Battlestar Galactica 2004, Caprica and Blood & Chrome
The Orion-class assault ship was a class of escort vessels used by the Colonial Fleet. It was developed and launched decades before the First Cylon War but received significant refits during the later stages. Stemming from the fact that this class carried battlestar-grade kinetic weapons, they've received the nickname a 'pocket battlestar'; the Orion-class was, however, much smaller than most battlestars, being unable to handle an extended direct engagement with another capital ship; is shown as serving mainly as a light espionage or reconnaissance ship as they received the most advanced stealth technology Colonial Navy had at its disposal during the First Cylon War.[1] All ships of this class were presumably destroyed in action or decommissioned before the Fall of the Twelve Colonies as none are seen in defense of the Colonies during the Fall.
Design[]
Armament[]
The main armament comprises 12 Dual KEW (kinetic energy weapons) batteries. While not the same caliber as Jupiter-class and closer in caliber to Valkyries main batteries, they still possessed a significant threat to smaller/medium Cylon vessels.[2] Secondary armament consists of 42 dual KEW batteries, which, while not possessing any kind of danger against basestars of larger Cylon support ships, could inflict significant damage to smaller Cylon escorts or incoming fighters.
Defenses[]
Orion-class assault ships possessed three-layered defense, one active and two passive. Active one consisted of 32 Quad Point-Defence KEW batteries mainly located on the stern part of the ship, which were capable of producing impressive flak screens against incoming Cylon fighters.
Unlike other Colonial support vessels, whose only passive defense was its thick armor plating, the Orion class possessed some of the best stealth technology in the Colonial Navy. While imperfect, this stealth coating allowed these ships to operate for several minutes near a Cylon basestar without being spotted. It can be presumed that smaller ships carrying older or less powerful DRADIS arrays would have an even harder time spotting this relatively small and agile vessel.
Fighter Complement[]
The Orion-class is capable of supporting a small complement of Viper space superiority fighters, presumably up to a squadron, as well as being able to carry several Raptor multipurpose craft. It is unknown whether it can support these small craft for long-term deployments or only for a brief period for short missions. Lacking any kind of flight pods, the brave pilots of these crafts have to land in a relatively small hangar under the Orion's engine assembly. This docking procedure was a notoriously difficult and unpopular maneuver for Colonial pilots.
Computer Systems[]
Very little is known about the systems of the Orion-class. It is presumed that, like other ships in the First Cylon War era, its computer systems were extremely simple and non-networked, which allowed it to resist Cylon infiltration better. Still, some advanced technology, such as holobands, is used as a tool for 3D mission briefings.
Crew[]
The Orion-class only needed a crew 150 (excluding the flight complement) to operate. This is evidenced by its onboard design; its crew compartments are extremely cramped, more akin to a submarine than the other warships serving during the war.
Propulsion[]
Ships of this class have four main rearwards-facing sub-light engines attached to pods mounted on the stern of the ship, one on the port and starboard sides, respectively, and numerous maneuvering thrusters scattered throughout the ship's length.
Known Ships[]
- Assault Ship Osiris 0913 (Destroyed over Djerba)
Behind the scenes[]
- Eaglemoss' Battlestar Galactica Starships Collection Osiris #2 refers to "Orion-class" as battlestar. It is currently a contention within the Battlestar Galactica community if this ship is indeed a battlestar or support ship. This Wiki takes the stance that the Orion-class is, in fact, a class of support ships, as it shares no common design elements with past, contemporary, or future designs of other battlestars.
- Its Quad Point-Defence KEW batteries were originally designed as missile pods. This was changed later in the production into kinetic weapons for unknown reasons.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Battlestar Galactica 2004, movie: "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome"; Pre-Production Draft.
- ↑ Battlestar Galactica 2004, movie: "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome".
External links[]
Colonial Fleet
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Battlestar Classes | Artemis-class · Chronos-type · Jupiter-class · Mercury-class · Valkyrie-class · Zodiac-type |
Battlestars | Archeron · Athena · Atlantia · Bellerophon · Columbia · Columbia II · Chronos · Erasmus · Galactica · Night Flight · Pegasus · Prometheus · Ramses · Solaria · Triton · Uned · Universal · Valkyrie · Yashuman |
Escort Ship Classes | Alert-type · Berzerk-class · Defender-class · Demeter-type · Hornet-type · Orion-class · Ramses-class · Ranger-class · Tiger-type |
Escort Ships | Alert · Berzerk · Osiris |
Support Ship Classes | Caprica-class · Loki-type |
Support Ships | Cyclops · Loki |
Fighters | Viper (Mark I · Mark II · Mark III · Mark VIIa · Mark VIIb) · Stealthstar |
Transports | Raptor (Mark I · Mark IIa· Mark IIb · Mark IIb Heavy) · Shuttle (Mark I · Mark II) |
Installations | Armistice Station · Colonial Fleet Headquarters · Colonial Fleet Hub · Fuel Depot 576 · Ragnar Anchorage |
Shipyards | Daidalos Mobile Shipyard · Scorpion Fleet Shipyards · Tauron Shipyards |