COLONIAL WARSHIPS - HEAVY FLEET UNITS

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HELIOS CLASS WARSTAR

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ZEUS CLASS WARSTAR

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ODIN CLASS WARSTAR

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EXCALIBUR CLASS TRISTAR


Designed as an improved version of the ATLANTIA CLASS Commandstars - these ships originally known as the AEGIS CLASS - were built but never served in their designed Fleet Flagship role - the AEGIS being destroyed in spacedock while under construction by a Cylon "Hit & Fade" raid on the Turon shipyards and EXCALIBUR, not as badly damaged during the raid, was converted into the one-off "TRISTAR" configuration for special mission operations.

The "Tristar" design added a third, full-sized flight pod to the ship - increasing the ship's already large airwing even more. Another unique feature of the design is the third center line flight pod. The pod has it's own command and propulsion facilities and can detach and operate independent from the mother ship when needed - then when the operation is over - can re-attach with a minimum of trouble. The design of the EXCALIBUR is also the first Colonial Warship of it's size to be fitted with extensive scientific & exploration equipment as well as heavily modified crew living spaces and cargo & fuel storage areas to enable it to operate for extremely long periods away from shipyard support.

During the dark days of the 1st Cylon War when all appeared to be lost - the Colonial Council ordered a Top Secret mission to seek out and try to find Earth and the Mythical Lost 13th Tribe and to enlist their help against the Cylons. The EXCALIBUR was chosen for the mission because of her unique capabilities and exploration equipment. Specially fitted out with a all volunteer crew the ship slipped away from the Colonies while the Fleet put on a special diversion to keep the attention of the Cylons away from the sector the ship was leaving through.

At the current time - 25 Yarens have passed and the EXCALIBUR's status is "Officially" listed as UNKNOWN............

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ATLANTIA CLASS COMMANDSTAR



The "ATLANTIA CLASS" ships were originally part of the COLUMBIA CLASS Battlestars built by the Colonies at the outbreak of the Cylon War. Realizing the need for Command Ships for the new Battlestar Groups about to be formed - two ships of the class were lengthened and extra spaces added for their new role. Larger, heavier and able to carry more fighters than the standard Battlestars, they were designed to be operated as "Fleet Flagships" with the CDF.

Both ATLANTIA and RYCON have extensive Communication, Command and Control (C3) equipment giving them the ability to direct their own Battlegroups as well as several others in large Fleet Size engagements. These ships also have special "Flag" facilities, communication equipment and transport services for Fleet Admirals and their Staff.

Their larger size makes them easily identifiable to the enemy and with their increased value as a Flagship makes them one of the highest priority targets in a Cylon Attack. To defend against this - besides the normal three Viper & one Python Squadrons normally carried by a vessel of this size - the Atlantia Class Battlestars also carry two squadrons of Cobra Interceptors dedicated to creating a two layer defense in depth (both long range & point-defense) shield around the ship.

A further two improved versions of these ships known as the AEGIS CLASS were built but never served in their designed Fleet Flagship role - the AEGIS being destroyed in spacedock while under construction by a Cylon "Hit & Fade" raid on the Turon shipyards and EXCALIBUR being converted (as pictured & described above). The purpose-built COLONY CLASS Commandstars taking over the role of Fleet Flagships after these ships.

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PEGASUS CLASS HEAVY BATTLESTAR



One of the "Original Twelve" Battlestars - The Battlestar PEGASUS was a "One-Off" specially modified version of the COLUMBIA CLASS design. The ship was enlarged along the lines of the ATLANTIA CLASS but was also built on a much heavier frame to enable it to carry thicker armor, more weaponry and larger engines (25% higher base static thrust). The PEGASUS has larger aircraft operating & storage facilities (even larger than the ATLANTIA CLASS and not matched till the launch of the ODIN CLASS Warstar) and an improved main armament of four Super Heavy Mega-Pulsar Anti-Ship Class Cannons to the Columbia's two.

Built by the shipyards of the Colony of Gemenon, it was perhaps fate that the ship, one of the most powerful in the Colonial Fleet, would eventually come under the command of the "Legendary" Gemenon Commander Cain and become his Flagship at the head of his equally legendary 5th Fleet. The ship would run up an impressive record during the Cylon War - winning more battle honors than any other single ship in the Colonial Fleet. Thought lost with all the other ships of the 5th Fleet during the ill-fated Battle of Molecay - she, along with her famous Commander, would live to return and haunt the Cylons again.......

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COLUMBIA CLASS BATTLESTAR

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PACIFICA CLASS BATTLESTAR




The PACIFICA CLASS Battlestars helped to make up the "Original 12 Battlestars" built by the Colonials during what would later be know as one of the most critical stages of the First Cylon War. Though never visually well known as their half-sisters - the COLUMBIA CLASS Battlestars - they never the less were no less vital in helping to stem and beat back the massive Cylon invasion of the home system of the 12 Colonies.

