>
| height= {{Meters2Feet|183.315}}
| otherdi= The dimensions above are from [[Lee Stringer]], who built the ''Galactica'' CG model. VFX Sequence Designer [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]] gave the length as {{Feet2Meters|4740}}.<ref>[http://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/how-big-was-the-colony/#comment-2193 Blog comment] by [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]].</ref> The reason for this twenty-foot discrepancy is unknown.
| co= Admiral [[William Adama]]
| xo= Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
| role= Carrier / battleship hybrid
| weapons= As many as 514 dual point-defense [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], 24 primary dual Kinetic Energy Weapons, at least 12 [[missile tubes]] capable of firing conventional and nuclear missiles, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Abandoned, flown into the Sun with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]
| img= Y
}}
'''''Galactica'' (BS 75)''' is a [[Galactica type battlestar|veteran battlestar]] and the last of her kind still in service with the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] at the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|destruction of the Twelve Colonies]]. Built during the early days of the [[Cylon War]], she remains the only military vessel without integrated [[Computers|computer networks]]. Without networked computers, ''Galactica'' never upgrades to the new [[Command Navigation Program|integrated defense system software]] developed by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and his [[Number Six|team]]. Because of this and other factors, she becomes one of only two known battlestars (the other being ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'') to survive the renewed Cylon attack on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]. At the time of this attack, she was part of the 75th [[Battlestar Group]] (BSG-75).

== History ==
=== The First Cylon War ===
[[Image:Mini gal top.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A dorsal view of ''Galactica''. The starboard [[flight pod]] is covered by a window to form the [[Galactica Museum|museum area]].]]
''Galactica'' was one of the first twelve battlestars to be constructed by the Colonials, each representing one of the twelve colonies; ''Galactica'' represented [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]. As such, she is some 50 years old. While solidly built, various factors during ''Galactica's'' construction led to the shipyard "cutting corners" when she was originally built, with various components not completed to spec ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]"). Following the outbreak of Cylon hostilities several more battlestars were built. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> first commander was named [[Nash]].

The original battlestars were all designed with non-integrated computer systems to avoid the Cylons' demonstrated ability to override or subvert networked command and control systems early in the war ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]"). Rather than technological sophistication, the battlestar depended on its sheer bulk and defensive / offensive capabilities to ward off any threats to itself or the Colonies.

''Galactica'' took part in [[Operation Raptor Talon]] which then Lieutenant [[William Adama]] served on. After crash-landing on the ice planet the operation took place over and witnessing the experiments on humans, Adama contacted ''Galactica'' to take out the [[Guardian basestar]] which had just launched, but was informed by ''Galactica'', which had dispatched a [[SAR]] [[Raptor]] for him, of the Armistice. Adama wouldn't learn the truth of what he'd seen until the [[Battle of the Guardian basestar]] over forty years later. After the [[Final Five|rather mysterious]] Cylon [[Armistice Station|armistice]], and their withdrawal from Colonial space, ''Galactica'' and her sister ships served the Twelve Colonies in a variety of roles. While her surviving sister ships were scrapped or upgraded to match the systems capabilities of newer Colonial vessels, ''Galactica'' continued in service without her systems being fully networked or integrated, making her unique among Colonial military vessels. '' Galactica'' was relegated to intra-system duties for at least 20 years prior to her decommissioning.<ref>This is inferred by [[Saul Tigh]] in his reaction to Commander Adama's decision for a [[FTL]] jump ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").</ref>

=== Decommissioning ===
[[Image:Ragnarbattle3.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' provides cover for civilian ships during the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]].]]
With her active career drawing to a close, a decision was taken to retire ''Galactica'' and decommission her from service. Colonial Fleet chose not to scrap her, but to turn her into a combination of living museum to the original Cylon War and an educational center, with her conversion being overseen by her final commander, [[William Adama]].

At the time of her formal decommissioning ceremony, ''Galactica'' is stripped of all but one of her operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] Mark VII squadrons, her munitions are destroyed, and her starboard landing pod is converted into a pressurized [[Galactica Museum|museum]] which houses (among other things) a full squadron of [[Viper Mark II|Mk. II Vipers]] as well as a Viper model that appears [[Viper (TOS)|older than the Mark II]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== Return of the Cylons ===
[[Image:Mini side fleet.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].]]
With the renewed and unexpected Cylon hostilities, ''Galactica'' is quickly brought back to combat condition and sorties several Mark IIs retrieved from her museum, engaging in her first battle with the Cylons in over 40 years (all but one last Mark VII squadron were sent to Caprica for reassignment). She survives a direct hit by a tactical nuclear missile, and later [[FTL|jumps]] successfully to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] to replenish her empty ammunition stores at this strategic depot.

''Galactica'' emerges from the anchorage and engages one [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] with her gun batteries, providing cover for [[The Fleet (RDM)|a fleet of 75 civilian ships]] harboring survivors of the Twelve Colonies. Once the entire civilian fleet successfully jumps away, and as a second basestar approaches to join the battle, ''Galactica'' recovers her remaining Vipers and jumps to the rendezvous point beyond the [[Red Line]], never to return to Colonial space ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries]]").

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== Leading a Ragtag Fleet ===
[[Image:Ep212battle.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' and [[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]] work together during the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]].]]
Since the exodus of the Colonials from their overrun homeworlds, ''Galactica'' becomes both protector and provider for the Fleet. She provides covering fire for the Fleet during Cylon attacks no fewer than 240 times ([[TRS]]: "[[33]]": "[[Act of Contrition]]"). The battlestar provides much of the Fleet with recycled water ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]") and she is the primary source of medical care, where groups of civilians are periodically brought aboard for check-ups and treatment ([[TRS]]: "[[Litmus]]"). ''Galactica'' also undertakes internal policing duties within the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]"; "[[Bastille Day]]").

''Galactica'' successfully goes on the offensive against the Cylons, capturing a [[tylium]] fuel mining and processing plant in the process ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]").

The [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''Pegasus'', commanded by Admiral [[Helena Cain|Cain]], joins ''Galactica'' approximately 6 months into their exile (See the series [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]] for special information about this milestone). The two battlestars destroy two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] as well as a critical Cylon support ship known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. After Admiral Cain's death, President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] promotes William Adama to Admiral, restoring him to overall Fleet command, but now with two battlestars at his disposal ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").

===New Caprica===
[[Image:Leaving New Caprica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'', and the orbiting fleet prior to leaving [[New Caprica]].]]
Following the founding of [[New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' is assigned to the orbital defense force that protects the planet. During this time the majority of her crew are allowed to the surface in an effort to populate the planet and restore the human race, a majority of whom are seemingly convinced that the Cylons will never find New Caprica. The diminished crew inevitably results in standard maintenance becoming overlooked or ignored; basic military responses, such as the launching of alert fighters and routine training exercises become difficult to execute. One year following the founding of New Caprica, a fleet of Cylon ships jump into orbit of the planet. Severely limited in their abilities, Admiral Adama orders the defense fleet to jump away from New Caprica along with a handful of civilian ships still in orbit of the colony. They vow to eventually return to New Caprica and liberate it from the Cylon invaders ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]").

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

===[[Battle of New Caprica]]===
[[Image:BONC.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' takes a pounding during the [[Battle of New Caprica]].]]
Four months after their escape, ''Galactica'''s staff is still in the process of developing a rescue strategy with 16 training exercises having been completed and a 17th underway when an accident causes its early cessation ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]"). This forces both a change in strategy and the reformulation of a rescue plan to deal with personnel who have not seen conflict in 16 months. While ''Galactica'' fights to liberate the Colonials on-planet, ''Pegasus'' is assigned to protect the remaining civilian Fleet and continue its search for [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Precipice]]"; "[[Exodus, Part I]]").

After coordinating with the [[New Caprica Resistance]], ''Galactica'' leaves ''Pegasus'' to guard the space-bound members of humanity while it uses a series of drones to misdirect the bulk of the Cylon Raiders and avoid immediate detection by baseships, thus allowing the civilians on the planet to escape to their ships and flee New Caprica.

''Galactica'' then jumps into low orbit, plummeting from an altitude of 100,000 feet. As the ship falls, Admiral Adama orders the launch of all remaining Vipers. ''Galactica'' then jumps back into orbit. In the subsequent battle with the orbiting basestars, ''Galactica'' is overtaxed, out-gunned, and faces destruction when ''Pegasus'' unexpectedly arrives. ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> salvos draw the attention of the basestars away from ''Galactica'', buying ''Galactica'' time to bring her [[FTL|FTL drives]] back on-line and escape, but at the cost of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> destruction ([[TRS]]: "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

''Galactica'' bears the scars of the battle with significant scorching and dents to the hull. Nonetheless, the battlestar remains combat ready, holding off a superior Cylon force for a short duration in the [[Battle of NCD2539]] ([[TRS]]: "[[A Measure of Salvation]]"), and threatening to use its nuclear arsenal twice after New Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"). Given the loss of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' now boasts a larger crew, Viper and Raptor complement, to the point where there are more pilots than there are ships to fly ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"), although the training of new recruits is still ongoing ([[TRS]]: "[[Dirty Hands]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"; "[[He That Believeth in Me]]"). Further, there are various redundancies between the two crews that are appropriately dealt with (e.g. [[Lee Adama]] in a [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 3 (RDM)|deleted scene]] from "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

Colonel Tigh comments that ''Galactica'' took so much damage in this battle that it would "take six weeks in dry dock just to bang out the dents" ([[TRS]]: "[[A Day in the Life]]"). This indicates that the damage is extensive enough to require a significant amount time (probably months) for full repair, and would be unlikely to survive a massive battle again.

=== Resuming the Search for Earth ===
''Galactica'' takes aboard a significant quantity of civilians following the exodus from New Caprica, as several civilian ships are lost during the escape from the failed colony. Cramped conditions increase as crew and civilians struggle to adapt to life back aboard a ship. The civilians reside on the refurbished starboard hangar deck as a refugee camp nicknamed "[[Camp Oil Slick]]" and later "Dogsville" ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"; "[[The Woman King]]").

During a [[The Passage|food shortage crisis]] caused by contamination of the Fleet's food processing systems, ''Galactica'' (along with her Raptors acting as pilot ships) guides the civilian Fleet through an area of intense heat, light and radiation caused by a [[Passage (star cluster)|dense star cluster]] to reach edible resources on the [[algae planet]]. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> heavy armor and radiation shielding protect her from the intense effects of the cluster, but the ship still suffers hull damage and decompressions.

The ship confronts a Cylon fleet and barely escapes a nova during [[Eye of Jupiter|the events over the algae planet]], jumping out at the last moment after recovering its ground teams and additional data on a way-point to Earth known to the Colonials as the [[Ionian nebula]] ("[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", "[[Rapture]]"). Repairs continue on the journey to the Ionian nebula. Damage to one particular airlock nearly causes the deaths of Galen and Cally Tyrol during what they expected to be a quick repair of a hull micro-fracture ([[A Day in the Life]]).
[[Image:BOTIM.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Galactica'' is outnumbered during the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula]].]]
When the Fleet reaches the nebula, four Cylon baseships are detected following an unexplained power outage. With the entire Fleet crippled and unable to escape, ''Galactica'' scrambles her Vipers and prepares for a lopsided fight, outnumbered and outgunned ([[Crossroads, Part II]]). During the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula|following battle]], ''Galactica'' manages to hold off the main attack of the massive Cylon attack force. Despite the damage suffered in previous engagements, the old warship wields her main guns and point defense batteries effectively again in defense of the Fleet. During the battle ''Galactica'' takes many hits while covering the Fleet although without crippling damage. Despite having the advantage, and managing to destroy or damage several civilian ships, the Cylons retreat in the middle of the battle, after detecting one of the [[Final Five]] among the Colonials ([[He That Believeth in Me]]).

''Galactica'' is once forced to prepare for a battle against the rebel [[Basestar (RDM)|Cylon basestar]], but the ''[[Demetrius]]'' arrives to defuse the situation. In the wake of the basestar disappearing from the Fleet ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]), [[Saul Tigh]] assumes command of ''Galactica'', jumping along with the Fleet ([[Sine Qua Non]]).

After [[Kara Thrace]] picks up a strange signal in [[Starbuck's Viper|her Viper]], the Colonials have a direct bearing towards Earth. Shortly later, after several years of searching, ''Galactica'' and her Fleet finally make the last jump to Earth ([[Revelations]]).

=== Post-Earth ===

After discovering [[Earth]] is a nuclear wasteland, discipline and morale on ''Galactica'' fall dramatically and the overall cleanliness of the ship suffers, e.g. outside [[CIC]], the words "Frak Earth" are spray-painted on the walls ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]). When former deck chief [[Galen Tyrol]] disables the FTL drive, foiling the mutineers' escape with the ship, he discovers multiple tears in the chamber's walls, a sign that the aging battlestar's structural integrity is faltering ([[Blood on the Scales]]).
[[Image:Damaged Galactica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A heavily damaged ''Galactica''.]]
A structural survey of the ship finds several torn supports and weakened areas in the hull, and a more in-depth examination finds endemic metal fatigue throughout the ship, with virtually every part of the hull riddled with small cracks and fissures.

''Galactica's'' advanced age, the corners cut during construction and the abuse it has been put through since the war started contributed to its condition. Tyrol suggests treating the damaged parts of the ship with an [[Cylon organic resin|organic Cylon resin]] from the [[Rebel Baseship]], which would fill the cracks and bear the stresses, which Adama at first refuses. However, Adama finally appreciates ''Galactica's'' dire condition when he finds a tear in a bulkhead in his quarters, and orders Tyrol to carry out his plan to repair the ship ([[No Exit]]). Tyrol later says that the resin will buy more time but the ship's integrity has been fundamentally weakened and it might not survive more FTL jumps- it is impossible to say how long she can hold. ''Galactica'' is dying of old age and accumulated battle damage.

Later ''Galactica'' is damaged even further when [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] jumps away very close to the hull. The resulting spatial distortion of her Raptor's FTL jump causes what appears to be buckling and explosive decompression in several sections of the alligator head of ''Galactica'' on her port side ([[Someone to Watch Over Me]]). This causes a chain reaction of explosions, structural failures and power outages throughout many parts of the ship including CIC.

At first refusing to accept the reality of the ship's fate, Admiral Adama gives the emotionally painful order to stop the repairs and begin the process of abandoning ship, moving to the Rebel Baseship as the Fleet's new flagship ([[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]).

As the ship is slowly offloaded of parts and personnel, the Admiral relents one last time, stops the scrapping of the battlestar, and calls for volunteers for what will likely be a ''Galactica's'' final mission- to get the kidnapped Hera back from Cavil's Cylon colony ([[Daybreak, Part I]]).

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=== Endgame: [[Battle of The Colony|Battle of The Colony]] ===

[[Image:Battleofthecolony.jpg|thumb|right|200px|right|''Galactica'' takes massive hits seconds after jumping to [[The Colony]].]]
With a skeleton crew and a frail battlestar, Admiral Adama executes a daring mission to rescue Hera Agathon.

''Galactica'' jumps to the Colony at point-blank range. Besieged by the Colony's gun batteries at first, the ship is pummeled until the Hybrid Anders manages to take them and the Colony's Hybrids offline. As ''Galactica's'' Vipers engage incoming Raiders, her Raptors jump directly from their berth in the starboard [[flight pod]] (causing extensive damage to it) and maneuver to board the Colony.

Adama does the unbelievable: he rams ''Galactica's'' bow into the Colony, forming not only a second breech for his search teams to enter, but also forming an alternate escape route.

The rescue is successful thanks to Boomer's help (before Athena kills her), but ''Galactica'' is far from safe. The Raiders are still attacking the ship, destroying at least one of its remaining heavy gun batteries. The rescue teams are pursued back to ''Galactica'' by Cavil and his troops, determined to recapture Hera. Platoons of enemy Centurions swarm into the ship. Cavil personally leads an attack on CIC but is foiled.

Things appear to settle down after Cavil and Adama call a ceasefire. Cavil agrees to let ''Galactica'' leave with Hera in exchange for the information needed to bring back [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection technology]]. Part of the deal is that Cavil will leave humanity alone forever as well. The Raiders return to the Colony, while the Vipers return to ''Galactica''. Unfortunately, as the Final Five begin to download their knowledge into the Colony, they are exposed to each other's secrets; Galen Tyrol learns that Tory Foster murdered his wife [[Cally Tyrol]] ([[The Ties That Bind]]). Tyrol flies into a rage and kills Foster, severing the download. Chaos ensues and the ceasefire ends. The Raiders renew their attack on the ship. In CIC the Simon, Doral and Cavil there open fire but Apollo and Starbuck kill Doral and Simon while Cavil, realizing the hopelessness of the situation, kills himself.

Meanwhile [[Racetrack]]'s Raptor, drifting in space after all aboard were killed, is hit by a stray asteroid, causing the Raptor to launch its nuclear missiles into the Colony. The Colony's orbit immediately decays, pulling it into the black hole--threatening to take ''Galactica'' with it. But Kara Thrace jumps the ship, using coordinates she had extrapolated from [[The Music]] at the last second.

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=== Journey's End ===
[[File:Battlestar Over Africa.jpg|thumb|left|200px|right|A crippled ''Galactica'' seen in orbit over the Sahara Desert.]]
Unfortunently, the ship does not retract its flight pods as Kara Thrace executes the emergency jump; this, as well as the cumulative stresses of the previous battle and the past four years turn out to be the death knell for the old battlestar. ''Galactica'' experiences a series of fatal structural failures that send shockwaves rippling through the ship. While the Cylon organic resin applied earlier prevents the ship from snapping in two, the ship permanently loses its FTL ability as its structual integrity is compromised. However the ship's other systems are still online, including life support and propulsion. The fear of being stranded in space are short-lived as ''Galactica'' arrives in the vicinity of a lush, blue-green habitable world, already populated by tribes of primitive humans who naturally evolved there.
[[File:The fleet's end.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Galactica'' and her Fleet heading straight into the Sun.]]
The population of the Fleet, arriving later, agree to leave their technology behind and start new lives on the planet they decide to call "[[Earth (RDM)#A New Earth|Earth]]". The Rebel Cylons also decide to stay on the planet. With this decision, the Rebel Baseship is left to the Centurions, who leave to seek out their own destiny. Anders, still acting as ''Galactica's'' Hybrid, brings the battlestar's adventures to a close as he pilots ''Galactica'' and the last ships in the Fleet into the Sun, destroying ''Galactica'' and her Fleet.

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== Equipment ==
Apart from any technological upgrades that may have been made to her sister ships, ''Galactica'' was built to the general technical specifications of her [[Galactica type battlestar|class]].

===Starboard Flight Pod===

The starboard landing bay is eventually restored to usable condition, evidenced when Major Lee Adama lands his Raptor in the starboard pod. However, it is possible that this is due to a previously issued quarantine order and not because the flight pod is in regular use ([[A Measure of Salvation]]). The starboard hangar deck is designated an [[Dogsville|area of refuge]] for civilians displaced from lost ships (The Woman King).

During the last mission of Galactica, this pod held a number of Raptors ready for launch, these deployed out of the pod by FTL jump with the result that the shock waves fatally weakened the pods structure and the pod blew open to space. ([[Daybreak part 2]])

Strangely at least part of the museum setup survives all the way to Daybreak part 2, despite a hull breach and part of it being flattened by a heavy raider [[Scattered]]. It's unclear why the museum was kept intact and/or repaired, though it's possible it was put right during the year on New Caprica before the Cylons found the planet, since this is probably the only period when the crew would have any spare time to fix it. This serves as a minor plot hole that may never be resolved.

The museum would certainly have been destroyed in the jump shock wave from the Raptors leaving the pod during the [[Battle of the Colony]] or the decompression immediately after that point, any remains were sent into the sun with the rest of the ship.

===Nuclear Warheads===
[[Image:Galactica nukes.jpg|200px|thumb|''Galactica'''s nuclear arsenal.]]
''Galactica'' has five nuclear warheads as of "[[Bastille Day]]". Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] uses one warhead to destroy the Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] orbiting Kobol ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), and Dr. [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] cannibalizes one to use in his [[Cylon detector]]. He later gives the warhead to [[Gina Inviere]], who detonates it aboard ''[[Cloud Nine]]''.

It is unknown how many nuclear warheads ''Pegasus'' has when it encounters ''Galactica'', but the two ships pool their nuclear ordnance stockpiles after that. As of "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", ''Galactica'' possesses at least seven warheads ([[missile tube]]s 4 through 10).

:''The yield of these weapons is unknown. It is likely they are of a "dial a yield" design which is common in real-life nuclear weapons. Because the physics of nuclear weapon design is a measurable science, and based on the size of the weapons seen on screen, the yield of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons may lie between 5 and 150 kilotons.''<ref>This is extrapolated from the size of the weapon, compared to a modern day ([[w:W80|W80]])-class nuclear warhead used by the United States.</ref> ''However, the energetic properties of [[tylium]] are so formidable that if a warhead design were to properly exploit even only 50% of the refined ore's enthalpy, a mere kilogram of it would allow for a yield of nearly 60 kilotons, and a one megaton yield warhead would require over 16.7 kg of refined tylium. The fact that the ore can also be used for explosives such as improvised mines ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]) opens a vast field of opportunities for heavy high yield weapons, not necessarily restricted to nukes in the traditional sense. If indeed a "dial a yield" capacity were part of the stock warhead's design, then it's possible that the addition of a weapon grade level of refined tylium would allow for dramatically increasing said yield. Besides, the required high levels of pressure and heat could even be achieved with mere chemical implosion phases instead of atomic ones (ref. Fat Man bomb).''

===Vipers===
:''For information on the fighter squadrons stationed on ''Galactica'' see: [[Squadrons of Galactica]]''

[[image:1104Tube Mini.JPG|right|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark II]] in a launch tube.]]
[[image:Kg zoic-studio screen-caps-065.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark VII]] in the port [[Flight pod]].]]
Early in the flight of the Fleet, ''Galactica'' carried "40 Vipers and 21 pilots" ([[Act of Contrition]]) , of which at least six were Mark VIIs. Following the advent of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' receives supplies that aid in the repair and refurbishment of her initial fighter complement ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]). Some time later, new Mark VII Vipers are constructed at ''Pegasus''s' Viper construction facilities utilizing the raw ore mined in an asteroid belt ([[Scar]]), and several of those are assigned to ''Galactica''.

With ''Pegasus'' destroyed at the [[Battle of New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' absorbs the former's fighter squadrons and personnel, and her Viper complement now counts approximately 80 planes. <ref>Dialogue from "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]" and "[[Sine Qua Non]]" establishes that 40 Vipers have been transferred to a Cylon basestar, which comprises half the ship's air wing.</ref>

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===Raptors===
[[image:Raptor port.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A [[Raptor]].]]
The number of [[Raptor|Raptors]] available to ''Galactica'' is portrayed inconsistently. The assumption prior to joining up with ''Pegasus'' is that the battlestar has at least five Raptors, having left [[Ragnar Anchorage]] with at least eight. After the Battle of New Caprica, ''Galactica'' takes on ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Raptors. The subsequent number of available craft is unknown, but is at least 30, considering how many Raptors are deployed to rescue to the resistance fighters on Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]") and still have enough to move people from ship to ship through out the Fleet.

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===Other Craft===
[[image:Blackbird FotP.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The [[Blackbird]], a special stealth ship, was construted on ''Galactica''.]]
[[image:AtmoShutt.jpg|right|thumb|200px|One of ''Galactica'''s [[Atmospheric shuttle| shuttle]] craft.]]
*''Galactica'' possesses two [[Heavy Raider]]s. One is hit by ''Galactica''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defensive fire and crashes into the starboard flight pod with unknown, but probably extensive, damage ([[TRS]]: "[[Scattered]]"). The other returns in operational status from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part I]]"). One of these Heavy Raiders is relieved of its FTL navigation system for use on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]").
* A Raider from the first Cylon War may be on board ''Galactica'' after one follows Starbuck into one of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> landing bays and is shot down ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor]]"). A Cylon War era Raider, or at least a replica of one, was present in the [[Galactica Museum]], but has not been mentioned since.
*A second [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]] comes into ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> possession after [[Daniel Novacek]]'s "escape" from a basestar, replacing the one retrieved by [[Kara Thrace]] and lost during the quest for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]").
*An experimental stealth fighter, the [[Blackbird]], is constructed using spare parts ([[TRS]]: "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]") and used in a critically successful reconnaissance mission to explore the nature of what comes to be known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The Blackbird is destroyed after completing its [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship|first combat mission]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").
*''Galactica'' possesses [[fuel tanker]]s used to supply fuel to Vipers and Raptors in flight without the need to dock with the ship. These may be dedicated craft or specially fitted shuttles or Raptors ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]").

