Editing Carrier

{{Status|Canon}}

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>  

File:Enc22 SoTP Epoch.png|An ''Epoch''-class carrier

File:Enc22 SoTP Punic.png|A ''Punic''-class carrier

File:H4-UNSCInfinity-Starship-Side.png|The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, an ''Infinity''-class supercarrier

*'''{{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>

*{{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}}

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