Editing Halberd-class light destroyer

{{Title|''Halberd''-class destroyer}}
{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
{{Ship class infobox
|name=''Halberd''-class destroyer
|image=[[File:Heart of Midlothian.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]]<ref name="wf32">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 32-33</ref>
|class=[[Destroyer]]<ref name="wf32"/>
|role=*Attack<ref name="wf32"/>
*Escort and defense<ref name="wf32"/><ref name="enc">''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]'', p. 248 (2009); p. 259 (2011)</ref>
|length={{Convert|485|m|ft|sp=us}}<ref name="enc"/><ref name="waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/tech/gallery/unsc-the-heart-of-midlothian/a0711b9f-4241-4c5b-9e2d-2110775cafa2?page=2 ''Halo Waypoint'': UNSC The Heart of Midlothian] (defunct, backup on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110325074720/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/unsc-the-heart-of-midlothian/a0711b9f-4241-4c5b-9e2d-2110775cafa2 Archive.org])</ref>
|width=
|height=
|mass=1.8 million metric tons<ref name="wf32"/>
|power=
|engine=*Four primary [[fusion drive]]s<ref name="Mythos">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', p. 82-83</ref>
*Four secondary fusion drives<ref name="Mythos"/>
|slipspace drive=[[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]<ref name="wf32"/>
|navigation=
|hull=Two meters of [[Titanium-A armor]]<ref name="enc"/><ref name="for139">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', Chapter 16, p. 139 (2001 paperback); p. 163-164 (2010 paperback)</ref>
|armament=*1 [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|14B11R2 MAC battery]]<ref name="waypoint"/><ref name="Mythos"/><ref name="for139"/>
*26 [[Archer missile#M58 Archer|M58 Archer missile]] pods<ref name="wf32"/><ref name="for139"/>
*4 [[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]s<ref name="wf32"/>
*3 [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s<ref name="for139"/>
|complement=*50 [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]]<ref name="wf32"/>
*2 [[D77-TC Pelican]]s<ref name="wf32"/><ref name="cp25">''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'', p. 25</ref>
*2 [[D75-TC Pelican]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}
*2 [[Nandao fighter]] [[Squadron|squadron]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=HOblv12|HOblv|Chapter=12}}
|crew=250 sailors<ref name="wf32"/>
|othersystems=
|era=*[[Insurrection]]<ref name="for75">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 9, p. 75 (2001 paperback); p. 95-96 (2010 paperback)</ref>
*[[Human-Covenant War]]<ref name="Mythos"/>
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]<ref name="HE10"/>
|introduced=
|affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]]<ref name="wf32"/>
}}

The '''''Halberd''-class destroyer''' is a class of [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]] in service with the [[UNSC Navy]] with a [[hull classification symbol]] of '''DD'''.<ref name="waypoint"/> Manufactured by [[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]],<ref name="wf32"/> the ''Halberd'' class was in service with the Navy during the [[Insurrection]], throughout, and [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|after]] the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="canonfodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-have-s-moa ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Have S'moa]</ref>

As with other destroyer classes, the ''Halberd'' combines heavy armament with high speed and thick, high-quality armor. A relatively small class of [[warship]], these destroyers can use wolfpack tactics to engage more powerful [[Covenant]] warships with coordinated [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] fire and hit-and-run attacks to overwhelm their target's often superior defenses.<ref name="wf32"/>

==Specifications==
===Superstructure and hull===
[[File:TFoR AS - Pioneer.jpg|thumb|250px|left|UNSC ''Pioneer'' in the Eridanus system]]
The ''Halberd''-class destroyer features a distinctive "arrowhead" profile.<ref>''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', p. 26</ref> The hull of the ''Halberd'' class is reinforced with approximately two meters of [[Titanium-A armor]],<ref name="for139"/> with parts of the hull featuring components made up of [[Vanadium steel]].<ref name="for247">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 23, p. 215 (2001 paperback); p. 247 (2010 paperback)</ref> The hull is embedded with thermal superconducting radiators to more efficiently transfer the heat generated by the destroyers into space.<ref name="Mythos"/> At 485 meters in length, the class is only seven meters longer than a {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}, yet it has almost double the mass at 1.8 million metric tons; this is due to the destroyer's thicker and higher-quality titanium hull that allows destroyers of this class to take a tremendous amount of damage.<ref name="enc"/><ref name="waypoint"/><ref name="for139"/> Replacement armor plates can be quickly cut to shape and patched onto the ship at any naval depot, though any repairs to the destroyer's underlying structure often require the specialized care of a shipwright.<ref name="wf32"/> Fast and requiring only a small crew, ''Halberd''-class destroyers do not have as much armor as larger [[warship]]s within the [[UNSC fleet]]. Though they lack general-purpose utility, the destroyers' heavy armaments compensate for this issue. The ''Halberd'' class has a modular design which allows them to be configured for different missions.<ref name="looking glassed">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-looking-glassed ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Looking Glassed]</ref>