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== Crew ==
:''For information on Senior Staff, see : [[Senior Staff of Galactica]]''
:''For a list of pilots, see: [[List of Pilots]]''
:''For a list of deckhands, see: [[List of deckhands]]''
:''For a list of marines, see: [[Colonial Marine Corps]]''

Before the attack, ''Galactica'' has approximately 2,900 crewmen. By the time of the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', attrition has reduced this number to about 2,660. (c.f. [[Crew tally]])
It is unknown whether the Colonial Marines account for members or not.
*Between "[[Act of Contrition]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> offensive capability is also greatly hampered by the number of [[List of Pilots|qualified pilots]] available, and their lack of flight simulators with which to train more. Since ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> reunion with ''Pegasus'', this has ceased to be an issue ([[TRS]]: "[[Scar]]").
== Blue prints of Galactica ==

[http://media.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/File:BSG_Blue_prints.png]

==Related Imagery==
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:BSG Ortho Top & Bottom.jpg|''Galactica'' - [[Zoic]] rendering    
Image:BSG Ortho Front, Back & Starboard.jpg|''Galactica'' - Zoic rendering    
Image:Galactica's top side.jpg|''Galactica'''s top side.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-049.jpg|''Galactica'''s front - Zoic
Image:Battlestar stern.jpg|''Galactica'''s stern.
Image:Galactica retraction.jpg|Flight pod retraction area.
Image:Galactica's bottom-023b.jpg|''Galactica'''s bottom.
Image:Bsg damaged.jpg|''Galactica'' with battle damage. (High Res)
Image:Cylon War-era Galactica, "Razor" Flashback 1.jpg|''Galactica'' in the [[Razor]] Flashbacks.
Image:Galactica - flight pods retracted.jpg|''Galactica'' with flight pods retracted.
Image:BSG landing alcove.jpg|''Galactica'' landing alcove.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-037.jpg|A cluster of rail guns.
Image:Battered Battlestar.jpg|Bow view of ''Galactica''.
Image:GalPeg.png|''Galactica'' overlooking the [[Pegasus]].
Image:Pointdefence2 101 1080i.jpg|''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> point defense batteries in action    
Image:Galactica fights off missile salvos.jpg|''Galactica'' establishes a defense perimeter.
Image:Raptor scramble.jpg|''Galactica'' scrambles [[Viper]]s and [[Raptor]]s.
Image:Colony Breech.jpg|''Galactica'' rams herself into [[The Colony]].
Image:Img0059.jpg|''Galactica'''s main batteries.
Image:Galactia's end.jpg|''Galactica'' and the Fleet depart for the sun, with the African continent in the background.
Image:CIC Overview 1.jpg|''Galactica'''s CIC.
Image:Cicweaponscontrol1.jpg|Weapons control.
Image:Cictacticalstation1.jpg|Tactical station.
Image:Cic commstation.jpg|Communications.
Image:The Mess.jpg|The Officers' mess hall.
Image:Cicdmgcontrol.jpg|Damage control.
Image:Ftl2.jpg|FTL Drive.
Image:Bsg-1-10.jpg|The "War Room".
Image:Porthangardeck.jpg|The port hangar bay on ''Galactica''.
Image:DutyLocker.jpg|Crew quarters.
Image:GalacticaInterior Sickbay1.jpg|Sickbay
Image:Galactica Museum, "Daybreak, Part II".jpg| The ''Galactica'' museum in the starboard flight pod.
Image:Galactica corridor.jpg|The "A-shaped" corridors.
Image:BSG Blue prints.png|Schematics from the [[Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game|roleplaying game]].
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Galactica crew facilities (RDM)|Galactica crew facilities]]
*[[:Category:Galactica Areas (RDM)|Galactica Areas]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Ships}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Battlestars]]
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[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
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{{featured article}}

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Galactica (TRS)

2011-02-18T01:21:32Z

Mister Oragahn: /* Nuclear Warheads */

:''This article discusses the [[Re-imagined Series]] battlestar. For other meanings of '''''Galactica''''', see [[Galactica (disambiguation)]].''
{{Ship Data
| image= Galactica Overview.jpg
| title= Galactica (BS 75)
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Approximately 3,500
| length= {{Meters2Feet|1438.64}}<ref>These dimensions (in meters) were derived from the CG model and posted by [[Lee Stringer]] on the StarshipBuilder.com forums, which are no longer available. They are the most precise so far. The width with pods extended and the height are quoted here verbatim; the length was calculated by adding the posted dimension for the front of the ship (766.04m) to the posted dimension for the back (672.6m). The full set as provided by Lee Stringer is as follows: "Width (Pods out) 536.84m (Pods In) 352.34m
Engines Max 359.38m Head Max 334.58m
Length: Front (Main body) 730.65m (Antenee) 766.04m Back 672.6m
(using the center of the two arms as the middle)
Height (Armor/Mainbody) 181.825m (Details) 183.315m".</ref>
| width= {{Meters2Feet|536.84}}<ref name="podtopod">This is from flight pod to flight pod while they are extended.</ref>
| height= {{Meters2Feet|183.315}}
| otherdi= The dimensions above are from [[Lee Stringer]], who built the ''Galactica'' CG model. VFX Sequence Designer [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]] gave the length as {{Feet2Meters|4740}}.<ref>[http://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/how-big-was-the-colony/#comment-2193 Blog comment] by [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]].</ref> The reason for this twenty-foot discrepancy is unknown.
| co= Admiral [[William Adama]]
| xo= Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
| role= Carrier / battleship hybrid
| weapons= As many as 514 dual point-defense [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], 24 primary dual Kinetic Energy Weapons, at least 12 [[missile tubes]] capable of firing conventional and nuclear missiles, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Abandoned, flown into the Sun with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]
| img= Y
}}
'''''Galactica'' (BS 75)''' is a [[Galactica type battlestar|veteran battlestar]] and the last of her kind still in service with the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] at the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|destruction of the Twelve Colonies]]. Built during the early days of the [[Cylon War]], she remains the only military vessel without integrated [[Computers|computer networks]]. Without networked computers, ''Galactica'' never upgrades to the new [[Command Navigation Program|integrated defense system software]] developed by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and his [[Number Six|team]]. Because of this and other factors, she becomes one of only two known battlestars (the other being ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'') to survive the renewed Cylon attack on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]. At the time of this attack, she was part of the 75th [[Battlestar Group]] (BSG-75).

== History ==
=== The First Cylon War ===
[[Image:Mini gal top.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A dorsal view of ''Galactica''. The starboard [[flight pod]] is covered by a window to form the [[Galactica Museum|museum area]].]]
''Galactica'' was one of the first twelve battlestars to be constructed by the Colonials, each representing one of the twelve colonies; ''Galactica'' represented [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]. As such, she is some 50 years old. While solidly built, various factors during ''Galactica's'' construction led to the shipyard "cutting corners" when she was originally built, with various components not completed to spec ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]"). Following the outbreak of Cylon hostilities several more battlestars were built. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> first commander was named [[Nash]].

The original battlestars were all designed with non-integrated computer systems to avoid the Cylons' demonstrated ability to override or subvert networked command and control systems early in the war ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]"). Rather than technological sophistication, the battlestar depended on its sheer bulk and defensive / offensive capabilities to ward off any threats to itself or the Colonies.

''Galactica'' took part in [[Operation Raptor Talon]] which then Lieutenant [[William Adama]] served on. After crash-landing on the ice planet the operation took place over and witnessing the experiments on humans, Adama contacted ''Galactica'' to take out the [[Guardian basestar]] which had just launched, but was informed by ''Galactica'', which had dispatched a [[SAR]] [[Raptor]] for him, of the Armistice. Adama wouldn't learn the truth of what he'd seen until the [[Battle of the Guardian basestar]] over forty years later. After the [[Final Five|rather mysterious]] Cylon [[Armistice Station|armistice]], and their withdrawal from Colonial space, ''Galactica'' and her sister ships served the Twelve Colonies in a variety of roles. While her surviving sister ships were scrapped or upgraded to match the systems capabilities of newer Colonial vessels, ''Galactica'' continued in service without her systems being fully networked or integrated, making her unique among Colonial military vessels. '' Galactica'' was relegated to intra-system duties for at least 20 years prior to her decommissioning.<ref>This is inferred by [[Saul Tigh]] in his reaction to Commander Adama's decision for a [[FTL]] jump ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").</ref>

=== Decommissioning ===
[[Image:Ragnarbattle3.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' provides cover for civilian ships during the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]].]]
With her active career drawing to a close, a decision was taken to retire ''Galactica'' and decommission her from service. Colonial Fleet chose not to scrap her, but to turn her into a combination of living museum to the original Cylon War and an educational center, with her conversion being overseen by her final commander, [[William Adama]].

At the time of her formal decommissioning ceremony, ''Galactica'' is stripped of all but one of her operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] Mark VII squadrons, her munitions are destroyed, and her starboard landing pod is converted into a pressurized [[Galactica Museum|museum]] which houses (among other things) a full squadron of [[Viper Mark II|Mk. II Vipers]] as well as a Viper model that appears [[Viper (TOS)|older than the Mark II]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").

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=== Return of the Cylons ===
[[Image:Mini side fleet.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].]]
With the renewed and unexpected Cylon hostilities, ''Galactica'' is quickly brought back to combat condition and sorties several Mark IIs retrieved from her museum, engaging in her first battle with the Cylons in over 40 years (all but one last Mark VII squadron were sent to Caprica for reassignment). She survives a direct hit by a tactical nuclear missile, and later [[FTL|jumps]] successfully to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] to replenish her empty ammunition stores at this strategic depot.

''Galactica'' emerges from the anchorage and engages one [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] with her gun batteries, providing cover for [[The Fleet (RDM)|a fleet of 75 civilian ships]] harboring survivors of the Twelve Colonies. Once the entire civilian fleet successfully jumps away, and as a second basestar approaches to join the battle, ''Galactica'' recovers her remaining Vipers and jumps to the rendezvous point beyond the [[Red Line]], never to return to Colonial space ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries]]").

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=== Leading a Ragtag Fleet ===
[[Image:Ep212battle.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' and [[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]] work together during the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]].]]
Since the exodus of the Colonials from their overrun homeworlds, ''Galactica'' becomes both protector and provider for the Fleet. She provides covering fire for the Fleet during Cylon attacks no fewer than 240 times ([[TRS]]: "[[33]]": "[[Act of Contrition]]"). The battlestar provides much of the Fleet with recycled water ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]") and she is the primary source of medical care, where groups of civilians are periodically brought aboard for check-ups and treatment ([[TRS]]: "[[Litmus]]"). ''Galactica'' also undertakes internal policing duties within the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]"; "[[Bastille Day]]").

''Galactica'' successfully goes on the offensive against the Cylons, capturing a [[tylium]] fuel mining and processing plant in the process ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]").

The [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''Pegasus'', commanded by Admiral [[Helena Cain|Cain]], joins ''Galactica'' approximately 6 months into their exile (See the series [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]] for special information about this milestone). The two battlestars destroy two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] as well as a critical Cylon support ship known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. After Admiral Cain's death, President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] promotes William Adama to Admiral, restoring him to overall Fleet command, but now with two battlestars at his disposal ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").

===New Caprica===
[[Image:Leaving New Caprica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'', and the orbiting fleet prior to leaving [[New Caprica]].]]
Following the founding of [[New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' is assigned to the orbital defense force that protects the planet. During this time the majority of her crew are allowed to the surface in an effort to populate the planet and restore the human race, a majority of whom are seemingly convinced that the Cylons will never find New Caprica. The diminished crew inevitably results in standard maintenance becoming overlooked or ignored; basic military responses, such as the launching of alert fighters and routine training exercises become difficult to execute. One year following the founding of New Caprica, a fleet of Cylon ships jump into orbit of the planet. Severely limited in their abilities, Admiral Adama orders the defense fleet to jump away from New Caprica along with a handful of civilian ships still in orbit of the colony. They vow to eventually return to New Caprica and liberate it from the Cylon invaders ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]").

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===[[Battle of New Caprica]]===
[[Image:BONC.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' takes a pounding during the [[Battle of New Caprica]].]]
Four months after their escape, ''Galactica'''s staff is still in the process of developing a rescue strategy with 16 training exercises having been completed and a 17th underway when an accident causes its early cessation ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]"). This forces both a change in strategy and the reformulation of a rescue plan to deal with personnel who have not seen conflict in 16 months. While ''Galactica'' fights to liberate the Colonials on-planet, ''Pegasus'' is assigned to protect the remaining civilian Fleet and continue its search for [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Precipice]]"; "[[Exodus, Part I]]").

After coordinating with the [[New Caprica Resistance]], ''Galactica'' leaves ''Pegasus'' to guard the space-bound members of humanity while it uses a series of drones to misdirect the bulk of the Cylon Raiders and avoid immediate detection by baseships, thus allowing the civilians on the planet to escape to their ships and flee New Caprica.

''Galactica'' then jumps into low orbit, plummeting from an altitude of 100,000 feet. As the ship falls, Admiral Adama orders the launch of all remaining Vipers. ''Galactica'' then jumps back into orbit. In the subsequent battle with the orbiting basestars, ''Galactica'' is overtaxed, out-gunned, and faces destruction when ''Pegasus'' unexpectedly arrives. ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> salvos draw the attention of the basestars away from ''Galactica'', buying ''Galactica'' time to bring her [[FTL|FTL drives]] back on-line and escape, but at the cost of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> destruction ([[TRS]]: "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

''Galactica'' bears the scars of the battle with significant scorching and dents to the hull. Nonetheless, the battlestar remains combat ready, holding off a superior Cylon force for a short duration in the [[Battle of NCD2539]] ([[TRS]]: "[[A Measure of Salvation]]"), and threatening to use its nuclear arsenal twice after New Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"). Given the loss of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' now boasts a larger crew, Viper and Raptor complement, to the point where there are more pilots than there are ships to fly ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"), although the training of new recruits is still ongoing ([[TRS]]: "[[Dirty Hands]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"; "[[He That Believeth in Me]]"). Further, there are various redundancies between the two crews that are appropriately dealt with (e.g. [[Lee Adama]] in a [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 3 (RDM)|deleted scene]] from "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

Colonel Tigh comments that ''Galactica'' took so much damage in this battle that it would "take six weeks in dry dock just to bang out the dents" ([[TRS]]: "[[A Day in the Life]]"). This indicates that the damage is extensive enough to require a significant amount time (probably months) for full repair, and would be unlikely to survive a massive battle again.

=== Resuming the Search for Earth ===
''Galactica'' takes aboard a significant quantity of civilians following the exodus from New Caprica, as several civilian ships are lost during the escape from the failed colony. Cramped conditions increase as crew and civilians struggle to adapt to life back aboard a ship. The civilians reside on the refurbished starboard hangar deck as a refugee camp nicknamed "[[Camp Oil Slick]]" and later "Dogsville" ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"; "[[The Woman King]]").

During a [[The Passage|food shortage crisis]] caused by contamination of the Fleet's food processing systems, ''Galactica'' (along with her Raptors acting as pilot ships) guides the civilian Fleet through an area of intense heat, light and radiation caused by a [[Passage (star cluster)|dense star cluster]] to reach edible resources on the [[algae planet]]. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> heavy armor and radiation shielding protect her from the intense effects of the cluster, but the ship still suffers hull damage and decompressions.

The ship confronts a Cylon fleet and barely escapes a nova during [[Eye of Jupiter|the events over the algae planet]], jumping out at the last moment after recovering its ground teams and additional data on a way-point to Earth known to the Colonials as the [[Ionian nebula]] ("[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", "[[Rapture]]"). Repairs continue on the journey to the Ionian nebula. Damage to one particular airlock nearly causes the deaths of Galen and Cally Tyrol during what they expected to be a quick repair of a hull micro-fracture ([[A Day in the Life]]).
[[Image:BOTIM.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Galactica'' is outnumbered during the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula]].]]
When the Fleet reaches the nebula, four Cylon baseships are detected following an unexplained power outage. With the entire Fleet crippled and unable to escape, ''Galactica'' scrambles her Vipers and prepares for a lopsided fight, outnumbered and outgunned ([[Crossroads, Part II]]). During the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula|following battle]], ''Galactica'' manages to hold off the main attack of the massive Cylon attack force. Despite the damage suffered in previous engagements, the old warship wields her main guns and point defense batteries effectively again in defense of the Fleet. During the battle ''Galactica'' takes many hits while covering the Fleet although without crippling damage. Despite having the advantage, and managing to destroy or damage several civilian ships, the Cylons retreat in the middle of the battle, after detecting one of the [[Final Five]] among the Colonials ([[He That Believeth in Me]]).

''Galactica'' is once forced to prepare for a battle against the rebel [[Basestar (RDM)|Cylon basestar]], but the ''[[Demetrius]]'' arrives to defuse the situation. In the wake of the basestar disappearing from the Fleet ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]), [[Saul Tigh]] assumes command of ''Galactica'', jumping along with the Fleet ([[Sine Qua Non]]).

After [[Kara Thrace]] picks up a strange signal in [[Starbuck's Viper|her Viper]], the Colonials have a direct bearing towards Earth. Shortly later, after several years of searching, ''Galactica'' and her Fleet finally make the last jump to Earth ([[Revelations]]).

=== Post-Earth ===

After discovering [[Earth]] is a nuclear wasteland, discipline and morale on ''Galactica'' fall dramatically and the overall cleanliness of the ship suffers, e.g. outside [[CIC]], the words "Frak Earth" are spray-painted on the walls ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]). When former deck chief [[Galen Tyrol]] disables the FTL drive, foiling the mutineers' escape with the ship, he discovers multiple tears in the chamber's walls, a sign that the aging battlestar's structural integrity is faltering ([[Blood on the Scales]]).
[[Image:Damaged Galactica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A heavily damaged ''Galactica''.]]
A structural survey of the ship finds several torn supports and weakened areas in the hull, and a more in-depth examination finds endemic metal fatigue throughout the ship, with virtually every part of the hull riddled with small cracks and fissures.

''Galactica's'' advanced age, the corners cut during construction and the abuse it has been put through since the war started contributed to its condition. Tyrol suggests treating the damaged parts of the ship with an [[Cylon organic resin|organic Cylon resin]] from the [[Rebel Baseship]], which would fill the cracks and bear the stresses, which Adama at first refuses. However, Adama finally appreciates ''Galactica's'' dire condition when he finds a tear in a bulkhead in his quarters, and orders Tyrol to carry out his plan to repair the ship ([[No Exit]]). Tyrol later says that the resin will buy more time but the ship's integrity has been fundamentally weakened and it might not survive more FTL jumps- it is impossible to say how long she can hold. ''Galactica'' is dying of old age and accumulated battle damage.

Later ''Galactica'' is damaged even further when [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] jumps away very close to the hull. The resulting spatial distortion of her Raptor's FTL jump causes what appears to be buckling and explosive decompression in several sections of the alligator head of ''Galactica'' on her port side ([[Someone to Watch Over Me]]). This causes a chain reaction of explosions, structural failures and power outages throughout many parts of the ship including CIC.

At first refusing to accept the reality of the ship's fate, Admiral Adama gives the emotionally painful order to stop the repairs and begin the process of abandoning ship, moving to the Rebel Baseship as the Fleet's new flagship ([[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]).

As the ship is slowly offloaded of parts and personnel, the Admiral relents one last time, stops the scrapping of the battlestar, and calls for volunteers for what will likely be a ''Galactica's'' final mission- to get the kidnapped Hera back from Cavil's Cylon colony ([[Daybreak, Part I]]).

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=== Endgame: [[Battle of The Colony|Battle of The Colony]] ===

[[Image:Battleofthecolony.jpg|thumb|right|200px|right|''Galactica'' takes massive hits seconds after jumping to [[The Colony]].]]
With a skeleton crew and a frail battlestar, Admiral Adama executes a daring mission to rescue Hera Agathon.

''Galactica'' jumps to the Colony at point-blank range. Besieged by the Colony's gun batteries at first, the ship is pummeled until the Hybrid Anders manages to take them and the Colony's Hybrids offline. As ''Galactica's'' Vipers engage incoming Raiders, her Raptors jump directly from their berth in the starboard [[flight pod]] (causing extensive damage to it) and maneuver to board the Colony.

Adama does the unbelievable: he rams ''Galactica's'' bow into the Colony, forming not only a second breech for his search teams to enter, but also forming an alternate escape route.

The rescue is successful thanks to Boomer's help (before Athena kills her), but ''Galactica'' is far from safe. The Raiders are still attacking the ship, destroying at least one of its remaining heavy gun batteries. The rescue teams are pursued back to ''Galactica'' by Cavil and his troops, determined to recapture Hera. Platoons of enemy Centurions swarm into the ship. Cavil personally leads an attack on CIC but is foiled.

Things appear to settle down after Cavil and Adama call a ceasefire. Cavil agrees to let ''Galactica'' leave with Hera in exchange for the information needed to bring back [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection technology]]. Part of the deal is that Cavil will leave humanity alone forever as well. The Raiders return to the Colony, while the Vipers return to ''Galactica''. Unfortunately, as the Final Five begin to download their knowledge into the Colony, they are exposed to each other's secrets; Galen Tyrol learns that Tory Foster murdered his wife [[Cally Tyrol]] ([[The Ties That Bind]]). Tyrol flies into a rage and kills Foster, severing the download. Chaos ensues and the ceasefire ends. The Raiders renew their attack on the ship. In CIC the Simon, Doral and Cavil there open fire but Apollo and Starbuck kill Doral and Simon while Cavil, realizing the hopelessness of the situation, kills himself.

Meanwhile [[Racetrack]]'s Raptor, drifting in space after all aboard were killed, is hit by a stray asteroid, causing the Raptor to launch its nuclear missiles into the Colony. The Colony's orbit immediately decays, pulling it into the black hole--threatening to take ''Galactica'' with it. But Kara Thrace jumps the ship, using coordinates she had extrapolated from [[The Music]] at the last second.

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=== Journey's End ===
[[File:Battlestar Over Africa.jpg|thumb|left|200px|right|A crippled ''Galactica'' seen in orbit over the Sahara Desert.]]
Unfortunently, the ship does not retract its flight pods as Kara Thrace executes the emergency jump; this, as well as the cumulative stresses of the previous battle and the past four years turn out to be the death knell for the old battlestar. ''Galactica'' experiences a series of fatal structural failures that send shockwaves rippling through the ship. While the Cylon organic resin applied earlier prevents the ship from snapping in two, the ship permanently loses its FTL ability as its structual integrity is compromised. However the ship's other systems are still online, including life support and propulsion. The fear of being stranded in space are short-lived as ''Galactica'' arrives in the vicinity of a lush, blue-green habitable world, already populated by tribes of primitive humans who naturally evolved there.
[[File:The fleet's end.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Galactica'' and her Fleet heading straight into the Sun.]]
The population of the Fleet, arriving later, agree to leave their technology behind and start new lives on the planet they decide to call "[[Earth (RDM)#A New Earth|Earth]]". The Rebel Cylons also decide to stay on the planet. With this decision, the Rebel Baseship is left to the Centurions, who leave to seek out their own destiny. Anders, still acting as ''Galactica's'' Hybrid, brings the battlestar's adventures to a close as he pilots ''Galactica'' and the last ships in the Fleet into the Sun, destroying ''Galactica'' and her Fleet.

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== Equipment ==
Apart from any technological upgrades that may have been made to her sister ships, ''Galactica'' was built to the general technical specifications of her [[Galactica type battlestar|class]].

===Starboard Flight Pod===

The starboard landing bay is eventually restored to usable condition, evidenced when Major Lee Adama lands his Raptor in the starboard pod. However, it is possible that this is due to a previously issued quarantine order and not because the flight pod is in regular use ([[A Measure of Salvation]]). The starboard hangar deck is designated an [[Dogsville|area of refuge]] for civilians displaced from lost ships (The Woman King).

During the last mission of Galactica, this pod held a number of Raptors ready for launch, these deployed out of the pod by FTL jump with the result that the shock waves fatally weakened the pods structure and the pod blew open to space. ([[Daybreak part 2]])

Strangely at least part of the museum setup survives all the way to Daybreak part 2, despite a hull breach and part of it being flattened by a heavy raider [[Scattered]]. It's unclear why the museum was kept intact and/or repaired, though it's possible it was put right during the year on New Caprica before the Cylons found the planet, since this is probably the only period when the crew would have any spare time to fix it. This serves as a minor plot hole that may never be resolved.

The museum would certainly have been destroyed in the jump shock wave from the Raptors leaving the pod during the [[Battle of the Colony]] or the decompression immediately after that point, any remains were sent into the sun with the rest of the ship.

===Nuclear Warheads===
[[Image:Galactica nukes.jpg|200px|thumb|''Galactica'''s nuclear arsenal.]]
''Galactica'' has five nuclear warheads as of "[[Bastille Day]]". Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] uses one warhead to destroy the Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] orbiting Kobol ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), and Dr. [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] cannibalizes one to use in his [[Cylon detector]]. He later gives the warhead to [[Gina Inviere]], who detonates it aboard ''[[Cloud Nine]]''.

It is unknown how many nuclear warheads ''Pegasus'' has when it encounters ''Galactica'', but the two ships pool their nuclear ordnance stockpiles after that. As of "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", ''Galactica'' possesses at least seven warheads ([[missile tube]]s 4 through 10).

:''The yield of these weapons is unknown. It is likely they are of a "dial a yield" design which is common in real-life nuclear weapons. Because the physics of nuclear weapon design is a measurable science, and based on the size of the weapons seen on screen, the yield of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons may lie between 5 and 150 kilotons.''<ref>This is extrapolated from the size of the weapon, compared to a modern day ([[w:W80|W80]])-class nuclear warhead used by the United States.</ref> ''However, the energetic properties of [[tylium]] are so formidable that if a warhead design were to properly exploit even only 50% of the refined ore's enthalpy, a mere kilogram of it would allow for a yield of nearly 60 kilotons, and a one megaton yield warhead would require over 16.7 kg of refined tylium. The fact that the ore can also be used for explosives such as improvised mines ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]) opens a vast field of opportunities for heavy high yield weapons, not necessarily restricted to nukes in the traditional sense. If indeed a "dial a yield" capacity were part of the stock warhead's design, then it's possible that the addition of a weapon grade level of refined tylium would allow for dramatically increasing said yield.''

===Vipers===
:''For information on the fighter squadrons stationed on ''Galactica'' see: [[Squadrons of Galactica]]''

[[image:1104Tube Mini.JPG|right|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark II]] in a launch tube.]]
[[image:Kg zoic-studio screen-caps-065.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark VII]] in the port [[Flight pod]].]]
Early in the flight of the Fleet, ''Galactica'' carried "40 Vipers and 21 pilots" ([[Act of Contrition]]) , of which at least six were Mark VIIs. Following the advent of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' receives supplies that aid in the repair and refurbishment of her initial fighter complement ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]). Some time later, new Mark VII Vipers are constructed at ''Pegasus''s' Viper construction facilities utilizing the raw ore mined in an asteroid belt ([[Scar]]), and several of those are assigned to ''Galactica''.

With ''Pegasus'' destroyed at the [[Battle of New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' absorbs the former's fighter squadrons and personnel, and her Viper complement now counts approximately 80 planes. <ref>Dialogue from "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]" and "[[Sine Qua Non]]" establishes that 40 Vipers have been transferred to a Cylon basestar, which comprises half the ship's air wing.</ref>

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===Raptors===
[[image:Raptor port.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A [[Raptor]].]]
The number of [[Raptor|Raptors]] available to ''Galactica'' is portrayed inconsistently. The assumption prior to joining up with ''Pegasus'' is that the battlestar has at least five Raptors, having left [[Ragnar Anchorage]] with at least eight. After the Battle of New Caprica, ''Galactica'' takes on ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Raptors. The subsequent number of available craft is unknown, but is at least 30, considering how many Raptors are deployed to rescue to the resistance fighters on Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]") and still have enough to move people from ship to ship through out the Fleet.

