Editing Covenant carrier

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:H3 Heretic FleetOfRetribution.jpg|350px|thumb|A pair of Covenant [[assault carrier]]s with a number of [[battlecruiser]]s.]]
'''Covenant carriers''' are a broad type of [[Covenant starship|ship]] classification of the [[Covenant]] [[Covenant fleet|fleet]] and its [[Covenant remnants|remnants]]. Often grand and illustrious, they serve as hubs for administrative and religious activities within their assigned fleets.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22pg262|Enc22|Page=262-263}}

==Overview==
Carriers held a Covenant fleet's clerical authority for religious ceremonies, contained small [[Assembly Forges|assembly forges]] for repairs, and the bulk of the food supply. They were often used to clear operating areas of [[space fighter]]s allowing other vessels in a fleet to focus on other targets.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg262}}

==Types of carrier==

===Assault carriers===
{{Main|Assault carrier}}
Assault carriers are the Covenant carrier type most commonly encountered by Covenant forces, classed as [[Examiner (ship type)|examiners]] in the [[Covenant ship classification system]]. They are generally the ones tasked with leading fleets of smaller warships and acting as primary combatants in [[space warfare]].{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=28}} The [[three-letter ship classification system]] developed by the [[United Nations Space Command]] designates most of these vessels as '''CAS-class assault carriers''',{{Ref/Site|Id=WPShadow|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/shadow-of-intent|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Shadow of Intent|D=11|M=05|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Site|Id=WPSong|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/song-of-retribution|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Song of Retribution|D=26|M=01|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=28}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc09|Enc09|Page=264}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=276-277}}{{Ref/Book|Id=H4EVG|H4EVG|Page=195}} with the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] considering the Class-5 flagship carrier.{{Ref/Generic|Id=DD4|[[Data Drop|Data Drop 4]]}} Due to their enormous size, assault carriers may be informally termed as "supercarriers".{{Ref/Site|Id=CFMoa|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Have S'moa|D=28|M=03|Y=2019}}

A number of [[design pattern]] variations of assault carrier exist:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
|-
|{{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}} || [[File:H3-ShadowOfIntent-Side.png|300px]] || {{Convert|5347|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}} || 2.7 billion tonnes || {{Ref/Reuse|WPShadow}}{{Ref/Reuse|WPSong}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}}
|-
|{{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}} || [[File:HFB-CAS&CCS&SDV.jpg|300px]] || {{Convert|5347|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}} || 2.7 billion tonnes || {{Ref/Reuse|WPShadow}}{{Ref/Reuse|WPSong}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}}
|-
|[[Unidentified Covenant assault carrier class|Unidentified pattern]] || [[File:HR_LNoS_AssaultCarrier_Screenshot_1.png|300px]] || N/A || N/A || {{Ref/Level|HR|Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace}}
|}

===Light carriers===
Only one known classification of light carrier has been encountered in Covenant service, dubbed the {{Pattern|Ruma|light carrier}}. These vessels are rarely encountered far from [[harborage]]s and ports, and serve as troop transports, [[Space fighter|strikecraft]] tenders and flagships for reserve fleets in the Covenant's rear lines.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg262}} These vessels are given the three-letter code '''DDS-class light carrier''' in UNSC classification schemes.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} Despite their official designation as light carriers, ''Ruma''-pattern ships are nonetheless enormous vessels and a breed apart from a variety of undefined "light carrier" vessels, such that they may be informally termed as supercarriers in their own right.{{Ref/Reuse|CFMoa}}

One such unidentified model of light carrier measures 1,455 meters (4,790&nbsp;ft) in length - just under half of the ''Ruma''{{'}}s length. It boasts 13 launch bays that contain a total of 300 [[Seraph]] fighters, 200 [[Banshee]]s, and 34 [[dropship]]s, and is crewed by more than 4,000 Covenant troops. It is armed with multiple [[plasma torpedo]] silos and [[pulse laser turret]]s. As it is less common and more powerful than a Covenant cruiser, it is most likely designed to act as a command ship and provide fighter support during engagements.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} Vessels of this class, such as the ''[[Lawgiver]]'', are considered a breed apart from the larger and more heavily-equipped ''Ruma''-pattern vessels.{{Ref/Reuse|CFMoa}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
|-
|{{Pattern|Ruma|light carrier}} || N/A || {{Convert|3000|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}} || 272 million tonnes || {{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg262}}
|-
|Unidentified pattern || N/A || {{Convert|1455|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}} || N/A || {{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
|}

