Valkyrie-class
the light strike battlestar
The Valkyrie-class was one of the oldest classes of battlestar in Colonial service, a small and versatile warship believed to have served as a light strike and reconnaissance vessel from the Cylon War until the Fall of the Twelve Colonies.
The Valkyrie-class was a type of battlestar operated by the Colonial Fleet. A comparatively small warship, noticeably smaller than Galactica, it was already in service during the Cylon War, and ships of the class were still on active duty more than forty years later at the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. (Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome; Battlestar Galactica: The Plan)
Role and service#
During the Cylon War the class served in support of larger battlestars rather than as a flagship, flying alongside a ship of Galactica's type. It was much smaller than the Jupiter-class and carried fewer Vipers and Raptors, but it stayed in service for decades. At the Fall, three Valkyrie-class ships turned to engage the Cylon basestars over Caprica before the back doors in their networked systems shut them down. (Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome; Battlestar Galactica: The Plan)
Flight I and Flight II refits#
In Razor, a few of the Valkyrie-class ships docked at the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards carry a winglet-like structure above the engine section that the others lack. Fan reference works call this version the Flight II and the original the Flight I. The series never names the two or explains the difference. (Battlestar Galactica: Razor)
Known ships#
The name ship, the Battlestar Valkyrie, was William Adama's command in Battlestar Group 41 before he took over Galactica. At the Fall, the Valkyrie and the Battlestar Yashuman, with a third ship of the class, were disabled and destroyed over Caprica. More ships of the class were lost at the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards. (Battlestar Galactica, "Hero"; Battlestar Galactica: The Plan; Battlestar Galactica: Razor)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Valkyrie-class?
- The Valkyrie-class was a type of battlestar in Colonial Fleet service from the Cylon War to the Fall. It was a comparatively small warship, carrying fewer Vipers and Raptors than the larger battlestars.
- When did the Valkyrie-class enter service?
- Ships of the class were already flying during the Cylon War, alongside Galactica's type, and many were still in service more than forty years later at the Fall of the Twelve Colonies.
- What is the Valkyrie-class Flight II?
- It's a fan name for a version seen in Razor: a few Valkyrie-class ships at the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards carry a winglet-like structure above the engines that the others lack. The series never names or explains the difference.
- What known ships belonged to the Valkyrie-class?
- The Battlestar Valkyrie, Adama's command in Battlestar Group 41 before Galactica, and the Battlestar Yashuman. Both were disabled and destroyed over Caprica at the Fall, along with a third ship of the class, and more were lost at the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards.
Sources
- FilmBattlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, Web series and television film (2012)
- FilmBattlestar Galactica: The Plan, Television film (2009)
- FilmBattlestar Galactica: Razor, Television film (2007)
- EpisodeHero, Season 3, Episode 8 (2006)
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
Followed from this entry
Battlestar Valkyrie
The Valkyrie was a Valkyrie-class battlestar of the Colonial Fleet. A veteran of the First Cylon War, she was later commanded by William Adama and was destroyed over Caprica in the opening hours of the Fall.
Battlestar Yashuman
The Yashuman was a Valkyrie-class battlestar of the Colonial Fleet that led the battlestars guarding Caprica at the time of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. She spotted the incoming Cylon basestars but was shut down by the Command Navigation Program backdoors before she could engage.
Jupiter-class
The Jupiter-class is the name licensed works give to the line of the original twelve battlestars built for the Cylon War. Built around un-networked computers, the class resisted Cylon infiltration, and Galactica, the last of the line still in service, survived the Fall of the Twelve Colonies.
Caprica: the Colonial capital
Caprica was the richest of the Twelve Colonies, seat of the Colonial government, and the world where the Cylons were built. The Cylon attack destroyed it.
Colonial Fleet: 120 battlestars
The navy of the Twelve Colonies, which fought the Cylon War. One software exploit cut it to two surviving battlestars on the day of the Fall.
Cylon War: the machines revolt
The Cylons rose against the people who built them on Caprica. Twelve years of fighting ended in a sudden Armistice that held for forty years.
Mentioned in6 entries
Battlestar
The battlestar was the Colonial Fleet's capital ship, an armoured battleship and carrier hybrid. The wartime battlestars relied on unnetworked computers, carried squadrons of fighters, and were armoured to survive nuclear blasts.
Battlestar Valkyrie
The Valkyrie was a Valkyrie-class battlestar of the Colonial Fleet. A veteran of the First Cylon War, she was later commanded by William Adama and was destroyed over Caprica in the opening hours of the Fall.
Battlestar Yashuman
The Yashuman was a Valkyrie-class battlestar of the Colonial Fleet that led the battlestars guarding Caprica at the time of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. She spotted the incoming Cylon basestars but was shut down by the Command Navigation Program backdoors before she could engage.
Berzerk-class
The Berzerk-class was a Colonial fleet escort seen at the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards when the Cylons attacked. The Fleet Escort Berzerk was shut down through the Command Navigation Program and destroyed by Cylon Raiders.
Colonial Fleet: 120 battlestars
The navy of the Twelve Colonies, which fought the Cylon War. One software exploit cut it to two surviving battlestars on the day of the Fall.
Scorpion Fleet Shipyards
The Scorpion Fleet Shipyards were a vast orbital shipbuilding installation above Scorpia, a principal builder of Colonial warships from the First Cylon War until they were destroyed in the Fall of the Twelve Colonies.
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