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===Other Craft===
[[image:Blackbird FotP.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The [[Blackbird]], a special stealth ship, was construted on ''Galactica''.]]
[[image:AtmoShutt.jpg|right|thumb|200px|One of ''Galactica'''s [[Atmospheric shuttle| shuttle]] craft.]]
*''Galactica'' possesses two [[Heavy Raider]]s. One is hit by ''Galactica''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defensive fire and crashes into the starboard flight pod with unknown, but probably extensive, damage ([[TRS]]: "[[Scattered]]"). The other returns in operational status from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part I]]"). One of these Heavy Raiders is relieved of its FTL navigation system for use on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]").
* A Raider from the first Cylon War may be on board ''Galactica'' after one follows Starbuck into one of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> landing bays and is shot down ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor]]"). A Cylon War era Raider, or at least a replica of one, was present in the [[Galactica Museum]], but has not been mentioned since.
*A second [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]] comes into ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> possession after [[Daniel Novacek]]'s "escape" from a basestar, replacing the one retrieved by [[Kara Thrace]] and lost during the quest for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]").
*An experimental stealth fighter, the [[Blackbird]], is constructed using spare parts ([[TRS]]: "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]") and used in a critically successful reconnaissance mission to explore the nature of what comes to be known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The Blackbird is destroyed after completing its [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship|first combat mission]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").
*''Galactica'' possesses [[fuel tanker]]s used to supply fuel to Vipers and Raptors in flight without the need to dock with the ship. These may be dedicated craft or specially fitted shuttles or Raptors ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]").

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== Crew ==
:''For information on Senior Staff, see : [[Senior Staff of Galactica]]''
:''For a list of pilots, see: [[List of Pilots]]''
:''For a list of deckhands, see: [[List of deckhands]]''
:''For a list of marines, see: [[Colonial Marine Corps]]''

Before the attack, ''Galactica'' has approximately 2,900 crewmen. By the time of the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', attrition has reduced this number to about 2,660. (c.f. [[Crew tally]])
It is unknown whether the Colonial Marines account for members or not.
*Between "[[Act of Contrition]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> offensive capability is also greatly hampered by the number of [[List of Pilots|qualified pilots]] available, and their lack of flight simulators with which to train more. Since ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> reunion with ''Pegasus'', this has ceased to be an issue ([[TRS]]: "[[Scar]]").
== Blue prints of Galactica ==

[http://media.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/File:BSG_Blue_prints.png]

==Related Imagery==
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:BSG Ortho Top & Bottom.jpg|''Galactica'' - [[Zoic]] rendering    
Image:BSG Ortho Front, Back & Starboard.jpg|''Galactica'' - Zoic rendering    
Image:Galactica's top side.jpg|''Galactica'''s top side.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-049.jpg|''Galactica'''s front - Zoic
Image:Battlestar stern.jpg|''Galactica'''s stern.
Image:Galactica retraction.jpg|Flight pod retraction area.
Image:Galactica's bottom-023b.jpg|''Galactica'''s bottom.
Image:Bsg damaged.jpg|''Galactica'' with battle damage. (High Res)
Image:Cylon War-era Galactica, "Razor" Flashback 1.jpg|''Galactica'' in the [[Razor]] Flashbacks.
Image:Galactica - flight pods retracted.jpg|''Galactica'' with flight pods retracted.
Image:BSG landing alcove.jpg|''Galactica'' landing alcove.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-037.jpg|A cluster of rail guns.
Image:Battered Battlestar.jpg|Bow view of ''Galactica''.
Image:GalPeg.png|''Galactica'' overlooking the [[Pegasus]].
Image:Pointdefence2 101 1080i.jpg|''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> point defense batteries in action    
Image:Galactica fights off missile salvos.jpg|''Galactica'' establishes a defense perimeter.
Image:Raptor scramble.jpg|''Galactica'' scrambles [[Viper]]s and [[Raptor]]s.
Image:Colony Breech.jpg|''Galactica'' rams herself into [[The Colony]].
Image:Img0059.jpg|''Galactica'''s main batteries.
Image:Galactia's end.jpg|''Galactica'' and the Fleet depart for the sun, with the African continent in the background.
Image:CIC Overview 1.jpg|''Galactica'''s CIC.
Image:Cicweaponscontrol1.jpg|Weapons control.
Image:Cictacticalstation1.jpg|Tactical station.
Image:Cic commstation.jpg|Communications.
Image:The Mess.jpg|The Officers' mess hall.
Image:Cicdmgcontrol.jpg|Damage control.
Image:Ftl2.jpg|FTL Drive.
Image:Bsg-1-10.jpg|The "War Room".
Image:Porthangardeck.jpg|The port hangar bay on ''Galactica''.
Image:DutyLocker.jpg|Crew quarters.
Image:GalacticaInterior Sickbay1.jpg|Sickbay
Image:Galactica Museum, "Daybreak, Part II".jpg| The ''Galactica'' museum in the starboard flight pod.
Image:Galactica corridor.jpg|The "A-shaped" corridors.
Image:BSG Blue prints.png|Schematics from the [[Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game|roleplaying game]].
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Galactica crew facilities (RDM)|Galactica crew facilities]]
*[[:Category:Galactica Areas (RDM)|Galactica Areas]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Ships}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Battlestars]]
[[Category:Battlestars (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:Colonial Military (RDM)]]
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{{featured article}}

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Galactica (TRS)

2011-02-18T01:17:40Z

Mister Oragahn:

:''This article discusses the [[Re-imagined Series]] battlestar. For other meanings of '''''Galactica''''', see [[Galactica (disambiguation)]].''
{{Ship Data
| image= Galactica Overview.jpg
| title= Galactica (BS 75)
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Approximately 3,500
| length= {{Meters2Feet|1438.64}}<ref>These dimensions (in meters) were derived from the CG model and posted by [[Lee Stringer]] on the StarshipBuilder.com forums, which are no longer available. They are the most precise so far. The width with pods extended and the height are quoted here verbatim; the length was calculated by adding the posted dimension for the front of the ship (766.04m) to the posted dimension for the back (672.6m). The full set as provided by Lee Stringer is as follows: "Width (Pods out) 536.84m (Pods In) 352.34m
Engines Max 359.38m Head Max 334.58m
Length: Front (Main body) 730.65m (Antenee) 766.04m Back 672.6m
(using the center of the two arms as the middle)
Height (Armor/Mainbody) 181.825m (Details) 183.315m".</ref>
| width= {{Meters2Feet|536.84}}<ref name="podtopod">This is from flight pod to flight pod while they are extended.</ref>
| height= {{Meters2Feet|183.315}}
| otherdi= The dimensions above are from [[Lee Stringer]], who built the ''Galactica'' CG model. VFX Sequence Designer [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]] gave the length as {{Feet2Meters|4740}}.<ref>[http://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/how-big-was-the-colony/#comment-2193 Blog comment] by [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]].</ref> The reason for this twenty-foot discrepancy is unknown.
| co= Admiral [[William Adama]]
| xo= Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
| role= Carrier / battleship hybrid
| weapons= As many as 514 dual point-defense [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], 24 primary dual Kinetic Energy Weapons, at least 12 [[missile tubes]] capable of firing conventional and nuclear missiles, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Abandoned, flown into the Sun with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]
| img= Y
}}
'''''Galactica'' (BS 75)''' is a [[Galactica type battlestar|veteran battlestar]] and the last of her kind still in service with the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] at the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|destruction of the Twelve Colonies]]. Built during the early days of the [[Cylon War]], she remains the only military vessel without integrated [[Computers|computer networks]]. Without networked computers, ''Galactica'' never upgrades to the new [[Command Navigation Program|integrated defense system software]] developed by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and his [[Number Six|team]]. Because of this and other factors, she becomes one of only two known battlestars (the other being ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'') to survive the renewed Cylon attack on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]. At the time of this attack, she was part of the 75th [[Battlestar Group]] (BSG-75).

== History ==
=== The First Cylon War ===
[[Image:Mini gal top.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A dorsal view of ''Galactica''. The starboard [[flight pod]] is covered by a window to form the [[Galactica Museum|museum area]].]]
''Galactica'' was one of the first twelve battlestars to be constructed by the Colonials, each representing one of the twelve colonies; ''Galactica'' represented [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]. As such, she is some 50 years old. While solidly built, various factors during ''Galactica's'' construction led to the shipyard "cutting corners" when she was originally built, with various components not completed to spec ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]"). Following the outbreak of Cylon hostilities several more battlestars were built. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> first commander was named [[Nash]].

The original battlestars were all designed with non-integrated computer systems to avoid the Cylons' demonstrated ability to override or subvert networked command and control systems early in the war ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]"). Rather than technological sophistication, the battlestar depended on its sheer bulk and defensive / offensive capabilities to ward off any threats to itself or the Colonies.

''Galactica'' took part in [[Operation Raptor Talon]] which then Lieutenant [[William Adama]] served on. After crash-landing on the ice planet the operation took place over and witnessing the experiments on humans, Adama contacted ''Galactica'' to take out the [[Guardian basestar]] which had just launched, but was informed by ''Galactica'', which had dispatched a [[SAR]] [[Raptor]] for him, of the Armistice. Adama wouldn't learn the truth of what he'd seen until the [[Battle of the Guardian basestar]] over forty years later. After the [[Final Five|rather mysterious]] Cylon [[Armistice Station|armistice]], and their withdrawal from Colonial space, ''Galactica'' and her sister ships served the Twelve Colonies in a variety of roles. While her surviving sister ships were scrapped or upgraded to match the systems capabilities of newer Colonial vessels, ''Galactica'' continued in service without her systems being fully networked or integrated, making her unique among Colonial military vessels. '' Galactica'' was relegated to intra-system duties for at least 20 years prior to her decommissioning.<ref>This is inferred by [[Saul Tigh]] in his reaction to Commander Adama's decision for a [[FTL]] jump ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").</ref>

=== Decommissioning ===
[[Image:Ragnarbattle3.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' provides cover for civilian ships during the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]].]]
With her active career drawing to a close, a decision was taken to retire ''Galactica'' and decommission her from service. Colonial Fleet chose not to scrap her, but to turn her into a combination of living museum to the original Cylon War and an educational center, with her conversion being overseen by her final commander, [[William Adama]].

At the time of her formal decommissioning ceremony, ''Galactica'' is stripped of all but one of her operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] Mark VII squadrons, her munitions are destroyed, and her starboard landing pod is converted into a pressurized [[Galactica Museum|museum]] which houses (among other things) a full squadron of [[Viper Mark II|Mk. II Vipers]] as well as a Viper model that appears [[Viper (TOS)|older than the Mark II]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").

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=== Return of the Cylons ===
[[Image:Mini side fleet.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].]]
With the renewed and unexpected Cylon hostilities, ''Galactica'' is quickly brought back to combat condition and sorties several Mark IIs retrieved from her museum, engaging in her first battle with the Cylons in over 40 years (all but one last Mark VII squadron were sent to Caprica for reassignment). She survives a direct hit by a tactical nuclear missile, and later [[FTL|jumps]] successfully to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] to replenish her empty ammunition stores at this strategic depot.

''Galactica'' emerges from the anchorage and engages one [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] with her gun batteries, providing cover for [[The Fleet (RDM)|a fleet of 75 civilian ships]] harboring survivors of the Twelve Colonies. Once the entire civilian fleet successfully jumps away, and as a second basestar approaches to join the battle, ''Galactica'' recovers her remaining Vipers and jumps to the rendezvous point beyond the [[Red Line]], never to return to Colonial space ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries]]").

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=== Leading a Ragtag Fleet ===
[[Image:Ep212battle.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' and [[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]] work together during the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]].]]
Since the exodus of the Colonials from their overrun homeworlds, ''Galactica'' becomes both protector and provider for the Fleet. She provides covering fire for the Fleet during Cylon attacks no fewer than 240 times ([[TRS]]: "[[33]]": "[[Act of Contrition]]"). The battlestar provides much of the Fleet with recycled water ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]") and she is the primary source of medical care, where groups of civilians are periodically brought aboard for check-ups and treatment ([[TRS]]: "[[Litmus]]"). ''Galactica'' also undertakes internal policing duties within the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]"; "[[Bastille Day]]").

''Galactica'' successfully goes on the offensive against the Cylons, capturing a [[tylium]] fuel mining and processing plant in the process ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]").

The [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''Pegasus'', commanded by Admiral [[Helena Cain|Cain]], joins ''Galactica'' approximately 6 months into their exile (See the series [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]] for special information about this milestone). The two battlestars destroy two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] as well as a critical Cylon support ship known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. After Admiral Cain's death, President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] promotes William Adama to Admiral, restoring him to overall Fleet command, but now with two battlestars at his disposal ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").

===New Caprica===
[[Image:Leaving New Caprica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'', and the orbiting fleet prior to leaving [[New Caprica]].]]
Following the founding of [[New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' is assigned to the orbital defense force that protects the planet. During this time the majority of her crew are allowed to the surface in an effort to populate the planet and restore the human race, a majority of whom are seemingly convinced that the Cylons will never find New Caprica. The diminished crew inevitably results in standard maintenance becoming overlooked or ignored; basic military responses, such as the launching of alert fighters and routine training exercises become difficult to execute. One year following the founding of New Caprica, a fleet of Cylon ships jump into orbit of the planet. Severely limited in their abilities, Admiral Adama orders the defense fleet to jump away from New Caprica along with a handful of civilian ships still in orbit of the colony. They vow to eventually return to New Caprica and liberate it from the Cylon invaders ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]").

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===[[Battle of New Caprica]]===
[[Image:BONC.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' takes a pounding during the [[Battle of New Caprica]].]]
Four months after their escape, ''Galactica'''s staff is still in the process of developing a rescue strategy with 16 training exercises having been completed and a 17th underway when an accident causes its early cessation ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]"). This forces both a change in strategy and the reformulation of a rescue plan to deal with personnel who have not seen conflict in 16 months. While ''Galactica'' fights to liberate the Colonials on-planet, ''Pegasus'' is assigned to protect the remaining civilian Fleet and continue its search for [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Precipice]]"; "[[Exodus, Part I]]").

After coordinating with the [[New Caprica Resistance]], ''Galactica'' leaves ''Pegasus'' to guard the space-bound members of humanity while it uses a series of drones to misdirect the bulk of the Cylon Raiders and avoid immediate detection by baseships, thus allowing the civilians on the planet to escape to their ships and flee New Caprica.

''Galactica'' then jumps into low orbit, plummeting from an altitude of 100,000 feet. As the ship falls, Admiral Adama orders the launch of all remaining Vipers. ''Galactica'' then jumps back into orbit. In the subsequent battle with the orbiting basestars, ''Galactica'' is overtaxed, out-gunned, and faces destruction when ''Pegasus'' unexpectedly arrives. ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> salvos draw the attention of the basestars away from ''Galactica'', buying ''Galactica'' time to bring her [[FTL|FTL drives]] back on-line and escape, but at the cost of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> destruction ([[TRS]]: "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

''Galactica'' bears the scars of the battle with significant scorching and dents to the hull. Nonetheless, the battlestar remains combat ready, holding off a superior Cylon force for a short duration in the [[Battle of NCD2539]] ([[TRS]]: "[[A Measure of Salvation]]"), and threatening to use its nuclear arsenal twice after New Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"). Given the loss of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' now boasts a larger crew, Viper and Raptor complement, to the point where there are more pilots than there are ships to fly ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"), although the training of new recruits is still ongoing ([[TRS]]: "[[Dirty Hands]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"; "[[He That Believeth in Me]]"). Further, there are various redundancies between the two crews that are appropriately dealt with (e.g. [[Lee Adama]] in a [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 3 (RDM)|deleted scene]] from "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

Colonel Tigh comments that ''Galactica'' took so much damage in this battle that it would "take six weeks in dry dock just to bang out the dents" ([[TRS]]: "[[A Day in the Life]]"). This indicates that the damage is extensive enough to require a significant amount time (probably months) for full repair, and would be unlikely to survive a massive battle again.

=== Resuming the Search for Earth ===
''Galactica'' takes aboard a significant quantity of civilians following the exodus from New Caprica, as several civilian ships are lost during the escape from the failed colony. Cramped conditions increase as crew and civilians struggle to adapt to life back aboard a ship. The civilians reside on the refurbished starboard hangar deck as a refugee camp nicknamed "[[Camp Oil Slick]]" and later "Dogsville" ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"; "[[The Woman King]]").

During a [[The Passage|food shortage crisis]] caused by contamination of the Fleet's food processing systems, ''Galactica'' (along with her Raptors acting as pilot ships) guides the civilian Fleet through an area of intense heat, light and radiation caused by a [[Passage (star cluster)|dense star cluster]] to reach edible resources on the [[algae planet]]. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> heavy armor and radiation shielding protect her from the intense effects of the cluster, but the ship still suffers hull damage and decompressions.

The ship confronts a Cylon fleet and barely escapes a nova during [[Eye of Jupiter|the events over the algae planet]], jumping out at the last moment after recovering its ground teams and additional data on a way-point to Earth known to the Colonials as the [[Ionian nebula]] ("[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", "[[Rapture]]"). Repairs continue on the journey to the Ionian nebula. Damage to one particular airlock nearly causes the deaths of Galen and Cally Tyrol during what they expected to be a quick repair of a hull micro-fracture ([[A Day in the Life]]).
[[Image:BOTIM.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Galactica'' is outnumbered during the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula]].]]
When the Fleet reaches the nebula, four Cylon baseships are detected following an unexplained power outage. With the entire Fleet crippled and unable to escape, ''Galactica'' scrambles her Vipers and prepares for a lopsided fight, outnumbered and outgunned ([[Crossroads, Part II]]). During the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula|following battle]], ''Galactica'' manages to hold off the main attack of the massive Cylon attack force. Despite the damage suffered in previous engagements, the old warship wields her main guns and point defense batteries effectively again in defense of the Fleet. During the battle ''Galactica'' takes many hits while covering the Fleet although without crippling damage. Despite having the advantage, and managing to destroy or damage several civilian ships, the Cylons retreat in the middle of the battle, after detecting one of the [[Final Five]] among the Colonials ([[He That Believeth in Me]]).

''Galactica'' is once forced to prepare for a battle against the rebel [[Basestar (RDM)|Cylon basestar]], but the ''[[Demetrius]]'' arrives to defuse the situation. In the wake of the basestar disappearing from the Fleet ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]), [[Saul Tigh]] assumes command of ''Galactica'', jumping along with the Fleet ([[Sine Qua Non]]).

After [[Kara Thrace]] picks up a strange signal in [[Starbuck's Viper|her Viper]], the Colonials have a direct bearing towards Earth. Shortly later, after several years of searching, ''Galactica'' and her Fleet finally make the last jump to Earth ([[Revelations]]).

=== Post-Earth ===

After discovering [[Earth]] is a nuclear wasteland, discipline and morale on ''Galactica'' fall dramatically and the overall cleanliness of the ship suffers, e.g. outside [[CIC]], the words "Frak Earth" are spray-painted on the walls ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]). When former deck chief [[Galen Tyrol]] disables the FTL drive, foiling the mutineers' escape with the ship, he discovers multiple tears in the chamber's walls, a sign that the aging battlestar's structural integrity is faltering ([[Blood on the Scales]]).
[[Image:Damaged Galactica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A heavily damaged ''Galactica''.]]
A structural survey of the ship finds several torn supports and weakened areas in the hull, and a more in-depth examination finds endemic metal fatigue throughout the ship, with virtually every part of the hull riddled with small cracks and fissures.

''Galactica's'' advanced age, the corners cut during construction and the abuse it has been put through since the war started contributed to its condition. Tyrol suggests treating the damaged parts of the ship with an [[Cylon organic resin|organic Cylon resin]] from the [[Rebel Baseship]], which would fill the cracks and bear the stresses, which Adama at first refuses. However, Adama finally appreciates ''Galactica's'' dire condition when he finds a tear in a bulkhead in his quarters, and orders Tyrol to carry out his plan to repair the ship ([[No Exit]]). Tyrol later says that the resin will buy more time but the ship's integrity has been fundamentally weakened and it might not survive more FTL jumps- it is impossible to say how long she can hold. ''Galactica'' is dying of old age and accumulated battle damage.

Later ''Galactica'' is damaged even further when [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] jumps away very close to the hull. The resulting spatial distortion of her Raptor's FTL jump causes what appears to be buckling and explosive decompression in several sections of the alligator head of ''Galactica'' on her port side ([[Someone to Watch Over Me]]). This causes a chain reaction of explosions, structural failures and power outages throughout many parts of the ship including CIC.

At first refusing to accept the reality of the ship's fate, Admiral Adama gives the emotionally painful order to stop the repairs and begin the process of abandoning ship, moving to the Rebel Baseship as the Fleet's new flagship ([[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]).

As the ship is slowly offloaded of parts and personnel, the Admiral relents one last time, stops the scrapping of the battlestar, and calls for volunteers for what will likely be a ''Galactica's'' final mission- to get the kidnapped Hera back from Cavil's Cylon colony ([[Daybreak, Part I]]).

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=== Endgame: [[Battle of The Colony|Battle of The Colony]] ===

[[Image:Battleofthecolony.jpg|thumb|right|200px|right|''Galactica'' takes massive hits seconds after jumping to [[The Colony]].]]
With a skeleton crew and a frail battlestar, Admiral Adama executes a daring mission to rescue Hera Agathon.

''Galactica'' jumps to the Colony at point-blank range. Besieged by the Colony's gun batteries at first, the ship is pummeled until the Hybrid Anders manages to take them and the Colony's Hybrids offline. As ''Galactica's'' Vipers engage incoming Raiders, her Raptors jump directly from their berth in the starboard [[flight pod]] (causing extensive damage to it) and maneuver to board the Colony.

Adama does the unbelievable: he rams ''Galactica's'' bow into the Colony, forming not only a second breech for his search teams to enter, but also forming an alternate escape route.

The rescue is successful thanks to Boomer's help (before Athena kills her), but ''Galactica'' is far from safe. The Raiders are still attacking the ship, destroying at least one of its remaining heavy gun batteries. The rescue teams are pursued back to ''Galactica'' by Cavil and his troops, determined to recapture Hera. Platoons of enemy Centurions swarm into the ship. Cavil personally leads an attack on CIC but is foiled.

Things appear to settle down after Cavil and Adama call a ceasefire. Cavil agrees to let ''Galactica'' leave with Hera in exchange for the information needed to bring back [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection technology]]. Part of the deal is that Cavil will leave humanity alone forever as well. The Raiders return to the Colony, while the Vipers return to ''Galactica''. Unfortunately, as the Final Five begin to download their knowledge into the Colony, they are exposed to each other's secrets; Galen Tyrol learns that Tory Foster murdered his wife [[Cally Tyrol]] ([[The Ties That Bind]]). Tyrol flies into a rage and kills Foster, severing the download. Chaos ensues and the ceasefire ends. The Raiders renew their attack on the ship. In CIC the Simon, Doral and Cavil there open fire but Apollo and Starbuck kill Doral and Simon while Cavil, realizing the hopelessness of the situation, kills himself.

Meanwhile [[Racetrack]]'s Raptor, drifting in space after all aboard were killed, is hit by a stray asteroid, causing the Raptor to launch its nuclear missiles into the Colony. The Colony's orbit immediately decays, pulling it into the black hole--threatening to take ''Galactica'' with it. But Kara Thrace jumps the ship, using coordinates she had extrapolated from [[The Music]] at the last second.

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=== Journey's End ===
[[File:Battlestar Over Africa.jpg|thumb|left|200px|right|A crippled ''Galactica'' seen in orbit over the Sahara Desert.]]
Unfortunently, the ship does not retract its flight pods as Kara Thrace executes the emergency jump; this, as well as the cumulative stresses of the previous battle and the past four years turn out to be the death knell for the old battlestar. ''Galactica'' experiences a series of fatal structural failures that send shockwaves rippling through the ship. While the Cylon organic resin applied earlier prevents the ship from snapping in two, the ship permanently loses its FTL ability as its structual integrity is compromised. However the ship's other systems are still online, including life support and propulsion. The fear of being stranded in space are short-lived as ''Galactica'' arrives in the vicinity of a lush, blue-green habitable world, already populated by tribes of primitive humans who naturally evolved there.
[[File:The fleet's end.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Galactica'' and her Fleet heading straight into the Sun.]]
The population of the Fleet, arriving later, agree to leave their technology behind and start new lives on the planet they decide to call "[[Earth (RDM)#A New Earth|Earth]]". The Rebel Cylons also decide to stay on the planet. With this decision, the Rebel Baseship is left to the Centurions, who leave to seek out their own destiny. Anders, still acting as ''Galactica's'' Hybrid, brings the battlestar's adventures to a close as he pilots ''Galactica'' and the last ships in the Fleet into the Sun, destroying ''Galactica'' and her Fleet.

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== Equipment ==
Apart from any technological upgrades that may have been made to her sister ships, ''Galactica'' was built to the general technical specifications of her [[Galactica type battlestar|class]].

===Starboard Flight Pod===

The starboard landing bay is eventually restored to usable condition, evidenced when Major Lee Adama lands his Raptor in the starboard pod. However, it is possible that this is due to a previously issued quarantine order and not because the flight pod is in regular use ([[A Measure of Salvation]]). The starboard hangar deck is designated an [[Dogsville|area of refuge]] for civilians displaced from lost ships (The Woman King).

During the last mission of Galactica, this pod held a number of Raptors ready for launch, these deployed out of the pod by FTL jump with the result that the shock waves fatally weakened the pods structure and the pod blew open to space. ([[Daybreak part 2]])

Strangely at least part of the museum setup survives all the way to Daybreak part 2, despite a hull breach and part of it being flattened by a heavy raider [[Scattered]]. It's unclear why the museum was kept intact and/or repaired, though it's possible it was put right during the year on New Caprica before the Cylons found the planet, since this is probably the only period when the crew would have any spare time to fix it. This serves as a minor plot hole that may never be resolved.

The museum would certainly have been destroyed in the jump shock wave from the Raptors leaving the pod during the [[Battle of the Colony]] or the decompression immediately after that point, any remains were sent into the sun with the rest of the ship.

===Nuclear Warheads===
[[Image:Galactica nukes.jpg|200px|thumb|''Galactica'''s nuclear arsenal.]]
''Galactica'' has five nuclear warheads as of "[[Bastille Day]]". Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] uses one warhead to destroy the Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] orbiting Kobol ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), and Dr. [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] cannibalizes one to use in his [[Cylon detector]]. He later gives the warhead to [[Gina Inviere]], who detonates it aboard ''[[Cloud Nine]]''.

It is unknown how many nuclear warheads ''Pegasus'' has when it encounters ''Galactica'', but the two ships pool their nuclear ordnance stockpiles after that. As of "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", ''Galactica'' possesses at least seven warheads ([[missile tube]]s 4 through 10).

