Editing Epoch-class heavy carrier

{{Title|''Epoch''-class heavy carrier}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ship class infobox
|image=[[File:Enc22 SoTP Epoch.png|300px]]
|name=''Epoch''-class heavy carrier
|manufacturer=[[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]]<ref name="warfleet">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 40-41</ref>
|class=*[[Carrier]]{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*[[Capital ship]]<ref>''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'' - Campaign, p. 25</ref>
|role=*Single-ship deployment{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*Support and interdiction{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*Escort of other capital ships{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
|length={{Convert|2563|m|ft|sp=us}}<ref name="canon fodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-in-the-loop ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder: In the Loop]</ref>
|width=
|height=
|mass=35 million metric tons{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
|power=[[Fusion reactor]]
|engine=[[Fusion drive]]
|slipspace drive=[[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]
|navigation=
|hull=[[Titanium-A armor|Titanium-A battle plate]]
|armament=*1 [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|56A2F9 light MAC]]{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*2 [[Mark 15 Breakwater naval coilgun]]s{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*12 [[M66 Sentry autocannon]]s{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*20 [[Bident missile#M4020 Bident|M4020 Bident missile]] pods{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*70 [[Archer missiles#M58 Archer|M58 Archer missile]] pods{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*12 [[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]s{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*20 [[M810 Helix point defense gun]]s{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
|complement=*800 [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]]{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*36 [[dropship]]s{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*24 [[space fighter]]s{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
|crew=1,300 sailors{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
|passengers=
|othersystems=
|era=*[[Insurrection]]{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
*[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
|introduced=[[2475]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=127}}
|affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]]{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}
}}

The '''''Epoch''-class heavy carrier''' is a [[UNSC carrier|warship class]] in service with the [[UNSC Navy]] with a [[hull classification symbol]] of '''CV'''.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}} A ship of the line was assigned to [[Battlegroup Leviathan]] at some point during the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="Tabletop">[http://www.spartangames.co.uk/spartan-games-is-to-produce-halo-tabletop-miniatures-games ''Spartan Games'': "Spartan Games is to produce Halo tabletop miniatures games"]</ref>

==Overview==
The heaviest variety of carrier in service behind only the immense supercarriers, the ''Epoch'' class' tonnage exceeds that of both the ''[[Poseidon-class light carrier|Poseidon]]'' and the ''[[Orion-class assault carrier|Orion]]'' classes{{Ref/Note|With the release of [[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]], this has seemingly been retconned, with the [[Orion-class assault carrier]] listed as 40 million tonnes compared to the 35 million tonnes of an Epoch}}. Often forming the core of most [[UNSC fleet]]s, the heavy carrier is capable of taking extreme damage in combat.{{Ref/Reuse|canon fodder}}

===Specifications===
Measuring 2,563 metres at its longest point, the ''Epoch'' continues the traditional carrier design with large slanted wings that run across the ship's length. It is roughly divided into three parts, making it reminiscent of the {{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}}; however, as a military warship, it has been contracted and has the slab-sided, industrial feel of the UNSC. It has an open ventral hangar in the front, capable of holding a large complement of fighters and ground troops.

====Armament====
The ''Epoch''{{'}}s primary armament lies is its [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|56A2F9 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]], a rapid-fire variant of the MAC normally mounted on {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate|frigates}}. The ''Epoch'' often lent its firepower in coordinated volleys, despite the 56A2F9's intended use as a purely defensive weapon. The MAC is supplemented by two [[Mark 15 Breakwater naval coilgun]]s on the prow. To defend against fighters and smaller attack ships that usually break through its escorting battle group, the ship possesses twelve [[M66 Sentry autocannon]]s and [[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]s, although these are ineffective against larger [[Covenant]] warships. Supplementing the Ramparts are twenty [[M810 Helix point defense guns]]. Seventy [[Archer missile#M58 Archer|M58 Archer missile]] pods are fitted onto the hull for attacking strikecraft and larger ships, while a further twenty pods of [[Bident missile]]s are mounted on the wings. Although normally intended for use against other starships, the standard nuclear-pumped X-ray laser warhead can be replaced with kinetic rod bundles or fusion warheads ideal for surface bombardment.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}

===Crew and Complement===
All ''Epoch''-class heavy carriers have an embarked complement of both aerospace and ground units, which are crucial to their operation in UNSC battle groups. Eight hundred UNSC Marines - a full [[battalion]] - are designed to be accommodated on these capital ships. Twelve hangars are also fitted, each of which holds three [[Pelican]] [[dropship]]s and two [[space fighter]]s. Spacecraft which are too large to be stored in these, such as the [[GA-TL1 Longsword#C709|C709 Longsword]], can dock to the ship using a series of clamps and access umbilicals. An ''Epoch''-class heavy carrier is capable of projecting UNSC naval power by dominating a planet's orbit, and then deploy its strike fighters and troop transports to high-value areas on the surface.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}

1,300 naval personnel are needed to effectively man an ''Epoch''-class carrier. Like all UNSC carriers, their flight crews are made up of a combination of UNSC Navy and Marine Corps servicemen, which are administratively divided into 'blue' and 'green' sides, respectively. While working within the hangar and supporting flight operations, they wear colored jerseys to distinguish their occupation. For example, red is for ordnance handlers, white is for safety personnel, and green is for technicians.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}

===Service history===
One ''Epoch''-class heavy carrier helped defend [[Alpha Corvi II]] from the Covenant on December [[2525]].<ref name="HCD1">''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'', [[Halo: Collateral Damage Issue 1|Issue #1]]</ref> 

==Ships of the line==
*{{UNSCShip|Epoch}} – [[Wikipedia:Lead ship|Lead ship]] of the class<ref>[[Stephen Loftus]] on the [[Talk:Autumn-class heavy cruiser|''Autumn'' class' talk page]]</ref>
*{{UNSCShip|Atlas}} - Conducted a funeral for the deceased participants of the [[Project ASTER|augmentation procedures]] on the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]].