''Halberds'' are also equipped with an advanced sensor array, the Mk. 45 long-range fire director.<ref name="Mythos"/> The destroyer class has a circular [[bridge]] with an array of display monitors for its crew.<ref name="cp25"/> Like all warships of the [[UNSC Navy]], the bridges on ''Halberd'' destroyers give the ship's command crew visibility of surrounding space, as per naval design guidelines.<ref name="wf32"/> Later into the [[Human-Covenant War]], ''Halberd''-class destroyers were outfitted with an ε-pattern layout, providing an increased field of view.<ref name="Mythos"/> Each destroyer of the class has two [[Armory|armories]], each filled with an assortment of firearms and equipment.<ref>"[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]" – ''[[Halo: Evolutions]]'', p. 86</ref>

It took [[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]] at least four months to build and launch a ''Halberd'' destroyer, given that construction on {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} began sometime in [[2551]] and was launched in [[2552#April|April 2552]].<ref name="Mythos"/>

===Propulsion===
[[File:Midnight - Destroyer slip engine.jpg|thumb|250px|The slipspace engine of a ''Halberd'' destroyer]]
''Halberd''-class destroyers are powered by high-thrust [[fusion drive]]s located at the aft, with four primary and four secondary drives.<ref name="Mythos"/> Powered by massive reactors, these fusion rockets generate both power and direct thrust with [[Deuterium]] and [[Helium|Helium-3]] fuel mixed with [[Hydrogen]] or [[water]] reaction mass. The superheated exhaust is then redirected with thrust-vectoring plates and magnetic fields to increase the destroyer's maneuverability.<ref name="wf32"/>

The destroyer has six [[emergency thruster]] tanks strategically placed on hardened points of the hull.<ref name="for174">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 17, p. 149 (2001 paperback); p. 174 (2010 paperback)</ref> Translight power is provided by a [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]], located in the destroyer's expansive engine room.<ref>"Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian" – ''Halo: Evolutions'', p. 95</ref> The aft of the ''Halberd''-class has reinforced armored screens fitted to protect fusion drives and the [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] engine.<ref name="Mythos"/>

===Crew and complement===
The single [[hangar bay]] of the ''Halberd'' class is small and confined, with little maneuvering room for shuttlecraft.<ref name="cp25"/> When the ''Halberd''-class destroyer was introduced, its hangar was considered state-of-the-art, featuring a specialized set of [[Gravitics|gravity generators]] that can decelerate incoming small craft,<ref name="wf32"/> which can also be reconfigured to fit an electromagnetic catapult launch assist that can quickly deploy shuttlecraft.<ref name="Mythos"/> Traditional electromagnetic launch hooks and arrestor cables are still fitted, in case of emergencies.<ref name="wf32"/> Unlike most warships of the UNSC Navy, they do not carry [[space fighter]]s.<ref name="for139"/> They do, however, carry two [[D77-TC Pelican]] [[dropship]]s.<ref name="wf32"/><ref name="cp25"/> The destroyers comprising the "wolf-pack" [[Task Force Pantea]] each carried two squadrons of [[Nandao fighter]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv12}}, and a pair of Pelicans{{Ref/Novel|Id=HOblv4|HOblv|Chapter=4}}, despite their typically limited hangar space.  

