Hyperion class heavy cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Hyperion class heavy cruiser
is a fictional starship
in the Babylon 5
universe.
, but still a capable design. It saw its heyday during the Dilgar and Earth-Minbari
wars. In both wars the Hyperion class was the primary ship of the line, alongside the Nova-class dreadnought
. Although the majority of them were destroyed by the end of the Earth-Minbari war, they are still a common sight in Earth fleets, often deployed on long-range patrols or as escorts for the newer, more advanced destroyers. Hyperions were still in EarthForce service as late as 2281.
fighters and 2 shuttles. As with most ships of its size, Hyperion class ships are capable of both using jump gates and creating their own jump points.
Unlike the later Omegas, Hyperions did not have rotating sections and the ships operated in zero Gravity. As such the crew would normally be seen strapped into their seats during operations.
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
is a fictional starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
in the Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
universe.
History
The Hyperion class is an older type of EarthForce warship, smaller and less heavily-armed than the newer Omega class destroyerOmega class destroyer
The Omega-class destroyer is a fictional vessel used by Earthforce, the military branch of the Earth Alliance, in the science fiction television series Babylon 5...
, but still a capable design. It saw its heyday during the Dilgar and Earth-Minbari
Earth-Minbari War
The Earth–Minbari War is a fictional war that formed a major part of the back story of the science fiction television series, Babylon 5. The war was fought between the Earth Alliance and the Minbari, an older alien race that overwhelmingly outmatched Earth in terms of technology and weapons...
wars. In both wars the Hyperion class was the primary ship of the line, alongside the Nova-class dreadnought
Nova class dreadnought
The Nova class dreadnought is a heavy warship in the science fiction series Babylon 5. The dreadnought is used by the military branch of the Earth Alliance called EarthForce....
. Although the majority of them were destroyed by the end of the Earth-Minbari war, they are still a common sight in Earth fleets, often deployed on long-range patrols or as escorts for the newer, more advanced destroyers. Hyperions were still in EarthForce service as late as 2281.
Design
1025.39m in length and massing 8,400,000 metric tons, the Hyperion carries a crew of 356 and 200 troops. The design boasts a powerful armament in the form of one heavy double-mount plasma cannon (the big guns mounted forward), two particle/laser turrets (mounted on either side of the forward hull), eight medium pulse cannon turrets (the bubble-like turrets mounted all over the ship), and two heavy missile launchers. In addition to the armament, the cruiser has potent defenses in the form of a 6-8 meter-thick armored hull and a standard defense grid. The Hyperion class is capable of carrying 6 StarfuryStarfury
The Starfury fighter is a fictional vessel used by Earthforce, the military branch of the Earth Alliance, in the science fiction television series Babylon 5...
fighters and 2 shuttles. As with most ships of its size, Hyperion class ships are capable of both using jump gates and creating their own jump points.
Unlike the later Omegas, Hyperions did not have rotating sections and the ships operated in zero Gravity. As such the crew would normally be seen strapped into their seats during operations.
Notable cruisers
- EAS Aegean: Cruiser fighting on Sheridan's side during the civil war, shortly seen in hyperspace behind the Agamemnon during the season 4 episode, "EndgameEndgame (Babylon 5)"Endgame" is an episode from the fourth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:John Sheridan launches a final battle to liberate Earth....
".
- EAS Clarkstown: This ship ambushed General Hague's flagship EAS AlexanderEAS AlexanderIn the Babylon 5 science fiction universe, the EAS Alexander was an Earth Alliance Omega class destroyer. It may have been named after Alexander the Great. It played a key role in the Earth Alliance Civil War of 2260 - 2261....
at the Io transfer station after he rebelled against President ClarkMorgan ClarkWilliam Morgan Clark is a fictional character and a major antagonist from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, portrayed by Gary McGurk. His character rarely appeared on-screen, but is a major off-screen presence in the show....
. Unfortunately, General Hague was killed by a shot to the midsection of the Alexander during the attack. After the death of Hague, Major Ryan took command and, with some reluctance, gave the order to fire on and destroy the Clarkstown, which was captained by a friend of Hague, Captain Maxwell, with whom Major Ryan was acquainted.
- EAS Excalibur: One of the EarthForce ships sent to stop General Hague's coup off the transfer point in Io. She was disabled during the firefight, allowing Hague's EAS Alexander to escape. Since this ship is unrelated to the IAS Excalibur from Crusade, presumably the ship was decommissioned or otherwise destroyed shortly afterwards.
- EAS HyperionEAS HyperionThe EAS Hyperion is a fictional starship in the science fiction television series Babylon 5. The EAS Hyperion is seen in the first season two part episode "A Voice in the Wilderness". EAS Hyperion is under the command of Captain Ellis Pierce at the time.The EAS Hyperion is a Hyperion-class heavy...
: Commanded by Captain Pierce, he served and participated in the Earth-Minbari War previously years before and commanded the Hyperion in the resolution of the Great MachineGreat MachineThe Great Machine is an enormous technological complex of networked machines beneath the surface of the planet Epsilon III in Babylon 5.-History:...
incident at Epsilon III seen in the season 1 episode, "A Voice in the Wilderness".
- EAS Lexington: Commanded by Roger Stearns and John SheridanJohn Sheridan (Babylon 5)John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
, she participated in the destruction of the Black StarBlack Star (Babylon 5)The Black Star was a Sharlin Class Warcruiser in the fictional science fiction universe of Babylon 5. The Black Star served as one of the flagships of the Minbari Federation fleet, until its destruction in the year 2245. The Black Star (Drala Fi' in Minbari) was a Sharlin Class Warcruiser in the...
as shown in the TV movie, In the BeginningBabylon 5: In the BeginningBabylon 5: In the Beginning is a science fiction television movie set in the Babylon 5 fictional universe. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Michael Vejar....
.
- EAS Prometheus: Commanded by Captain Michael Jankowski. This ship started the Earth-Minbari War by firing on the Valen'tha in July 2245 at the first contact between the two races, as shown in the TV movie, In the BeginningBabylon 5: In the BeginningBabylon 5: In the Beginning is a science fiction television movie set in the Babylon 5 fictional universe. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Michael Vejar....
. This encounter took place on the rim of unexplored space in a region known as Falcon's Reach. However the Prometheus was destroyed in the Earth-Minbari War.