Battlestar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Battlestar (disambiguation).
A Battlestar from the original series
A Battlestar from the original series
A Battlestar (the Battlestar Galactica) from the re-imagined series, flight pods retracted for FTL travel
A Battlestar (the Battlestar Galactica) from the re-imagined series, flight pods retracted for FTL travel

Battlestars are capital ships from the science fiction universe of Battlestar Galactica, depicted in the original Battlestar Galactica movie and series, the Galactica 1980 spinoff, and the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica series.

Contents

[edit] Battlestar Galactica (1978-1980)

Image:Splitsection.svg
 It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article. (Discuss)


[edit] General information

Battlestars are the premier capital ships, effectively the space equivalent of aircraft carriers, of the 12 Colonies of Kobol; Battlestars have fought for at least five hundred yahren in the Thousand Yahren War against the Cylon Alliance.

The hull is divided into the main hull with the bridge and propulsion systems, and winged hangar bays on the port and starboard sides. Each hangar bay typically carries many Viper Starfighters and several shuttles. Given the large dimensions of the ship design, there is an internal rail car system to transport personnel, especially in the event of a battle alert.

The fuel for a Battlestar and its Vipers is called tylium, a mysterious material that can be found only on certain planets.[1]

[edit] Battlestar armament

Anti-fighter turret firing
Anti-fighter turret firing
Anti-ship turret
Anti-ship turret

[edit] Laser turrets

The laser turrets are essentially the same weapon as a Viper's laser cannon based on appearances alone. There are several known types of turret. One, the anti-ship type, is a slow-tracking heavy turret found along the outer edge of both hangar bays. They have longer barrels than other turrets. Above each anti-ship turret is an anti-fighter turret. They are flatter and thinner in appearance and track much faster. Their barrels are smaller and closer together. These weapons however lack the power to significantly damage capital ships.[2]

[edit] Forward lasers

The forward lasers have only been seen in The Living Legend Part 2 and The Hand of God and are often confused with anti-ship missiles. They are powerful, orange-beamed weapons solely for capital ship use.[2]

[edit] Anti-ship missiles

These heavy missiles give a Battlestar enough firepower to utterly destroy at least two Basestars. The only example of their use is in The Living Legend, Part 2. They are often confused with the forward lasers because they are fired at the same time in the above-mentioned episode.[2]

[edit] List of Battlestars

Only five Battlestars were known to have survived by the time the original movie took place.[1]

