Halberd-class light destroyer: Difference between revisions

{{Title|''Halberd''-class destroyer}}

{{Ship class infobox

|name=''Halberd''-class destroyer

|image=[[File:Heart of Midlothian.png|300px]]

|manufacturer=[[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]]<ref name="wf32">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 32-33</ref>

|class=[[Destroyer]]{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

|role=*Attack{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

*Escort and defense{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}<ref name="enc">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 248 (2009); p. 259 (2011)</ref>

|length={{Convert|485|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc}}<ref name="waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/tech/gallery/unsc-the-heart-of-midlothian/a0711b9f-4241-4c5b-9e2d-2110775cafa2?page=2 ''Halo Waypoint'': UNSC The Heart of Midlothian] (defunct, backup on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110325074720/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/unsc-the-heart-of-midlothian/a0711b9f-4241-4c5b-9e2d-2110775cafa2 Archive.org])</ref>

|width=

|height=

|mass=1.8 million metric tons{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

|power=

|engine=*Four primary [[fusion drive]]s<ref name="Mythos">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', p. 82-83</ref>

|slipspace drive=[[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

|navigation=

|hull=Two meters of [[Titanium-A armor]]{{Ref/Reuse|enc}}<ref name="for139">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', Chapter 16, p. 139 (2001 paperback); p. 163-164 (2010 paperback)</ref>

|armament=*1 [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|14B11R2 MAC battery]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos}}{{Ref/Reuse|for139}}

*26 [[Archer missile#M58 Archer|M58 Archer missile]] pods{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}{{Ref/Reuse|for139}}

*4 [[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]s{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

*3 [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s{{Ref/Reuse|for139}}

|complement=*50 [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]]{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

*2 [[D77-TC Pelican]]s{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}<ref name="cp25">''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'', p. 25</ref> or

*2 [[D75-TC Pelican]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}

*2 [[Nandao fighter]] [[Squadron|squadron]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=HOblv12|HOblv|Chapter=12}}

|crew=250 sailors{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

|era=*[[Insurrection]]<ref name="for75">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 9, p. 75 (2001 paperback); p. 95-96 (2010 paperback)</ref>

*[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos}}

*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}

|introduced=

|affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]]{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

 

The '''''Halberd''-class destroyer''' is a class of [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]] in service with the [[UNSC Navy]] with a [[hull classification symbol]] of '''DD'''.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} Manufactured by [[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]],{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}} the ''Halberd'' class was in service with the Navy during the [[Insurrection]], throughout, and [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|after]] the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="canonfodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-have-s-moa ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Have S'moa]</ref>

==Specifications==

===Superstructure and hull===

The ''Halberd''-class destroyer features a distinctive "arrowhead" profile.<ref>''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', p. 26</ref> The hull of the ''Halberd'' class is reinforced with approximately two meters of [[Titanium-A armor]],{{Ref/Reuse|for139}} with parts of the hull featuring components made up of [[Vanadium steel]].<ref name="for247">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 23, p. 215 (2001 paperback); p. 247 (2010 paperback)</ref> The hull is embedded with thermal superconducting radiators to more efficiently transfer the heat generated by the destroyers into space.{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos}} At 485 meters in length, the class is only seven meters longer than a {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}, yet it has almost double the mass at 1.8 million metric tons; this is due to the destroyer's thicker and higher-quality titanium hull that allows destroyers of this class to take a tremendous amount of damage.{{Ref/Reuse|enc}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|for139}} Replacement armor plates can be quickly cut to shape and patched onto the ship at any naval depot, though any repairs to the destroyer's underlying structure often require the specialized care of a shipwright.{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}} Fast and requiring only a small crew, ''Halberd''-class destroyers do not have as much armor as larger [[warship]]s within the [[UNSC fleet]]. Though they lack general-purpose utility, the destroyers' heavy armaments compensate for this issue. The ''Halberd'' class has a modular design which allows them to be configured for different missions.<ref name="looking glassed">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-looking-glassed ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Looking Glassed]</ref>

''Halberds'' are also equipped with an advanced sensor array, the Mk. 45 long-range fire director.{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos}} The destroyer class has a circular [[bridge]] with an array of display monitors for its crew.{{Ref/Reuse|cp25}} Like all warships of the [[UNSC Navy]], the bridges on ''Halberd'' destroyers give the ship's command crew visibility of surrounding space, as per naval design guidelines.{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}} Later into the [[Human-Covenant War]], ''Halberd''-class destroyers were outfitted with an ε-pattern layout, providing an increased field of view.{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos}} Each destroyer of the class has two [[Armory|armories]], each filled with an assortment of firearms and equipment.<ref>"[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]" – ''[[Halo: Evolutions]]'', p. 86</ref>

The destroyer has six [[emergency thruster]] tanks strategically placed on hardened points of the hull.<ref name="for174">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 17, p. 149 (2001 paperback); p. 174 (2010 paperback)</ref> Translight power is provided by a [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]], located in the destroyer's expansive engine room.<ref>"Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian" – ''Halo: Evolutions'', p. 95</ref> The aft of the ''Halberd''-class has reinforced armored screens fitted to protect fusion drives and the [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] engine.{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos}}

