Battlestar (TOS)
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- For information on the battlestars of the Re-imagined Series, see Galactica type battlestar and Mercury class battlestar. For information on the battlestar seen in the Video Game, see Galactica (Video Game).
Battlestars are warships built in direct response to the generational war with the Cylons.
| Battlestar (TOS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Race: | Colonial | ||
| Type: | Military | ||
| FTL: | Yes | ||
| Propulsion: | 2 x FTL engines, 2 x sublight engines, 2 x Solium main energizers (Fire in Space) | ||
| Crew: | 496 - 1,012 | ||
| Capacity: | |||
| CO: | {{{co}}} | ||
| XO: | {{{xo}}} | ||
| Role: | Carrier / battleship hybrid | ||
| Weapons: | 15 x laser batteries, 12 x Solonite air-to-air missiles, 1 x Heavy Mega Pulsar Cannons, 75 Viper fighters, 12 Landram armoured ground vehicles, Six unarmed shuttlecraft | ||
| Armaments: | {{{arm}}} | ||
| Defenses: | {{{def}}} | ||
| Aircraft: | {{{aircraft}}} | ||
| Aviation facilities: | {{{facilities}}} | ||
| Fate: | {{{status}}} | ||
| Emblem: | [[Image:{{{patch}}}|175px|Ship's patch]] | ||
| Other Images: | Gallery | ||
| Length: | (approx): 4,143-4,166ft (1,263-1,255m) | ||
| Width: | (approx): 1,672ft (510m) (flight pod to flight pod) | ||
| Height: | Unknown | ||
| Weight: | Unknown | ||
| Wingspan: | {{{wingspan}}} | ||
| Other: | Flight Pods Length (approx): 1,977ft (603m) Width (approx): 351ft (107m) | ||
| Cost: | {{{construction}}} | ||
| Construction Time: | {{{construction}}} | ||
| Hull Size: | {{{hull size}}} | ||
| Hull: | {{{hull}}} | ||
| FTL Cooldown: | {{{ftl cooldown}}} turns | ||
| Speed: | {{{speed}}} m/s | ||
| Turn Rate: | {{{turn rate}}}°/turn | ||
| Armor Total: | {{{armor total}}} | ||
| Armor Left: | {{{armor left}}} | ||
| Armor Right: | {{{armor right}}} | ||
| Armor Front: | {{{armor front}}} | ||
| Armor Rear: | {{{armor rear}}} | ||
| Armor Top: | {{{armor top}}} | ||
| Armor Bottom: | {{{armor bottom}}} | ||
| DRADIS Range: | {{{dradis range}}} m | ||
| Processing Power: | {{{processing power}}} | ||
| Munition Slots: | {{{munitions}}} | ||
| Munition Cooldown Period: | {{{munition cooldown}}} turns | ||
| Squadron Slots: | {{{squadrons}}} | ||
| Squadron Size: | {{{squadron size}}} | ||
| Special Abilities: | {{{special abilities}}} | ||
| Additional Information | |||
Overview
The first battlestars were introduced into Colonial forces around 500 yahren into the war, and proved formidable when placed against the technically-superior Cylon basestars. Many battlestars were totally destroyed during significant battles.
Notes on Dimensions
The length and beam figures given here are based on research carried out by Todd Boyce, a computer animator. There are many differing claims to the actual size of the original battlestars, ranging from some 2,000 (accepted length in a number of gaming systems) through to 2-3 miles in overall length.
Interviews with series creator Glen A. Larson and John Dykstra, the Visual Effects supervisor for the Original Series stated that the original Galactica was around a mile (1.6km)long. If the scale of the master model used for filming was set at 1/960, then the overall length of Galactica and her sister ships would be some 6,080ft (1,853m) - or one nautical mile. However, there is no confirmation available that 1/960 (1 inch = 80ft) was in fact the scale of the model, and the figures have thus been "back engineered" to fit the case.
In undertaking his work, Boyce utilised an established baseline for his calculations: the full-size mock-up of a Viper built for filming purposes. This mock-up measured some 28.5ft (9m) in length and a wingspan of some 12.5ft (4m), and formed a means by which Boyce could take key shots from various episodes, combine them with a scale model of Galactica and extrapolate a reasonably-consistent set of measurements. Thus: using film footage alone, Boyce was able to determine the length of Galactica to be some 4,143ft (1,263m), while use of a scale model produced a figure of some 4,166ft (1,270m): an acceptable difference of some 23ft (7m). What is more, these measurements appear consistent with the overall size of the Viper launch tubes (calculated at some 16ft (5m) in diameter, based on the wingspan of the full-size mock-up and images of Vipers being launched).
Given this degree of similarity in final calculations, these figures have been adopted here as the probable dimensions of the Original Series battlestars. However, in using these figures, it should be noted that:
- Boyce also used a Cylon Raider as a benchmark for his calculations, and produced an overall length for Galactica at between 12,818ft (3,907m) and 21,210ft (6,465m) (2.4 and 4 miles). However, these measurements can be discounted on the grounds that:
- They are initially based on assumed data: a shot of a Cylon Raider apparently "overflying" a Colonial Viper. However, no vertical separation distance between the two can be calculated, leading to a completely arbitrary figure (39ft/12m) for the wingspan of the Raider
- These figures would yield launch tubes between some 50ft (15m) and 82ft (25m) in diameter - which is clearly not supported by film of Viper launches.
- Boyce also used close-up shots of Viper launches to try and calculate the size of Galactica, and arrived at a figure of 2,712ft (827m), with the flight pods measuring 1,294ft (394m). However, these figures cannot be taken at face value, as they would render the Viper launch tubes with a 10.4ft (3m) diameter, making them too small to contain Vipers.
Myth of the Twelve Battlestars (Original Series)
Within fan circles, it has generally been assumed there were twelve original battlestars, given the number of Colonies. However, Glen A. Larson has stated that there was never any decision to have a specific number of battlestars, nor did the Original Series state that only twelve battlestars were built. During the series' run, only eight battlestars are seen or mentioned. Given the length of the Thousand-Yahren War, it seems likely that far more than twelve of these warships were constructed.
(For contrast, in the Re-imagined Series continuity, it is stated at the start of the Miniseries that twelve original class battlestars were initially built for its Cylon War. Approximately, an additional 120 battlestars were built in that continuity. Like its Original Series counterparts, almost all of these battlestars are destroyed in an elaborate Cylon subterfuge.)
Known Battlestars[1]
The eight battlestars specifically mentioned in the Original Series are:
- Atlantia - destroyed by the Cylons at Cimtar (Saga of a Star World)
- Acropolis - mentioned in connection with the attack at Cimtar, and so assumed to be one of the battlestars seen near the moon
- Columbia[2] - destroyed prior to the events at Cimtar (The Gun on Ice Planet Zero)
- Galactica
- Pacifica - mentioned in connection with the attack at Cimtar, and so assumed to be one of the battlestars seen near the moon
- Pegasus - presumed destroyed at the Battle of Molecay (The Living Legend)
- Rycon - destroyed at the Battle of the Cosmara Archipelago (Take the Celestra)
- Triton - mentioned in connection with the attack at Cimtar, and so assumed to be one of the battlestars seen near the moon
References
- ↑ The Costume Department at New West has indicated that three further battlestars may have been referenced had the show been renewed: the Solaria, Cerberus and Prometheus. This information, however, is not canonical.
- ↑ Many fans consider Columbia to be the battlestar class name. However, this is fan fiction: No substantiated class name has been given by official sources to the battlestars of the Original Series.