:''The yield of these weapons is unknown. It is likely they are of a "dial a yield" design which is common in real-life nuclear weapons. Because the physics of nuclear weapon design is a measurable science, and based on the size of the weapons seen on screen, the yield of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons may lie between 5 and 150 kilotons.''<ref>This is extrapolated from the size of the weapon, compared to a modern day ([[w:W80|W80]])-class nuclear warhead used by the United States.</ref> ''However, the energetic properties of [[tylium]] are so formidable that if a warhead design were to properly exploit even only 50% of the refined ore's enthalpy, a mere kilogram of it would allow for a yield of nearly 60 kilotons, and a one megaton yield warhead would require over 16.7 kg of refined tylium. The fact that the ore can also be used for explosives such as improvised mines ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]) opens a vast field of opportunities for heavy high yield weapons, not necessarily restricted to nukes in the traditional sense.''

===Vipers===
:''For information on the fighter squadrons stationed on ''Galactica'' see: [[Squadrons of Galactica]]''

[[image:1104Tube Mini.JPG|right|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark II]] in a launch tube.]]
[[image:Kg zoic-studio screen-caps-065.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark VII]] in the port [[Flight pod]].]]
Early in the flight of the Fleet, ''Galactica'' carried "40 Vipers and 21 pilots" ([[Act of Contrition]]) , of which at least six were Mark VIIs. Following the advent of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' receives supplies that aid in the repair and refurbishment of her initial fighter complement ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]). Some time later, new Mark VII Vipers are constructed at ''Pegasus''s' Viper construction facilities utilizing the raw ore mined in an asteroid belt ([[Scar]]), and several of those are assigned to ''Galactica''.

With ''Pegasus'' destroyed at the [[Battle of New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' absorbs the former's fighter squadrons and personnel, and her Viper complement now counts approximately 80 planes. <ref>Dialogue from "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]" and "[[Sine Qua Non]]" establishes that 40 Vipers have been transferred to a Cylon basestar, which comprises half the ship's air wing.</ref>

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===Raptors===
[[image:Raptor port.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A [[Raptor]].]]
The number of [[Raptor|Raptors]] available to ''Galactica'' is portrayed inconsistently. The assumption prior to joining up with ''Pegasus'' is that the battlestar has at least five Raptors, having left [[Ragnar Anchorage]] with at least eight. After the Battle of New Caprica, ''Galactica'' takes on ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Raptors. The subsequent number of available craft is unknown, but is at least 30, considering how many Raptors are deployed to rescue to the resistance fighters on Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]") and still have enough to move people from ship to ship through out the Fleet.

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===Other Craft===
[[image:Blackbird FotP.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The [[Blackbird]], a special stealth ship, was construted on ''Galactica''.]]
[[image:AtmoShutt.jpg|right|thumb|200px|One of ''Galactica'''s [[Atmospheric shuttle| shuttle]] craft.]]
*''Galactica'' possesses two [[Heavy Raider]]s. One is hit by ''Galactica''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defensive fire and crashes into the starboard flight pod with unknown, but probably extensive, damage ([[TRS]]: "[[Scattered]]"). The other returns in operational status from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part I]]"). One of these Heavy Raiders is relieved of its FTL navigation system for use on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]").
* A Raider from the first Cylon War may be on board ''Galactica'' after one follows Starbuck into one of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> landing bays and is shot down ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor]]"). A Cylon War era Raider, or at least a replica of one, was present in the [[Galactica Museum]], but has not been mentioned since.
*A second [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]] comes into ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> possession after [[Daniel Novacek]]'s "escape" from a basestar, replacing the one retrieved by [[Kara Thrace]] and lost during the quest for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]").
*An experimental stealth fighter, the [[Blackbird]], is constructed using spare parts ([[TRS]]: "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]") and used in a critically successful reconnaissance mission to explore the nature of what comes to be known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The Blackbird is destroyed after completing its [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship|first combat mission]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").
*''Galactica'' possesses [[fuel tanker]]s used to supply fuel to Vipers and Raptors in flight without the need to dock with the ship. These may be dedicated craft or specially fitted shuttles or Raptors ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]").

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== Crew ==
:''For information on Senior Staff, see : [[Senior Staff of Galactica]]''
:''For a list of pilots, see: [[List of Pilots]]''
:''For a list of deckhands, see: [[List of deckhands]]''
:''For a list of marines, see: [[Colonial Marine Corps]]''

Before the attack, ''Galactica'' has approximately 2,900 crewmen. By the time of the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', attrition has reduced this number to about 2,660. (c.f. [[Crew tally]])
It is unknown whether the Colonial Marines account for members or not.
*Between "[[Act of Contrition]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> offensive capability is also greatly hampered by the number of [[List of Pilots|qualified pilots]] available, and their lack of flight simulators with which to train more. Since ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> reunion with ''Pegasus'', this has ceased to be an issue ([[TRS]]: "[[Scar]]").
== Blue prints of Galactica ==

[http://media.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/File:BSG_Blue_prints.png]

==Related Imagery==
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:BSG Ortho Top & Bottom.jpg|''Galactica'' - [[Zoic]] rendering    
Image:BSG Ortho Front, Back & Starboard.jpg|''Galactica'' - Zoic rendering    
Image:Galactica's top side.jpg|''Galactica'''s top side.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-049.jpg|''Galactica'''s front - Zoic
Image:Battlestar stern.jpg|''Galactica'''s stern.
Image:Galactica retraction.jpg|Flight pod retraction area.
Image:Galactica's bottom-023b.jpg|''Galactica'''s bottom.
Image:Bsg damaged.jpg|''Galactica'' with battle damage. (High Res)
Image:Cylon War-era Galactica, "Razor" Flashback 1.jpg|''Galactica'' in the [[Razor]] Flashbacks.
Image:Galactica - flight pods retracted.jpg|''Galactica'' with flight pods retracted.
Image:BSG landing alcove.jpg|''Galactica'' landing alcove.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-037.jpg|A cluster of rail guns.
Image:Battered Battlestar.jpg|Bow view of ''Galactica''.
Image:GalPeg.png|''Galactica'' overlooking the [[Pegasus]].
Image:Pointdefence2 101 1080i.jpg|''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> point defense batteries in action    
Image:Galactica fights off missile salvos.jpg|''Galactica'' establishes a defense perimeter.
Image:Raptor scramble.jpg|''Galactica'' scrambles [[Viper]]s and [[Raptor]]s.
Image:Colony Breech.jpg|''Galactica'' rams herself into [[The Colony]].
Image:Img0059.jpg|''Galactica'''s main batteries.
Image:Galactia's end.jpg|''Galactica'' and the Fleet depart for the sun, with the African continent in the background.
Image:CIC Overview 1.jpg|''Galactica'''s CIC.
Image:Cicweaponscontrol1.jpg|Weapons control.
Image:Cictacticalstation1.jpg|Tactical station.
Image:Cic commstation.jpg|Communications.
Image:The Mess.jpg|The Officers' mess hall.
Image:Cicdmgcontrol.jpg|Damage control.
Image:Ftl2.jpg|FTL Drive.
Image:Bsg-1-10.jpg|The "War Room".
Image:Porthangardeck.jpg|The port hangar bay on ''Galactica''.
Image:DutyLocker.jpg|Crew quarters.
Image:GalacticaInterior Sickbay1.jpg|Sickbay
Image:Galactica Museum, "Daybreak, Part II".jpg| The ''Galactica'' museum in the starboard flight pod.
Image:Galactica corridor.jpg|The "A-shaped" corridors.
Image:BSG Blue prints.png|Schematics from the [[Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game|roleplaying game]].
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Galactica crew facilities (RDM)|Galactica crew facilities]]
*[[:Category:Galactica Areas (RDM)|Galactica Areas]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Ships}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Battlestars]]
[[Category:Battlestars (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:Colonial Military (RDM)]]
[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Ships (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article}}

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Talk:Galactica (TRS)/Archive 1

2009-11-17T03:06:42Z

Mister Oragahn:

== Nice Work! ==

I enjoy reading about the new Galactica starship and look forward to more details as the series progresses...and to adding my own edits, too.

Keep up the good work on this page.

:On behalf of the rest of the team, thanks! This wiki has grown a lot from the work of a few hundred people and a lot of readers! [[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 22:44, 13 October 2005 (EDT)

:I am here, I make the edits. There was little choice in the matter. --[[User:Ricimer|Ricimer]], October 13, 2005

== Formatting Question ==

When formatting the "full name" of ''Galactica'' is it:

*...the ''[[Battlestar]] [[Galactica]]''
*...the [[Battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]''
or
*...the [[Battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]''?

It seems to me that it should be the second.

:"''Galactica''" or "the battlestar ''Galactica''"; never "the ''Galactica''". Battleship and aircraft carrier are not proper nouns, so battlestar isn't either. See [[Battlestar wiki:Standards and Conventions#Ships]]. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 20:56, 17 October 2005 (EDT)

==Tallies==

FYI, I'm working on a fairly major revamp of these, using MASON and Joe's source page idea. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 20:59, 17 October 2005 (EDT)

:Why does it state that Galactica had 2 squadrons of MKVII's on board the ship at the begining of the series? This would be a big inconsistancy with what we saw in the miniseries.

:At the decommisioning ceremony we see one squadron of vipers led by Apollo doing a flyby. This squadron leaves the ship for Caprica after the ceremony and is rerouted to engage the cylons.

:When Starbuck is released from the brig she reports 20 pilots available but no vipers. Adama then orders the MKII's in the museum pressed into service.

:The squadron of MKVII's led by 'Ripper' is then destroyed by the cylon virus.

:IF there were 2 squadrons of MKVII's on the ship, where is that second squadron during all of this? It didn't launch with Ripper's squadron and it wasn't available for Starbuck and the other stranded pilots to use. (They didn't know the MKVII's were useless until after the first squadron was destroyed.)

:It's more likely that the MKVII's we see at Ragnor and later in the series are made up from homeless vipers that were carried to Ragnor with Roslin's fleet, plus a few spares put together from storage aboard Galactica.

::There are clearly twenty vipers on screen in Ripper's squadron. Galactica is then able to sortie a combined squadron of (roughly) 40 Mk. VIIs and Mk. IIs. This makes perfect sense if Galactica has two squadrons of Mk. VIIs based in its active (port) flight pod, and one squadron of Mk. IIs in the museum (starboard) flight pod.

::As for pilots, presumably the ones with ships had something better to do than be "climbing the walls down here". It's fairly typical for a military operation to have more pilots than craft in any case, so that's not an issue. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:47, 4 December 2005 (EST)

Well if there was another squadron of MVII's available at the time Starbuck mentions the 20 odd pilots in the ready room, where is that second squadron? If they are sortied after Ripper's mission, they would have been destroyed by the virus. If they're in the tubes waiting for a mission, why didn't they sortie to defend the ship?

This second squadron is never seen onscreen or mentioned in dialogue in the miniseries. It's more likely it didn't exist and the later MKVII's are refugees. Those vipers are at least seen on screen once, and later in the series its mentioned that there are some pilots from other battlestars flying off Galactica. (Crashdown is described as a refugee from "Triton", for example.)

:Crashdown was a Raptor pilot; Raptors have FTL and could go to another system, but I don't think Vipers could easily escape to Ragnar that well (unless, like Apollo, they landed on a nearby Civilian ship with Jump engines then escaped aboard that, but that seems unlikely).--[[User:Ricimer|Ricimer]] 17:50, 7 December 2005 (EST)
::Didn't Doral say during the flyby at the museum that it was performed by the last Galactica squadron. Since this was the squadron led by Ripper, it pretty much precludes a second squadron. Also, there could have been several Mk VIIs in storage, for spares or down for repairs. Maybe there were extra Mk IIs stored in the starboard hanger. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 17:57, 7 December 2005 (EST)
:::It is likely that they were unservicable and awaited transfer to a dock after ''Galactica'' was officially decomissioned. Also, on the off chance that I might be right, there may have been Vipers on other ships that survived as well. (For instance, there may have been a few were stragglers from earlier engagements, or even patrols that didn't see action during the assault on the Colonies that happened upon Roslin's fleet prior to Ragnar.) Just a thought or three... -- [[User:Joe.Beaudoin|Joe Beaudoin]] 19:33, 7 December 2005 (EST)

::::It would be informative to get an actual headcount during the Battle of Ragnar Anchorage. I have the launch scene about 2/3 analyzed, and will probably be able to finish it next week, but the video quality of my recording isn't perfect. I'll let you know what I come up with, in any case. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 20:33, 7 December 2005 (EST)

::::Oh, one more thing - In the mini, Adama says "I seem to remember an entire squadron of fighters down in the starboard hangar deck yesterday". If there were two squadrons of Mk. IIs, he would've said so. Again, two squadrons of Mk. VIIs (one destroyed) and one squadron of Mk. IIs fits the on-screen evidence nicely. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 17:48, 8 December 2005 (EST)

::::The only problem with that is that the second squadron doesn't seem to show up until the battle at Ragnor. What was it doing all this time? If the count of MKVII's is under 20, it makes sense that the MKVII's at Ragnor were made up of a small group of spares that were put together onboard Galactica along with whatever refugees were picked up by Roslin's fleet. We know for sure that there were at least three MKVII's with that fleet that were shown onscreen.--Dallan007
:::::Didn't Starbuck's lines in that scene imply that there were no operational fighters. I believe it was something along the lines of "pilots you got, but Vipers..." I think the Mk VIIs they have were straglers the RTFF picked up before they jumped to Ragnar. These could have been on patrol or something and met up with Colonial One et al. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 00:03, 9 December 2005 (EST)
::::::Maybe the Mk. VII wing wasn't sortied before Ragnar because the systems had to be stripped of Baltar's CNP. There are far too many Mk. VIIs in the Ragnar battle to be anything less than a full wing, though. I'll have a real tally up as soon as I can. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 01:38, 9 December 2005 (EST)
::::::::They didn't know about the CNP weakness yet. The purging didn't happen until they were at Ragnar, after the first sortie. Remember, it was the same time as Doral was accused of being a Cylon. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 07:09, 9 December 2005 (EST)
:::::::::Perhaps, before the first sortie, Gaeta had the remaining Mark VIIs grounded as a precaution since he hears of the malfunctions from Dualla before the fight and makes the association with the CNP (he's bright that way). Or, yes, the Mark VIIs were gathered up in Roslin's search (most probable since Galactica should launch everything they had in sortie 1, and they would rather send Mark VII's than the museum pieces). --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 13:10, 9 December 2005 (EST)
::::::::::The squadron ready room would seem to imply a 20-ship squadron. There are 24 seats in the ready room, 20 pilots plus a few seats for guests like Apollo. Boomer and Helo were flying with the last Mk VII squadron so it would make sense that they would be there in the mini. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 12:27, 13 December 2005 (EST)

== Redundancy ==
=== Fleet Details ===

'''Designation''': warship, battlestar type, [[Galactica type battlestar|original battlestar class]] (class name unknown).

'''Deployment''': Formerly an element of the [[75th Battlestar Group]] (BSG 75)

'''Current Status''': One of [[Pegasus (RDM) |two]] remaining Colonial military units. ''Galactica'' is commanded by [[William Adama]].

=== Fleet Details Comments ===
The only piece of information in that block which is not mentioned before it is the membership is BSG 75; this was an oversight. I'll add mention of it in the paragraph before. The remainder is redundant and shockingly poor in formatting. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 16:09, 19 April 2006 (CDT)
:Since you've been around and not commented, Merovingian, I'll pull it. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 01:26, 20 April 2006 (CDT)
::I was busy. It's not redundant, and I am restoring it. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 12:46, 20 April 2006 (CDT)
:::What information does it contain that is not elsewhere in this article? --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 13:55, 20 April 2006 (CDT)
::::Boxes provide quick and easy referrence. I mean, we wouldn't have a box listing ship class and armaments by that logic. It's fun, and makes it clearer. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 14:24, 20 April 2006 (CDT)
:::::That's not a box. The info box made for the purpose does mention the designation and CO. The BSG 75 thing is at best a curiosity utterly unworthy of quick reference, not that I agree that randomly ordered sentence fragments are actually easier to skim. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 14:36, 20 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Seemed pretty redundant to me. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 17:57, 20 April 2006 (CDT)
I still want to delete this. It taunts me in my dreams ...well, not quite, but I don't like it. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]]<sup>([[Special:Contributions/CalculatinAvatar|C]]-[[User talk:CalculatinAvatar|T]])</sup> 22:36, 17 May 2006 (CDT)

===Turrets===
[[Image:BSG-KEW-Turret.jpg|thumb|An example of one of ''Galactica's'' large projectile weapons.]]
''Galactica's'' defenses include an array of twenty-four large turret mounted, dual-role twin-cannons, and a multitude of smaller turret mounted twin-guns located between the ''Galactica's'' "[[Frame|ribs]]", along the [[flight pod]]s. Together, these provide the ''Galactica'' with a flak field that acts as a defense perimeter against incoming hostiles ([[Miniseries]], "[[Scattered]]"). In addition, the large cannons represent ''Galactica's'' main anti-capital ship weapon, and have been shown to be quite effective against targets like [[Basestar]]s ("[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").
=== Turrets Comments ===
I don't mind the picture, though I don't think it adds much. It could be tied to the page simply as an illustration of "Armament" per the title of the larger section.
The composition of the turret armament is discussed on the page for the type. The details on the positioning are slightly incorrect, anyway. That they produce flak is obvious; that the large guns are effective against basestars could be assumed, and, if it must be mentioned, should be mentioned on the page for the type. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 16:09, 19 April 2006 (CDT)

:Agree. [[Galactica type battlestar]] should host details relevant to the ship class in general. [[Galactica (RDM)]] should host information only pertinent to the individual battlestar in question. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 19:46, 19 April 2006 (CDT)

==Battlestar Group==
See [[talk:Pegasus (RDM)#Battlestar Group|talk on Pegasus page]]

==Improvements for featured article status==
I think that we should make the following minor changes before declaring this a featured article:
*Remove "Fleet Details" section, as this merely duplicates information available in the ship infobox
*Reconsider the implementation of the "running tallies" section. My objection is mainly based on the fact that the current setup precludes the use of footnotes in this article, and is probably more information than the average user is interested in. I personally feel that we should break each tally into a separate article and link it from the appropriate summary in the equipment section.
*If, however, we decide keep the running tallies on this page, a simple retitle of the section to "Sources and Rationalle" is necessary. Also, we should seriously consider moving over to the <nowiki><ref></nowiki> tag system, although doing so may make the editing process more cumbersome (with the running tallies scattered throughout the body of the text). --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 17:25, 8 June 2006 (CDT)
:<strike>Item 1</strike>
:As for #2 (a or b)... I don't have a strong feeling either way. It does seem to overwhelm the bottom, and any other footnootes would get drowned out. I guess I'd lean towards them becoming subarticles (of either Galactica (RDM) or of their respective topic (Viper (RDM), Raptor, etc)), or maybe to the front of their respective topics (on the main of Viper (RDM) and Raptor). I'll defer to others on this one, though. Also... could the article stand to have perhaps one more external shot of ''Galactica''? For an article about her, she doesn't get much visibility (outside the small shot in the data box and the gallery down below). --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 13:21, 9 June 2006 (CDT)

::I agree with SteelViper on #2: if you just move it to another article, but keep a link to the tallies section at the bottom, I have no strong feelings on such a change. (BTW, what do you mean "Rationalle"?). --->However, I have to disagree on "Fleet details": I agree that saying its "designation" and "current status" is already in the box, however, the box doesn't mention what Battlestar Group it (nor does this justify changing the box template, because only this article and Pegasus would have such info): I'm going to change it back to a compromise position and tell me what you think. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 14:04, 9 June 2006 (CDT)
:::On second thought, nevermind: it already says enough about BSG info in the introductory paragraph. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 14:06, 9 June 2006 (CDT)
::::That's the EXACT same progression I went through. "Hey, that isn't in the... oh. There it is." --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 14:07, 9 June 2006 (CDT)

I've tried breaking out the Raptor and Viper tallies into their own articles. Let me know what you think; it's easy to revert if people don't like it. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 13:35, 10 June 2006 (CDT)

:I didn't see anything wrong with the breakout; I was severely dismayed by the self-argumentative tone in one section of the article (now revised). I've also made significant concision and adjustments as well as adding more links to material that should give the article more ''ooompf''. I may review this again as I'm sure more things here just didn't sit right with me. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 20:27, 10 June 2006 (CDT)

What's left todo on this before "FA" status? Also... any thoughts on my picture thought above? (Another external shot of "Big G" somewhere else on this page?) --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 12:32, 12 June 2006 (CDT)

:External shots should be of ''Galactica'' doing something recognizably "Galactica-ish", to contrast with the beauty shots in [[Galactica type battlestar]]. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 12:38, 12 June 2006 (CDT)

:Agreed. I've also gone through the article again and given the language more polish and super-conventionized it. I'm happy with the text, but fresh photos of the Big G moving about would be neat. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 12:54, 12 June 2006 (CDT)

::Looking through the "screenshots" category, I wasn't impressed by the selection. I hit Galacticastation for some examples and looked at the mini since I figured they'd feature her prominently there. I found [http://www.galacticastation.com/Galactica%20Station/Screencaps/mini/001%20(258).htm top view], [http://www.galacticastation.com/Galactica%20Station/Screencaps/mini/001%20(290).htm side viper], and [http://www.galacticastation.com/Galactica%20Station/Screencaps/mini/001%20(572).htm side Fleet]. Of the three, "side Fleet" is my favorite, but that's a fairly small sample. --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 12:59, 12 June 2006 (CDT)

:::They're all pretty nice. We could sprinkle them throughout the article for flavor. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 13:15, 12 June 2006 (CDT)

:::I would love to see "side Fleet" on the pictureless [[The Fleet (RDM)]] article. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 13:33, 12 June 2006 (CDT)

::::Should I go ahead and upload the Galacticastation versions (576x320), or should we have one of our resident screen capture artists grab something higher quality (DVD or High-def)? --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 13:23, 12 June 2006 (CDT)

:::::Upload the ones you've got, and put a notice on [[Battlestar Wiki:Requested Images|Requested Images]] for higher quality versions. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:20, 12 June 2006 (CDT)

::::::Internal links to:
::::::[[:Image:Mini gal top.jpg|top view]]
::::::[[:Image:Mini gal side viper.jpg|side viper]]
::::::[[:Image:Mini side fleet.jpg|side fleet]]
::::::They're prepped and ready to be added to the gumbo that is the wiki (though they could probably use better tagging, but being from Galacticastation I'm not sure of the original signal source). --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 07:53, 13 June 2006 (CDT)
:::::::Side viper and top view added. I added them as non-thumbnails in an effort for them to be less intrusive. I left out "side fleet" as that got added to [[the Fleet (RDM)]], but it could be added if somebody wants to make room. We should be careful not to overdo it. --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 14:10, 13 June 2006 (CDT)

:::::::: I changed them to thumbs because I think it looks cleaner having a clear delineation between text and image. Revert if you wish and we can talk about it. I also added some kind of place-holder captions, which might be improved upon by someone who has a clearer idea of the purpose of the images are (other than look: a space boat). --[[User:Day|Day]] <sup>([[User talk:Day|Talk]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Administrators' noticeboard|Admin]])</sup> 23:55, 13 June 2006 (CDT)

I added appropriate captions to the thumbs. I'm normally a non-thumb guy as I think we overuse it for pictures where the context is already present and so further captioning is unnecessary, nor do I see the bordering as needed. However, the thumbs here don't detract, so there you go. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 09:13, 14 June 2006 (CDT)
:So is this good to go for "FA"? --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 10:25, 14 June 2006 (CDT)
::I think the article's come a long way; yes, I believe it's ready. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 10:32, 14 June 2006 (CDT)
What do you guys think of the orthos I added to the bottom. (Thanks Mercifull, I forgot to add back in the bottom one.) --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 17:30, 14 June 2006 (CDT)

:That Starship Modeler booger on the 2nd image annoys me since it wasn't their image in the first place. I'd rather get rid of it or get a clean one (it appears to be merely cropped from the first, anyway). --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 10:13, 15 June 2006 (CDT)

== Starboard flight pod ==

[[Image:Starboard_pod.jpg|thumb|''Galactica's'' starboard pod ([[Maelstrom]]).]]
That sure as hell looked like the starboard flight pod during the Adama Maneuver. Anyone agree? --[[User:Kevin W.|Kevin W.]] 18:14, 11 November 2006 (CST)
* Not only that, I'm pretty sure I heard a reference in A Measure of Salvation to a landing in the starboard pod. Fair to say it's back in service? [[User:Mr. Random|Mr. Random]] 14:57, 14 November 2006 (CST)
**The launch tubes might be in operation, but the bays are apparently still encased, as seen in a sweeping shot in Maelstrom.--[[User:Fredmdbud|Fredmdbud]] 02:57, 12 January 2008 (CST)
***But Raptors cannot use the launch tubes. Actually although the front of the flightpod is closed, the back has been fully opened up (although there are very few shots of it). By the Episode No Exit the front can be seen as fully open in one new shot of the ship. [[User:VARGR|VARGR]] 16:09, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

== Missile tubes ==

I think we should include the missile tubes along with Galactica's other weapon systems. When Adama ordered the Galactica to prepare for the ground strike, he had them load tubes 4 through 10, which means there are at least 10 missile tubes. However the effect shot seemed to show (at least to my current recollection) 2 rows of missile tubes, one of which had every door open but one, which would mean Galactica has 14 tubes, at least. She may have more on the other side of the ship (were the tubes mounted on the top of the hull or the bottom? I couldn't tell.) [[User:Gutter Monkey|Gutter Monkey]] 20:55, 16 December 2006 (CST)

:Top of the ship, and I think it was 12 tubes not 14. --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 22:49, 16 December 2006 (CST)

::Yep, definitely twelve tubes; two rows of six. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 03:58, 17 December 2006 (CST)

:::Good, my eyes aren't failing me (Yet). --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 13:07, 17 December 2006 (CST)

== Nuclear warhead yield ==

The author of the nuke section considers that by the size of the missiles, their yield could go from 5 to 150 kilotons. Yet, if the missiles are particularly huge, such a low yield is illogical. Not even modern nukes would easily fit in decent compact casings and be capable of delivering many hundreds of kilotons, but if those missile tubes are supposedly large, so would the missiles, and cramming multi-megaton warheads into them would be a cinch. --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 03:06, 17 November 2009 (UTC)

== Armor plating ==

If I recall, the ribs on ''Galactica's'' hull were supposedly covered with armor plating originally. Which would imply that at the time of the First Cylon War it was in place. However, in the first Razor flashback, there was no armor plating, even though the ship was fairly new at the time. Just an oversight maybe, any thoughts? --[[User:Maserati1945|Maserati1945]] 22:07, 7 October 2007 (CDT)

