The Heavy Carrier was the first major ship of the Colonial Fleet, but it was certainly not the only ship that the Colonials had at their disposable.

As well as the huge fighter carriers, other ships included Garou Class Heavy Cruisers, Lupis Class Command Cruisers and the original forerunners of the Light Cruiser - the Canis Class.

All these ships were built before in the period of around 6000, long before contact with the Cylons occurred, and as such, they come from a different design era. One which, while valuing fighters as valuable fleet assets, was one that did not design every ship of theirs to actually incorporate them. As such, fighter defences are not as heavy as what can be considered the norm now.

Size wise, these ships are roughly the same size as the modern Light Cruisers, but back then these were big ships dwarfed only by the mammoth Heavy Carriers. They are the escort ships for that class, as well as handling all the roles that the modern Light Cruisers and Destroyers would handle now - ranging from picket and anti-pirate duty, to gunships of the line.

Being much older ships, they carry far less weaponry than would be considered standard in the modern fleet, and it is also of an earlier and therefore weaker standard. Although at the times of construction it should be remembered that these were potent ships - the equal of most other races ships around.

And losses were heavier than the Heavy Carriers when contact with the Cylons were made.

These days examples of these ships can be seen in museums, or left to float in space as relics and memorials to the fallen who gave their lives in a desperate defence of what they believed in.

The Early Cruisers were designed by Steve Stiever.

 

---

Early Cruisers of all types have one shuttle bays, and whilst large enough to accept fighters are not equipped with catapults or supplies for them.
The bay is not large enough to accept yachts.
The Early Cruisers have a hyperspeed multiplier of x1.5.

This is an Early Years ship.

Colonial Early Cruiser boarding diagram:

	A	B	C
Command Cruiser:	8 F.Hull 2 Bridge 1 Flag 1 Cargo 2 Lab 3 Battery 3 Ph.2	8 A.Hull 6 APR 1 Aux 2 Shuttle 4 Ph.3	10 Warp 2 Ph.3
Heavy Cruiser:	8 F.Hull 2 Bridge 1 Cargo 2 Lab 2 APR 1 Battery 3 Ph.2	8 A.Hull 3 APR 1 Aux 2 Shuttle 1 Cargo 4 Ph.3	10 Warp 1 Ph.3
Light Cruiser:	6 F.Hull 2 Bridge 1 Cargo 2 Ph.2	8 A.Hull 2 APR 2 Battery 2 Lab 1 Aux 1 Shuttle 1 Cargo 3 Ph.3	10 Warp 1 Ph.3

 

---

	GIF file
Lupis Class Command Cruiser SSD	16k
Garou Class Heavy Cruiser SSD	16k
Canis Class Light Cruiser SSD	16k

 

---

Master Ship Chart Extract:

Ship	Crew Units	Brdg Parties	BPV	Move Cost	Size Class	Turn Mode	Explos. Str	F&E Cmd	Ftr Flights	Year	Notes
Lupis Class Command Cruiser	10	4	29	0.50	4	B	12	4	0	6000
Garou Class Heavy Cruiser	10	3	27	0.50	4	B	12	2	0	6000
Canis Class Light Cruiser	8	2	24	0.50	4	B	10	2	0	6000

Annex #7B: Ships able to land on planets

These ships may land on a planet via Powered landings (P2.434).

Annex #7G: Carrier information & Annex #7N: Missile reloads

Ship	Type	Ftrs	Admin	Bays	Store	DC
Command/Heavy Cruiser	YCC/YCA	0	2	0/0/1	-	1
Light Cruiser	YCL	0	1	0/0/1	-	1

---