Battlestars are a heavy class of human-controlled Colonial craft, that combine the functions of aircraft carrier and battle cruiser.
The Viper is the Colonial Defence Force's primary space superiority fighter / attack craft. Capable of atmospheric flight, the Viper is a single-seat craft mounting two kinetic energy weapons ([[KEW]]s), as well as having hardpoints beneath the wings for mounting missiles, munitions pods and other ordinance ([[The Hand of God]]).
The first five battlestars were laid down shortly before the start of the first [[Cylon War]] and saw action in the early years of the war ([[Mini-Series]]). Seven further battlestars were constructed during the war ([[Zoic]]), leading to a total fleet size of 12, one battlestar representing each of the colony worlds ({{Mini-Series]]).
The Viper was originally introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the [[Cylon War]]. However, it was the Mark II variant, designed specifically for use with the new Colonial [[Battlestar]]s that is best remembered.
All the original battlestar vessels deliberately avoided the use of highly-integrated or networked computer systems, as the [[Cylons]] were able to infiltrate and subvert such systems, disabling Colonial defensive capabilities ({{Mini-Series]]).
The Mark II served with distinction throughout the Cylon War, proving a capable fighting vehicle that won renown across the 12 colonies and is regardes as one of the reasons the Colonials did not suffer defeat at the hands of the Cylons.
Following the end of the war, the battlestars remained in service, and their numbers increased. However, later vessels did include networked systems ([[Mini-Series]]), and while the term "battlestar" was used to describe these newer vessels, it is unclear as to whether they were the same overall size and form as the original battlestars. Several of the original 12 vessels were also upgraded ([[Mini-Series]]), with the exception of the battlestar ''[[Galactica]]'', which retained its original command and control systems at the insistence of Commander [[William Adama]]
The Mark II remained in service after the end of the war, but was subsequently superceded by newer models. At the time of the renewed Cylon attack on the 12 Colonies, the Mark VII was the front-line variant of the Viper design, incorporating and improved twin-engine layout and fully integrated combat control systems providing superior battle management and fight information for the pilot.
Possibly as a result of her "original" condition, the ''Galactica'' was selected to become a living museum / educational centre once decommissioned ([[Mini-Series]]). Following the surprise attack by the Cylons on the Colonials, the ''Galactica'' was left as the only battlestar capable of mounting a counter-offensive, although she was initially hampered by the lack of any defensive munitions on-board.
Ironically, it was the incorporation of the new integrated systems that prevented the majority of Mark VIIs from being effective during the Cylon attack: as with the majority of Colonial systems, the Mark VII suffered fatal computer glitches on contact with Cylon forces ([[Mini-Series]]). While the problem could be overcome by disabling the combat management systems in the Mark VII, this information was not discovered in time to be of major benefit to the surprised and hard-pressed Colonial forces.
Battlestars are space-going leviathans. Some 4,500ft in length([[Zoic]]), they combine the role of a modern airacraft carrier with that of a battle cruiser. Housing some 120-160 "[[Viper]]" space superiority fighters (fan estimate), a fully-armed battlestar is capable of a wide range of offensive actions, while her defensive armaments ensure she is fully capable of both protecting herself from attack, and of engaging an enemy at close quarters.
=== Atmospheric Operations ====
=== Life Support ===
Despite their massive size, battlestars are extremely manoeuvrable ([[Mini-Series]] - docking at [[Ragnar Anchorage]]) and, in the right circumstances, partially atmosphere-capable ([[Mini-Series]] - docking at Ragnar Anchorage). Their FTL systems are capable of incredibly-accurate jumps, able to place them precisely in synchronous orbit above an point on a planet ([[Mini-Series]])and of placing them in the midst of debris fields, such as an asteroid belt, without risk of a devastating impact ([[The Hand of God]]).
Battlestars are intended to operate for long periods without resupply - their water purification capabilities alone mean that, barring an emergency or unforeseen event, they don't need to re-tank with water for several years ([[Water]]). They also appear capable of undertaking large-scale repairs following battle damage ([[Mini-Series]]), and may well have manufacturing / fabrication facilities on-board ([[Litmus]]).
*Viper squadrons comprise 20 vehicles apiece, generally supported by a single Raptor.
*The Raptors can also be used to deploy Colonial Marine detachments to the surface of planets or to storm other vessels. Raptors are equipped with a docking collar and accessway in their undersides for this latter role (''Bastille Day'')
* Viper operations are overseen by the CAG - Commander Air Group, the most senior pilot aboard a battlestar.
The original battlerstar design common to ''[[Galactica]]'' and her sister ships can be broken down into two main sections:
*Main Hull
*Hanger Pods
=== Main Hull ===
This comprises the bulk of a battlestar, and can itself be divided into three sections:
*"Alligator heaed", containing the primary living space for the crew, recreational facilities, mess halls, shipboard operations centres (such as the [[CIC]] and [[Situation Room]]); water storage tanks
*Midships area: containing the pod retraction mechanisms, crossways linking the hange pods for the transfer of equipment, Vipers, personnel, etc. All the necessary hoists for such transfers; main munitions stors and distribution mechnanisms to "local" munitions stores for main and secondary batteries; fabrication facilities; etc.