: Firstly, this has been floating around the fandom for sometime now. I don't know why, because there's nothing official to back it up; the only things that we know got changed on the Big G were the starboard landing bay for it to become a museum. Actually, as so far as we've been able to tell, the ribs are actually part of the design. This seems to be backed up by [[Lee Stringer]], who worked in the Miniseries. [http://www.mediablvd.com/forums/index.php?act=Print&client=printer&f=180&t=8278 From a post he made on MediaBlvd], "In regards to the ribs, I believe that the ribs were always part of the design. In my opinion, they are a defense feature that would protect the Galactica from any incoming missiles unless they approached it from a perpendicular trajectory. Any angular deviation from 90 degrees would have the missile impact the ribs and not the hull underneath."
: Also, I believe the hull armor removal claim was later refuted as well... I just haven't been able to dig that up yet either.
: Either way, the visible ribbing makes wonderful sense, as you don't need a smooth hull in space for the fact that you don't have any atmospheric drag to worry about. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 22:46, 7 October 2007 (CDT)
::I think it comes from the fact that there are some areas on the hull with seemingly incomplete plating. The armor there is, is very irregular. Sometimes it's just a very small slab of metal that seems to have no function, thus appearing incomplete. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 01:34, 8 October 2007 (CDT)

== Cargo ==

Is it just me, or do the crates and boxes in Galactica's corridors seem to increase in number over time? In the miniseries, there are nearly none, and by Season 3 they seem to be everywhere. Why exactly would this happen? --[[User:Isidis|Isidis]] 14:38, 11 November 2007 (CST)
: I imagine ''Pegasus'' had something to do with that. Also, ''Galactica'' had to house families after [[New Caprica]], so they might have moved stuff around in order to set up living space. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 14:45, 11 November 2007 (CST)
::I agree. It is probable that things have been moved out of storage rooms to provide bunking space for a ship that not only has the bulk of ''Pegasus'''s old crew, but some VIP civilians, the remainder housed in [[Camp Oil Slick]] as a result of the destruction of ''[[Cloud 9]]'' and several ship's worth of crowded space. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 14:57, 11 November 2007 (CST)

Battlestar Wiki talk:Think Tank/Separate continuity

2009-05-30T19:05:21Z

Mister Oragahn:

As noted in the TT, we already perform the use of separate continuity, but there's no policy established for it. It works well, but with a policy we can enforce content in the future without ripping it from the wiki, as it does belong, but just in its proper section, like juvunile books in a library. Comments? --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 14:45, 9 October 2006 (CDT)
: Sounds quite fine to me -- it's naturally what we do already anyway. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 15:53, 9 October 2006 (CDT)
:: Technically, it's a policy that is as good as any other, with the advantage of making things clearer for the reader. Now, the "separate continuity" thing is not free from crucial criticism. Following a comment made by Joe Beaudoin here (http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Talk:Flight_pod#The_nuke:_only_kiloton.3F), I went to read more about what's canon, being unaware of there being anything about an official canon policy from the makers of the show or the producers. I realized that the canon policy is a fan construct thus far, and as such, will collide with other policies. There are many fans who consider that unless an official product clearly stands in its own continuity, it is part of the canon, but at a lower level. Generally, when a source conflicts with the show on a detail, and not on a critical element, only the point of contradiction is ignored in favour of the corresponding fact from the higher level of canon, usually the show in that case. Therefore, I don't see how exactly the 2005 BSG novelization can be counted outside of canon while 99.9% of its material closely follows the mini series and fits with it very well, when there are very few discrepancies with the mother material.
:: Canon is largely a matter of recognized rules, pretty much like religion and geopolitics. It's a mere question of agreement. Even when a central source of authority dictates what is canon and what is not, fans of a given community, on a given board, may adopt their own canon, although in general most tend to follow the official word, generally for practical reasons since what is officially declared canon has far less chances of being contradicted that material outside of this ensemble, official or not.
:: But there's an absolute lack of any official party line about the re-imagined series. You clearly put lots of efforts into the local policy, but don't be shocked to see that fans outside would joyfully integrate more official sources to the canon as long as the points of disagreement are on small details. There are countless TV franchises out there with their own canon policies which include sources carrying more internal contradictions than the bits found in the 2005 novelization of nBSG. --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 19:05, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

== Vote ==

* Date Started: {{dateahead|{{JD|2006|10 |15}}|0}}
* Date Ending: {{dateahead|{{JD|2006|10 |15}}|7}}


# [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin Jr.]] - {{support}} -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 21:13, 19 October 2006 (CDT)
# [[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] - {{support}} It seems like the best way to handle the issue, and it's what we do already. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]]<sup>([[Special:Contributions/CalculatinAvatar|C]]-[[User talk:CalculatinAvatar|T]])</sup> 01:23, 20 October 2006 (CDT)
# [[User:Day|Day]] -
# [[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] -
# [[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] -
# [[User:Shane|Shane]] - {{Support}} --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 07:52, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
# [[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] - {{support}}. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 09:27, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
# [[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] - {{support}} Pay no attention to "bearded-Steelviper", who may drop by and oppose. His vote only counts in the mirror universe. --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 17:10, 17 October 2006 (CDT)

# {{Support}} --[[User:Gougef|FrankieG]] 09:41, 17 October 2006 (CDT)

Talk:Flight pod/Archive 1

2009-05-20T01:57:00Z

Mister Oragahn: /* The nuke: only kiloton? */

== The Starboard Pod's Hangar Deck ==

The flight-unusable hangar deck of the starboard flight pod was first used as the makeshift morgue for those killed in the nuclear strike aftereffects at the start of the Mini-Series. They couldn't be the regular hangar deck for the morgue--they're too busy retrieving the remains of two squadrons of Vipers at the time, and to have the bodies there would be cramped AND gross.

The starboard hangar is also in use at the end of the mini-series and seems to be used as an assembly area often (perhaps in "[[Home, Part II]]" as well. Unlike its port side, the starboard hangar deck is practically empty. Funerals were held here, probably in "[[Act of Contrition]]", and the bodies were buried in space through one of the launch tubes or Viper retrieval area of some kind as shown in that scene. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 14:49, 13 December 2005 (EST)

:Might be worth someone adding a section on Camp Oil Slick maybe? As a related but non-canon note, wouldn't it make more sense to put this flight pod into operational service now that Galactica has Pegasus' complement of Vipers? --[[User:Fordsierra4x4|Fordsierra4x4]] 02:20, 20 November 2006 (CST)

::To add to this confusion about the starboard pod being used ... in [[Black Market]] when Racetrack is returning Apollo to Galactica, thy approach the starboard pod.--[[User:RUSnooky|RUSnooky]] 23:59, 15 June 2007 (CDT)

== A Measure of Salvation ==

Apollo mentions landing in the starboard pod in AMoS. On the Ragnar Anchorage forum someone claims that Raptors ''took off'' from it. But as far as I can see it, the only take off seen is around 35:25 and uses what looks like the port pod (cool shot btw). Can anyone confirm/deny that?

In any case I wouldn't draw too many conclusions from that. If it's indeed in an VFX shot, it could still be an error, but even the dialogue piece could be an error. It could be rationalized by saying that they wanted to land in an isolated place, as Cottle demanded a quarantine. Nearly all other evidence points to the hangar decks being relatively deserted, used for storage and for refugee camps (the pod is huge! Those aren't mutually exclusive) --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 11:47, 5 February 2007 (CST)

== "Since Galactica's landing bays don't seem to use artificial gravity.." ==

Surely Galactica's pods must use artificial gravity. It wouldn't be much use as a musum otherwise? [[User:FredTheDeadHead|FredTheDeadHead]] 11:57, 4 March 2007 (CST)
:Well, that's a point, but that might have been installed later. In the Miniseries, there are spacesuited figures floating around in zero-g inside the active flightpod. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 12:26, 4 March 2007 (CST)
::When does that happen? Could I have a rough timestamp please? [[User:FredTheDeadHead|FredTheDeadHead]] 14:04, 4 March 2007 (CST)
:::When ''Colonial One'' first docks to ''Galactica''. At around 28:10. Look at the floor to the right of the ship. One of those workers is clearly floating. So in normal operation they don't seem to use AG. Maybe for they installed something into the floor for the museum... --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 14:18, 4 March 2007 (CST)

== Hate to be anal here... ==

... but which pictures are we talking about, exactly? Are we talking about the Nimitz comparison? If so, we need to make this far more clear and precise:

: ''From comparing various graphics, it can be seen that the length of one of ''Galactica'' 's flight pods is around 660 metres long, 60 metres tall and 46 metres wide. Most of the internal space is taken up by the pod's enormous [[landing bay]], giving it similar dimensions.''

--[[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 21:16, 24 October 2007 (CDT)
:I think analysis this detailed from a single picture that was only ever meant to be ''rough'' comparison isn't helpful anyways. I don't see how that narrows it down to one-meter precision. However, I really couldn't care less about such dimensions and can easily do without them. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 01:37, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
:: That's my feeling on the subject, to be honest. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup>
:::And being more objective: it say "various graphics". But what are these? I only see one. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 01:44, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
::::All I've ever seen is the Nimitz comparison... Hence the reason why I posed the question. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 01:53, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
:::::We do have the Zoic renders of the Galactica 3d model, as well as the official dimensions. Working from those, we should be able to calculate the size of the flight pods. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 05:30, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
::::::Ok, if we're going to do that, then we need to show our work so that people at home can follow along. It's probably best to put all that into [[Sources:Flight pod]], or something to that effect, since it would fall under logical deduction. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 14:29, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
:::::::I definately agree with you there, Joe. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 14:41, 25 October 2007 (CDT)

== Flight pods in the finale ==
The finale shows that ''Galactica'' doesn't need to retract the flight pods to jump, it's just a good idea otherwise your combat-landed Vipers might go flying out the end (I'm hoping those Vipers powered up in time before they splattered on the Moon's surface).--[[User:Werthead|Werthead]] 00:18, 23 March 2009 (UTC)
:I think it would be more accurate to say that ''Galactica'' *shouldn't* jump without retracting the flightpods. We can't definitively say that it safely can, since the one time it did (other than continuity errors showing the flightpods extended when jumping but retracted when emerging from the jump) results in structural failure.-- [[User:Fredmdbud|Fredmdbud]] 04:04, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

== The nuke: only kiloton? ==
Although we know Lee managed to lure Raiders by mimicking the release of EM from a 50 Kt nuke, to convince the Cylon ships of the destruction of Colonial One, we could assert that the Raiders were not looking for an exact quantification of the explosion. They were, after all, fooled by a transponder put on board a Raptor flying close to Cylon patrols and even a Basestar.
I think the fiendish Raiders just noticed a big light and didn't start counting the rems.
We also know from Razor that during the holocaust, the Raiders had enough firepower to cause impressive damage to battleships parked at the Scorpion Yards.
Besides, the official Miniseries Novelization clarifies the execution of the bombardment of Caprica and makes it crystal clear that the 50 MT nukes were lobbed by Raiders.
We saw that even Raptors could fire small and yet god-awfully powerful nukes at the Cylon Colony, nukes so powerful they literally made the station rotate upon impact, and we know that as we see internal explosions on the other side of the Colony, running down the arm which the Galactica is close to, that the energy of the explosions caused by the nukes finds its origins, for a large part, from the nukes themselves.
As per Baltar's words, under the right pressure and heat, blowing up tylium could give you 500 TJ/kg. That's impressive and fits with powerful multi-megaton warheads carried by small crafts.
The destruction of the Cylon Hub by four nukes fired by two Vipers Mk-VII, destroying the Cylon Hub and, with the released energy (with four explosions being relatively identical regardless of their point of impact), also destroying a nearby Basestar, would support the existence of such high yield nuclear ordnance for small crafts. --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 01:42, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

: Only problem with this statement is the fact that the official novelization is not [[Battlestar Wiki:Canon|canon]]. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 03:27, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

::Right. The rest still works though, but I have to revise my judgment regarding the Colony vs nukes:
::The Colonial nukes are not weak, but there's a limit to how far we can pretend they dealt damage to such a huge Colony. Regardless of their point of impact, they caused massive explosions. The problem with artificial structures being hit is that you don't really know what's being hit. There could be considerable reserves of tylium, weapon caches and nuke stocks here and there.
::Even asteroid impacts against the colony were making near Galactica sized explosions, despite low speed impacts.
::I don't think the Colony is super tough. It's reasonably tough to survive such explosions, but obviously mere low speed asteroid impacts can cause significant surface explosions.
::NOTE: the differences are that I recently realized that the explosions on the surface of the Colony, near Galactica, were caused by asteroid impacts which I didn't spot before, and I really think the explosions were enhanced by the Colony's own weapon and fuel depots. --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 01:57, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Talk:Flight pod/Archive 1

2009-05-19T01:42:03Z

Mister Oragahn:

== The Starboard Pod's Hangar Deck ==

The flight-unusable hangar deck of the starboard flight pod was first used as the makeshift morgue for those killed in the nuclear strike aftereffects at the start of the Mini-Series. They couldn't be the regular hangar deck for the morgue--they're too busy retrieving the remains of two squadrons of Vipers at the time, and to have the bodies there would be cramped AND gross.

The starboard hangar is also in use at the end of the mini-series and seems to be used as an assembly area often (perhaps in "[[Home, Part II]]" as well. Unlike its port side, the starboard hangar deck is practically empty. Funerals were held here, probably in "[[Act of Contrition]]", and the bodies were buried in space through one of the launch tubes or Viper retrieval area of some kind as shown in that scene. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 14:49, 13 December 2005 (EST)

:Might be worth someone adding a section on Camp Oil Slick maybe? As a related but non-canon note, wouldn't it make more sense to put this flight pod into operational service now that Galactica has Pegasus' complement of Vipers? --[[User:Fordsierra4x4|Fordsierra4x4]] 02:20, 20 November 2006 (CST)

::To add to this confusion about the starboard pod being used ... in [[Black Market]] when Racetrack is returning Apollo to Galactica, thy approach the starboard pod.--[[User:RUSnooky|RUSnooky]] 23:59, 15 June 2007 (CDT)

== A Measure of Salvation ==

Apollo mentions landing in the starboard pod in AMoS. On the Ragnar Anchorage forum someone claims that Raptors ''took off'' from it. But as far as I can see it, the only take off seen is around 35:25 and uses what looks like the port pod (cool shot btw). Can anyone confirm/deny that?

In any case I wouldn't draw too many conclusions from that. If it's indeed in an VFX shot, it could still be an error, but even the dialogue piece could be an error. It could be rationalized by saying that they wanted to land in an isolated place, as Cottle demanded a quarantine. Nearly all other evidence points to the hangar decks being relatively deserted, used for storage and for refugee camps (the pod is huge! Those aren't mutually exclusive) --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 11:47, 5 February 2007 (CST)

== "Since Galactica's landing bays don't seem to use artificial gravity.." ==

Surely Galactica's pods must use artificial gravity. It wouldn't be much use as a musum otherwise? [[User:FredTheDeadHead|FredTheDeadHead]] 11:57, 4 March 2007 (CST)
:Well, that's a point, but that might have been installed later. In the Miniseries, there are spacesuited figures floating around in zero-g inside the active flightpod. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 12:26, 4 March 2007 (CST)
::When does that happen? Could I have a rough timestamp please? [[User:FredTheDeadHead|FredTheDeadHead]] 14:04, 4 March 2007 (CST)
:::When ''Colonial One'' first docks to ''Galactica''. At around 28:10. Look at the floor to the right of the ship. One of those workers is clearly floating. So in normal operation they don't seem to use AG. Maybe for they installed something into the floor for the museum... --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 14:18, 4 March 2007 (CST)

== Hate to be anal here... ==

... but which pictures are we talking about, exactly? Are we talking about the Nimitz comparison? If so, we need to make this far more clear and precise:

: ''From comparing various graphics, it can be seen that the length of one of ''Galactica'' 's flight pods is around 660 metres long, 60 metres tall and 46 metres wide. Most of the internal space is taken up by the pod's enormous [[landing bay]], giving it similar dimensions.''

--[[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 21:16, 24 October 2007 (CDT)
:I think analysis this detailed from a single picture that was only ever meant to be ''rough'' comparison isn't helpful anyways. I don't see how that narrows it down to one-meter precision. However, I really couldn't care less about such dimensions and can easily do without them. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 01:37, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
:: That's my feeling on the subject, to be honest. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup>
:::And being more objective: it say "various graphics". But what are these? I only see one. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 01:44, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
::::All I've ever seen is the Nimitz comparison... Hence the reason why I posed the question. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 01:53, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
:::::We do have the Zoic renders of the Galactica 3d model, as well as the official dimensions. Working from those, we should be able to calculate the size of the flight pods. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 05:30, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
::::::Ok, if we're going to do that, then we need to show our work so that people at home can follow along. It's probably best to put all that into [[Sources:Flight pod]], or something to that effect, since it would fall under logical deduction. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 14:29, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
:::::::I definately agree with you there, Joe. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 14:41, 25 October 2007 (CDT)

== Flight pods in the finale ==
The finale shows that ''Galactica'' doesn't need to retract the flight pods to jump, it's just a good idea otherwise your combat-landed Vipers might go flying out the end (I'm hoping those Vipers powered up in time before they splattered on the Moon's surface).--[[User:Werthead|Werthead]] 00:18, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

== The nuke: only kiloton? ==
Although we know Lee managed to lure Raiders by mimicking the release of EM from a 50 Kt nuke, to convince the Cylon ships of the destruction of Colonial One, we could assert that the Raiders were not looking for an exact quantification of the explosion. They were, after all, fooled by a transponder put on board a Raptor flying close to Cylon patrols and even a Basestar.
I think the fiendish Raiders just noticed a big light and didn't start counting the rems.
We also know from Razor that during the holocaust, the Raiders had enough firepower to cause impressive damage to battleships parked at the Scorpion Yards.
Besides, the official Miniseries Novelization clarifies the execution of the bombardment of Caprica and makes it crystal clear that the 50 MT nukes were lobbed by Raiders.
We saw that even Raptors could fire small and yet god-awfully powerful nukes at the Cylon Colony, nukes so powerful they literally made the station rotate upon impact, and we know that as we see internal explosions on the other side of the Colony, running down the arm which the Galactica is close to, that the energy of the explosions caused by the nukes finds its origins, for a large part, from the nukes themselves.
As per Baltar's words, under the right pressure and heat, blowing up tylium could give you 500 TJ/kg. That's impressive and fits with powerful multi-megaton warheads carried by small crafts.
The destruction of the Cylon Hub by four nukes fired by two Vipers Mk-VII, destroying the Cylon Hub and, with the released energy (with four explosions being relatively identical regardless of their point of impact), also destroying a nearby Basestar, would support the existence of such high yield nuclear ordnance for small crafts. --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 01:42, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

Talk:Galactica type battlestar/Archive 1

2009-05-19T01:04:20Z

Mister Oragahn: /* Life Support */

:: Archive from [http://www.battlestarwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Talk:Galactica_type_battlestar&oldid=47676 April 17, 2006]
== Medical Capabilites of a Battlestar ==

Peter,

Your assertion of "unfound speculation" concerning my contribution is uninformed and unfounded. I am a military medical planner and a published author. My assertion of the potential medical capabilities and requirements of an intergalactic warship (modeled on a US aircraft carrier), while hypothetical, is informed. Keep in mind these are requirements that the ship would have originally been built (not the "as is" state). At this point in the story line, clearly Major Cottle is the only doctor on Galactica, however we have never seen the Pegasus medical bay or any of its medical personnel. With established industrial facilities on Pegasus (Viper production established in “Scar”), the Pegasus would have evn greater Occupational Health / Preventive Medicine than Galactica. And if you do a walk down of the ancillary services (pharmacy (camala extract), orthopedic and x-ray (Kara’s knee injury), optometry (ADM Adama’s glasses), etc, you will see they exist even if they are not portrayed. Additionally, it was an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed, complete with ventilator, which William Adama was in during his multiple surgeries (establishing an Operation Room (OR)).

Capital ships are designed to go into battle, which means they will take damage and casualties. Often it is the ability to regenerate / repair / refit in the quickest amount of time that determines the outcome of battles. General Nathan Bedford Forrest of the Confederate States of America is famous for the quote, “He who gets there the fastest with the mostest wins.” RDM makes reference to his experience onboard a Navy ship in podcasts, including “The Captain’s Hand”. Thus, there is an established framework present.

I provide you two active hyperlinks that back up my contribution. While dated, they are still relevant.

http://www.mfp.usmc.mil/TeamApp/G4/Topics/20040916154046/Med%20Cont%20Factbook.pdf

www.iiimef.usmc.mil/medical/ FMF/FMFE/FMFEref/fs_man/CHAPTER%2014.html

--[[User:Killerman|Killerman]] 20:26, 12 April 2006 (CDT)

:I have no doubt that you are well qualified to speak about the medical capabilities of an aircraft carrier. I dispute their relevance to BSG, however. while they might provide a good baseline for guesswork, I don't think that simple guesswork belongs on this site. We don't extrapolate armament details based on the capabilities of modern naval vessels, for example. If you wanted, I wouldn't object to something along the lines of "we may conjecture that the medical facilities of a colonial battlestar are roughly comparable to those of a modern aircraft carrier" with one of the links you provided above; but I will not agree to listing out detailed specifications based on no in-continuity data. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 20:37, 12 April 2006 (CDT)

::''At last I went to the artisans. I was conscious that I knew nothing at all, as I may say, and I was sure that they knew many fine things; and here I was not mistaken, for they did know many things of which I was ignorant, and in this they certainly were wiser than I was. But I observed that even the good artisans fell into error;--because they were good workmen they thought that they also knew all sorts of high matters, and this defect in them overshadowed their wisdom;''
:::''The Apology of Socrates'', Plato

::Sir, none of us doubt that you know what you are talking about when you list the medical capabilities of a modern aicraft carrier. But this does not grant you increased insight into the inner logic of the tv series: First, we have no idea how many medical staff are onboard, and comparing it to an aircraft carrier is just speculation. Second, we have no idea how many crewmen a Mercury class battlestar normally has, as has been asked in the "Questions" segment of the "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" episode guide article: Pegasus has 1,750 crewmen when it encounters Galactica, but A) It was going into drydock, and some of the crew may have left to the port, B) 700 crewmen died in the initial attack C) Cain impressed civillians she encounteed into service and most importantly C) Cain was fighting a hit and run war against the Cylons for months, which wore down her crew numbers through attrition. But I digress. Yes, we should object to a statement like "we may conjecture that medical facilities of a colonial battlestar are roughly comparable to those of a modern aircraft carrier". --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 21:41, 12 April 2006 (CDT)

:::I guess you can object to that too, if you want. I was trying to compromise. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 21:48, 12 April 2006 (CDT)
::::I'm sorry Peter but this is a really good example of the speculation I don't think we should be inserting into this kind of article. There is nothing to be gained from such a compromise. I would if there were, and would like to, but I can't change facts. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 21:51, 12 April 2006 (CDT)

Peter,

As I am preparing to deploy for a year, please forgive me as I have packed all my BSG video. I grant you that the personnel numbers for a fully manned battlestar are informed speculation based upon a comparison to a modern aircraft carrier. I use these numbers as RDM has referenced a battlestar to a modern carrier, his experience in the Navy (podcast for The Captain’s Hand), Galactica type battlestar – article – dimensions’ jpg comparing a Battlestar to a CVN Image:Bsg-2-cvn.jpg on this very page. My professional training drives me to fill in unknowns with assumptions. That is what the personnel piece was intended and is consistent with other speculation within the Wiki, so long as it is said to be speculation (i.e. the actual working of an FTL drive). But sticking to the medical capabilities known from “in country (your term)” knowledge (i.e. seen on screen or in dialogue), we know much about Galactica. First, Galactica has a sickbay (Act of Contrition, Litmus). Exact bed count is not known, but is greater than seven (Act of Contrition). Based upon the burn victims (Act of Contrition) and treatment of William Adama (Scattered, Valley of Darkness, Fragged), we have seen Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, complete with ventilators, electrocardiograms (ECG), pulse / respiration / pulseox (shows percent of oxygen saturation dissolved in blood) monitors. We also have seen at least on operation room (OR) (Fragged), and subsequently confirm its existence with Kara Thrace’s knee surgery (Litmus) and Lee Adama’s chest surgery (Sacrifice). Concerning the radiology suite, we saw a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI – incidentally, a very advanced piece of equipment) when Baltar had Dr. Cottle examine his head looking for an implanted chip (sorry, don’t remember the episode). We also saw conventional (chest) x-rays of Commander William Adama, during his surgery (Fragged, Scattered). We heard about Sharon’s ultrasound, as part of pre-natal health on Hera, where Dr. Cottle found an abnormality. And while not part of radiology, Hera, is placed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) incubator, when is born prematurely. Next, we know it has a pharmacy. The President asked Dr. Cottle for Camala, the Viper pilots were taking “stims” (33, Final Cut) and Kara is taking pain killers for her knee surgery (Litmus) and latter asks Lee for antibiotics for Anders (Lay Down Your Burdens – Part II). Additionally, with the surgeries and burn victims, there are other pharmacological needs and a pharmacy is where these things dwell. Other areas that we have seen or know about are a morgue, where Galactica-Boomer was stored; a laboratory (to do support simple blood type and matching to support surgery), optometry with a fabrication lab (William Adama wears glasses and as stated in other areas of this site, battlestars are designed for sustained operations). We are also can infer that Galactica has some preventive medicine / occupational health capability because in “Water”, there was a discussion about water recycling (leading to potable water). It is Preventive Medicine that does this task.