===Supercarriers===
{{Main|Supercarrier}}
The largest warships in the Covenant armada were sometimes referred to as "supercarriers" to distinguish them from lighter carrier vessels that filled support roles.{{Ref/Site|Id=canonfodder|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Have S'moa|D=16|M=3|Y=2021}} They are extremely large warships bordering on overlap with harborages such as [[Unyielding Hierophant]], or the [[Exarch]] class of vessels in Covenant service. In UNSC three-letter classification, the ''Sh'wada''-pattern supercarrier is dubbed the '''CSO-class supercarrier''', and is considered a Class-5 flagship carrier similarly to the smaller assault carriers.{{Ref/Reuse|DD4}}

Alongside the ''Sh'wada''-pattern, an unidentified model of supercarrier even larger in scope also exists in service with the Covenant fleet, rarely documented by the UNSC. Like other models of supercarrier they are often used as flagships for Covenant fleets, and may be used by Prophets as their personal command ships. One example, ''[[Sublime Transcendence]]'', led the [[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]], while another commanded the [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Source
|-
|{{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} || [[File:HReach-CovenantSupercarrier-LNoS.png|300px]] || {{Convert|28950|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}} || 152 billion tonnes ||{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg262}}
|-
|Unidentified pattern || N/A || {{Convert|32490|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}} || N/A || {{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
|}

==Operational history==
Covenant forces have long made use of various carrier classes within their fleets.{{Ref/Note|This section details the use of unidentified carrier classes only. For specific appearances of named carrier classes, see the "Operational history" sections in the articles for the [[Ruma-pattern light carrier#Operational history|''Ruma''-pattern]], ''[[CAS-class assault carrier#Operational history|CAS]]'', and ''[[Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier#Operational history|''Sh'wada''-pattern]]'' classes.}}

===Human-Covenant War===
For a number of years leading up to the [[Human-Covenant War]], several Covenant carriers were served as support ships and some along with "supercarriers" were assigned in the [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]] of the [[High Charity defense fleet|defense fleet]] of ''[[High Charity]]''.{{Ref/Novel|HFS|Page=338}} By [[2526#April|April 15, 2526]], a Covenant supercarrier ''[[Hammer of Faith]]'' was under construction at the [[Ring of Mighty Abundance]] and above [[Zhoist]], a Covenant-controlled [[world]], and remained incomplete, it was destroyed by two [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]s by [[John-117]] and [[Kelly-087]] during the [[Battle of Zhoist]], along with its surrounding fabrication barns.{{Ref/Novel|SS}} On [[2552#July|July 17, 2552]], a carrier, escorted by a pair of [[Covenant frigate]]s and a [[Wik-pattern light destroyer|destroyer]], attempted to [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|seize control]] of the [[human]] [[human colonies|colony]] world [[Sigma Octanus IV]]. When the destroyer and the two frigates were destroyed by Captain [[Jacob Keyes]], the carrier retreated until reinforcements arrived. However, the carrier did succeed in deploying 34 [[dropship]]s to the surface of the planet to initiate an invasion while hailing the rest of the [[Second Fleet of Solemn Accord|Covenant fleet]].{{Ref/Novel|HFoR|Page=170-180 (2010 edition)}}

During the [[Battle of Installation 05]] and the [[Great Schism]], the light carrier ''[[Lawgiver]]'' assisted ''[[Incorruptible]]'' during the battle against the [[Jiralhanae]] and the [[Flood]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=goo193|GoO|Page=193-195}} A carrier would also go on assist [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant forces]] in the [[Onyx Conflict]] later that month.{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Page=305}}

===Post-war===
By [[2559#October|October 2559]], a former Covenant supercarrier was used as part of the Banished occupation fleet on [[Reach]] under [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]]'s command, presumably used as a flagship for the formidable armada. It also carried the War Chief's personal [[intrusion corvette]].{{Ref/Novel|HSoR}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HINF Concept AssaultCarrier.jpg|Early concept art for ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' of an assault carrier.
File:Overview - Covenant Assault Carrier.png|Overview of a ''Kerel''-pattern assault carrier.
File:HO CovenantShip Concept.jpg|''[[Halo Online]]'' concept art for a [[Cut Halo Online levels|cut map]] set on a carrier.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

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

{{Covenant Ships}}

[[Category:Carrier classes| ]]
[[Category:Covenant ship classes| ]]