The following is a list of some of the more well known Battlestars throughout history. This list is not exhaustive and only some of the Battlestars presented here have been fleshed out.
Argo, Bellerophon, Posiedon and the Valiant.
For notes about these names, see here.
Destroyed: 7342, destroyed at the Ambush of Cimtar
Patches: The patch for the Acropolis is that of a greek temple and short sword.
Destroyed: 7342, destroyed at the Ambush of Cimtar
The Atlantia was concieved as being at the heart of a whole fleet of ships, rather than just acting as a squadron leader. For this role, it was equipped with a large bridge and good communications and sensing equipment to be able to operate and plan for a fleet. Because of this, the Atlantia was always escorted by numerous other vessels which were there to protect the high ranking flag staff as to protect the ship itself. Over the years the ships role has not actually changed much and this has lead to the ship being involved in many major battles without actually getting into combat itself. Because of this and the fact that the Atlantia never seems to go anywhere without a large complement of important people, service on the ship is always going to increase a persons career, but in the least exciting way possible.
This was exemplified when President Adar chose the ship to be his flagship, and thus the flagship of the entire Colonial Navy. The Atlantia became the flagship of the First Fleet, assigned to the defence of the Colonies themselves. Because of Adar's desire for peace, the ship was not to engage in another major combat until the doomed peace conference when it, along with the Acropolis, Pacifica and the Triton were also destroyed.
Patches: The patch and helmet design for the Cerberus is that of a three headed daggit.
Adama and Cain both served on the Cerberus as part of Bronze Squadron.
Patches: Crossed downward facing swords behind a gold shaped diamond
Commissioned: 6824
Destroyed: has not been destroyed
Patch: A collection of gold triangles in a diamond pattern in a round black patch with a gold border.
The Galactica has always had an illustrious career, having engaged in many battles and brought glory to her name. Whilst not alway being victorious in all combats, she has, nevertheless, always managed to come home. The Galactica would be become the last bastion for mankind amongst the Colonies when she would be the only survivor of the ill fated Peace Conference which resulted in the destruction of the First Fleet. She would lead the last survivors of the Colonies into deep space and away from the Cylon menace.
It is interesting to note that the Galactica has a very real family connection. Commander Adama inheritated the ships command from his father, and he had his two sons and his daughter working on the ship under his command.
Commissioned: 7098
The Nova is a relatively new Battlestar, only about a hundred yahrens old. The ship follows modern military doctrine which means that it is equipped with two heavy pulsar lasers at the front of the ship. This allows it to engage enemy ships at range rather than wait for the target to come into close range, which could be potentially devastating to the ship, especially if the target is a Cylon Baseship.
Destroyed: 7341, destroyed with the Fifth Fleet at the Battle of Molecay
Patches: A flame in a flame shaped patch, with a gold lightning bolt in the centre.
Destroyed: 7342, destroyed at the Ambush of Cimtar
Commissioned: 6819
Destroyed: Thought destroyed with the Fifth Fleet in 7341, then thought destroyed at the Battles of Gamorray in 7344, current status is unknown, believed missing.
Patch: Flaming sword on red shield. Helmet has a winged horse on the front.
The Battlestar Pegasus was one of the first Battlestars to be commissioned and is thus one of the oldest ships still in service with the Colonial navy. Designed initially as a capable heavy carrier of fighters, the Pegasus was modified later in its career to carry heavy missile launchers which can inflict serious destroy a wide range of Cylon vessels and inflict serious damage on even the largest of Cylon Baseships.
The Pegasus really became notorious when its captain became Commander "Jugganaut" Cain. Commander Cain was a brilliant tactician and soon his eploits became legend, as well as required reading at the academy. Cain was never afraid to get his Battlestar into the thick of things, and on many occassion his ship was to be found going point blank with Cylon Baseships. Luck, while never counted on, played a large bit in his battles as the Pegasus always ended up not being severely damaged, which defied all odds. His fame was to spread into the Cylon Empire as well, and he would become one of the few Colonial Commanders that they feared. As such, duty on the Pegasus was always considered one of the high points in a persons career and the crews loyalty to their commander was as legendary as he was.
It was thought that Cain - and the Pegasus' luck had finally run out at the Battle of Molecay when the Fifth Fleet was all but destroyed. However, it was later found out that the Pegasus had survived and was still waging war against the Cylons. The Battlestar Pegasus and Commander Cain disapeared again when defending the Battlestar Galactica against three Baseships. Two were destroyed, but the Pegasus was also missing.
Destroyed: Missing
Patches: A shield with a trident symbol
The Poseidon was a slightly faster Battlestar than the others. Its insides contained additional power generators, and the engines were slightly bigger and more powerful than normal. This gave the craft a slight tactical edge in that the generators could handle the power supply to the weaponry and systems with more efficency, and this meant that the main engines could spend more of their output actually propelling the craft along. As well as the tactical advantage this gave the craft, it also meant that the Poseidon possessed a slightly faster hyperspeed capability than normal, although not to a huge extent.
Destroyed: Missing
Patches: Hand holding a burning torch.
Destroyed: 7312, destroyed with the Fourth Fleet at the Battle of the Cosmora Archipelago
Patches: Burning sword in a shield shaped patch
If there was a ship to express the word Efficency, then the Rycon would be that ship. Built as a command and control ship like its sister the Atlantia, the Rycon was designed to command and coordinate the activities of a fleet. However, what set the Rycon apart from other ships is that the commanders of the ship have all followed a tradition of efficency and order. Whereas in some ships, discipline might be slightly lax, or minor breaches of protocol overlooked, in the Rycon it has been tradition to not allow this. As a result, the ship and its commanders have always seemed to appear strict and by-the-book people, which has tended to mean that transfers have usually to been to other ships rather than to the Rycon. However, that does not mean that the ship has had anything other than a glorious history - it has led fleets into many battles and returned with honours. It is just not first choice for most people as there is no room for anything that a full adherence to the rules.
Patches: A glowing sun on a square background.
Destroyed: 7342, destroyed at the Ambush of Cimtar.
Commissioned: 6720
Destroyed: 7162
An older Battlestar, the Titania was built during a time when the Colonial military philosphy stressed defensive methods over an offensive capability. The Battlestar was, at that point, just a fighter carrier and mother ship and needed defending by escort ships. To prove this point, the Titania was built with additional armour and a much strengthened hull which enabled it to survive the battering that the ship took in the battles it participated in. The Titania was a failure for the military view point as the extra armour just encouraged commanders to get stuck in with the fighting counting on the additional armour to protect the ships vital components. As a result of this, the Titania had the dubious record of being the Battlestar most likely to be severely damaged in combat. Unfortunately, this did not stop the Titania being destroyed in an assault of the planet Tucan.
Because of the additional shielding and mass, the Battlestar had a more blocky appearance than the other ships.