Editing Carrier

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Center|Were you looking for Flood [[Flood carrier form|Carrier Form]]?}}
{{Wikipedia|Aircraft carrier}}
[[File:Assault Carrier 2.jpg|250px|thumb|A Covenant assault carrier.]]
A '''carrier''' is a general ship classification, with warships of different sub-classifications within the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and [[Covenant]] fleets. Such a vessel is formally defined as ''"a large warship carrying fighters equipped with flight decks for takeoffs and landings"''. There are multiple classes of carrier within this general designation. The term "carrier" is not limited to starships, as there are still [[Crassus-class supercarrier|seaborne carriers]] in service with humanity.<ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', multiplayer level, [[Longshore]]</ref>

==Overview==
Typically the size of [[cruiser]]s or larger, the general combat role of a carrier in combat is analogous to that of a seaborne [[Crassus-class supercarrier|aircraft carrier]]; to deploy [[starfighter]]s, such as [[Type-31 Seraph|Seraphs]] or [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]].<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 249</ref> Aside their fighter complements, carriers also possess [[weapons]] themselves, to protect themselves in combat when their fighters are unable to defend them. In planetary occupation missions, carriers are mobile deployers of ground forces to subjugate an enemy planet, launching dropships and top-cover fighters.<ref>''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'', p. 277</ref>

The navies of the UNSC and the Covenant have different classifications of carriers. For example, Covenant {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s are on the scale of five kilometers long while {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}s can have a length of around 29 kilometers,<ref name="essential">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 111</ref> giving a scale of the keel length of carrier-type warships. In the Covenant, carriers typically serve as the [[flagship]] of a fleet, while in the UNSC, the role is more commonly—though not invariably—filled by cruisers.<ref>''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'', p. 276</ref> However, [[supercarrier]]s still form the core of major expeditionary fleets, with carriers filling a similar role for smaller battle groups and defensive fleets.<ref>''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'' - p. 40</ref> In the [[Covenant fleet]], the heavy-tonnage carrier classes ''DDS'', ''CAS'', and ''CSO'' are all classified as part of a "supercarrier" category distinct from lighter carrier vessels that fulfill support roles.<ref name="have s'moa">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Have S'moa]</ref> 

The Covenant are known to possess unidentified light carrier classes.<ref name="have s'moa"/>

==Types==
===Human===
====UNSC====
{{Main|UNSC carrier}}
*'''{{Class|Poseidon|light carrier}}''' - A type of light carrier.<ref name="Bulletin">[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-5-14-14 ''Halo Waypoint'': The Halo Bulletin 5.14.14]</ref>
<gallery>
File:H4-Poseidon.png|A ''Poseidon''-class carrier
</gallery>
*'''{{Class|Orion|assault carrier}}''' - A larger carrier that featured factories and chemical processors that allowed for the production of fuel, spare parts and sometimes full combat vehicles.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-armory-amore ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Armory Amore]</ref>
<gallery>
File:Halo Fleet Battles - Orion class.jpg|An ''Orion''-class carrier
</gallery>
*'''{{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}}''' - The heaviest carrier class behind the supercarriers.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-in-the-loop ''Halo Waypoint:'' Canon Fodder - In the Loop]</ref>
<gallery>
File:Enc22 SoTP Epoch.png|An ''Epoch''-class carrier
</gallery>
*'''{{Class|Punic|supercarrier}}''' - A super massive carrier. It was able to mount [[Frigate]]s and [[Destroyer]]s in ventral bays.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-infinity-beyond ''Halo Waypoint:'' Canon Fodder - Infinity & Beyond]</ref>
<gallery>
File:Enc22 SoTP Punic.png|A ''Punic''-class carrier
</gallery>
*'''{{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}}''' - The largest UNSC carrier to date.
<gallery>
File:H4-UNSCInfinity-Starship-Side.png|The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, an ''Infinity''-class supercarrier
</gallery>

===Covenant carriers===
{{Main|Covenant carrier}}
*'''{{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}''' - A large carrier, usually deployed during invasions of strategic worlds.<ref>''[[Data Drop/Four|Data Drop #4]]''</ref>
<gallery>
File:H3 Assault Carrier render.png|A ''CAS''-class carrier
</gallery>
*'''{{Pattern|Ruma|light carrier}}''' - A carrier class that served as a force deployment and occupation vessel.<ref>''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 28</ref>
*'''{{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}''' - The largest type of vessel seen during the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref>''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', p. 111</ref>
<gallery>
File:HReach-CovenantSupercarrier-LNoS.png|The ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', a ''CSO''-class supercarrier.
</gallery>

==Related vehicles==
===Human===
*{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} - Traditionally a cruiser, rarely deployed in a configuration that is equal to a light carrier.{{Ref/Book|Halo: Fleet Battles core rulebook|Page=125}}
*{{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}} - Modified ''Phoenix''-class colony ships are re-designated as ''Phoenix''-class carriers.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-in-the-loop ''Halo Waypoint:'' Canon Fodder - In the Loop]</ref>

===Sangheili===
*{{Pattern|Lursu|brigantine}} - A tithe ship, described as a carrier.<ref>''[[Halo Mythos]]'', p. 195</ref>

===Forerunner===
*{{Class|Fortress|vessel}} - Not described as a carrier, but could carry thousands of swift attack craft.<ref>''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'', p. 312-313</ref>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Ship types}}

[[Category:Carriers| ]]
[[Category:Carrier classes| ]]
[[Category:Ship classifications]]