In "wolf-pack" task forces, ''Halberd'' destroyers carry no Marine complement, though they could exchange it for extra aircraft. For example, the destroyers comprising the [[Task Force Pantea]] traded their Marine detachments for two squadrons of [[Nandao fighter]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv12}}

Though these destroyers are not as heavily armored compared to other warships in the Navy's fleet, they are armed with enhanced weapons systems that make up for their relatively light defensive capabilities.<ref>[http://shop.spartangames.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HFUN10 ''Spartan Games'': UNSC Halberd Upgrade Box] (Defunct)</ref> The ''Halberd''-class destroyer's primary armament is a spinal-mounted [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|14B11R2 MAC battery]], which is composed of twin-linked [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|1170mm/647mm (46"/25.5") high-velocity coilguns]].{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos}} The primary MAC is capable of firing all standard munition packages, ranging from hyper-dense kinetic slugs to semi-autonomous drone missiles. The secondary, smaller coilgun is only capable of firing kinetic rounds. The MAC battery is powered by capacitor cells that can quickly be swapped out if the cells become damaged or degraded.{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}

 

The ''Halberd'' class is also armed with twenty-six oversized [[Archer missile#M58 Archer|M58 Archer missile pods]],{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}}{{Ref/Reuse|for139}} capable of holding a total of over eight hundred individual Archer missiles.{{Ref/Reuse|enc}} The class may also hold a payload of three [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|for139}} For defense against single ships, the destroyer class carries four twin-linked [[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|wf32}} One of the most heavily armed classes of UNSC vessels, a group of ''Halberd''-class destroyers is capable of engaging and inflicting heavy damage upon even the largest of [[Covenant]] ships.{{Ref/Reuse|enc}}

The ''Halberd''-class destroyer was the most commonly deployed [[destroyer]] class during the [[Human-Covenant War]] and the later years of the [[Insurrection]]. Such vessels were in service as early as [[2517]]<ref>''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]''</ref> ''Halberd''s engaged the Covenant as early as [[2525|December 2525]].<ref>''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'', [[Halo: Collateral Damage Issue 2|Issue #2]]</ref>

''Halberd''-class destroyers were attached to [[Battle Group X-Ray]] in [[2526]]. Numerous destroyers from X-Ray were assigned to "wolf-pack" task forces. The operable life expectancy of the destroyers in these task forces was several weeks. One such task force, [[Task Force Pantea]], [[Battle of Netherop|fought the Covenant]] over [[Netherop]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}} At least one was destroyed in the battle.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HOblv19|HOblv|Chapter=19}} Despite their powerful armament and maneuverability, many fleet officers looked down upon destroyers, considering them too ineffective against Covenant ships. It was generally agreed that seven destroyers were an even match for four [[Covenant frigate]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|for139}}<ref name="for169">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 16, p. 144 (2001 paperback); p. 169 (2010 paperback)</ref>

Although ''Halberd''-class destroyers can be configured for a variety of mission types, resource shortages during the Covenant War led to most ''Halberd''s being configured purely for escort duty, with entire subsystems left out to reduce construction time.{{Ref/Reuse|looking glassed}} At some point between [[2548]] and [[2552]], one destroyer of this class, {{UNSCShip|The Heart of Midlothian}}, participated in the [[Algolis Invasion]], where she destroyed five Covenant ships when the [[self-destruct]] fail-safe was initialized after she was [[Boarding|boarded]].<ref name="mithom102">''Halo: Evolutions'', "Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian", p. 102</ref> Many ''Halberd''-class destroyers participated in the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], most notably {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}}, which was captained by [[Commander]] [[Jacob Keyes]]. During the initial skirmish, ''Iroquois'' performed the daring [[Keyes Loop]], destroying three Covenant warships in the process.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 18, p. 156 (2001 paperback); p. 182 (2010 paperback)</ref> Several dozen destroyers later participated in the [[Fall of Reach]] as part of the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]].<ref name="for359">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 36, p. 320 (2001 paperback); p. 359 (2010 paperback)</ref> ''Halberd'' destroyers continue to be in service with the Navy by [[2557]], with some serving with the [[UNSC Home Fleet]] over [[Earth]].<ref name="HE10">''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', [[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue #10]]</ref> In August [[2558]], a pair of Halberds served as escort for a cargo freighter in the [[Ephsu system]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HPoL8|HPoL|Chapter=8}}

*{{UNSCShip|Rio Grande}} - Served as part of [[Task Force Pantea]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}

*Cost: 50 points

*Movement: 10"

*Damage Track: 4 • 4 • 4

**Hard Burn (3")

**Missile barrage*

**Point defense (3)

**Titanium armor (3)

*Primary weapon: Light MACs

**Range: 10/20"

**Weapon Loadouts: MAC (2)

**Firing arc: Forward

**Dice: 8

*Secondary weapon: Missile Batteries

**Range: 12/24"

**Weapon Loadouts: Missiles

**Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard

**Dice: 3

''Halberd''-class destroyers are used by the UNSC Navy at [[WHITE TOWER]].{{Ref/YouTube|Id=HTVOT|5KZ3MKraNKY|Paramount+|Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer|Y=2022|M=1|D=30}}

*''[[Halo Mythos]]''

*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''