Alert-type

The Alert-type escort ship was a class of purpose-built warship used by the Colonial Fleet during the First Cylon War. A sister class of the Hornet-type, these once mighty Colonial ships were relegated to serving as escorts for the newly built battlestars of the Jupiter-class. By the tenth year of the war, at least one vessel of the class had been retrofitted as a hospital ship.

Role#

As one of the original pre-war Colonial Fleet designs, the Alert-type had once been a mighty line vessel. By the time of the First Cylon War its role had shifted, and the surviving ships were assigned to escort the newer Jupiter-class battlestars rather than fight as capital ships in their own right.

Armament and defenses#

The Alert-type was relatively lightly armed, carrying four primary dual kinetic energy weapons (KEW) of the same caliber as those mounted on the Orion-class and Demeter-type. The class lacked main batteries, and instead made up its potential in defensive armament. Thirty-two dual-purpose double KEW batteries were scattered around the hull, and its flight pod provided excellent screening coverage for the ship and its assigned fleet. As with most other Colonial vessels, the last line of protection was thick armor, with layers of tylium-based alloys shielding the ship from enemy missiles that survived its protective flak.

Fighter complement#

Unlike many of its contemporaries, the Alert-type carried no Viper launch tube. This did not prevent it from launching support fighters, but it meant the ship could not rapidly deploy alert fighters. Its hangar pod was large enough to accommodate numerous Raptors and multiple Kimba Huta-type transports.

Computer systems and crew#

As one of the original Colonial Fleet designs, conceived before the war, the Alert-type was most likely built with complex computer systems in mind. Since these vessels served deep into the war, their computer systems were probably replaced and hardened against Cylon infiltration. The crew complement is unknown, but was originally only a couple dozen officers and enlisted personnel. With most of its automation later removed, the complement was likely increased significantly to compensate for the reduced computer systems.

Flight II refit#

At some point during the class's lifetime it underwent a redesign that added an additional flight pod with corresponding armament. While still carrying no Viper launch tubes, this Flight II update significantly increased the class's carrying capacity and available firepower.

Known ships#

Recorded ships of the class include the Hospital Ship Alert and two unnamed Alert-type Flight II vessels that took part in the Ghost Fleet Offensive.