Editing Covenant cruiser

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ship class infobox
|name=Covenant cruiser
|image=[[File:HR CCS Pro.png|350px]]<br>The distinctive shape of most Covenant cruiser classes (in this case a ''CCS''-class battlecruiser, mainstay of the Covenant fleet)
|manufacturer=
|class=[[Cruiser]]
|role=Attack, interdiction, occupation, patrol<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/covenant-cruiser '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Covenant Cruiser'']</ref>
|length=Variable
|width=Variable
|height=Variable
|mass=
|power=
|engine=[[Repulsor engine]]s
|slipspace drive=Equipped
|navigation=
|hull=[[Nanolaminate hull plating]]
*Equipped with [[energy shielding]]
|armament=*[[Energy projector]]
*[[Plasma turret]]s
*[[Pulse laser turret]]s
|complement=Thousands of infantry and vehicles
|crew=
|passengers=
|othersystems=
|era=*[[Human-Covenant War]]
*[[Great Schism]]
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|introduced=
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]] {{C|formerly}}
*Several [[Covenant remnants|remnant factions]]
}}

The '''cruiser''' is a [[warship]] classification that was used by the [[Covenant]], before the empire's collapse in [[2552]]. This category groups a number of [[capital ship]]s that share different sizes and roles, but were ubiquitous within the [[Covenant military]]. [[Cruiser]]s were the backbone of the now-defunct [[Covenant fleet]].<ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 41''</ref> Cruisers are typically mid-sized vessels capable of conducting independent naval operations.{{Ref/Twitter|Halo|1375432606163042305|Halo|Quote=Covenant cruisers are midsize capital ships capable of conducting independent naval operations. #FictionFriday|D=27|M=3|Y=2021}}

Cruisers were the most prominent vessels used by the Covenant during an invasion. Since the beginning of [[History of the Covenant|Covenant history]], cruisers served as the empire's primary mode of galactic transportation and method of enforcing the authority of the [[Hierarchs]]. The Covenant manufactured cruisers in vast quantities, easily surpassing the numbers of any other known Covenant starship class.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

==Specifications==
Like most starships of the [[Covenant]], cruisers follow a typical structural design—a smooth hull with wide, extensive contours and near-perfect symmetry. The design of a cruiser is reminiscent of large marine animals that are native to the [[Sangheili colonies|colonies]] of the [[Sangheili]]. Two to four [[hangar bay]]s are found on the undercarriage of each cruiser, aft of a large [[gravity lift]] that can be detached and lowered onto a world's surface. A vertical gravity beam can then be generated for the transportation of infantry, supplies, and other assets. Modular bays scattered around a cruiser can be configured as engineering, medical, armory, barracks, or [[Covenant religion|religious]] facilities. All of these facilities are interconnected by a network of narrow corridors and lifts.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
 
The [[Bridge|command deck]] is located within the center of each cruiser. This deck is a large room with a centralized bridge platform occupied by only the highest-ranking officers aboard the vessel.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Each cruiser class has specific shapes and functions, but they often share an overall similar design. The different classes also have similar equipment and armament, such as [[energy shielding|energy shields]], [[Energy projector|ventral cleansing beams]], [[Plasma turret|anterior plasma cannons]] and [[Pulse laser turret|point laser defense]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

==Classes==
There are many cruiser classes used by the Covenant, each with different roles. All classes are identified according to the standard Covenant [[Covenant fleet#Ship classification codes|starship classification code]].<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> By the final years of the Covenant Empire, four primary classes of the Covenant cruiser existed: ''CRS'', ''CCS'', ''RCS'' and ''ORS''. Though there are other kinds of cruisers, their differences are minimal and they easily fall within one of the main classes.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
{| class="wikitable"
! width="200" style="text-align:left" |Class
! width="100" style="text-align:left" |Image
! width="500" style="text-align:left"|Details
|-
|{{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}} || [[File:H4-CRSLightCruiser-ScanRender.png|300px]] ||  A smaller than the average Covenant cruiser, but it still performs well during attack and interference operations.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} Light cruisers are prominently used by [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction]].
|-
|{{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}} || [[File:CCS Class Cruiser.png|300px]] ||  Easily the most prominent warship used by the Covenant during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. It performs exceptionally during the invasion and occupation of a world.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} The class was ideal during ship-to-ship engagements and during vehicle and infantry ground deployments.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|-
|{{Pattern|Maugen|armored cruiser}} || [[File:HFB-RCSmodel.jpg|300px]] || A class of cruiser mainly used for patrol and planetary occupation.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} Developed when [[energy shielding]] technology was more limited, the class was not as heavily armed or robust as the ''CCS'' class.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|-
|{{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}} || [[File:ORS-class heavy cruiser.jpg|300px]] || Significantly larger than most Covenant cruisers and is used for planetary occupation and naval command.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} The heavy cruiser is often used as a support for Covenant [[flagship]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 277'' (2011 edition)</ref>
|-
|Unidentified || || There is an unidentified model of cruiser. Crewed more than 10,000 Covenant troops, it contains 3 [[Banshee]] squadrons and dozens of [[Type-26 Wraith]]s. [[Covenant cruiser at Longhorn Valley|One such vessel]] was deployed over [[Longhorn Valley]] during the [[Fall of Reach]] following the decimation of the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike'''</ref>
|}
{{Covenant cruisers}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H4-CRSLightCruiser-ScanRender.png|A ''CRS''-class light cruiser
File:HReach-CCS-Battlecruiser-Side.png|A ''CCS''-class battlecruiser
File:H4-RCSArmoredCruiser-SideFull.png|An ''RCS''-class armored cruiser
File:ORS-class heavy cruiser.jpg|An ''ORS''-class heavy cruiser
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Duel]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
**''[[Data pads]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[On the Brink]]''
**''[[Hunting Party]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
{{Col-end}}

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

{{Covenant Ships}}

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