Editing Winter-class prowler

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Infobox/Ships

|name           = ''Winter''-class

|image           = [[File:H5G-CFAcrisius.jpg|300px]]

|caption        =  

|modules        = {{Infobox/Ships/Class

|class identification = [[Hull classification symbol]]: '''IX'''{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}

|class operator      = [[UNSC Navy]]{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}

|class manufacturer  = [[Watershed Division]]{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}

|class architect      = <!--The naval architect(s) for the class-->

|class built          = <!--How many ships of this class were constructed-->

|class in service    = [[2549]]-present{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}

==Overview==

===Design details===

Somewhat similar in functionality and design to the {{Class|Black Cat|subprowler}}s used by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] in the early 26th century, prowlers of the ''Winter'' class are constructed with a smaller and more compact frame than other prowler classes. With an aerodynamic frame, swooped back wings, and narrow cockpit, ''Winter''-class prowlers bear resemblance to a number of [[UNSC]] [[space fighter]]s rather than a [[warship]]. However, its design is intended to improve speed and versatility during atmospheric operations.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

The ''Winter''-class is equipped with an experimental set of three [[fusion drive]]s, which are only distantly related to their mainline UNSC counterparts. These utilize new technologies and control software, and are so advanced only ONI technicians are qualified to maintain them.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}

Some examples of the class, such as the [[ONI Acrisius|ONI ''Acrisius'']], are fitted with a prototypical [[slipspace drive]]. This allows these select few craft to travel to distant parts of the [[Milky Way]] at a relatively high speed, monitoring the ex-Covenant races and human [[Insurrectionist]]s for signs of trouble.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

Five personnel are enough to optimally crew each ''Winter''-class, with each being reserved a station in the prowler's bridge; a [[Commander]], a [[Pilot|navigator]], a technician, a tactical director and surveillance controller. However, only the first two are required to operate one of these vessels, with the latter three spots only being filled during infiltration missions. Nevertheless, each individual is highly skilled, with the Commander receiving specialized training on concealment and deception. This is because each person has been sourced from the so-called "[[Prowler Corps]]", whose traditions and secrets separate them from the rest of ONI, and indeed, the rest of the UNSC.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}

A maximum of twenty passengers can be carried by the prowler. These can include remote strike teams, which are deployed with high-yield nuclear warheads close to heavily-fortified invasion beachheads and staging areas - an operation which many rarely survive. For other missions, covert field teams could be carried which can be ordered to redirect enemy attention away from the prowler, should they get close to discovering the vessel.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}

Like every other model of prowler, the ''Winter''-class is only equipped with a modest arsenal of weapons. The most powerful of its armaments is its aft-mounted [[M1011 Moray space mine|CBU-R68 Moray mine rack]], which deploys [[Space mine|potent explosives]] with small chemical propellants that allow them to maintain specific coordinates in space. This allows the ''Winter''-class to act as a minelayer, covertly creating minefields to inflict casualties on unsuspecting Covenant fleets. Two [[Machine-linked autocannon|M8545 40mm coilguns]] and three [[M995 Backstop point defense laser|M995 Backstop lasers]] are fitted for purely defensive purposes.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}

While not truly invisible to Covenant sensors, the ''Winter''-class is outfitted with an impressive suite of cloaking technologies designed to distort their emissions and sensor profile. This allows these ships to trick Covenant sensors into identifying the ''Winter''-class as a low-threat vessel, wreckage, or even a friendly ship. While it utilizes the best jamming systems available to ONI, most of its success can be attributed to its low observable design and passive stealth features. This includes metamaterials embedded in the prowler's hull plating to break up its thermal emissions, programmable optical camouflage coating and heat sinks to prevent the release of said emissions. During the post-war era, these systems were further enhanced with the integration of [[active camouflage]] systems and emission distortion grids. This addition allows these modified ships to evade all but the most comprehensive detection techniques and sensor networks. Remote drone networks can also be deployed to divert attention away from the ship itself. All this is supplemented by a cutting-edge [[Hyperscanner]] sensor array, along with threat warning and tracking systems systems derived from analysis and repurposing of Covenant technology.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}

Should it somehow be detected, the ''Winter''-class has one last defense in the form of three pop-up turrets, one directly behind the cockpit and two on the wings. Each of these contain two anti-missile [[Pulse laser turret|pulse laser]]s and an electronic warfare countermeasures dispenser. This dispenser can release a variety of consumables from heat sinks to deception jammers to mislead enemy sensors and break target locks.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet46}}

 

*{{UNSCShip|Winter}} – The [[Wikipedia:lead ship|lead ship]] of the class.<ref>[[Stephen Loftus]] on the [[Talk:Autumn-class heavy cruiser|''Autumn'' class' talk page]]</ref>

In the years following the [[Human-Covenant War]], the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] reviewed a number of pre–[[2525]] [[prowler]] class designs which focused on espionage and reconnaissance over combat functionality. As a result, the ''Winter''-class prowlers arose from this study, coming into service with Naval Intelligence in [[2549]].<ref name="EN"/> On [[2558#January|January 21, 2558]], ''Winter''-class prowler {{UNSCShip|From the Ashes}} deployed [[SPARTAN-G059]] to [[New Llanelli]] to [[Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam|assassinate]] [[Avu Med 'Telcam]], leader of the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]]. Afterwards, the prowler extracted the Spartan and left to participate in another [[operation]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=tfs|TFS|Story=Knight Takes Bishop}} The [[Spartan-II]]s of [[Gray Team]] now operate out of the ''Winter''-class prowler {{UNSCShip|Perilous Contest}}.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}

Another Prowler, the {{UNSCShip|Fast Gus}} was dispatched by [[Intrepid Eye]] to take [[Papa-10]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[Bartalan Craddog]] to [[Meridian]] to retrieve the organs of the Tuwa family during [[Operation: RETRIBUTION]]. However, the mission failed and both Papa-10 and Craddog were killed.{{Ref/Novel|HRet}}

One ''Winter''-class prowler—the [[ONI Acrisius|ONI ''Acrisius'']]—was stationed aboard research vessel ''[[Argent Moon]]'' as an evacuation vessel for its ONI personnel. However, the crew of ''Argent Moon'' were all killed in [[asteroidea merozoite|a]] [[bioweapon]] accident in [[2557]].{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} When [[Spartan-II]] [[Blue Team]] traveled to ''Argent Moon'' to prevent ONI intelligence from falling into the hands of [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]], the Spartans used ''Acrisius'' to evacuate ''Argent Moon'' after they overloaded its reactors as their Pelican had been destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|blue}} The ship was eventually abandoned by the Spartans on the [[Outer Colony]] of [[Meridian]], when they traveled to the world to search for [[Cortana]] and instead left on a [[Guardian]].{{Ref/Level|Id=unconfirmed|H5G|Unconfirmed}} Unbeknownst to Blue Team, the ancilla [[Intrepid Eye]] had also managed to barely escape ''Argent Moon'' by attaching herself to the ship.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDW5|DW|Chapter=5}}

File:H5G-Docked Prowler.png|''Acrisius'' inside the ''Argent Moon''{{'}}s hangar bay.

**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]'' {{Mo}}

{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:UNSC ship classes]]