The Colonial Fleet has always been something that every little boy and girl has wanted to be part of, fighting the evil Cylons at any chance given.
In reality the fleet has its ups and downs. It has some excellent ships but never enough of them to stem the tide of the enemy, and thus is usually sent at the Cylons in piecemeal, which is usually its undoing.
During its long history, the Colonial Fleet has undergone many changes to its structure and organisation, but only one major change to its design philosophy.
There are three main periods in the Colonial Fleet history, generally referred to as "The Early Years", "The Transition Years" and the "Modern Years" or "Late Years".
These periods in time do have rough yahren dates as well, but please note that these are vague.
Before the war with the Cylons, the Colonials had had much experience with space travel and space combat, and they had come up with a fleet based on their experiences. This fleet saw the fighter craft as the predominate weapon, and with the Scarab Class of fighter entering service around 6150, the Fleet had a very effective weapon. Thus, the key component of any fleet or squadron, was the fighter carrier.
The carrier was simply that, mainly just a battle taxi for the fighters that it carried. For defence, the ship would rely on its fighters and escorting ships. Because the carrier only carried limited defensive weaponry, it usually held back from the actual combat. However, it was usually equipped with above average electronic sensing and scanner equipment, and thus was also usually the flagship of the fleet or squadron. While the heavy carrier was the largest carrier built at this time, it was not the sole carrier around. Smaller craft were also produced, and these were usually used to bolster a heavy carriers fighter capability if needed, or used when such a large craft was not needed.
Surrounding the carrier were the escorts. These did not carry fighters at all, but were equipped with defensive weaponry. These craft supported the carrier and fighters in combat, as well as acting as scout and auxiliary craft. Escorts were generally cruisers and patrol ships.
Thus a typical squadron would simply consist of the carrier and the escorts. In this period of time, the 30-50 fighters aboard the carrier was a substantial force to be dealt with.
However, if a bigger force was to be needed, then the Fleet could call upon additional elements to bolster the force. These included heavier cruisers, light destroyers and the battleship. These ships were designed to attack other capital ships and defend against fighters. They carried none themselves.
Combat experience showed that battles tended to be skirmishes. Fleet elements would engage enemy ships, and fighters would be used as offensive or defensive weapons as needed, as well as providing valuable scouting data.
The Transition Years period overlaps the Early Years period, and generally uses the same sort of craft as that time period.
In 6293, the Hasaris came under attack by the Cylons, a race never before encountered by the Colonials. The Colonials immediately rushed to their allied friend, and encountered a shock that would change the way they made war forever.
The Cylons used fighters in numbers never seen before by the Colonials, and they equipped almost every ship they had with them. In addition, their Baseships, while slow and ponderous, were large, able to hold many fighters, and also equipped with heavy weapons.
The Colonials had to learn to adapt or lose.
They adapted.
It was not easy though. With the Cylons pressing home their advantages at almost every stage, the Colonials were more concerned with staying alive than designing new ships. Production of the carriers was stepped up, and ships were modified to carry fighters. Fighters it seemed, were the key. And in numbers. For while the Cylon Raider was not a great craft - outfought, outmanoeuvred and outgunned by Colonial Scarabs - it would win by overwhelming the enemy. And a Colonial craft with no fighters was effectively dead meat.
Cruisers had their heavy weapons removed and fighter bays tagged on, shuttle bays were hurriedly converted into fighter launch bays, and more than one Battleship found itself converted into a super carrier.
Even civilian craft were pressed into service as auxiliary carriers, for while they would not serve in a fight, they could carry fighters to the lines to replace losses.
With so many conversions appearing, and no real new designs, this time period is sometimes called "The Era of the Carrier" by some historians.
A lot of lessons had been learnt in the previous years, and now was the time to set the record straight and retake the initiative. To do this, new ships and classes would be needed, and finally, the Colonial Fleet would get its chance.
New super carriers were built - Battlestars - large ships which carried an impressive amount of fighter craft, as well as armour and, in some variants, heavy weapons. Escorting craft also adapted, and these carried fighters as well. Early ship classes were combined into new classes, so the Gunstar would be an amalgamation of the Battleship and the Carrier. New fighter craft were developed that were faster, sleeker and more deadly.
Slowly, the Colonials managed to halt the tide, but time would set that straight.
An observation on the Colonial Mentality, is listed here.