==''Halo: Fleet Battles''==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
===UNSC ''Epoch'' Heavy Carrier===
This element includes a single ''Epoch''-class heavy carrier.
*Cost: 175 points
*Movement: 6"
*Damage Track: 9 • 8 • 5
*Build rating: 4
*Hangars: 6
*Boarding Craft: 3
*Security detail: 4
*System loadouts:
**Carrier action (3)
**Hard Burn (1")
**Missile barrage
**Point defense (5)
**[[Titanium-A armor|Titanium armor]] (4)
*Primary weapon: Light MAC
**Range: 10/20"
**Weapon loadouts: MAC (1)
**Firing arc: Forward
**Dice: 10
*Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries
**Range: 12/24"
**Weapon loadouts: Missiles
**Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
**Dice: 12

===UNSC Supported ''Epoch'' Heavy Carrier===
This element includes an ''Epoch''-class heavy carrier and one ''Paris''-class heavy frigate.
*Cost: 190 points
*Movement: 6"
*Damage Track: 10 • 8 • 5
*Build rating: 5
*Hangars: 6
*Boarding Craft: 3
*Security detail: 5
*System loadouts:
**Carrier action (3)
**Hard Burn (1")
**Missile barrage
**Point defense (6)
**Titanium armor (5)
*Primary weapon: Light MAC
**Range: 10/20"
**Weapon loadouts: MAC (1)
**Firing arc: Forward
**Dice: 12
*Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries
**Range: 12/24"
**Weapon loadouts: Missiles
**Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
**Dice: 15
{{Col-2}}
===UNSC Defended ''Epoch'' Heavy Carrier===
This element includes an ''Epoch''-class heavy carrier and two ''Halberd''-class destroyers.
*Cost: 220 points
*Movement: 6"
*Damage Track: 10 • 8 • 6
*Build rating: 5
*Hangars: 6
*Boarding Craft: 3
*Security detail: 5
*System loadouts:
**Carrier action (3)
**Hard Burn (1")
**Missile barrage
**Point defense (5)
**Titanium armor (6)
*Primary weapon: Light MACs
**Range: 10/20"
**Weapon loadouts: MAC (2)
**Firing arc: Forward
**Dice: 15
*Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries
**Range: 12/24"
**Weapon loadouts: Missiles
**Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
**Dice: 15
{{Col-end}}

==Production notes==
{{linkbox|gallery=yes}}
The ''Epoch''-class heavy carrier was created for ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''. Its design is based on concept art for ''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Halo Wars]]'', and ''[[Halo 4]]'', as well as concepts from [[Blur Studio]]. The carrier went through more revisions than any other ship designed for the game. The ''Epoch'' deliberately combines features from various UNSC ships to document a transition between wartime and post-war UNSC vessels. The general structure of the hull is clearly influenced by the {{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}}, albeit with a more martial aesthetic. Its telescoping prow and overlapping armor panels are meant to evoke the contemporary ''[[Halcyon-class light cruiser|Halcyon]]'' and ''[[Marathon-class heavy cruiser|Marathon]]''-class cruisers, while its paneling and overall length foreshadow the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.{{Ref/Reuse|canon fodder}}

==Gallery==
===''Halo: Fall of Reach'' (comic)===
<gallery>
File:FoR_UNSC_Atlas.png|The UNSC ''Atlas'', an ''Epoch''-class carrier.
File:Atlas-funeral.jpg|The Spartan IIs attend a memorial service aboard the ''Atlas''.
File:Atlas-funeral2.jpg|The ''Atlas'' ejecting ash canisters into the void of space.
</gallery>

===''Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series''===
<gallery>
File:Shrug.png|The UNSC ''Atlas'', an example of the ''Epoch''-class line. Note the variations in design due to artistic license.
File:TFoR-as-Atlas.jpg|The ''Atlas'' nearing a star in the [[Lambda Serpentis system]].
</gallery>

===''Halo: Fleet Battles''===
<gallery>
File:HFBEpochDetail.jpg|Detail of an ''Epoch''-class carrier for ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''. 
File:HFB Epoch LowerSide.png|Detail of the lower-front angles of the ''Epoch''.
File:HFB Epoch UpperSide.png|Detail of the upper-front angles of the ''Epoch''.
File:Epoch-class heavy carrier.jpg|A model of the carrier.
File:HFB Epoch Angles.jpg|The ''Epoch''-class carrier viewed from multiple angles.
File:Epoch overhead.jpg|An overhead view of the ship.
File:HFBEpoch1.jpg|Detail of the ''Epoch''-class carrier with its ''Paris''-class frigate escorts.
File:HFBEpoch2.png|An ''Epoch''-class carrier escorted by several ''Marathon''-class cruisers and ''Paris''-class frigates.
File:UNSC Capital Vessels (Spartan Games).jpg|A scale comparison of the ''Epoch'' class with other UNSC warships.
File:HFB-Halberd&Epoch.png|An ''Epoch'' with a ''Halberd''-class destroyer.
File:HFB-Lotsofships.png|An ''Epoch''-class carrier scaled against other UNSC and Covenant warships.
File:Fleet Battles - Epoch, painted.jpg|The ''Epoch'' model in ''Fleet Battles''.
</gallery>

===Miscellaneous===
<gallery>
File:HCD-AlphaCorviIIholo3.png|An ''Epoch''-led battlegroup defends Alpha Corvi II against a Covenant armada.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'' {{C|Flashback; interior only}}
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''

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

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

{{Human Ships}}

[[Category:Carrier classes]]
[[Category:UNSC ship classes]]