Orion class battlestar

Orion class battlestar
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Race:	Colonial
Type:	Military
FTL:	Yes
Propulsion:	* 4x main sublight engines * maneuvering engines.
Crew:	150, minus pilot complement
Capacity:
CO:	{{{co}}}
XO:	{{{xo}}}
Role:	Battleship, carrier, stealth reconnaissance
Weapons:	{{{weapons}}}
Armaments:	* 12x primary guns * ~32x missile CIWS * ~4x missile tubes
Defenses:	* Flak * DRADIS absorbent hull plating
Aircraft:	* Small Viper Mk. III detachment * Small Raptor detachment
Aviation facilities:	* 1x flight deck * 18x Viper launch tubes
Fate:	{{{status}}}
Emblem:	[[File:{{{patch}}}|175px|Ship's patch]]
Other Images:	Gallery
Dimensions
Length:	{{{length}}}
Width:	{{{width}}}
Height:	{{{height}}}
Weight:	{{{weight}}}
Wingspan:	{{{wingspan}}}
Other:	{{{otherdi}}}
Game Information
Cost:	{{{construction}}}
Construction Time:	{{{construction}}}
Hull Size:	{{{hull size}}}
Hull:	{{{hull}}}
Mobility
FTL Cooldown:	{{{ftl cooldown}}} turns
Speed:	{{{speed}}} m/s
Turn Rate:	{{{turn rate}}}°/turn
Armor Sum
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}}}
Armament
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

The Orion class battlestar was first developed and deployed sometime before or during the First Cylon War. Also known as a "pocket battlestar," "half-pint," or grimly as "one-way wonders," the class was specifically designed for special operations and covert missions. These vessels were approximately quarter the size of full battlestars like Galactica and incorporated the latest stealth technology available during the First Cylon War ^{(TRS: "Blood and Chrome")}.

The Orion class appears to be among the smaller ships in the Colonial Fleet, dwarfed even by the Valkyrie type. It may be the smallest known battlestar class to see service during the First Cylon War.

Design Philosophy

The Orion class was developed for missions deemed too dangerous for larger, more valuable battlestars. Their nickname "one-way wonders" reflected the grim reality that these ships were often assigned to extremely hazardous operations with low survival expectations. The design philosophy emphasized functionality and stealth capabilities over crew comfort, resulting in vessels that could operate deep in enemy territory but at the cost of habitability.

Layout and Design

The Orion class featured a distinctive submarine-like design that was long, dark, and forbidding. Unlike bigger battlestars, the class did not share the same layout and design principles, instead being built into one main, streamlined body with torpedo-like tubes for launching Vipers positioned in the bow.

• The upper section: The upper section of the class features the main and secondary batteries, as well as a large conning tower, which features a forward looking viewing area. The class's engine room and sublight engines are housed in the back, above the landing bay. Two more sublight engines are housed in detached cowlings off the main boosters.

• The lower section: The lower sections contain the main landing bay, Viper launch tubes, main communications tower assembly, fuel tanks, and houses another conning tower with forward facing viewing area.

• Command and Control: The ship's CIC maintained a stealthier, more submarine-like feel compared to larger battlestars, with blue LEDs glowing coolly in the dark rather than the standard lighting found on other Colonial vessels.

The Orion class features very little in the way of creature comforts, and suffers from dark, cramped, wet, and humid conditions. Numerous exposed pipes line the halls and CIC, which leave little standing and sitting room, leaving many of the crew to work in tight spots. This cramped design reflected the Colonial Fleet's adaptation to prolonged warfare and resource constraints during the later stages of the First Cylon War.

Stealth Capabilities

The aft of an Orion class, with the only landing bay accessible between the ship's sublight engines ^{(TRS: "Blood and Chrome")}.

At least one Orion class ship, Osiris, was outfitted with a unique reflective metallic hull which acts as an inhibitor to Cylon DRADIS, and can operate in "stealth mode" within detection range for a short period without being seen. However, as soon as the ship powered its weapons and launched its fighters, the ship immediately became visible to enemy scanners, with the corresponding DRADIS signatures giving away the ship's position. It is not known if this is a standard feature, or a special, one-off design.

Specifications

Propulsion

Main article: Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series

The Orion class features four main sublight boosters, two of which are housed in separate cowlings off the aft upper section. The class also features RCS thrusters at key points along the fore and aft hulls. These sublight engines are further augmented with an FTL engine capable of 12-league jumps. The overall propulsion design, together with the small size of the Orion class ships, makes the class highly maneuverable, an important aspect of its defensive abilities.

Endurance

Unlike larger battlestars, the Orion class is not intended to be used on extended duration missions without the aid of a corresponding battlestar group. The class features limited weapons, which restrict its ability to fight Cylon capital ships. The battlestar Osiris lasted only a few minutes in combat with a much larger basestar before taking critical damage, demonstrating the class's vulnerability when faced with superior firepower ^{(TRS: "Blood and Chrome")}.

Armament

Main article: Weapons in the Re-imagined Series

Ships of this class are moderately armed, with at least thirty-two point defense batteries, twelve primary gun turrets, and multiple nuclear missile vertical launch systems, along with Raptors and the potential for a handful of Vipers. The Orion class ships are not normally outfitted with planes, and usually take on a complement from other battlestars. Compared with a basestar, the potential Viper complement is outnumbered ten to one by Raiders.

Aircraft Operations

Osiris' hangar deck with Viper Mark IIIs on racks as seen circa 42 BCH (58YR).

The Orion class was designed to operate specialized Viper Mark III fighters equipped for both space combat and ground air support missions. These Mark III Vipers were sleeker than standard models, with bigger wings designed specifically for the class's special operations role.

The ship's aft landing bay posed significant operational challenges. The flight deck was positioned directly behind the engines and was notably short, requiring precise timing and skill from pilots. Incoming craft risked becoming "ramp roast" if they came in too slow, or smashing into the reinforced bulkhead if they came in too fast. The bay was equipped with magnetic arrestors to help stop incoming Raptors and Vipers.

Crew

The typical crew complement of an Orion class ship is about 150, excluding Viper pilots on detachment from other battlestars. The cramped conditions meant that operations were more constrained than on full-sized battlestars, with crew members often working in tight spaces with limited amenities.

Operational History

Ghost Fleet Operations

During the later stages of the First Cylon War, at least some Orion class vessels were incorporated into the Colonial Fleet's secret "ghost fleet"―ships that were officially reported as destroyed but continued to operate covertly in Cylon-controlled space. This fleet was assembled over more than a year as part of an effort to strike at the Cylons when and where they were least expecting it.

The ghost fleet concept involved taking Colonial warships that had been heavily damaged but could be salvaged, then officially declaring them destroyed while secretly repairing them for covert operations. Personnel assigned to ghost fleet vessels witnessed their own death certificates, emphasizing the complete secrecy of their operations and their official non-existence ^{(TRS: "Blood and Chrome")}.

Ships In Class

Name	Number	Status	Last Seen
Osiris	0913 (BSG 54)	Destroyed, Battle of Djerba, 42 BCH (58YR)	"Blood & Chrome"

Production Notes

In the pre-production script for Blood and Chrome, the Orion class vessel is referred to as Reliant rather than Osiris, and contains significantly more detail about the class's design philosophy, operational limitations, and crew conditions than appears in the final production. The script emphasizes the class's role as expendable assets for high-risk missions, reflected in their grim nickname "one-way wonders."