The Stargate franchise may be famous for that big, round portal that lets you travel to
other planets, but after five years of adventuring the show’s writers decided to mix things
up.
In SG-1’s sixth season Earth developed its first-ever interstellar ships -- finally making
use of all that alien technology SG-1 had discovered along the way.
The fleet that followed would change the texture of the Stargate TV series.
Here’s a run-down of Earth’s seven battle cruisers.
First came Prometheus.
The predecessor of the BC-304-class ships is Prometheus -- originally designated X-303
during its development and construction.
The ship took a number of key elements from Goa’uld technology in order to create Earth’s
first large-scale ship capable of interstellar travel.
It proved pivotal in defending Earth from Anubis’s forces at the Battle of Antarctica
under the command of Major General George Hammond.
Later Prometheus would be commanded by Lionel Pendergast.
Despite receiving upgrades of Asgard shields and weapons, however, the ship would prove
no match for an Ori-designed weapons satellite orbiting the planet Tegalus.
Prometheus engaged the weapon in combat, and was destroyed with some 40 hands still on
board.
The Daedalus.
Only one ship of the X-303 class was ever built, as Earth’s engineers instead moved
to develop the more sleek and enhanced BC-304-class deep space carrier.
The first to roll off the line was the U.S.S.
Daedalus, with Colonel Steven Caldwell given command.
The vessel even had its own Asgard engineer, Hermiod, assigned as a liaison.
Since an expedition to Atlantis had recently made contact with Earth following months of
radio silence, Daedalus was dispatched to cross the vast emptiness of space between
the Milky Way and Pegasus Galaxies -- delivering much-needed relief and support during the
Wraith siege of the Ancient city.
Daedalus would continue to operate as a go-between from Atlantis to Earth, delivering supplies
and personnel in a round-trip journey that takes a little over a month.
After war with the Replicators broke out the ship spent more time on assignment in the
Pegasus Galaxy, where it would be a key factor in the final Battle of Asuras.
The Odyssey.
With Daedalus spending so much time in Pegasus, Earth needed one of its shiny new ships that
could stay closer to home.
After the destruction of Prometheus, the U.S.S.
Odyssey became a crucial support vessel for Stargate Command.
Under the command of Colonel Paul Emerson, the ship frequently served as a base of operations
for SG-1 -- particularly when a planet was not easy to access discreetly by means of
the Stargate.
Odyssey and her crew also rescued SG-1 on more than one occasion by beaming them out
of trouble just in the nick of time.
It was also the Odyssey that the team took through the Supergate to the Ori home galaxy.
There they managed to put an end to the Ori invasion -- saving the Milky Way once again.
The Apollo.
Under the command of the no-nonsense Abraham Ellis, Apollo commonly provided support to
the Atlantis expedition and the Daedalus.
Like Daedalus it travelled across the void between the two galaxies.
It was Apollo that made a preemptive first-strike against the Replicator homeworld of Asuras,
sparking a war that raged across the Pegasus Galaxy.
The Korolev.
After revealing that Russia was in possession of a Stargate and a D.H.D. of their own, the
country and its military became a necessary ally of Stargate Command.
The Russian liaison officer, Colonel Chekov, was happy to have a say in S.G.C.
operations while letting the Americans take most of the risks off-world.
But when the chance came for him to command his own ship, crewed by Russian soldiers,
Chekov jumped at the chance.
The Korolev rolled off the line just in time for the Ori invasion.
This new enemy had created a Supergate in order to invade from a distant galaxy.
But the ship’s first mission would also prove to be its last.
The combined forces of Earth and its allies could not stop the Ori warships from pushing
through the blockade.
The Korolev was destroyed in the battle, and all hands lost.
The Sun Tzu.
Sun Tzu and her captain were never seen on screen, but they did play a part in the defense
of Earth from alien attack.
With an international alliance on Earth gaining more influence, the Chinese soon followed
the Russians in having a deep space carrier to call their own.
Alongside the Apollo, the Sun Tzu intercepted and engaged a super-powered Wraith hive ship
headed for Earth.
The ship was crippled and venting atmosphere, and the Apollo took on her crew before limping
home.
It’s possible that the Sun Tzu was eventually repaired and recovered, but as of the final
episode of Atlantis it was likely left adrift in between galaxies.
The U.S.S.
George Hammond.
Originally to be christened the Phoenix, the vessel was renamed in honor of the first commander
of the S.G.C.
following his death in 2008.
Its commander is none other than former SG-1 officer Samantha Carter -- now a Lt. Colonel.
The ship helped to defend Earth from the Wraith super-hive, then later ferried personnel to
Earth’s secret new Icarus Base.
But the base came under attack by the Lucian Alliance.
While Nicholas Rush and Eli Wallace worked to unlock the Stargate’s ninth chevron and
evacuate the base, Colonel Carter and her crew engaged in a pitched battle in the skies
above.
Today the George Hammond remains one of the premiere vessels of Earth’s growing fleet.
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