Editing Covenant cruiser

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:Halo Legends - Reach Assault.png|350px|thumb|A massive armada of numerous Covenant cruisers over the [[human]] [[Human colonies|inner colony]] of [[Reach]].]]
'''Covenant cruisers''' are a classification of [[Covenant starship]]s that span numerous sizes, shapes, and functions.{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=41}} They are ubiquitous and possess weapon capabilities that can bring extinction or submission.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22pg264|Enc22|Page=264-265}} Typically, Covenant cruisers are 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}}

==Overview==
Cruisers were the most prominent vessels used by the Covenant during an invasion.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} 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. The role of a Covenant cruiser can be for attack, interdiction, occupation, patrol, surveying or command.{{Ref/Site|Id=universe|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/covenant-cruiser|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Covenant Cruiser|D=28|M=10|Y=2020}}

===Design details===
[[File:HR CCS Pro.png|300px|thumb|The distinctive shape of most Covenant cruiser classes (in this case a ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser, mainstay of the Covenant fleet)]]
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}}

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}}

==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/Site|Id=Have S'moa|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}} 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 sortable"
! Class !! Image !! Length !! Tonnage !! Details
|-
|{{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}} || [[File:H4-CovenantCRSLightCruiser.png|300px]] || {{Convert|300|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg264}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} || 190,000 tonnes{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg264}} || 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]].
|-
|{{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} || [[File:DH CCS Ket.png|300px]] || {{Convert|1782|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg264}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} || 90.7 million tonnes{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg264}} || 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|Elefen|battlecruiser}} || || || || One of the mainstay battlecruiser designs employed by the Covenant, alongside ''Ket''-pattern.
|-
|{{Pattern|Maugen|armored cruiser}} || [[File:H4-RCSArmoredCruiser-SideFull.png|300px]] || {{Convert|2000|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg264}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} || 122 million tonnes{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg264}} || 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:Enc22 Varric-pattern heavy cruiser.png|300px]] || {{Convert|3000|m|ft|sp=us|sigfig=4}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg264}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} || 200 million tonnes{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg264}} || 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/Book|Enc11|Page=277}}
|}

===Unidentified===
An unidentified cruiser was crewed more than 10,000 Covenant troops and contains 3 [[Banshee]] squadrons and dozens of [[Wraith]]s. [[Covenant cruiser at Longhorn Valley|One such vessel]] was deployed over [[Longhorn Valley]] during the [[Fall of Reach]] following the [[Space engagements over Reach|decimation]] of the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]].{{Ref/Novel|HFS}}

==Known vessels==
{{Covenant cruisers}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H4 TerminalCovFleet Concept.jpg|A ''[[Halo 4]]'' concept art for [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] fleet of numerous Covenant cruisers and [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier]]s, including ''[[Song of Retribution]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
*''[[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]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
{{Col-3}}
*''[[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: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
{{Col-3}}
*''[[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| ]]