The Galactica type battlestar[6] is a Colonial capital ship that combines the functions of an aircraft carrier and a battleship [7]. It was designed and deployed after the outbreak of hostilities between the Axis and the Colonials during the war. They were used by the Alliance of Nations. The class was designed and deployed by the Colonial Fleet in the early days of the First Cylon War, quite possibly as part of the Articles of Colonization, with 12 ships initially being built by, and representing, each of the Colonies (Miniseries). They included: Galactica, Columbia, Athena, and Archeron. They formed the lead ships of Cylon War era Battlestar Groups, and were represented in almost every major engagement of the War.