View source for Poseidon-class light carrier

{{Title|''Poseidon''-class light carrier}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Infobox/Ships
|name            = ''Poseidon''-class
|image           = [[File:H4-Poseidon.png|300px]]
|caption         = 
|modules         = 
{{Infobox/Ships/Class
|hide-class           = 
|class identification = <!--The hull code of the class-->
|class operator       = [[UNSC Navy]]
|class manufacturer   = [[Martian Metals Shipyards]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|class architect      = <!--The naval architect(s) for the class-->
|class built          = <!--How many ships of this class were constructed-->
|class in service     = [[2553]]-present{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
}}
|hide-characteristics=<!--leave blank unless you want to hide the characteristics section header-->
|nocollapse      = yes
|type            = [[UNSC carrier|Carrier]]
|length          = {{Convert|2359|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=127}}{{ref/Site|Id=Bulletin|URL=https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-5-14-14|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The Halo Bulletin 5.14.14|D=30|M=06|Y=2014}}
|width           = 
|height          = 
|mass            = 2.8 million tonnes{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|power           = [[Fusion reactor]]
|maneuver drive  = 1 [[Fusion drive]]{{Ref/Game|Id=H4|H4|Poseidon-class carrier in-game model}}
|slipspace drive = [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]{{Ref/Reuse|LoO}}
|crew            = <!--Describes crew counts only-->
|complement      = 
|troops          = <!--Describes on-boarded Marine, Army etc ground troop forces-->
|hull            = <!--Describes hull plate material-->
|shielding       = <!--Describes shielding-->
|sensors         = <!--Describes sensors and whatnot-->
|ew              = <!--Describes electronic warfare capabilities-->
|armaments       = 
*2 [[Mark 2551 Onager]] turrets{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*2 [[Archer missile|M42 Archer missile pods]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*20 [[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|aircraft        =
|air facilities  = <!--Describes hangars and whatnot-->
}}
The '''''Poseidon''-class light carrier''' is a [[warship]] in service with the [[UNSC Navy]] following the [[Human-Covenant War]].{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
The ''Poseidon''-class carrier is sleek, elongated, and somewhat cylindrical in general shape. Its structure comprises two main sections covered with white plating; in the fore section, the plating mostly covers the vessel's dorsal surface. This plating is absent on most of the underside of the ship and in a spar connecting the two main sections. A series of rectangular blue lights are arranged in the sections lacking the white plating.{{Ref/Level|Id=midnight|H4|Midnight}} 719 meters in length,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin}} the ''Poseidon'' is exceeded in both size and tonnage by the ''[[Orion-class assault carrier|Orion]]'', ''[[Epoch-class heavy carrier|Epoch]]'', and ''[[Punic-class supercarrier|Punic]]'' carrier classes.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-in-the-loop|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - In the Loop|D=30|M=06|Y=2021}}

What it loses in size and armament, the ''Poseidon'' makes up for with its ease of manufacture in the [[Human-Covenant War|war-ravaged]] shipyards over [[Mars]] and [[Jupiter]]. The ''Poseidon'' additionally only requires a small crew to operate, allowing it to be pressed into service in [[2553]] - only months after the end of the war.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

===Armament===
The ''Poseidon'' is unusual for a [[UNSC starship]] in that it does not have a primary [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] weapon system; instead, the carrier's heaviest weaponry consists of two [[Mark 2551 Onager]] turrets and two [[Archer missile|M42 Archer missile]] pods. The carrier's weapons complement is instead more focused on defensive measures, boasting twenty [[M870 Rampart point defense gun]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

===Propulsion===
The ''Poseidon''-class is propelled in transit by a single [[fusion drive]] located on the back of the ship.{{Ref/Reuse|H4}} On at least one vessel, {{UNSCShip|Milwaukee}}, superluminal travel is accomplished via installation of an advanced [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] (SFTE), utilising technology reverse-engineered from alien [[Covenant]] and/or [[Forerunner]] technology recovered during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. This installation allows the carrier to make long-ranged [[Slipstream space|slipspace transits]] extremely rapidly - fast enough to allow the removal of the ship's [[Cryo chamber|cryogenics bays]] entirely to be replaced with simple seating.{{Ref/Reuse|LoO}} It is unknown whether the ''Milwaukee''{{'}}s advanced SFTE is representative of the ''Poseidon''-class as a whole, due to the ship's specific repurposing as a passenger ferry.

==Ships of the line==
*{{UNSCShip|Milwaukee}} 
*{{UNSCShip|Poseidon}} - The [[Wikipedia:lead ship|lead ship]] of the class.

==Operational history==
After the [[shield world]] of [[Sarcophagus]] was discovered and colonised, the {{UNSCShip|Milwaukee}} was repurposed to carry personnel, civilians and goods between [[Onyx]] and the colonies.{{Ref/Novel|Id=LoO|LoO|Chapter=6}} In [[2557#July|July 2557]], several ships of this class were part of [[Battle Group Dakota]] alongside a number of {{Class|Vindication|light battleship}}s and {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s. These ships engaged the [[Forerunner]] vessel ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'' during the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s [[New Phoenix Incident|attack on Earth]].{{Ref/Reuse|midnight}}

==Production notes==
{{linkbox|gallery=yes}}
*Several ''Poseidon''-class light carriers appear in the background of the ''Halo 4'' level ''Midnight''; given their nature they are intended to be seen only from a considerable distance. However, exploiting a [[Midnight vacation|glitch]] allows the player to examine these vessels up close, along with a number of {{Class|Vindication|light battleship}}s and {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s. Because these ships are intended to appear only as scenery, they are rendered as brushes rather than level geometry; as such, the player can fly the Broadsword through them without harm. By the same merit the ships' in-game models are not to scale with their canonical incarnations.{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin}}
*The ''Poseidon''-class carrier and ''Vindication''-class battleship were to be featured in ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' but were cut due to space constraints.{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Concept art Infinity and sub-vessels.jpg|The vessel depicted in concept art of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.
File:H4 - MidnightShips3.jpg|Two ''Poseidon''-class vessels along with a {{Class|Vindication|light battleship}}.
File:H4 - MidnightShips1.png|A ''Poseidon''-class vessel along with several other vessels over [[Earth]].
File:H4 MidnightPoseidons 1.jpg|Two ''Poseidon''-class vessels.
File:H4 MidnightPoseidons 2.jpg|Two ''Poseidon''-class vessels.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''

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

{{Human Ships}}

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