I would like to add that RDM and SciFi do a heck of a job weaving into the background all these things. As an experienced health services officer with over 22 years in the health care field, there is a tremendous amount of detail that happens in the background. If I was a casual observer, I might miss or not care about some of these things. As someone headed into harms way, I assure you that our fighting forces moral is impacted combat health support. I absolutely belive we need to address the medical capabilities of a battle star. The propose the best way is start with what it would look like at full strenght / desired capability. Clearly, Season 3 will start with two grossly undermanned battlestars, with very limited offensive combat capability.--[[User:Killerman|Killerman]] 22:10, 16 April 2006 (CDT)

:The citations you've provided make it much easier to include this information, and I thank you for taking the time to write this all out. The addition should improve the article considerably. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 22:21, 16 April 2006 (CDT)

::I am sorry, but this doesn't change much: the above information was gleaned from things we've seen on screen, and is thus informative and useful. However, the original entry to this article he made (speculative medical numbers, etc.)...isn't supported by any of these citations. Basically, they're two separate issues and should be treated separately. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 00:48, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

:::Reverting to Killerman's last version isn't a good idea, but he (or we) can refactor his contribution using the points and evidence he raised above. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 00:57, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

::::Oh yes yes, something new and revised. Yes. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 01:24, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

== Manufacture vs. Assembly of Ammunition ==
The "assembly" activities that take place in [[Epiphanies]] would fall into the realm of "production", depending on how you look at it. It seemed like they were loading the casings (I thought RDM said they were going to use caseless ammo) with powder, seating the primer and inserting the bullet, turning the various components into a cartridge. Whether or not they produced the individual components (metal for bullets and casings would be easy, compounds for primers and powder probably harder to obtain), the act of putting those bits together would often be considered "manufacturing" ammunition. Not a big deal, and I didn't even change the text (since it's pretty debatable). An example of this use of the word is in this [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4044-2004Jul21_2.html Washington Post Article]:

"''Israeli Military Industries said the ammunition will be manufactured in Israel but the raw materials, including propellants, projectiles and primers, come from U.S. sources.''
"

Once again, not trying to start a war, just wanted to weigh in on a subject I knew a little about (since they so rarely come up). --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 14:02, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

== Picture of destroyed Galactica-type Battlestar ==
Though certainly a model of a Galactica-type was used for the shot, it's clearly mentioned at the very beginning of the miniseries that ''Galactica'' is the only ship of it's kind still in service. The story places the shot only hours after the beginning of the attack, so it should be impossible that another Galactica-type (museum or mothballed in a reserve-fleet) could be readied for battle. Shouldn't the destroyed battlestar be taken as one of a third class between the Galactica-Type and Mercury-class, still looking a lot like the Galactica-type? [[User:Nevfennas|Nevfennas]] 13:39, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:That was my impulse. Story logic dictates that the destroyed hulk probably wasn't a Galactica type, but in the real world we can surmise that Zoic probably re-used the Galactica model. Of course, from that distance, we could fudge our interpretation either way. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 13:50, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::They don't necessarily mean that there are no Galactica type battlestars in service besides the Big-G, it could be taken to mean none like Galactica, eg. non-refitted, no networks, etc. The battlestar there could easily (and belivably) be a refitted Galactica type. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 14:22, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::I concur with Talos, and that has been my understanding. Besides, unless the ship was simply overwhelmed by Cylon military brawn, an old-Cylon War battlestar would put up the same level of fight as ''Galactica'' would have. Else, it was just as vulnerable as the new battlestars. I agree, cinematically, that that Galactica model was just reused.--[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 14:59, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:::[http://www.skyone.co.uk/programme/pgefeature.aspx?pid=3&fid=642 Something to ask] the big man himself? --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] 14:34, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::::I'll do that in a little bit, I have to pick up my brother from his band practice in a minute. The life of a college student living at home... --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 14:36, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::::I really doubt he's going to take the time to clarify such a niggling detail. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 14:39, 24 April 2006 (CDT)

It has always been my belief that Doral meant it was the only Galactica-type battlestar never refited. I always point to the ''U.S.S. Missouri'' (Mighty 'Mo) as an example of a ship with over 50 years of combat service that just kept getting refitted over time to the point that it was firing satellite-targeted cruise missiles at the end of its service. I think Galactica was just the only one that was never refitted. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 15:57, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:My point exactly. It's like the WWII era Essex class carriers. There were refits that were completly rebuilt but a few, essentially, originals survived until the early 1960s with the others serving thru Vietnam ([[Wikipedia:USS Oriskany (CVA-34)|USS Oriskany (CVA-34)]] for example). The [[Wikipedia:USS Lexington (CV-16)|USS Lexington (CV-16)]] was in service as a training ship until 1991! --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 16:26, 24 April 2006 (CDT)

::It's exactly the ''USS Missouri''-example why I believe that ''Galactica'' is the last of it's class: All four ''Iowa''-Class battleships were updated and they all were finally decommissoned (for now) between 1990 and 1992. If the ''Galactica'' is simply the only one not refitted one would have to ask why that wasn't done. Why would one refit three ''Iowas'' but not the last one? This usually only happens if a ship is somehow different from her sisters (e.g. having sustained heavy battledamage the refit is more expensive and not worth the effort). Also it could be that the fleet is being downsized, no longer needing all ships. An example for this would be the British [[Wikipedia:Illustrious class aircraft carrier|''Illustrious''-Class]] of World War II. Of these three carriers only one received an angled flight-deck, surviving the scrapping of the other two for twenty years. But in all these cases I find it hard to believe that anyone would describe one of the ships decommissioned first as ''the last of it's kind still in service'' if there others (refitted or not) still in action. Which ''Iowa'' would have been described that way prior to it's decommissioning: ''Iowa'' in 1990 or ''Missouri'' in 1992? Wasn't ''Lexington'' the last ''Essex''?
::What Doral says before and after that statement makes it quite clear that he's not talking about a certain detail (like ''last of it's kind without a network'' would have been). He starts with ''worldfamous Battlestar Galactica'', then ''last of her kind still in service'' followed by ''constructed 50 years ago as one of the first twelve battlestars, representing Caprica''. The only possible explanation for other Galactica-types this leaves would be ''Galactica'' being the last of the first twelve, with other Galactica-types coming from a second batch no longer representing specific colonys. But even then "last of her kind" is an usual choice of words to describe that. [[User:Nevfennas|Nevfennas]] 17:13, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Well said. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 20:04, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::::I think it is still ambiguous, and we should wait for an RDM blog reply before changing anything. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 20:54, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:::::I doubt RDM will respond to this issue, and I think the safest course of action would just be to remove it. There's sufficient reason to doubt that the hulk isn't a galactica-type that we shouldn't take a firm position on the issue. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 01:22, 25 April 2006 (CDT)
:::The motivation for no refit to ''Galactica'' could be nostaliga or historical preservation, explaining the odd wording; for such a purpose, only the unaltered version would count. ...Don't get the impression I believe that just because I said it. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 20:56, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:Not to mention Adama, "It's a computer network and I'll be damned if I'll let it aboard my ship while I'm in command." (Paraphrased)--[[User:Talos|Talos]] 21:01, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:We don't even know for sure if the destroyed battlestar was even in service. It could have been decommissioned earlier and be acting like a museum, just like Galactica was supposed to be. That would also explain its quick destruction. (It snapped cleanly in half). --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]] 09:01, 13 January 2007 (CST)
::It could easily be in service still. In the Russian (and former Soviet) navy, there is a class of destroyers called the [[w:Udaloy class destroyer|Udaloy]]. The last of the class was heavily refitted and updated, bringing it up almost to Burke class levels. The important thing here is that there are still unrefitted ones in service (there was only enough money to upgrade one, the Admiral Chabenko). Then again, there is the Fletcher/Sumner class destroyers. The main differences were the gun armament (5x1 5" in Fletcher, 3x2 5" in Sumner), and the Sumner's twin rudders. Same hull and most of the superstructure. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 10:13, 13 January 2007 (CST)
Also possible that the Galactica was origionally heavily armored like the Columbia but retrofitted. Then the other 1st war ships of its type were eventually decomissioned, whilst other Galactica Type Battlestars were made after the war without the extra armor (and other things we don't know about) to the new upgraded design of the Galactica type, therefore a different kind of ship. [[User:VARGR|VARGR]] 20:04, 11 February 2009 (UTC)
== Crew numbers ==

How do we know a fully manned and equipped battlestar has a crew of 4,000 to 5,000? Was it said in some episode or where do these numbers come from? I'm updating the [[de:Kampfstern, Galactica-Typ|german battlestar article]] and I don't like to use data that seems to be made up out of thin air. The links and notes provided don't give any hint about the normal crew number of a battlestar of this type. We apologise for any inconvenience. -- [[User:Astfgl|Astfgl]] 16:03, 25 June 2006 (CDT)
:In the Miniseries, Tyrol says that there are over 2,000 people on Galactica. The ships seems very undermanned at the same time so I would think that 4-5,000 is a good estimate. I'm not sure if we've seen any concrete numbers though, maybe in the magazine. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 16:52, 25 June 2006 (CDT)

::Answer: in "Water" Baltar says how many civilians there are in the Fleet, and subtracting that from the total survivor population in that episode yielded the crew aboard Galactica as of "Water", at some number over 2,600 (I'd have to check). In several podcasts, Ron Moore keeps saying that while not on a skeleton crew, Galactica has about half the number of people on it that a fully crewed battlestar of its class would have. So, "between 4,000 and 5,000". --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:38, 25 June 2006 (CDT)
:::Thanks for the clarification, I'll take these numbers then. -- [[User:Astfgl|Astfgl]] 07:37, 26 June 2006 (CDT)

== Flight tube counts ==
I see (in [[:Image:Bsg-2-cvn.jpg]], e.g.) 20 slots that seem like they might each be divided in half along the side of ''Galactica''. I can see why it is likely they are launch tubes, but I can also see many other similarly sized openings around them. Although it's a fine guess and quite likely to be true, I'm left hestitant that this evidence is sufficiently strong to be canon. In any case, if consensus is that this is canon, we should certainly footnote it, as the truth of the statement is not patently clear. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]]<sup>([[Special:Contributions/CalculatinAvatar|C]]-[[User talk:CalculatinAvatar|T]])</sup> 00:10, 10 August 2006 (CDT)

== Delivery of Nuclear weapons ==

Since the Cylon forces repeatedly use missiles as an effective delivery platform for their nuclear weapons, isn't ir relativel safe to assume- since, of course, the Cylons were created by the Colonials- that the method deployed by Colonial forces is also missile-based? --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 09:22, 12 September 2006 (CDT)
:It's a good idea, and I personally agree with it, but there is no aired proof, and thusly we cannot confirm how they do it. The two Galactica nukes we've seen thus far (Baltar's and the one Boomer uses to destroy the Basestar in Kobol's Last Gleaming Part II) have been removed from their delivery systems. (Although Boomer's did look like it was in a bomb casing). --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 09:31, 12 September 2006 (CDT)
::Fair point. Perhaps we'll get clarificaion in Season3, since Galactica herself still has three nuclear weapons aboard. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 10:06, 12 September 2006 (CDT)
:::Well, we know now, good call on it being revealed in season 3, Although they haven't been used yet, I'm willing to bet they will be used in season 4 and we are going to have to update the articles again.--[[User:Tomglima|Tomglima]] 20:09, 23 October 2007 (CDT)
== Galactica-Class? ==

Please bear with me for a moment as I am citing a magazine many of you may consider illegitimate. In the September 2006 issue of Maxim Magazine, the "Fashion" section of Maxim Style features a photoshoot of the RDM Battlestar Galactica cast modeling various fashions. In one photograph, featuring James Callis and Tricia Helfer in a small corner alcove of the CIC (possibly weapons control or some other station), a center console features the text "GALACTICA-CLASS BATTLESTAR" in two places, easily readable to the viewer. I know it is general policy on television shows that whatever is aired in a given episode is canon, and what is not aired, non-canon. However, would this (i.e., "Galactica-class Battlestar") be considered canon since this console is occasionally seen in a given episode? Or am I just reading too much into a simple photoshoot? --[[User:Jonfucius|Jonfucius]] 09:30, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
:Do you have a photograph of this? or a timestamp where we can check the DVD's? --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] <sup>([[User talk:Mercifull|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/Mercifull|Contribs]])</sup> 09:55, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
::I assume he means [http://bsg-cz.net/news/files/images/season_3/maxim_5.jpg this] but on that pic I can't really see it on the prinouts on the table. It does indeed look like the weapon's control room, though I can't recall the table there. The room can be seen very rarely. In the miniseries for example --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 10:06, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
:::I can barely make it out. Though it isn't canon, unless we saw it on the show itself, or if someone from the show were to tell us that "yes, indeed, ''Galactica'' is a ''Galactica''-class battlestar". Then it's canon. However, by all means, we can certainly put something in the notes section regarding this. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 10:17, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
::::That's definitely the weapons control section of CIC. If we can get a clearer shot, that will remove all doubt; it does look like "Galactica class" to me. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 10:57, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
:::::Something for [[BW:OC]]? --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 11:14, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
::::::If I had access to a scanner I would provide a high-res image to examine; unfortunately, I am a relatively-poor college student (and how many aren't these days?) and the only scanner access I have is a public-use scanner in our bookstore. However, the image Mercifull provided is the one I indicated in my first post. In my copy of the issue, the text clearly reads "Galactica-class Battlestar". I know this is a minor detail among many in a show so richly layered by the writers and producers, but I wanted to make sure the Battlestar Wiki was as accurate as possible; I use the Wiki to enhance my experience of this incredible drama. Thank you all for your timely responses to my question. --[[User:Jonfucius|Jonfucius]] 11:39, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
I hate to dredge up an old topic, but here's some food for thought that might support the theory that ''Galactica'' is the class name. Now, we're told that Galactica herself represented Caprica, the de facto capital of the colonies. Surely it stands to reason that the first battlestar built would be the one to represent the primary colony- Galactica. I know this is fanwanking, but I just thought of it and figured I'd voice my idea. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 12:26, 5 November 2007 (CST)

== Actual class name? ==

I can purely speculate that the actual name of the original battlestar class (of which ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is a member) is ''Onassis'', in honor of the wife of assassinated President [[Wikipedia:John F. Kennedy|John F. Kennedy]], [[Wikipedia:Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]]. So, ''Galactica'' is considered as an ''Onassis''-class battlestar. The prototype of its class, battlestar ''Onassis'' is destroyed in the renewed [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] conflict. --[[User:Starkiller|Starkiller]] 21:06, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
:::::LMAO at this troll.--[[User:Tomglima|Tomglima]] 20:11, 23 October 2007 (CDT)
:And there's ''nothing'' to back this up with? --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 02:06, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
:And how would Colonials know of the Kennedys? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 02:29, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
::Because they got information from Earth about these Kennedys before the Cylon Holocaust. Years before the [[Cylon War]], the battlestar prototype, ''Onassis'', is constructed, then ''Galactica'' itself. Therefore, we presume this original battlestar class (of which ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is a member) is ''Onassis''. --[[User:Starkiller|Starkiller]] 04:20, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
:I am ''very'' confused. There would have to be some serious cite for that change. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 05:10, 19 September 2006 (CDT)

I think that Starkiller is being absurd to prove a point, but, like others, I'm missing it. As per our convention, pure speculation is disallowed here without official sources to back it up. Since the picture of two BSG actors on an official set using props that match others with information cited as official and used here for articles (navigation charts) which indicates that ''Galactica'' is the first of her class, we should continue on this thread. Otherwise, Starkiller's comment is patent nonsense given that BSG is deliberately set so we don't know if the events occur in real-world Earth's past, present, or future. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 07:13, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
:I've heard on several occasions that Galactica may be an "Atlantia-class" battlestar, but have found nothing to support this online. I've also heard that the original Galactica was a "Columbia-class". Is this true? If so, is it possible that the re-imagined Galactica is also a Columbia-class? I think this should head on over to [[BW:OC]]. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 11:46, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
::"Columbia-class" is common fan fiction. "Atlantia" class would make little sense: why would the fleet admiral use a old battlestar as his flagship? His ship would be Mercury class or something better (and more advanced--it was destroyed like the other [[CNP]] ships). --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 16:34, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
:::Then why does Adama choose Galactica as his flaghsip, and not Pegasus? There's nothing said on-screen to suggest that the Galactica-type battlestars were NOT re-fitted with computer networks. I'm just playing devil's advocate here. Besides, the Atlantia mentioned in the mini could easily have been Mercury-class, and the original may have been retired like the Big G was. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 06:54, 20 September 2006 (CDT)
::::Commanders don't have to choose the best and biggest ship as their flagship as long as they can do their duty from another one. Don't know who but some guy in WWII chose a destroyer or maybe a battleship as his command post and not an aircraft carrier. As long as there are options, there is some personal choice involved.
::::And you're right about networks. The Mini gives the distinct impression that it was only Adama's doing that the Galactica
::::wasn't more automated -[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 08:08, 20 September 2006 (CDT)
:::::Yeah, Admiral Raymond Spruance chose the cruiser USS Indianapolis as his flagship when he had multiple carriers at his disposal. --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 21:11, 20 September 2006 (CDT)
::::As shown in events during the second half of season 2, Adama doesn't likely trust ''Pegasus'' crew. To quote Adama: "I tend to go with what you know, until something better comes along." So the decision is logical; he trusts ''Galactica'' and her crew, thus he plants his flag there. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 10:52, 20 September 2006 (CDT)
::::An corollary to Joe's comments: It is very likely that there is a long-standing (but fading) tradition to keep ''Galactica'' from being refitted, just as our USS Constitution was never refitted as a steamer, in keeping with her (supposed) significancy in Colonial war history. Besides, to ''revert'' any ship from new to old technology is just weird and very unlikely. There may have been fewer commanders willing to assume command of ''Galactica'' in this tradition, but Adama, a man who knew all too well of the problems of technology (and had served on her in the last part of the war), chose ''Galactica'' willingly, I figure. This is reinforced with the arrival of ''Pegasus''. He could've moved his new admiral flag there, but he hasn't. He prefers to go with what he knows until something better shows up. The old battlestar ''Galactica'', in Adama's mind, is still best. ''Pegasus'' survived more on luck than inherent design. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 11:30, 20 September 2006 (CDT)

==Role==

As with the Mercury-class article, I've amended the class role to [[Wikipedia:Battlecarrier|battlecarrier]]. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 15:37, 27 September 2006 (CDT)

:Madbrood, I can appreciate the use, but based on your link, I disagree. The term "battlestar" is a true carrier AND battleship in one, where the "battlecarrier" of our Earth is a rough amalgam that doesn't come close in size, fighter capacity, or firepower. Further, I wonder if we want to use complext Earth naval terms instead of what is given in the show to describe the ships using simple naval language. "Carrier/battleship" is less "smooth" than "battlecruiser", but is is also more accurate. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 16:44, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
::I agree. Battlecruiser is a nice term, but it really doesn't fit Galactica. --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 08:35, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
:::Fair enough. I just figured it sounded a bit more "military". --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 09:47, 28 September 2006 (CDT)

::::I know. I'd love to put up "big, frakkin' warship/carrier with guns, lots of guns," but "warship/carrier" may have to do. Keeping it simple. :) --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 15:33, 28 September 2006 (CDT)

== Battlestar Redirect ==
Battlestar (RDM) currently redirects here. The only reason this concerned me was I was actually linking to a more generic use of the word ("Adama had been on an another battlestar before ''Galactica''). Back when "big G" was the only one we knew of, it defintely made sense. Now that we have "''Galactica'' type", "Mercury class", and "''Valkyrie'' type" I was wondering if maybe we needed a more generic article to sit at battlestar (RDM) describing the aircraft carrier/battleship capital ship concept in more general terms, with ''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'', and ''Valkyrie'' being specific examples. --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 13:45, 4 December 2006 (CST)
:That sounds good to me, a general article explaing what battlestars are, listing known ones, mentioning BSGs, missions, etc. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 14:30, 4 December 2006 (CST)
::Rather than that, why not redirect to the central [[Battlestar]] disambiguation? It already has listed all battlestars by show and type, and avoids extra work. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 16:26, 4 December 2006 (CST)
:::'''That''' is exactly what I wanted to link to. I just automatically tagged an RDM on the end of it. I'll go change that link, but I agree that we should just change Battlestar (RDM) to point to Battlestar (work smarter not harder). --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 20:57, 4 December 2006 (CST)
::::Hah, I'd forgotten about that page. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 21:23, 4 December 2006 (CST)
::::Done. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 21:40, 4 December 2006 (CST)

== Life Support ==

How exactly do Galactica's life support systems work? I know their recirculation units replenish oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, but does this oxygen come from tanks or is it recycled from somewhere? The ISS uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, so is is possible that Galactica-type ships do something similar to this?--[[User:Rapturous|Rapturous]] 13:52, 10 October 2007 (CDT)
: Other than the scrubbers, it's really never been explained. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 14:03, 10 October 2007 (CDT)
::Theoretically, they could have a big room full of plants somewhere in the ship. Plants 'breathe in' carbon dioxide and 'breathe out' oxygen, the opposite of what we do. However, you would need some kind of imitation sun then, because the chemical reaction I just described can only occur in sunlight. Other (artifical) means of converting CO<sub>2</sub> back to oxygen could also be used (scrubbers?), but like the plants they will also require energy to work. --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 06:57, 11 October 2007 (CDT)
:::Have you ever seen the film [[w:Sunshine (2007 film)|Sunshine]] Catrope?
:::http://www.sunshinedna.com/wp-images/2005/09/2109_06a.jpg
:::They used an oxygen garden in that to produce the breathable air :D --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] <sup>([[User talk:Mercifull|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/Mercifull|Contribs]])</sup> 07:37, 11 October 2007 (CDT)
::::Yep, I have. Spoilers for Sunshine follow: {{spoilli|In the scene where the ''Icarus II'' crew boards ''Icarus I'', you can see that her garden is still alive, because of the CO<sub>2</sub> <-> O<sub>2</sub> equilibrium between the plants and Captain Pinbacker who has lived there for seven years (having killed the rest of his crew).}} --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 07:58, 11 October 2007 (CDT)
:::Perhaps tanks containing algae, submitted to given ranges of EM radiations? The idea of a garden is nice, but doesn't fit in the show, since no one ever walked in Galactica's garden. ;) That's why they needed Cloud 9. --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 01:04, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

== Galactica class pic to rear its head again ==

I ran across [http://acedmagazine.com/images/stories/battlestargalactica/battlestargalactica23.jpg this picture], which shows the "Galactica class battlestar" sheet again. Thoughts? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 12:21, 25 November 2007 (CST)
:Shall we [[BW:OC|ask Brad]] whether this is official or just something the props department made up? --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 09:21, 26 November 2007 (CST)
:Maybe put it on a more prominent place in the article, but explain that such props aren't necessarily official or reliable. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 09:24, 26 November 2007 (CST)

== Main Battery Numbers ==
I have noticed that there is some confusion on the number of these guns. In examining the the picture of the ventral side, I have noticed 12 guns. 8 are marked, while 4 (two starboard and two port) are partially concealed by the bottom of the bow. They are roughly between the forward four guns and the first four midships guns. --[[User:Kregano|Kregano]] 19:51, 13 January 2008 (CST)
:There are twelve marked (8+4). With another 4, that would make the original number of 24 correct (16 ventral + 8 dorsal). That's why being so pedantic about trivial stuff like ship armament is kinda annoying. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 02:27, 14 January 2008 (CST)

== Why the flight pods must be retracted ==

When Galactica made the jump that broke her spine, her flight pods were still out. It would seem that jumping with the pods extended on this class of ship causes undue structural strain. [[User:ZeldaTheSwordsman|ZeldaTheSwordsman]] 02:04, 4 April 2009 (UTC)
: This was never the real reason for the strain. Having the flight pods extended doesn't cause strain... the jump itself caused strain, particularly after the stress from ramming the Colony and from the previous wear and tear Galactica experienced over the four years. Starting from the nuke impacting on Galactica in the Mini, the stress of continually jumping away from the Colonies, the "Adama Maneuver" at New Caprica, the various engagements with the Cylons throughout the series, going through the star cluster, etc., etc. Tigh said way back in Season Three that it would take weeks of Galactica in drydock just to knock out the dents... and he wasn't joking. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 16:02, 4 April 2009 (UTC)
::Yes, I know that. But jumping with the flight pods out (which has been thoroughly established to be a bad course of action for Galactica's class of battlestar) probably didn't help.
:::There are just too many circumstances that factored into ''Galactica'' breaking her back to make a clear argument for and against the flight pods being *the* main cause. Yes, in all the previous instances it has been said that ''Galactica'' couldn't (or couldn't afford) to jump with them extended. But Adama knew that this was her last mission, and just like Cain, coordinates or flight pods be damned, just jump or they're doomed just the same. BTW, the Raptors jumping inside the flight pod distrupted the structure, so it might very well have been impossible to retract at all.-- [[User:Fredmdbud|Fredmdbud]] 05:48, 11 April 2009 (UTC)
::::If you consider that a FTL drive might be calibrated to make jumps based on a given volume, or mass, themselves possibly relative to the center of gravity of the ship, the physics of the FTL drives might put greater strain onto the ship's superstructure if jumping without retracting the pods. One could think the retraction is necessary because of power requirements as well. --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 01:01, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

Talk:Galactica type battlestar/Archive 1

2009-05-19T01:01:26Z

Mister Oragahn: /* Why the flight pods must be retracted */

:: Archive from [http://www.battlestarwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Talk:Galactica_type_battlestar&oldid=47676 April 17, 2006]
== Medical Capabilites of a Battlestar ==

Peter,

Your assertion of "unfound speculation" concerning my contribution is uninformed and unfounded. I am a military medical planner and a published author. My assertion of the potential medical capabilities and requirements of an intergalactic warship (modeled on a US aircraft carrier), while hypothetical, is informed. Keep in mind these are requirements that the ship would have originally been built (not the "as is" state). At this point in the story line, clearly Major Cottle is the only doctor on Galactica, however we have never seen the Pegasus medical bay or any of its medical personnel. With established industrial facilities on Pegasus (Viper production established in “Scar”), the Pegasus would have evn greater Occupational Health / Preventive Medicine than Galactica. And if you do a walk down of the ancillary services (pharmacy (camala extract), orthopedic and x-ray (Kara’s knee injury), optometry (ADM Adama’s glasses), etc, you will see they exist even if they are not portrayed. Additionally, it was an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed, complete with ventilator, which William Adama was in during his multiple surgeries (establishing an Operation Room (OR)).

Capital ships are designed to go into battle, which means they will take damage and casualties. Often it is the ability to regenerate / repair / refit in the quickest amount of time that determines the outcome of battles. General Nathan Bedford Forrest of the Confederate States of America is famous for the quote, “He who gets there the fastest with the mostest wins.” RDM makes reference to his experience onboard a Navy ship in podcasts, including “The Captain’s Hand”. Thus, there is an established framework present.