Last surviving Battlestar, built 500 yahren before the close of the Thousand Yahren War. It is commanded by Commander Adama. The Galactica has about 150 Vipers aboard, a mixture of its own, some from the other Battlestars at the Peace Conference, and a great number of fighters from the Pegasus.
  • Battlestar Atlantia
Battlestar of President Adar, lost at the Peace Conference. Shown in the original pilot film.
  • Battlestar Pacifica
Lost at the Peace Conference.[1]
Referenced in background radio chatter in the original pilot film ("... Battlestars Atlantia and Acropolis losing speed..") (Background voiceover Male: "...Request damage reports from Battlestars Triton and Pacifica.. Background voiceover female: "...no response from the Triton and the Pacifica")
  • Battlestar Triton
Lost at the Peace Conference.[1]
Referenced in background radio chatter in the original pilot film ("... Battlestars Atlantia and Acropolis losing speed..") ("Background voiceover Male: ...Request damage reports from Battlestars Triton and Pacifica.. Background voiceover female: ...no response from the Triton and the Pacifica")
  • Battlestar Acropolis
Lost at the Peace Conference.[1]
Referenced in background radio chatter in the original pilot film ("... Battlestars Atlantia and Acropolis losing speed...Must regain speed three points to maintain position with Atlantia") ("Background voiceover: female ...This is the Acropolis, We are on fire Abandon ship, Request shuttles to...")
Sole survivor of the Battle of Molecay, 2 yahren before the Destruction of the Colonies. The Pegasus was commanded by Commander Cain. Missing in action, since the Battle of Gamoray when she destroyed two Cylon Basestars. Viper pilots from the Pegasus' Silver Spar Squadron, wore a helmet design that bore a 'flying horse' unlike the Galactica's Blue and Red Squadron pilots falcon/eagle crest Viper helmets, due to the Pegasus' own namesake. [3][2]
  • Battlestar Columbia
In the episode "Gun on Ice Planet Zero", a Cadet Cree claims to be from the Battlestar Columbia in an attempt to foil the interrogation efforts by the Gold Command Centurion Vulpa. Vulpa answers back that the Columbia was lost in the Peace Conference with the rest of the fleet.[4]
  • Battlestar Rycon
In the episode "Take the Celestra," during an awards ceremony Commander Kronus is described as having 'risen from the ranks to command the Battlestar Rycon. Which was famed for destroying 3 Cylon Basestars at the Battle Of Cosmora Archipelago, but at the cost of the Rycon herself presumably. '[5]
  • Battlestar Cerberus (non-canon)
A ship Adama serves on prior to the exodus from the Twelve Colonies. Mentioned in one of the novels based on the original series; War Of The Gods. The Maximum Press 'Asylum' comic book story 'Baptism of Fire' had a tale based on the novel's passages refering to the Battlestar Cerberus and featured a flashback story of Adama, Tigh and Cain serving in 'Bronze Squadron' on the Cerberus, under Commander Odysseus. According to the War Of The Gods novel, Adama's life was saved by his friend Lt Apollo during the Cylon Raiders "spin wheel attack" in a dogfight (seen in the series when 3 Cylon Raiders pivert downwards) but tragically dies in the attack himself. Adama then named his first born son in his honor (thus giving Captain Apollo in the TV series more of a background origin). Some design work on the ship's insignia was said to have been made, the Viper helmets of the Cerberus would've featured a 3 headed dog design. [6]
  • Battlestar Solaria
Another ship mentioned as destroyed in the novelization of the original series 1st episode. Was the last Battlestar destroyed according to the Battlestar Galactica novelization, when Lt Starbuck and Lt Boomer tried to find another ship to land on because of burning up a lot of fuel due to the use of full turbos on their Vipers, during the Battle Of Cimtar. Its ship insignia would've featured a 'Burning Sun' and as the ornament crests on the Viper pilots helmets.
  • Battlestar Prometheus
Another ship that was on a list of names given to the costume department during production of the series. Viper pilot helmet ornament and ship insignia, would have featured a hand holding a burning torch, to denote what Battlestar the Viper pilot was assigned to and the ship's actual flag insignia.
  • Battlestar Bellerophon
Referenced under the "Tigh" section in 'Encylopedia Galactica' Battlestar Galactica book. Said to have been a previous Battlestar the later Battlestar Galactica 'Colonel' served on prior to the Galactica herself.
  • Battlestar Chronos
Destroyed in the Battlestar Galactica comic book "Pegasus" by Cylons just prior to the second Cylon War.

[edit] Battlestar Galactica (re-imagined series)

Main article: Battlestar (re-imagining)

A Battlestar is a space battleship in the re-imagined science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. The re-imagined series' Battlestars, as well as the series' other visual effects are designed and created by Zoic Studios for Battlestar Galactica.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Saga of a Star World". Battlestar Galactica 1978.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Living Legend, Part 2". Battlestar Galactica 1978.
  3. ^ "The Living Legend, Part 1". Battlestar Galactica 1978.
  4. ^ "Gun on Ice Planet Zero". Battlestar Galactica 1978.
  5. ^ "Take the Celestra". Battlestar Galactica 1978.
  6. ^ "Baptism of Fire" Battlestar Galactica - Asylum  #1 — 3 (July, 1995.)  Maximum Press
  7. ^ Zoic Studios - Visual Evolution in VFX.

[edit] External links

Battlestar Galactica (2003, 2004–)
Battlestar Galactica (1978, 1980)
v • d • e
Battlestar Galactica spaceships
Colonial Military
Battlestar (Original • Reimagined) Military Vessels
Galactica • Pegasus • Valkyrie Viper • Raptor • Blackbird • Stealthstar
"The Fleet"
Astral Queen • Colonial One • Cloud 9 • other...
Cylon Vessels
Basestar • Raider • Heavy Raider • Resurrection Ship