''Halberd'' destroyers are only crewed by 250 sailors, a relatively small crew for a ship of its size. They also carry a small complement of fifty [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], enough for a single [[platoon]].<ref name="wf32"/> The crew quarters are cramped with limited recreational facilities<ref name="Mythos"/> and only basic kitchen facilities. Strictly utilitarian in design, each crew member is allocated a single sleeping pod, though some personnel may have to share the same pod with another when the ship carries additional personnel.<ref name="wf32"/>

In "wolf-pack" task forces, ''Halberd'' destroyers carry no Marine complement.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}

===Armaments===
Though these destroyers are not as heavily armored compared to other warships in the Navy's fleet, they are armed with enhanced weapons systems that make up for their relatively light defensive capabilities.<ref>[http://shop.spartangames.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HFUN10 ''Spartan Games'': UNSC Halberd Upgrade Box] (Defunct)</ref> The ''Halberd''-class destroyer's primary armament is a spinal-mounted [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|14B11R2 MAC battery]], which is composed of twin-linked [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|1170mm/647mm (46"/25.5") high-velocity coilguns]].<ref name="Mythos"/> The primary MAC is capable of firing all standard munition packages, ranging from hyper-dense kinetic slugs to semi-autonomous drone missiles. The secondary, smaller coilgun is only capable of firing kinetic rounds. The MAC battery is powered by capacitor cells that can quickly be swapped out if the cells become damaged or degraded.<ref name="wf32"/>

The ''Halberd'' class is also armed with twenty-six oversized [[Archer missile#M58 Archer|M58 Archer missile pods]],<ref name="wf32"/><ref name="for139"/> capable of holding a total of over eight hundred individual Archer missiles.<ref name="enc"/> The class may also hold a payload of three [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s.<ref name="for139"/> For defense against single ships, the destroyer class carries four twin-linked [[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]s.<ref name="wf32"/> One of the most heavily armed classes of UNSC vessels, a group of ''Halberd''-class destroyers is capable of engaging and inflicting heavy damage upon even the largest of [[Covenant]] ships.<ref name="enc"/>

==Operational history==
The ''Halberd''-class destroyer was the most commonly deployed [[destroyer]] class during the [[Human-Covenant War]] and the later years of the [[Insurrection]]. Such vessels were in service as early as [[2517]]<ref>''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]''</ref> ''Halberd''s engaged the Covenant as early as [[2525|December 2525]].<ref>''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'', [[Halo: Collateral Damage Issue 2|Issue #2]]</ref>

''Halberd''-class destroyers were attached to [[Battle Group X-Ray]] in [[2526]]. Numerous destroyers from X-Ray were assigned to "wolf-pack" task forces. The operable life expectancy of the destroyers in these task forces was several weeks. One such task force, [[Task Force Pantea]], [[Battle of Netherop|fought the Covenant]] over [[Netherop]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}} At least one was destroyed in the battle.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HOblv19|HOblv|Chapter=19}} Despite their powerful armament and maneuverability, many fleet officers looked down upon destroyers, considering them too ineffective against Covenant ships. It was generally agreed that seven destroyers were an even match for four [[Covenant frigate]]s.<ref name="for139"/><ref name="for169">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 16, p. 144 (2001 paperback); p. 169 (2010 paperback)</ref>

Although ''Halberd''-class destroyers can be configured for a variety of mission types, resource shortages during the Covenant War led to most ''Halberd''s being configured purely for escort duty, with entire subsystems left out to reduce construction time.<ref name="looking glassed"/> At some point between [[2548]] and [[2552]], one destroyer of this class, {{UNSCShip|The Heart of Midlothian}}, participated in the [[Algolis Invasion]], where she destroyed five Covenant ships when the [[self-destruct]] fail-safe was initialized after she was [[Boarding|boarded]].<ref name="mithom102">''Halo: Evolutions'', "Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian", p. 102</ref> Many ''Halberd''-class destroyers participated in the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], most notably {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}}, which was captained by [[Commander]] [[Jacob Keyes]]. During the initial skirmish, ''Iroquois'' performed the daring [[Keyes Loop]], destroying three Covenant warships in the process.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 18, p. 156 (2001 paperback); p. 182 (2010 paperback)</ref> Several dozen destroyers later participated in the [[Fall of Reach]] as part of the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]].<ref name="for359">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 36, p. 320 (2001 paperback); p. 359 (2010 paperback)</ref> ''Halberd'' destroyers continue to be in service with the Navy by [[2557]], with some serving with the [[UNSC Home Fleet]] over [[Earth]].<ref name="HE10">''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', [[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue #10]]</ref> In August [[2558]], a pair of Halberds served as escort for a cargo freighter in the [[Ephsu system]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HPoL8|HPoL|Chapter=8}}