I provide you two active hyperlinks that back up my contribution. While dated, they are still relevant.

http://www.mfp.usmc.mil/TeamApp/G4/Topics/20040916154046/Med%20Cont%20Factbook.pdf

www.iiimef.usmc.mil/medical/ FMF/FMFE/FMFEref/fs_man/CHAPTER%2014.html

--[[User:Killerman|Killerman]] 20:26, 12 April 2006 (CDT)

:I have no doubt that you are well qualified to speak about the medical capabilities of an aircraft carrier. I dispute their relevance to BSG, however. while they might provide a good baseline for guesswork, I don't think that simple guesswork belongs on this site. We don't extrapolate armament details based on the capabilities of modern naval vessels, for example. If you wanted, I wouldn't object to something along the lines of "we may conjecture that the medical facilities of a colonial battlestar are roughly comparable to those of a modern aircraft carrier" with one of the links you provided above; but I will not agree to listing out detailed specifications based on no in-continuity data. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 20:37, 12 April 2006 (CDT)

::''At last I went to the artisans. I was conscious that I knew nothing at all, as I may say, and I was sure that they knew many fine things; and here I was not mistaken, for they did know many things of which I was ignorant, and in this they certainly were wiser than I was. But I observed that even the good artisans fell into error;--because they were good workmen they thought that they also knew all sorts of high matters, and this defect in them overshadowed their wisdom;''
:::''The Apology of Socrates'', Plato

::Sir, none of us doubt that you know what you are talking about when you list the medical capabilities of a modern aicraft carrier. But this does not grant you increased insight into the inner logic of the tv series: First, we have no idea how many medical staff are onboard, and comparing it to an aircraft carrier is just speculation. Second, we have no idea how many crewmen a Mercury class battlestar normally has, as has been asked in the "Questions" segment of the "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" episode guide article: Pegasus has 1,750 crewmen when it encounters Galactica, but A) It was going into drydock, and some of the crew may have left to the port, B) 700 crewmen died in the initial attack C) Cain impressed civillians she encounteed into service and most importantly C) Cain was fighting a hit and run war against the Cylons for months, which wore down her crew numbers through attrition. But I digress. Yes, we should object to a statement like "we may conjecture that medical facilities of a colonial battlestar are roughly comparable to those of a modern aircraft carrier". --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 21:41, 12 April 2006 (CDT)

:::I guess you can object to that too, if you want. I was trying to compromise. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 21:48, 12 April 2006 (CDT)
::::I'm sorry Peter but this is a really good example of the speculation I don't think we should be inserting into this kind of article. There is nothing to be gained from such a compromise. I would if there were, and would like to, but I can't change facts. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 21:51, 12 April 2006 (CDT)

Peter,

As I am preparing to deploy for a year, please forgive me as I have packed all my BSG video. I grant you that the personnel numbers for a fully manned battlestar are informed speculation based upon a comparison to a modern aircraft carrier. I use these numbers as RDM has referenced a battlestar to a modern carrier, his experience in the Navy (podcast for The Captain’s Hand), Galactica type battlestar – article – dimensions’ jpg comparing a Battlestar to a CVN Image:Bsg-2-cvn.jpg on this very page. My professional training drives me to fill in unknowns with assumptions. That is what the personnel piece was intended and is consistent with other speculation within the Wiki, so long as it is said to be speculation (i.e. the actual working of an FTL drive). But sticking to the medical capabilities known from “in country (your term)” knowledge (i.e. seen on screen or in dialogue), we know much about Galactica. First, Galactica has a sickbay (Act of Contrition, Litmus). Exact bed count is not known, but is greater than seven (Act of Contrition). Based upon the burn victims (Act of Contrition) and treatment of William Adama (Scattered, Valley of Darkness, Fragged), we have seen Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, complete with ventilators, electrocardiograms (ECG), pulse / respiration / pulseox (shows percent of oxygen saturation dissolved in blood) monitors. We also have seen at least on operation room (OR) (Fragged), and subsequently confirm its existence with Kara Thrace’s knee surgery (Litmus) and Lee Adama’s chest surgery (Sacrifice). Concerning the radiology suite, we saw a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI – incidentally, a very advanced piece of equipment) when Baltar had Dr. Cottle examine his head looking for an implanted chip (sorry, don’t remember the episode). We also saw conventional (chest) x-rays of Commander William Adama, during his surgery (Fragged, Scattered). We heard about Sharon’s ultrasound, as part of pre-natal health on Hera, where Dr. Cottle found an abnormality. And while not part of radiology, Hera, is placed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) incubator, when is born prematurely. Next, we know it has a pharmacy. The President asked Dr. Cottle for Camala, the Viper pilots were taking “stims” (33, Final Cut) and Kara is taking pain killers for her knee surgery (Litmus) and latter asks Lee for antibiotics for Anders (Lay Down Your Burdens – Part II). Additionally, with the surgeries and burn victims, there are other pharmacological needs and a pharmacy is where these things dwell. Other areas that we have seen or know about are a morgue, where Galactica-Boomer was stored; a laboratory (to do support simple blood type and matching to support surgery), optometry with a fabrication lab (William Adama wears glasses and as stated in other areas of this site, battlestars are designed for sustained operations). We are also can infer that Galactica has some preventive medicine / occupational health capability because in “Water”, there was a discussion about water recycling (leading to potable water). It is Preventive Medicine that does this task.

I would like to add that RDM and SciFi do a heck of a job weaving into the background all these things. As an experienced health services officer with over 22 years in the health care field, there is a tremendous amount of detail that happens in the background. If I was a casual observer, I might miss or not care about some of these things. As someone headed into harms way, I assure you that our fighting forces moral is impacted combat health support. I absolutely belive we need to address the medical capabilities of a battle star. The propose the best way is start with what it would look like at full strenght / desired capability. Clearly, Season 3 will start with two grossly undermanned battlestars, with very limited offensive combat capability.--[[User:Killerman|Killerman]] 22:10, 16 April 2006 (CDT)

:The citations you've provided make it much easier to include this information, and I thank you for taking the time to write this all out. The addition should improve the article considerably. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 22:21, 16 April 2006 (CDT)

::I am sorry, but this doesn't change much: the above information was gleaned from things we've seen on screen, and is thus informative and useful. However, the original entry to this article he made (speculative medical numbers, etc.)...isn't supported by any of these citations. Basically, they're two separate issues and should be treated separately. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 00:48, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

:::Reverting to Killerman's last version isn't a good idea, but he (or we) can refactor his contribution using the points and evidence he raised above. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 00:57, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

::::Oh yes yes, something new and revised. Yes. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 01:24, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

== Manufacture vs. Assembly of Ammunition ==
The "assembly" activities that take place in [[Epiphanies]] would fall into the realm of "production", depending on how you look at it. It seemed like they were loading the casings (I thought RDM said they were going to use caseless ammo) with powder, seating the primer and inserting the bullet, turning the various components into a cartridge. Whether or not they produced the individual components (metal for bullets and casings would be easy, compounds for primers and powder probably harder to obtain), the act of putting those bits together would often be considered "manufacturing" ammunition. Not a big deal, and I didn't even change the text (since it's pretty debatable). An example of this use of the word is in this [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4044-2004Jul21_2.html Washington Post Article]:

"''Israeli Military Industries said the ammunition will be manufactured in Israel but the raw materials, including propellants, projectiles and primers, come from U.S. sources.''
"

Once again, not trying to start a war, just wanted to weigh in on a subject I knew a little about (since they so rarely come up). --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 14:02, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

== Picture of destroyed Galactica-type Battlestar ==
Though certainly a model of a Galactica-type was used for the shot, it's clearly mentioned at the very beginning of the miniseries that ''Galactica'' is the only ship of it's kind still in service. The story places the shot only hours after the beginning of the attack, so it should be impossible that another Galactica-type (museum or mothballed in a reserve-fleet) could be readied for battle. Shouldn't the destroyed battlestar be taken as one of a third class between the Galactica-Type and Mercury-class, still looking a lot like the Galactica-type? [[User:Nevfennas|Nevfennas]] 13:39, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:That was my impulse. Story logic dictates that the destroyed hulk probably wasn't a Galactica type, but in the real world we can surmise that Zoic probably re-used the Galactica model. Of course, from that distance, we could fudge our interpretation either way. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 13:50, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::They don't necessarily mean that there are no Galactica type battlestars in service besides the Big-G, it could be taken to mean none like Galactica, eg. non-refitted, no networks, etc. The battlestar there could easily (and belivably) be a refitted Galactica type. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 14:22, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::I concur with Talos, and that has been my understanding. Besides, unless the ship was simply overwhelmed by Cylon military brawn, an old-Cylon War battlestar would put up the same level of fight as ''Galactica'' would have. Else, it was just as vulnerable as the new battlestars. I agree, cinematically, that that Galactica model was just reused.--[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 14:59, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:::[http://www.skyone.co.uk/programme/pgefeature.aspx?pid=3&fid=642 Something to ask] the big man himself? --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] 14:34, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::::I'll do that in a little bit, I have to pick up my brother from his band practice in a minute. The life of a college student living at home... --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 14:36, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::::I really doubt he's going to take the time to clarify such a niggling detail. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 14:39, 24 April 2006 (CDT)

It has always been my belief that Doral meant it was the only Galactica-type battlestar never refited. I always point to the ''U.S.S. Missouri'' (Mighty 'Mo) as an example of a ship with over 50 years of combat service that just kept getting refitted over time to the point that it was firing satellite-targeted cruise missiles at the end of its service. I think Galactica was just the only one that was never refitted. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 15:57, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:My point exactly. It's like the WWII era Essex class carriers. There were refits that were completly rebuilt but a few, essentially, originals survived until the early 1960s with the others serving thru Vietnam ([[Wikipedia:USS Oriskany (CVA-34)|USS Oriskany (CVA-34)]] for example). The [[Wikipedia:USS Lexington (CV-16)|USS Lexington (CV-16)]] was in service as a training ship until 1991! --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 16:26, 24 April 2006 (CDT)

::It's exactly the ''USS Missouri''-example why I believe that ''Galactica'' is the last of it's class: All four ''Iowa''-Class battleships were updated and they all were finally decommissoned (for now) between 1990 and 1992. If the ''Galactica'' is simply the only one not refitted one would have to ask why that wasn't done. Why would one refit three ''Iowas'' but not the last one? This usually only happens if a ship is somehow different from her sisters (e.g. having sustained heavy battledamage the refit is more expensive and not worth the effort). Also it could be that the fleet is being downsized, no longer needing all ships. An example for this would be the British [[Wikipedia:Illustrious class aircraft carrier|''Illustrious''-Class]] of World War II. Of these three carriers only one received an angled flight-deck, surviving the scrapping of the other two for twenty years. But in all these cases I find it hard to believe that anyone would describe one of the ships decommissioned first as ''the last of it's kind still in service'' if there others (refitted or not) still in action. Which ''Iowa'' would have been described that way prior to it's decommissioning: ''Iowa'' in 1990 or ''Missouri'' in 1992? Wasn't ''Lexington'' the last ''Essex''?
::What Doral says before and after that statement makes it quite clear that he's not talking about a certain detail (like ''last of it's kind without a network'' would have been). He starts with ''worldfamous Battlestar Galactica'', then ''last of her kind still in service'' followed by ''constructed 50 years ago as one of the first twelve battlestars, representing Caprica''. The only possible explanation for other Galactica-types this leaves would be ''Galactica'' being the last of the first twelve, with other Galactica-types coming from a second batch no longer representing specific colonys. But even then "last of her kind" is an usual choice of words to describe that. [[User:Nevfennas|Nevfennas]] 17:13, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Well said. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 20:04, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
::::I think it is still ambiguous, and we should wait for an RDM blog reply before changing anything. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 20:54, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:::::I doubt RDM will respond to this issue, and I think the safest course of action would just be to remove it. There's sufficient reason to doubt that the hulk isn't a galactica-type that we shouldn't take a firm position on the issue. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 01:22, 25 April 2006 (CDT)
:::The motivation for no refit to ''Galactica'' could be nostaliga or historical preservation, explaining the odd wording; for such a purpose, only the unaltered version would count. ...Don't get the impression I believe that just because I said it. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 20:56, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:Not to mention Adama, "It's a computer network and I'll be damned if I'll let it aboard my ship while I'm in command." (Paraphrased)--[[User:Talos|Talos]] 21:01, 24 April 2006 (CDT)
:We don't even know for sure if the destroyed battlestar was even in service. It could have been decommissioned earlier and be acting like a museum, just like Galactica was supposed to be. That would also explain its quick destruction. (It snapped cleanly in half). --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]] 09:01, 13 January 2007 (CST)
::It could easily be in service still. In the Russian (and former Soviet) navy, there is a class of destroyers called the [[w:Udaloy class destroyer|Udaloy]]. The last of the class was heavily refitted and updated, bringing it up almost to Burke class levels. The important thing here is that there are still unrefitted ones in service (there was only enough money to upgrade one, the Admiral Chabenko). Then again, there is the Fletcher/Sumner class destroyers. The main differences were the gun armament (5x1 5" in Fletcher, 3x2 5" in Sumner), and the Sumner's twin rudders. Same hull and most of the superstructure. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 10:13, 13 January 2007 (CST)
Also possible that the Galactica was origionally heavily armored like the Columbia but retrofitted. Then the other 1st war ships of its type were eventually decomissioned, whilst other Galactica Type Battlestars were made after the war without the extra armor (and other things we don't know about) to the new upgraded design of the Galactica type, therefore a different kind of ship. [[User:VARGR|VARGR]] 20:04, 11 February 2009 (UTC)
== Crew numbers ==

How do we know a fully manned and equipped battlestar has a crew of 4,000 to 5,000? Was it said in some episode or where do these numbers come from? I'm updating the [[de:Kampfstern, Galactica-Typ|german battlestar article]] and I don't like to use data that seems to be made up out of thin air. The links and notes provided don't give any hint about the normal crew number of a battlestar of this type. We apologise for any inconvenience. -- [[User:Astfgl|Astfgl]] 16:03, 25 June 2006 (CDT)
:In the Miniseries, Tyrol says that there are over 2,000 people on Galactica. The ships seems very undermanned at the same time so I would think that 4-5,000 is a good estimate. I'm not sure if we've seen any concrete numbers though, maybe in the magazine. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 16:52, 25 June 2006 (CDT)

::Answer: in "Water" Baltar says how many civilians there are in the Fleet, and subtracting that from the total survivor population in that episode yielded the crew aboard Galactica as of "Water", at some number over 2,600 (I'd have to check). In several podcasts, Ron Moore keeps saying that while not on a skeleton crew, Galactica has about half the number of people on it that a fully crewed battlestar of its class would have. So, "between 4,000 and 5,000". --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:38, 25 June 2006 (CDT)
:::Thanks for the clarification, I'll take these numbers then. -- [[User:Astfgl|Astfgl]] 07:37, 26 June 2006 (CDT)

== Flight tube counts ==
I see (in [[:Image:Bsg-2-cvn.jpg]], e.g.) 20 slots that seem like they might each be divided in half along the side of ''Galactica''. I can see why it is likely they are launch tubes, but I can also see many other similarly sized openings around them. Although it's a fine guess and quite likely to be true, I'm left hestitant that this evidence is sufficiently strong to be canon. In any case, if consensus is that this is canon, we should certainly footnote it, as the truth of the statement is not patently clear. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]]<sup>([[Special:Contributions/CalculatinAvatar|C]]-[[User talk:CalculatinAvatar|T]])</sup> 00:10, 10 August 2006 (CDT)

== Delivery of Nuclear weapons ==

Since the Cylon forces repeatedly use missiles as an effective delivery platform for their nuclear weapons, isn't ir relativel safe to assume- since, of course, the Cylons were created by the Colonials- that the method deployed by Colonial forces is also missile-based? --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 09:22, 12 September 2006 (CDT)
:It's a good idea, and I personally agree with it, but there is no aired proof, and thusly we cannot confirm how they do it. The two Galactica nukes we've seen thus far (Baltar's and the one Boomer uses to destroy the Basestar in Kobol's Last Gleaming Part II) have been removed from their delivery systems. (Although Boomer's did look like it was in a bomb casing). --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 09:31, 12 September 2006 (CDT)
::Fair point. Perhaps we'll get clarificaion in Season3, since Galactica herself still has three nuclear weapons aboard. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 10:06, 12 September 2006 (CDT)
:::Well, we know now, good call on it being revealed in season 3, Although they haven't been used yet, I'm willing to bet they will be used in season 4 and we are going to have to update the articles again.--[[User:Tomglima|Tomglima]] 20:09, 23 October 2007 (CDT)
== Galactica-Class? ==

Please bear with me for a moment as I am citing a magazine many of you may consider illegitimate. In the September 2006 issue of Maxim Magazine, the "Fashion" section of Maxim Style features a photoshoot of the RDM Battlestar Galactica cast modeling various fashions. In one photograph, featuring James Callis and Tricia Helfer in a small corner alcove of the CIC (possibly weapons control or some other station), a center console features the text "GALACTICA-CLASS BATTLESTAR" in two places, easily readable to the viewer. I know it is general policy on television shows that whatever is aired in a given episode is canon, and what is not aired, non-canon. However, would this (i.e., "Galactica-class Battlestar") be considered canon since this console is occasionally seen in a given episode? Or am I just reading too much into a simple photoshoot? --[[User:Jonfucius|Jonfucius]] 09:30, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
:Do you have a photograph of this? or a timestamp where we can check the DVD's? --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] <sup>([[User talk:Mercifull|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/Mercifull|Contribs]])</sup> 09:55, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
::I assume he means [http://bsg-cz.net/news/files/images/season_3/maxim_5.jpg this] but on that pic I can't really see it on the prinouts on the table. It does indeed look like the weapon's control room, though I can't recall the table there. The room can be seen very rarely. In the miniseries for example --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 10:06, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
:::I can barely make it out. Though it isn't canon, unless we saw it on the show itself, or if someone from the show were to tell us that "yes, indeed, ''Galactica'' is a ''Galactica''-class battlestar". Then it's canon. However, by all means, we can certainly put something in the notes section regarding this. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 10:17, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
::::That's definitely the weapons control section of CIC. If we can get a clearer shot, that will remove all doubt; it does look like "Galactica class" to me. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 10:57, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
:::::Something for [[BW:OC]]? --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 11:14, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
::::::If I had access to a scanner I would provide a high-res image to examine; unfortunately, I am a relatively-poor college student (and how many aren't these days?) and the only scanner access I have is a public-use scanner in our bookstore. However, the image Mercifull provided is the one I indicated in my first post. In my copy of the issue, the text clearly reads "Galactica-class Battlestar". I know this is a minor detail among many in a show so richly layered by the writers and producers, but I wanted to make sure the Battlestar Wiki was as accurate as possible; I use the Wiki to enhance my experience of this incredible drama. Thank you all for your timely responses to my question. --[[User:Jonfucius|Jonfucius]] 11:39, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
I hate to dredge up an old topic, but here's some food for thought that might support the theory that ''Galactica'' is the class name. Now, we're told that Galactica herself represented Caprica, the de facto capital of the colonies. Surely it stands to reason that the first battlestar built would be the one to represent the primary colony- Galactica. I know this is fanwanking, but I just thought of it and figured I'd voice my idea. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 12:26, 5 November 2007 (CST)

== Actual class name? ==

I can purely speculate that the actual name of the original battlestar class (of which ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is a member) is ''Onassis'', in honor of the wife of assassinated President [[Wikipedia:John F. Kennedy|John F. Kennedy]], [[Wikipedia:Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]]. So, ''Galactica'' is considered as an ''Onassis''-class battlestar. The prototype of its class, battlestar ''Onassis'' is destroyed in the renewed [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] conflict. --[[User:Starkiller|Starkiller]] 21:06, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
:::::LMAO at this troll.--[[User:Tomglima|Tomglima]] 20:11, 23 October 2007 (CDT)
:And there's ''nothing'' to back this up with? --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 02:06, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
:And how would Colonials know of the Kennedys? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 02:29, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
::Because they got information from Earth about these Kennedys before the Cylon Holocaust. Years before the [[Cylon War]], the battlestar prototype, ''Onassis'', is constructed, then ''Galactica'' itself. Therefore, we presume this original battlestar class (of which ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is a member) is ''Onassis''. --[[User:Starkiller|Starkiller]] 04:20, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
:I am ''very'' confused. There would have to be some serious cite for that change. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 05:10, 19 September 2006 (CDT)

I think that Starkiller is being absurd to prove a point, but, like others, I'm missing it. As per our convention, pure speculation is disallowed here without official sources to back it up. Since the picture of two BSG actors on an official set using props that match others with information cited as official and used here for articles (navigation charts) which indicates that ''Galactica'' is the first of her class, we should continue on this thread. Otherwise, Starkiller's comment is patent nonsense given that BSG is deliberately set so we don't know if the events occur in real-world Earth's past, present, or future. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 07:13, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
:I've heard on several occasions that Galactica may be an "Atlantia-class" battlestar, but have found nothing to support this online. I've also heard that the original Galactica was a "Columbia-class". Is this true? If so, is it possible that the re-imagined Galactica is also a Columbia-class? I think this should head on over to [[BW:OC]]. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 11:46, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
::"Columbia-class" is common fan fiction. "Atlantia" class would make little sense: why would the fleet admiral use a old battlestar as his flagship? His ship would be Mercury class or something better (and more advanced--it was destroyed like the other [[CNP]] ships). --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 16:34, 19 September 2006 (CDT)
:::Then why does Adama choose Galactica as his flaghsip, and not Pegasus? There's nothing said on-screen to suggest that the Galactica-type battlestars were NOT re-fitted with computer networks. I'm just playing devil's advocate here. Besides, the Atlantia mentioned in the mini could easily have been Mercury-class, and the original may have been retired like the Big G was. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 06:54, 20 September 2006 (CDT)
::::Commanders don't have to choose the best and biggest ship as their flagship as long as they can do their duty from another one. Don't know who but some guy in WWII chose a destroyer or maybe a battleship as his command post and not an aircraft carrier. As long as there are options, there is some personal choice involved.
::::And you're right about networks. The Mini gives the distinct impression that it was only Adama's doing that the Galactica
::::wasn't more automated -[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 08:08, 20 September 2006 (CDT)
:::::Yeah, Admiral Raymond Spruance chose the cruiser USS Indianapolis as his flagship when he had multiple carriers at his disposal. --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 21:11, 20 September 2006 (CDT)
::::As shown in events during the second half of season 2, Adama doesn't likely trust ''Pegasus'' crew. To quote Adama: "I tend to go with what you know, until something better comes along." So the decision is logical; he trusts ''Galactica'' and her crew, thus he plants his flag there. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 10:52, 20 September 2006 (CDT)
::::An corollary to Joe's comments: It is very likely that there is a long-standing (but fading) tradition to keep ''Galactica'' from being refitted, just as our USS Constitution was never refitted as a steamer, in keeping with her (supposed) significancy in Colonial war history. Besides, to ''revert'' any ship from new to old technology is just weird and very unlikely. There may have been fewer commanders willing to assume command of ''Galactica'' in this tradition, but Adama, a man who knew all too well of the problems of technology (and had served on her in the last part of the war), chose ''Galactica'' willingly, I figure. This is reinforced with the arrival of ''Pegasus''. He could've moved his new admiral flag there, but he hasn't. He prefers to go with what he knows until something better shows up. The old battlestar ''Galactica'', in Adama's mind, is still best. ''Pegasus'' survived more on luck than inherent design. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 11:30, 20 September 2006 (CDT)

==Role==

As with the Mercury-class article, I've amended the class role to [[Wikipedia:Battlecarrier|battlecarrier]]. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 15:37, 27 September 2006 (CDT)

:Madbrood, I can appreciate the use, but based on your link, I disagree. The term "battlestar" is a true carrier AND battleship in one, where the "battlecarrier" of our Earth is a rough amalgam that doesn't come close in size, fighter capacity, or firepower. Further, I wonder if we want to use complext Earth naval terms instead of what is given in the show to describe the ships using simple naval language. "Carrier/battleship" is less "smooth" than "battlecruiser", but is is also more accurate. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 16:44, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
::I agree. Battlecruiser is a nice term, but it really doesn't fit Galactica. --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 08:35, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
:::Fair enough. I just figured it sounded a bit more "military". --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 09:47, 28 September 2006 (CDT)

::::I know. I'd love to put up "big, frakkin' warship/carrier with guns, lots of guns," but "warship/carrier" may have to do. Keeping it simple. :) --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 15:33, 28 September 2006 (CDT)

== Battlestar Redirect ==
Battlestar (RDM) currently redirects here. The only reason this concerned me was I was actually linking to a more generic use of the word ("Adama had been on an another battlestar before ''Galactica''). Back when "big G" was the only one we knew of, it defintely made sense. Now that we have "''Galactica'' type", "Mercury class", and "''Valkyrie'' type" I was wondering if maybe we needed a more generic article to sit at battlestar (RDM) describing the aircraft carrier/battleship capital ship concept in more general terms, with ''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'', and ''Valkyrie'' being specific examples. --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 13:45, 4 December 2006 (CST)
:That sounds good to me, a general article explaing what battlestars are, listing known ones, mentioning BSGs, missions, etc. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 14:30, 4 December 2006 (CST)
::Rather than that, why not redirect to the central [[Battlestar]] disambiguation? It already has listed all battlestars by show and type, and avoids extra work. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 16:26, 4 December 2006 (CST)
:::'''That''' is exactly what I wanted to link to. I just automatically tagged an RDM on the end of it. I'll go change that link, but I agree that we should just change Battlestar (RDM) to point to Battlestar (work smarter not harder). --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 20:57, 4 December 2006 (CST)
::::Hah, I'd forgotten about that page. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 21:23, 4 December 2006 (CST)
::::Done. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 21:40, 4 December 2006 (CST)

== Life Support ==

How exactly do Galactica's life support systems work? I know their recirculation units replenish oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, but does this oxygen come from tanks or is it recycled from somewhere? The ISS uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, so is is possible that Galactica-type ships do something similar to this?--[[User:Rapturous|Rapturous]] 13:52, 10 October 2007 (CDT)
: Other than the scrubbers, it's really never been explained. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 14:03, 10 October 2007 (CDT)
::Theoretically, they could have a big room full of plants somewhere in the ship. Plants 'breathe in' carbon dioxide and 'breathe out' oxygen, the opposite of what we do. However, you would need some kind of imitation sun then, because the chemical reaction I just described can only occur in sunlight. Other (artifical) means of converting CO<sub>2</sub> back to oxygen could also be used (scrubbers?), but like the plants they will also require energy to work. --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 06:57, 11 October 2007 (CDT)
:::Have you ever seen the film [[w:Sunshine (2007 film)|Sunshine]] Catrope?
:::http://www.sunshinedna.com/wp-images/2005/09/2109_06a.jpg
:::They used an oxygen garden in that to produce the breathable air :D --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] <sup>([[User talk:Mercifull|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/Mercifull|Contribs]])</sup> 07:37, 11 October 2007 (CDT)
::::Yep, I have. Spoilers for Sunshine follow: {{spoilli|In the scene where the ''Icarus II'' crew boards ''Icarus I'', you can see that her garden is still alive, because of the CO<sub>2</sub> <-> O<sub>2</sub> equilibrium between the plants and Captain Pinbacker who has lived there for seven years (having killed the rest of his crew).}} --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 07:58, 11 October 2007 (CDT)

== Galactica class pic to rear its head again ==

I ran across [http://acedmagazine.com/images/stories/battlestargalactica/battlestargalactica23.jpg this picture], which shows the "Galactica class battlestar" sheet again. Thoughts? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 12:21, 25 November 2007 (CST)
:Shall we [[BW:OC|ask Brad]] whether this is official or just something the props department made up? --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 09:21, 26 November 2007 (CST)
:Maybe put it on a more prominent place in the article, but explain that such props aren't necessarily official or reliable. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 09:24, 26 November 2007 (CST)

== Main Battery Numbers ==
I have noticed that there is some confusion on the number of these guns. In examining the the picture of the ventral side, I have noticed 12 guns. 8 are marked, while 4 (two starboard and two port) are partially concealed by the bottom of the bow. They are roughly between the forward four guns and the first four midships guns. --[[User:Kregano|Kregano]] 19:51, 13 January 2008 (CST)
:There are twelve marked (8+4). With another 4, that would make the original number of 24 correct (16 ventral + 8 dorsal). That's why being so pedantic about trivial stuff like ship armament is kinda annoying. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 02:27, 14 January 2008 (CST)

== Why the flight pods must be retracted ==

When Galactica made the jump that broke her spine, her flight pods were still out. It would seem that jumping with the pods extended on this class of ship causes undue structural strain. [[User:ZeldaTheSwordsman|ZeldaTheSwordsman]] 02:04, 4 April 2009 (UTC)
: This was never the real reason for the strain. Having the flight pods extended doesn't cause strain... the jump itself caused strain, particularly after the stress from ramming the Colony and from the previous wear and tear Galactica experienced over the four years. Starting from the nuke impacting on Galactica in the Mini, the stress of continually jumping away from the Colonies, the "Adama Maneuver" at New Caprica, the various engagements with the Cylons throughout the series, going through the star cluster, etc., etc. Tigh said way back in Season Three that it would take weeks of Galactica in drydock just to knock out the dents... and he wasn't joking. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 16:02, 4 April 2009 (UTC)
::Yes, I know that. But jumping with the flight pods out (which has been thoroughly established to be a bad course of action for Galactica's class of battlestar) probably didn't help.
:::There are just too many circumstances that factored into ''Galactica'' breaking her back to make a clear argument for and against the flight pods being *the* main cause. Yes, in all the previous instances it has been said that ''Galactica'' couldn't (or couldn't afford) to jump with them extended. But Adama knew that this was her last mission, and just like Cain, coordinates or flight pods be damned, just jump or they're doomed just the same. BTW, the Raptors jumping inside the flight pod distrupted the structure, so it might very well have been impossible to retract at all.-- [[User:Fredmdbud|Fredmdbud]] 05:48, 11 April 2009 (UTC)
::::If you consider that a FTL drive might be calibrated to make jumps based on a given volume, or mass, themselves possibly relative to the center of gravity of the ship, the physics of the FTL drives might put greater strain onto the ship's superstructure if jumping without retracting the pods. One could think the retraction is necessary because of power requirements as well. --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 01:01, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

Weapons in the Re-imagined Series

2009-05-19T00:46:41Z

Mister Oragahn: /* Point defense guns */

:''For real-world perspectives on the props and actual weapons adapted for use in the production of the Re-imagined Series, see [[Small arms]].''

