View source for User:BaconShelf/Paris

This post is a blog-style semi-rant post written to hopefully address the issue of the {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} and the issue of it carrying [[dropship]]s, [[space fighter]]s, and ground infantry complements. 


==The issue==
[[File:HR Boneyard PelicanInFrigate.png|thumb|300px|Spawning a Pelican inside the ''Commonwealth'' on the map [[Boneyard]] illustrates the issue well.]]
As many fans have noticed, the ''Paris'' heavy frigate's canon stated length of {{Convert|535|m|ft}} doesn't work well, if trying to fit dropships or a fighter complement inside the ship. One common suggestion is that the canon figures are simply wrong, and that the ship should be scaled up several times to achieve such a feat; I would argue the exact opposite. Not only is this not an issue, but it's arguably intentional, and trying to do it introduces more problems than it solves.

===Defining the fleet roles of the frigate===
So, ''why'' is trying to make the ''Paris'' into a general-purpose troopship a bad idea? Well, for one, that is not the ship's job. Here's a brief overview of the three (relevant) wartime frigates of the UNSC, and what they are used for. For the purposes of this discussion, the late/postwar {{Class|Anlace|light frigate|}}, {{Class|Mulsanne|light frigate|}}, and {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate|}}s will not be relevant.

The UNSC has three classifications of frigate used throughout the majority of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. These are;
*{{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}} (notably featured as {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} in ''[[Halo 2]]'')
*{{Class|Charon|light frigate}} (notably featured as {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} in ''[[Halo 3]]'')
*{{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} (notably features as {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} and {{UNSCShip|Savannah}} in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'')
<gallery>
File:H2A - In Amber Clad render 2.jpg|''Stalwart''-class light frigate.
File:H3-UNSCFrigateAegisFate.png|''Charon''-class light frigate.
File:HaloReach - UNSCFrigate.png|''Paris''-class heavy frigate.
</gallery>

Despite their obvious visual similarities, these three ships all have different roles within the [[UNSC Navy]], and are differently outfitted to support it. The primary differentiator is whether the ship is classed as a "heavy" or a "light" frigate, which is defined in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'' as "''largely based on a combination of their armament and displacement''".{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=121}} In other words, whether a frigate is classed as heavy or light depends on how much the ship masses, and how much of that mass is taken up by weapons and ammunition (alongside what ''kinds'' of weapons they carry). All frigates are characterised by rather minimal armour plating, and instead a focus on speed and overwhelming firepower.{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=76}}
{{Quote|Unlike cruisers, carriers, and destroyers, '''UNSC frigates are fast and nimble ships, capable of quickly bringing significant firepower to a fight.'''|''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' p.76}}

This can be contrasted with [[UNSC destroyer]]s, which often occupy a similar size and tonnage bracket to the frigates, but with a more significant portion of their mass devoted to armour.
{{Quote|UNSC destroyers combine heavy armament with high speed and thick armor.|''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', p.122}}

It is also worth noting that all wartime frigates mass, on average, around half of their destroyer counterparts for the era.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ A comparison of frigate and destroyer masses.
|-
! Frigate class !! Frigate mass !! Destroyer class !! Destroyer mass 
|-
| {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate|light}} || 0.93 million tonnes || {{Class|Halberd|light destroyer|light}} || 1.8 million tonnes
|-
| {{Class|Charon|light frigate|light}} || 0.65 million tonnes || {{Class|Hillsborough|heavy destroyer|heavy}} || 2 million tonnes
|-
| {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate|heavy}} || 1.3 million tonnes || {{Class|Diligence|light destroyer|light}} || 2.2 million tonnes
|-
| {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate|heavy}} || 1.1 million tonnes || {{Class|Able|heavy destroyer|heavy}} || 2.3 million tonnes
|-
| {{Class|Mulsanne|light frigate|light}} || 0.9 million tonnes || 
|-
| {{Class|Anlace|light frigate|light}} || 0.9 million tonnes || 
|}

{{Quote|Particularly common, especially within the context of planetary defense, are the ''Stalwart'' and ''Charon'' classes, as both are well-armed and extremely mobile. The heaviest frigates are those in the ''Paris''-class, '''which are typically used as fleet escort but are also capable of directly engaging enemies whenever needed.'''|''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' p.76}}

{{Quote|Though out-numbered, these [''Paris''-class] heavy frigates proved their worth in battle thanks to additional armor plating that increased their defense against the Covenant arsenal and '''their surplus of armament compared to standard frigates.'''|[https://web.archive.org/web/20210513071059/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/unsc-frigate ''Halo Waypoint'' - UNSC Frigate]}}




*'''Class: ''Stalwart'' (Light Frigate)'''
*'''Role: Defense, escort'''
*'''Class: ''Charon'' (Light Frigate)'''
*'''Role: Escort, attack'''
*'''Class: ''Paris'' (Heavy Frigate)'''
*'''Role: Escort, attack'''

{{Quote|Ferociously effective on a tonne-for-tonne basis compared to other UNSC warships, the ''Paris''-class dominated frigate production toward the end of the Covenant War, proving the indispensibility of sheer firepower over cargo capacity and armor when facing the Covenant.|''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', p.120}}

{{Quote|'''Like the ''Paris''-class before it''', ''Mulsanne''-frigates were '''optimized for swift offensive strikes and carried a diversified complement of weapons''', making it one of the most adaptable warships in the UNSC Navy.|''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', p.121}}


This can be easily contrasted with the light frigates, as noted in the following quotes;
{{Quote|As colonial unrest grew on the periphery of human space, the '''first true multi-mission combat frigates, such as the ''Stalwart'' and ''Charon'' classes''', emerged.|''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', p.122}}

{{Quote|Boasting one of the largest hangars bays by volume of any frigate, the ''Charon'' was often leveraged to ferry ground forces to and from the surface of contestes worlds, while also providing local fire support.|''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', p.123}}


{{Quote|While not as greatly armed or armored as other similar vessels, ''Charon''-class light frigates have the capacity to carry a large complement of troops and vehicles into battle.|[https://web.archive.org/web/20210513071059/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/unsc-frigate ''Halo Waypoint'' - UNSC Frigate]}}

{{Quote|''Stalwart''-class light frigates enjoy great success '''due to their superb balance between troop transportation and fleet support.'''|[https://web.archive.org/web/20210513071059/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/unsc-frigate ''Halo Waypoint'' - UNSC Frigate]}}