==Ships of the line==
*{{UNSCShip|Halberd}} – The [[Wikipedia:Lead ship|lead ship]] of the class.<ref>[[Stephen Loftus]] on the [[Talk:Autumn-class heavy cruiser|''Autumn'' class' talk page]]</ref>
*{{UNSCShip|Herodotus}} – Destroyed during the [[Fall of Reach]].<ref name="for359"/>
*{{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} – Heavily damaged during the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], last seen at [[Reach]].<ref name="for247"/>
*{{UNSCShip|Pioneer}} – Served as a staging ship for [[Operation: TALON|an operation]] against the [[United Rebel Front]].<ref name="for75"/>
*{{UNSCShip|The Heart of Midlothian}} – Destroyed near [[Algolis]].<ref name="mithom102"/>
*{{UNSCShip|Kayenta}} - Served as the lead of [[Task Force Pantea]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}
*{{UNSCShip|Chaco}} - Served as part of [[Task Force Pantea]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}
*{{UNSCShip|Cibola}} - Served as part of [[Task Force Pantea]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}
*{{UNSCShip|Mesa Verde}} - Served as part of [[Task Force Pantea]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}
*{{UNSCShip|Rio Grande}} - Served as part of [[Task Force Pantea]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HOblv4}}

==''Halo: Fleet Battles''==
===Axe Formation===
This element includes four ''Halberd''-class destroyers.
*Cost: 50 points
*Movement: 10"
*Damage Track: 4 • 4 • 4
*Build rating: 2
*Hangars: 0
*Boarding Craft: 1
*Security detail: 1
*System loadouts:
**Elusive
**Hard Burn (3")
**Missile barrage*
**Point defense (3)
**Titanium armor (3)
*Primary weapon: Light MACs
**Range: 10/20"
**Weapon Loadouts: MAC (2)
**Firing arc: Forward
**Dice: 8
*Secondary weapon: Missile Batteries
**Range: 12/24"
**Weapon Loadouts: Missiles
**Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
**Dice: 3

==Behind the scenes==
The destroyer class was likely named after the [[Wikipedia:Halberd|halberd]], a two-handed pole weapon used during the 14th and 15th centuries. A [[Halo Waypoint]] article for {{UNSCShip|The Heart of Midlothian}} claimed that the ''Halberd'' destroyer has a mass of 7,900 metric tons,<ref name="waypoint"/> a rather unrealistic weight significantly lighter than many modern auxiliary ships. This was later amended in ''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', giving the destroyer a mass of 1.8 million metric tons.<ref name="wf32"/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Concept - UNSC_Destroyer.png|Concept art of the UNSC ''The Heart of Midlothian'' for ''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]''.
File:The Heart of Midlothian 2.png|The destroyer ''The Heart of Midlothian''.
File:UNSCDestroyer-HeartOfMidlothian-Views.png|Various views of the Halberd-class.
File:Heart of the Midlothian Schematic.jpg|A schematic of ''The Heart of Midlothian''.
File:Midnight - Destroyer bridge.jpg|The bridge of the class, with Covenant troops aboard.
File:FoR UNSC Pioneer.png|The destroyer UNSC ''Pioneer'' in ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''.
File:HCD_-_AlphaCorviSpaceBattle.jpg|A ''Halberd''-class destroyer aflame and about to explode during the disastrous defense of Alpha Corvi II. 
File:Iroquois collision.jpg|The ''Iroquois'' collides with a [[Covenant stealth ship]].
File:Covenant-4.jpg|The UNSC ''Iroquois'' from its bow, unleashing a full volley of Archer missiles.
File:FoR UNSC Herodotus.png|The UNSC ''Herodotus'', being bisected by a Covenant plasma round during the Battle of Reach 
File:HEDestroyers.png|UNSC destroyers, with {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}}s and {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, over Earth
File:HFB-Halberd&Epoch.png|A ''Halberd''-class destroyer with an {{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}} in ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''.
File:HFB-Halberd.jpg|Model of the ''Halberd'' for ''Halo: Fleet Battles''.
File:HM-Halberd.png|Profile of the ''Halberd'' in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.
</gallery>
{{Clear}}
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Halberd-class destroyers}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Prototype]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

{{Human Ships}}

[[Category:Halberd-class destroyers| ]]
[[Category:Destroyer classes]]
[[Category:United Nations Space Command ship classes]]