{{RDM science series}}

A kinetic energy weapon<ref>This is a Battlestar Wiki [[BW:TERM|descriptive term]], as is its acronym "KEW".</ref> is a weapon that causes damage as a result of the kinetic energy (motion) imparted to a projectile. This includes firearms firing solid bullets first and foremost but may also include guns firing explosive shells.

In fan circles, the battlestar and Viper weapons are sometimes called [[w:railguns|railguns]]. However this has never been stated on screen and a lot of evidence, like the use of chemically propelled rounds, points to them being conventional guns. Indeed, the exact nature of these weapons is still being discussed by the production team (some like [[Gary Hutzel]] want them to be based on railgun technology, while some in the writing staff feel that they are not railguns) <ref name="viperguns">As related by [[Bradley Thompson]] in an [[BW:OC|Official Communiques]] entry on [[Battlestar_Wiki:Official_Communiques/Archive2#Guns_nomenclature|gun nomenclature]].</ref>.

== Colonial battlestar armament ==

=== Main batteries ===

:''Main article: [[Battery]]''

[[Image:PegasusForeBatteries.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''firing her fore batteries ([[The Captain's Hand]]).]]

Colonial battlestars are armed with large gun turrets, but their layout varies from class to class. On [[Galactica type battlestar|''Galactica'' type battlestar]]s they are mounted on the dorsal surface, whereas [[Mercury class|''Mercury'' class]] battlestars have forward-firing bow batteries, as well as smaller batteries along the sides of the [[flight pod]]s.

These are the main offensive weapon of a battlestar, but are also used to lay down defensive fire against incoming enemy ordnance and fighters.

=== Point defense guns ===

[[Image:Pointdefence 101 1080i.jpg|right|thumb|Some of ''Galactica'''s point defense turrets firing]]
[[Galactica type battlestar]]s are equipped with numerous point defense guns located along the entire sides of the flight pods in twin mountings <ref>The [[:Image:Guns Side.jpg|CGI model by Zoic]] shows about 450 of these guns.</ref><ref>Given the exceptionally high rate of fire they exhibit ([[33]]), they are most likely similar in nature to the [[Wikipedia:Phalanx CIWS|Phalanx CIWS]] used by many modern navies, which is a hopper-fed multi-barreled autocannon slaved to a dedicated electronics suite.</ref>.
The entire system is tasked with destroying incoming projectiles. Sensors and expert systems identify and evaluate threats, assigning priorities to them based on data like distance and projected trajectory, while at the same time laying the cannon; this and firing are all done too quickly for a human crew to match.

Although the main batteries are also used to engage incoming fighters and missiles, the point defense guns have a much higher rate of fire, thus making them more effective in that role. Both the point defense and main guns can work in tandem during combat to create a flak field around a battlestar in addition to targeting incoming enemy munitions over significant distance. Flak walls are generally cast less than half a dozen kilometers away from the ship, with a possibility to dial the delay of a flak projectile's time fuse. Automatic IFF targeting systems, pre-planned firing solutions and corridors presumably allow Vipers to safely launch through such a bombardment ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).

====Drawbacks====
* Ordnance from such weapons is generally "dumb": it has no guidance systems. Shots missing a target will continue with the momentum originally imparted to them, thus indiscriminate shooting could result in a high incidence of friendly fire casualties.
**This is the reason [[Lee Adama]] warns his pilots to "stay out of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> firing solution" during the battle at [[Ragnar Anchorage]] ([[Miniseries]]) and why he has to back off pursuit of the [[Heavy Raider]] in "[[Scattered]]".
* These types of weapon tend to destroy targets by shredding and shattering them. Therefore, even when the rounds themselves strike their intended target, the space around the defending ship will be filled with shrapnel traveling on the same path as the destroyed target, possibly at high enough velocities as to be dangerous should they strike the defending ship.

=== Missiles ===

[[Image:3x8-Valkyrie-Firing.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Valkyrie]]'' firing a ship-to-ship missile ([[Hero]]).]]

Some battlestars, such as ''[[Valkyrie]]'' carry conventional missiles ([[Hero]]). It is unknown whether ''Galactica'' or ''Pegasus'' share this ability, although it is likely that the [[missile tubes]] could also be armed with non-nuclear weapons. Unlike the Cylons however, Colonial battlestars use their gun turrets as main weapon.

At least one ship in the civilian fugitive [[Fleet]], the ''[[Adriatic]]'', has been armed with short range ship-to-ship missiles ([[Home, Part I]]). However, it is lost when traversing a dense star cluster ([[The Passage]]).

=== Nuclear weapons ===

Battlestars carry a number of nuclear warheads. The standard number for a fully equipped battlestar is unknown, but ''Galactica'' still had five warheads at the time of its decommissioning, and was resupplied by ''Pegasus'' with at least four more (after using two).

They are usually fired from the ship's [[missile tubes]] ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]), but can also be mounted to [[Raptors]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).

== Cylon basestar armament ==

[[Image:Bsmissiles.jpg|thumb|right|A Cylon basestar fires a barrage of missiles.]]
Whereas the Colonials prefer artillery-style guns, the [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]s favor chemically-propelled missiles. Most of these missiles are fired from launchers located within the "arms" of a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]]. Like with Colonial weaponry, the Cylon missiles can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Basestars appear to have no point defense weaponry. Rather, they seem to rely their large [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]] squadrons to provide protection from enemy batteries.

During the attack on the Twelve Colonies, the Cylons choose to undermine the Colonial Fleet's defense network by corrupting the Colonial [[Command Navigation Program]]. It is unknown how the Cylons would have fared in a direct confrontation with Colonial forces, but it appears that several battlestars working together would overcome the defensive capabilities of an equal number of basestars in a protracted battle. An example of this is the two-on-two [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship|battle]] in "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]", where a pair of basestars devoid of Raiders are quite effortlessly taken down by two battlestars. Additionally, Admiral Adama later feels confident that ''Galactica'', even at half-strength, can hold off a pair of basestars while the colonists escape [[New Caprica]] ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

== Small craft armament ==

=== Viper and Cylon Raider ===

==== Cannons ====

[[Image:EpiphaniesAmmo.jpg|thumb|right|Viper ammunition manufactured on ''Galactica'' ([[Epiphanies]]).]]
[[Image:KLGAmmo.jpg|thumb|right|Loading a captured Cylon Raider with Colonial ammunition ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).]]
[[Image:KLGRaiderCannon.jpg|thumb|right|A Cylon Raider's cannon ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).]]
* The [[Viper Mk II]] is equipped with two wing-mounted KEWs.
* The [[Viper Mk VII]] is equipped with two KEWs in the wings and a third in the vertical stabiliser ([[Scattered]]).
* The [[Cylon Raider]] is equipped with two KEWs under the wings close to the fuselage (possibly plus two more of lesser caliber, see below) ([[Act of Contrition]]).
* The [[Heavy Raider]] is equipped two forward-firing 3-barreled KEWs ([[Scattered]]).
* Both Colonial and Cylon KEWs are belt-fed ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).

These are most likely [[w:autocannon|autocannon]] systems, with at least some models utilizing belt-fed ammunition ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]). The show's KEW are similar those found in real life in that they use chemical propellant to fire relatively small caliber projectiles from a single barrel at a high rate. The shells themselves can be solid, relying on their high velocities to impact and "shred" the target vehicle or fused to explode on impact. However, Viper ammunition shown on screen are also large enough to be explosive-filled and fused. A mix between armor-piercing slugs and explosive ammunition is also possible <ref name="viperguns"/>. The size of the Mark VII's guns and the profile of the rounds in motion suggest a smaller caliber than those of the Mark II, although the two have been described to share the same ammunition ([[Epiphanies]]); the two guns also appear to differ in their rate of fire.

Viper guns appear to be aimed entirely by the pilot during combat without the aid of any heads-up information being displayed. However, for such a weapon to be effective, the guns themselves would be ''harmonized'' (aligned for accuracy of and desired rate of fire) and the aiming system given a suitable period of ''deflection'' (the effective ability to follow, or "lead" a target into its line of fire).

The [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raiders]] carry at least two KEWs of similar caliber to those of the Mk II [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s. However, there are also two smaller barrels visible on their underside, making for two barrels of different sizes per side. It is possible that these are smaller caliber KEWs. Whereas the larger caliber KEW could be firing explosive rounds, smaller caliber KEWs could be firing slugs. The scene in which [[Kara Thrace]] loads the captured Cylon Raider in "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]" would seem to support the four gunned Raider hypothesis, as the rounds she is loading are too small for the larger, more prominent barrels' bores, but about right for the smaller barrels. Furthermore, in "[[Epiphanies]]", Viper ammunition is shown to be a typical autocannon round in the 30mm neighborhood, and a much closer match for the Raiders' larger barrels (although they look a little large for the Vipers' gun barrels).<br/>
Visual effects, however indicate that only two cannons are firing. It is also possible that two of the barrels are sensors of some kind, and that that there is simply a size mismatch between the ammunition and the physical Raider model.

The distinctive glow of this ordnance - red for the Colonials and blue for the Cylons - is the result of interspersed [[w:Tracer ammunition|tracer]] ammunition, used as visual targeting aid by the pilots <ref name="viperguns"/>.

An [[armory]] exists to produce new ammunition on the ship ([[Epiphanies]]).

==== Missiles ====

While Vipers usually rely on their cannons, they can be equipped with missiles - conventional and nuclear - when needed.

Shortly after the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|attack]] on the Twelve Colonies, a Raider fires three nuclear missiles from internal bays at ''Galactica'' ([[Miniseries]]).<br/>
During the ground portion of the [[Battle of Kobol (RDM)|Battle of Kobol]], [[Cylon Centurion|Centurions]] cannibalize parts of their [[Heavy Raider]] in order to create an anti-aircraft missile battery, which is later used to attack a search and rescue mission launched from ''Galactica'' ([[Fragged]]).

Vipers can be seen using missiles during the [[Battle for the Tylium Asteroid]] ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]), in a training exercise ([[Home, Part I]]), and during the [[Battle of New Caprica]], where they are used to destroy Centurion [[guard towers]] ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

=== Raptor ===

:''Main article: [[Raptor]]''

[[Image:RaptorWeapons.jpg|thumb|left|Raptor weapon pods ([[Exodus, Part II]]).]]

Raptors are usually unarmed, but can be outfitted with nuclear and conventional missiles - either carried under the wings or in a small bomb-bay on the underside - as well as a variety of fuselage-mounted weapon pods containing missiles or cannons.

In addition they are equipped with a number of defensive systems like [[Swallow|decoy drones]], chaffs, flares and an [[ECM]] suite.

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

== Handheld weapons ==

=== Small arms ===

==== Colonials ====

[[Image:OldPistol Resistance.JPG|thumb|right|The standard Colonial sidearm ([[Resistance]]).]]
[[Image:CainsWeapons.jpg|thumb|right|Part of Admiral Cain's collection ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).]]
The Colonials use a wide variety of pistols, rifles, and machine guns. Most of these are identical to real-world weapons. For a detailed comparison see: ''[[Small arms]]''

The only named sidearm in the series is the [[Stallion]] pistol, which is not military issue, however ([[Home, Part II]]). Admiral [[Helena Cain|Cain]] has a large collection of older hand weapons in her office ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).
The most distinctive Colonial weapon is the Colonial Fleet standard issue pistol, which comes in two variations. It is a small bore semi-automatic pistol, with a bigger launcher attached under the barrel. This muzzle-loaded launcher can fire a single high-explosive round with each reload. It is carried by both Viper and Raptor pilots on all missions. The design was in use as early as the [[First Cylon War]] ([[Razor Flashbacks]], Episode 4).

The ammunition's effectiveness is dependent on the armor of the target. While stranded on Caprica, rounds from Helo's pistol go straight through the head of a Centurion ("[[33]]", "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]"). However, Centurions boarding ''Galactica'' are equipped with better armor and the standard rounds prove to be completely ineffective against the boarding team. Explosive rounds are used by the defenders, which destroy Centurions' heads with a visible explosion. Since ''Galactica'' is not stocked with large amounts of this type of ammunition, it is not standard issue and only used when really necessary ([[Valley of Darkness]]).

On Kobol, the larger explosive rounds launched from a grenade launcher destroy a Centurion in a single shot with a large explosion, while standard pistol rounds are sufficient to disable Centurions ([[Home, Part I]]).

During the [[Battle of New Caprica]], the resistance fighters use their weapons to disable Centurions from an unspecified range, indicating that either armor piercing rounds are being used, or the Centurions have weaker armor than the aforementioned Centurion boarding party ([[Exodus, Part I]] and [[Exodus, Part II|Part II]]).

In the [[Battle of the Algae Planet]], Colonial small arms and ammunition are again proven to be ineffective, with the explosive rounds being the exception. However, only one explosive round is ever fired during the short ground battle between Colonial and Cylon forces before the Colonials withdraw ([[Rapture]]).

====Cylons ====
[[Image:Cylon Centurion New 001.jpg|thumb|left|Centurion firing its guns.]]
Cylon [[Centurion]]s have a gun integrated into each of their arms, which serve as their main weapon. These guns fire armor piercing rounds of an unspecified caliber at high rates of fire, creating effective suppression fire against oncoming targets
("[[Valley of Darkness]]", "[[Exodus, Part II]]"). Centurions are also capable of sniping enemy targets from long distances ([[Rapture]]). It is unknown whether the arm guns or an unseen sniper rifle are used. However, some Centurions boarding ''Pegasus'' during the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies carry large machine guns in their hands ([[Razor]]).

[[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|Centurions]] during the First Cylon War carried a large caliber submachine gun type weapon. The weapon may have been a human weapon issued to the Cylons before their revolt, since William Adama easily made off with the gun he obtained from a fallen Centurion ([[Razor Flashbacks|Razor Flashback]], Episode 4).
<div style="clear:both;"></div>

=== Heavy weapons ===

Colonial [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marines]] have been seen using a shoulder-fired missile launcher to engage Centurions ([[Exodus, Part I]]).

Centurions deployed on planets use mortars, which are carried on their backs for transport over land ("[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]", "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]").

=== Explosives ===

Plastic explosives like [[G-4]] are used by humans in several forms, ranging from small quantities for forcing open doors to larger packs for heavy demolition work.

Furthermore, improvised explosive devices can be constructed with volatile [[tylium]] fuel ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]).

=== Additional images ===

<gallery>
Image:HE Ammunition.jpg|High-explosive ammunition for the pistol's launcher ([[Valley of Darkness]])
Image:Colonial_RPG.jpg|Marines with a missile launcher ([[Exodus, Part I]]).
Image:CenturionMortar.jpg|Centurions carrying mortars ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]).
Image:G4_Occupation.jpg|G-4 explosives ([[Occupation]]).
</gallery>

== See Also ==
* [[Armory]]
* [[Battery]]
* [[Class-D nuclear warhead]]
* [[G-4]]
* [[Missile tubes]]
* [[Small arms]]

==References==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Technology (RDM)]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology (RDM)]]
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Waffen in der neu-interpretierten Serie]]

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Talk:Class-D nuclear warhead/Archive 1

2009-05-19T00:31:40Z

Mister Oragahn: /* Cleanup done */

I really don't know what level of speculation is appropriate here. I wouldn't have gone off on this nuclear bomb design digression, except that the previous revision was really confusing and seemed to imply that the Class D was implausible, which I don't think it is. Battlestars are jumping around at faster-than-light speeds, is it such a stretch to believe the colonies have advanced nuclear reactors to produce exotic isotopes, and really powerful explosives to compress them to supercritical mass?

I don't know, maybe it would be best to just cut this article down to "here's what the class D was in the series. Gee whiz, it must use some kind of advanced technology."

[[User:Evan|Evan]] 21:33, 27 March 2006 (CST) (first edit here!)

:I think we need to clean this up (not because of you Evan). You see they say "hm, should be 40 Class-D nuclear warheads there" but Adama later says they only have "five nukes" aboard Galactica, leading to the possibilities that A) There are different KINDS of warhead, and the BIG ones Adama was referring to were different, OR that when they ''actually got'' to Ragnar Anchorage, there were less warheads than they expected. Hmmm...--[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 22:28, 27 March 2006 (CST)

:Based on reading up, it seems feasible. Our nukes were all designed rather a while ago, and sub-20kg would be doable with standard fissionable materials. A W54 was 23kg in 1961, and the Class-D was in a pretty big case. The yield is almost completely inestimable from available information, so the 1kt max for a W54 might even be close.
:Anyway, why do the colonials have suitcase bombs? Seriously, they are a bit puzzling motivation-wise. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 01:36, 28 March 2006 (CST)
::The main, real Class-D warhead used by the US, the W-28, weighed about 1800 lbs. Here's an interesting article on suitcase bombs. [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/News/DoSuitcaseNukesExist.html] --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 06:17, 28 March 2006 (CST)
:::I'm not sure if you're claiming the US Class-D is the smallest nuke the US has possessed, but it was not even close. The link you point out confirms this readily. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 11:30, 28 March 2006 (CST)
::::I wasn't. I was pointing out that a real-life Class-D warhead is much to big to fit in a suitcase. The W-54 is much smaller than the W-28. --[[User:Talos|Talos]] 12:01, 28 March 2006 (CST)

"Judging by the total instant destruction of the Cylon Basestar in Kobol's Last Gleaming, they would appear to have a yield in the megaton range." <--That's a misinterpretation of the explosion. First of all, what this "instant destruction"? A nuke explodes at essentially the speed of light, of course you'd be looking at instant destruction of the Basestar. And when you're blowing up something like a Basestar from the *inside*, you don't need nukes in the MT range. Considering the size of a Basestar (really not that big, especially compared to cities), its own onboard combustables and reactors and the incomplete vapourization of significant portion of the vessel, even a 20KT bomb would be more than enough do the damage observed. A MT-range bomb would've left *nothing* of the vessel, even a high KT-range bomb would've had you looking for the Basestar wreckage with a magnifying glass. Remember, a nuke exploding inside a target massively multiply the effectiveness of the nuke. I recommend editing out the estimated yield, period, and save the educated guess for when we've been sufficiently educated by additional onscreen material. --[[User:David Templar|David Templar]] 15:15, 28 March 2006 (CST)

* I am not sure thet the Class D warhead is a nuclear Weapon. Because (like Madbrood remembered):
::Tigh: Well, the book says there are fifty pallets of Class-D warheads...
Galactica has five nuclear warheads as of "Bastille Day". (not 50 pallets...)
Isn't it possible that the Class D Warhead is the ammunition for the Main Battery? And further more it is the one seen at Ragnar that fell down and explodes? --[[User:Enabran|Enabran]] 11:18, 26 October 2008 (UTC)

: Ditto. We had this conversation before, but nothing happened apparently... But, yes, the Class-D's shouldn't be nuclear in lieu of the other evidence presented. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 03:44, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

: On the german Wiki I have created two diffferend pages: Klasse-D Sprengkopf and Nuklearwaffen. Maybe you should do the same on the engilish wiki --[[User:Enabran|Enabran]] 05:41, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

:: Definitely an idea. Or we can just put the nuclear stuff in [[Weapons in the Re-imagined Series]]. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 04:28, 28 October 2008 (UTC)

::: If you do so, you could do the same with Class-D warhead... --[[User:Enabran|Enabran]] 18:26, 28 October 2008 (UTC)
:::: My guess is that the nuclear weapons are that: Miniseries 1:57:19: Tigh reads from his book: "The book says there's also 50 tons of quandal---" --[[User:Enabran|Enabran]] 17:14, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

==Gina's nuke was not a Class D warhead==

I think we've overlooked this: when Tigh is going through a manifest of what is ''supposed'' to be at Ragnar Anchorage, he says there ''should'' be 40 Class D nuclear warheads there. --->In "Bastille Day", Adama says that "Galactica has 5 nukes left". For ''already'' had a few of these, which would be removed when the crew left (they couldn't just be safely detonated like normal ordinance). ***My point is, we don't know that those "5 nukes", one of which was given to Baltar who gave it to Gina, was actually a "class D warhead"; we don't even know if they actually found any of them.--->we go on at length talking about how it could or could not be a suitcase bomb, because the nukes that Galactica-Boomer and Gina used were that size; but we don't know that that is actually a Class-D warhead. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 14:12, 29 March 2006 (CST)
:Silly question, but does the miniseries use the phrase "Class D nuclear warheads" or just "Class D warheads"? There's a huge difference between the two, not all warheads are nukes. I also find it rather unlikely that the Colonial government/military would just leave that many nukes lying around an unguarded, half-abondoned, middle-of-nowhere depot, and none of the Galactica members seem to have freaked out at the idea that there was a thief onboard a station supposedly full of nukes (or wonder how he got there, suggesting that Ragnar wasn't exactly hard to get to). --[[User:David Templar|David Templar]] 21:07, 29 March 2006 (CST)
::I think they just say "Class-D warhead". I assumed they weren't nuclear due to the comments in "Bastille Day". --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 21:14, 29 March 2006 (CST)
:You make a fine point. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 14:46, 30 March 2006 (CST)

::I tend to agree. I've just watched the Mini, and there is no mention of the class-D warheads being nuclear. It is quite concievable, and entirely more plausible- as stated above- that these warheads are either the "flak" type warheads we see being used in the Battle of Ragnar Anchorage, or another type of ammunition used by ''Galactica'''s main guns. I believe this page should be moved to another, with a more accurate title and re-written as such. --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 08:07, 17 October 2006 (CDT)

::And, just for the record, the dialogue is as follows:

::Adama: It's a supr-bitch to anchor a ship there...
::Tigh: Well, the book says there are fifty pallets of Class-D warheads...

::No mention of any nuclear ordnance... --[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 08:11, 17 October 2006 (CDT)
:::I recommend we mark this page for deletion then. It's factually incorrect and frankly is nothing more than a justification of the size of the warhead Baltar gave Gina. Since I don't know how to mark a page for deletion, I thought I'd ask here.--[[User:RUSnooky|RUSnooky]] 23:42, 12 July 2007 (CDT)
::::Marked it. By the way, it's <nowiki>{{Template:Delete}}</nowiki> --[[User:BklynBruzer|BklynBruzer]] 00:06, 13 July 2007 (CDT)
:::::Thanks..I looked for it, but I'm so tired I probably overlooked it! Off to bed for me!--[[User:RUSnooky|RUSnooky]] 00:17, 13 July 2007 (CDT)

Does any of this content need to be relocated to other articles before it's nuked? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 01:15, 13 July 2007 (CDT)
:No, not really. Alternatively, we could just remove all the technical speculation, and only say that some are kept at Ragnar Anchorage and that maybe one of them is given to Gina. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 03:29, 13 July 2007 (CDT)

== Cleanup done ==

Per talk here, I've made a sizeable cleanup on this article, adding what we know and what we don't, and fluffing things up a bit. I removed the fanwank theory that existed here. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 09:40, 13 July 2007 (CDT)

:Erm, it's still written "nuclear warhead" on the page. Did someone revert back to the erroneous page?
:Other thing. Could it be possible that some warheads use compressed tylium as reactant, and are empty until loaded? --[[User:Mister Oragahn|Mister Oragahn]] 00:31, 19 May 2009 (UTC)