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2004 Continuity

The Raptor Mk. II[2] was a multipurpose spacecraft used by the Colonial Fleet during the first Cylon War. The Raptor was heavily used by the Colonial Fleet, capable of performing a variety of missions, from SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) missions to simple transport runs.

History[]

By the tenth year of the First Cylon War, the Colonial Fleet had introduced the Raptor Mk. II into active service, operating it alongside the earlier Mk. I model. During his first combat deployment from the Battlestar Galactica, then-Ensign William Adama piloted Raptor Mk. II unit 909 as part of a Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission into Cylon-controlled space. Adama's Raptor served as a "Wild Weasel" intentionally drawing fire from Cylon surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems in order to locate and neutralize them, clearing the sector for follow-on forces.

Design[]

The Mk. II retains the main body design of the earlier Mk. I but replaces the bubble-shaped front cockpit canopy with a more angular, geometric version. While preserving the dorsal fin section, the Mk. II substitutes the Mk. I’s large engine assembly with an elongated cabin that terminates in a set of clear-view windows and a gunnery control station for its “toaster slayer” cannon.

Armament[]

The Mark II Raptor is the only variant in the Raptor series to feature onboard weaponry, equipped with a twin-barrel rotary cannon. When not in use, the cannon remains flush with the main hull—concealed and ready for rapid deployment. In its armed configuration, the twin-barrel assembly extends downward and forward beneath the gunnery control station, where it can be operated by the co-pilot/gunner.

Additionally, the Raptor is equipped with two underslung pylons capable of carrying up to eight Archer missiles or other munitions of similar size.

Defenses[]

While the Raptor does not carry kinetic countermeasures, it is equipped with internally mounted flares and missile decoys. It remains unknown whether the Mark II possesses the same level of electronic countermeasures capability as its Mark III successor.

Crew[]

The Raptor Mark II is crewed by two: a pilot and a co-pilot, who also serves as the countermeasures officer and gunner for the dorsal cannon. It has an approximate passenger capacity of 8 to 10 individuals.[Note 1]

Propulsion[]

The Raptor Mark II is equipped with two sublight engines, mounted on pylons beneath the upper dorsal "fin," one on each side of the main hull. These engines have the ability to swivel up and down, giving the Raptor limiting maneuverability without relying solely on its RCS thrusters.

Behind the Scenes[]

  1. The carrying capacity of the newer Raptor Mk. III is shown to be between 6 and 8 people, including both the pilot and the ECO. The older Mk. II model features an elongated hull that allows for an additional 4 seated passengers. However, it is theoretically possible to transport more individuals if they sit on the floor or stand during transit. The maximum physical capacity of the Mk. II appears to be approximately 20 people, limited primarily by available seating and life support constraints.

Gallery[]

Sources[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Measured from the original CGI/VFX model; authenticity of which was verified by the Battlestar.Wiki team.
  2. Wiki Descriptive Term (In the absence of official sources, a descriptive term may be used).
Colonial Fleet
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 II · Mark IIIa · Mark IIIb · Mark IIIb 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