The PACIFICA CLASS Battlestars came about through simple interpretation of the same basic specification for a new warship design by different shipyards on different planets along with some Colonies simply wanting to or because of differences in building methods or shipyard equipment - having to change the specification to some degree to get it built in time.

As such, of the "Original 12 Battlestars" built for the new Colonial Fleet - four of them would be of the PACIFICA CLASS and would all stack up impressive battle records against the Cylon Forces.

Despite the different hull shape and different type engines, all the performance stats for the PACIFICA CLASS Battlestars are almost identical to the COLUMBIA CLASS Battlestars.

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ATHENA CLASS BATTLESTAR

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HIBERNIA CLASS BATTLESTAR


The Battlecruiser was the "King" of post-unification design warships built around the early "Big KEW Weapon" tactic of fleets of ships closing each other and pounding away till the other side was destroyed, surrendered or retired the field. During the Yarens of inter-colonial warfare this was the main tactic of the navies from the different colonies.

With the coming of the first Cylon attacks and through the first few years of the First Cylon War these tactics were found to have become suddenly outdated. As the Cylons mostly used massive waves of fighters and small attack craft to project their attacks the large "All Gun" warships like the Battlecruisers with no ability to carry fighters were very quickly destroyed. Within five years, almost all the Battlecruiser type ships of the new, unified Colonial Fleet had been destroyed or relegated to secondary duties.

The Colonials determining that new tactics would have to be used and that fighters would be the naval weapon of the future and the side that could put the most of them in combat was likely to win the battles set to work on a new type of warship. The unfinished hull of the former Tauron Battlecruiser MINATOUR was taken in hand and was put through a major redesign and rebuild. Her large KEW gun turrets were removed. In their place two fixed, forward firing Turbo-Lasers were fitted in the bow along with numerous light anti-fighter weapons placed around the hull. Her Solonite missile battery was retained. Lastly, massive launch bays for fighters were fitted to the ships port and starboard sides.

While still being referred to as a "Battlecruiser" - the newly re-built ship was launched as the HIBERNIA. Problems and flaws in her design were noted and corrected and much new equipment and operational theories were tested aboard her. Many of the lessons learned were put into use on the then building COLUMBIA & PACIFICA CLASS Battlestars to great dividends.

As the war progressed the need for Battlestars became so great that she was taken in hand again, placed in the shipyard and rebuilt incorporating all the operational knowledge gained from the COLUMBIA & PACIFICA CLASS Battlestars in combat. When launched again she was rated as a Battlestar and continues to serve proudly with the Colonial Fleet.

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COLONY CLASS COMMANDSTAR


During the mid-years of the First Cylon War such was the United Colonies Naval Fleet's rapid increase in numbers and the size and complexity of operations over vast tracks of space - communications needs became so complex that special "Commandstars" were developed to keep track and direct the Fleet in major combat operations.

The "COLONY CLASS" was one group of these vessels. Developed from the OLYMPIA Class of Heavy Battlestars - the class consisted of twelve warships each named after one of the Home Colonies. The CAPRICA being the first of the class to launch with the PICON launched shortly after from the Caprican Naval Orbital Shipyard.

Each of the COLONY CLASS Commandstars has extensive Communication, Command and Control (C3) equipment as well as extra long range sensor gear. These include two special sensor & communication masts as well as smaller multiple sensor dishes and antennas mounted around the hull.

The Commandstars have the ability to direct their own Battlegroups as well as several others in large Fleet Size engagements. These ships also have special "Flag" facilities, communication equipment and transport services for Fleet Admirals and their Staff.

These capabilities make them one of the most valuable warships in the Colonial Fleet - however, it also makes them one of the highest priority targets in any Cylon Attack.
To combat this - besides the three Viper & one Python Squadrons normally carried by a vessel of this size - the Commandstars also carry an extra squadron of Cobra Interceptors for close in protection.

Some of the well known vessels of this class are the PICON - Flagship of the Colonial Fleet and the SCORPIA - Flagship of the High Guard Fleet.

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VALKYRIE CLASS ATTACKSTAR

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ARGO CLASS ATTACKSTAR

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SPARTA CLASS ATTACKSTAR



During the early years of the war the Colonies could not produce the massive Battlestars to keep up with the need at the front and for combat losses plus the limited shipyard facilities large enough to assemble one of the COLUMBIA CLASS sized Battlestars was at a premium thus causing a bottleneck in the amount of new tonnage being built.

To get more warship hulls under construction a new design was put forward for a smaller Battlestar like warship that could still operate effectively with the fleet but it's smaller size would enable it to be built in civilian shipyards that had previously only built merchant shipping. Developed from a cruiser design much in the way the first Battlestars were developed from Battlecruisers - the SPARTA & SPHINX Class Attackstars were great successes and helped stem the tide of the Cylon advance into Colonial space. As more of the full sized Battlestars came into service many of these ships were diverted to preforming escort for landings and commando strikes as well as still working alongside the big units in the regular Battle Groups.

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SPHINX CLASS ATTACKSTAR