*Stern section: sublight engines, [[FTL]] drive coils, etc. Note that 4 sublight engines are mounted in distinctive pods of their own, with 2 more mounted between the four pods, in the stern of the battlestar. The FTL drive coils appear to be mounted beteen the drive pods and between the hull-mounted sublight engines and the midships section of a battlestar.
The main hull houses all of a battlestar's offensive railguns, and also has a number of point-defence batteries mounted around it.
The manoeuvring thruster packs are located in the port / starboard bows of the "alligator head" (4 thrusters apiece), and on the poert / starboard extremities of the four sublight engine pods (2 "packs" of 4 thrusters per pod).
=== Hanger Pods ===
These are mounted on either side of the hull and contain a battlestar's offensive [[Viper]] force. During normal operations, they are extended away from the main hull. During FTL jumps, the pods are retracted against the hull, to provide a smaller cross-section for the battlestar during the jump itself.
*Each hanger pod is approximately 2,000ft in length and has a maximum beam of some 360ft (fan estimates)
*Each pod comprises two main decks for flight operations: the upper landing bay, which extends the full length of the pod; and the lower launch bays, which provide some 80 launch tubes per pod ([[Zoic]])
*The landing bay serves as a recovery area for incoming Vipers and [[Raptor]]s, approaches are made from the stern. The preferred approach is a slow run into the hanger, prior to making a vertical landing on a defined landing area. However, in emergencies, "rolling" combat landings can be made, whichin a Viper or Raptor approaches at speed and makes a running landing on its undercarriage
*The forward end of the landing bay also serves as a launch area for Raptors and shuttles
*Each hanger bay is large enough to accept a variety of other Colonial vessels, up to ans including vessels classified as "heavy" (such as ''[[Colonial Heavy 798]]''.
*Docking collars are located throughout the upper sections of the landing bay in order to provide a pressurised connection between an docked vessel and the battlestar
*Pods additionally contain a number of a battlestar's point-defence railguns - one turret being mounted above each Viper launch tube, and others being set along the length of the pod itself
*The hanger bays in the pods are used as general dispersal areas for Vipers. There is potentially one hanger bay area per squadron of Vipers, giving each pod 4 bays apiece. The hanger bays are used for general maintenance of Vipers / Raptors and for re-arming operations, etc.
*Viper launch operations are overseen by a senior [[LSO]], with a launch sepervisor directly responsible for each launch tube.
Other facilities within the pods include fuel storage areas for the Vipers / Raptors (and potentially for refeulling large vessels docked within the landing bays); munitions sotres for Viper weeaponry; munitions stores for the point-defence railguns; parts stores for maintaining Vipers and Raptors, etc.
== List of Known Battlestars ==
*Battlestar [[Atlantia]] (''Act of Contrition'')
*Battlestar [[Galactica]]
*Battlestar [[Pegasus]] (''Mini-Series'')
*Battlestar Rycon (Zoic)
*Battlestar Columbia (Zoic)
*Battlestar Pacifica (Zoic)
*Battlestar Acopolis (Zoic)
*Battlestar Solaris (Zoic)
*Battlestar Triton (Zoic)
*Battlestar Prometheus (Zoic)
*Battlestar Argo (Zoic)
*Battlestar Poseidon (Zoic)
[[Category:Colonial Craft]]
Revision as of 00:56, 9 January 2005
Overview
The Viper is the Colonial Defence Force's primary space superiority fighter / attack craft. Capable of atmospheric flight, the Viper is a single-seat craft mounting two kinetic energy weapons (KEWs), as well as having hardpoints beneath the wings for mounting missiles, munitions pods and other ordinance (The Hand of God).
The Viper was originally introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the Cylon War. However, it was the Mark II variant, designed specifically for use with the new Colonial Battlestars that is best remembered.
The Mark II served with distinction throughout the Cylon War, proving a capable fighting vehicle that won renown across the 12 colonies and is regardes as one of the reasons the Colonials did not suffer defeat at the hands of the Cylons.
The Mark II remained in service after the end of the war, but was subsequently superceded by newer models. At the time of the renewed Cylon attack on the 12 Colonies, the Mark VII was the front-line variant of the Viper design, incorporating and improved twin-engine layout and fully integrated combat control systems providing superior battle management and fight information for the pilot.
Ironically, it was the incorporation of the new integrated systems that prevented the majority of Mark VIIs from being effective during the Cylon attack: as with the majority of Colonial systems, the Mark VII suffered fatal computer glitches on contact with Cylon forces (Mini-Series). While the problem could be overcome by disabling the combat management systems in the Mark VII, this information was not discovered in time to be of major benefit to the surprised and hard-pressed Colonial forces.
Mark II 3x sublight engines mounted aft; 2x reverse thrust motors; RCS points
Mark VII 2x sublight engines mounted aft; 2x reverse thrust motors; RCS points
Aramaments
Twin forward-firing kenetic energy weapons KEW mounted in the wing roots
Weapon hardpoints for mounting missiles / munitions pods, etc. under the wings (The Hand of God)
