Editing Zanar-pattern light cruiser

{{Title|''CRS''-class light cruiser}}
{{Era|HCW|Post}}
{{Ship class infobox
|name=''CRS''-class light cruiser
|image=[[File:H4-CovenantCRSLightCruiser.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Assembly Forges|Secondary Assembly Forges]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}
|line=
|model=
|class=[[Cruiser]], [[Covenant ship classification system#Major categories|Attack Ship]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}
|length=300 meters (984.25 feet)<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 265''</ref>
|width=145 meters (476 feet){{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|mass=190,000 metric tons{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}
|height=
|max accel=
|max speed=
|engine=[[Repulsor engine]]s
|slipspace drive=Equipped
|hdsystem=
|poweroutput=
|power=
|shielding=Yes
|hull=[[Nanolaminate hull plating]]
|sensor=
|target=
|navigation=[[Navigation computer]]
|avionics=
|countermeasures=
|armament=*[[Plasma turret]]s
*Two ''Erex''-pattern [[Energy projector|plasma beam emitter]]s<ref name="Warfleet72">'''[[Halo: Warfleet]]''', ''Attack Ships'', ''pages 72-73''</ref>
*Four ''Pok''-pattern [[Laser|beam lasers]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}
*Six ''Sintra''-pattern [[plasma torpedo]] silos{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}
|complement=None{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}
|crew=1 [[Sangheili|Superior]], 8 [[Menial]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}
|skeleton=
|passengers=
|capacity=
|consumables=
|othersystems=
|firstuse=
|role=Fleet support, interference, investigation, security{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}} 
|firstsight=[[2543]]
|lastsight=[[2558]]
|era=*[[Human-Covenant War]] 
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]]
*[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]
*[[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group]]
*[[Tem'Bhetek's faction]]
}}

The '''''CRS''-class light cruiser''' is a [[Covenant]] capital warship classification.<ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 41''</ref>

==Overview==
While classified as "light cruisers" by the UNSC, the Covenant intended them to fill a role more analogous to [[police cutter]]s to patrol inhabited star systems, conducting routine inspections and enforcing travel laws.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}} After the war, ''CRS''-class cruisers became the backbones of fleets owned by Covenant remnants, serving in combat roles against [[human]]ity and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}} Crews of ''CRS'' cruisers generally regarded serving aboard one as a stepping stone to more glorious service aboard the Covenant's Examiner ships, such as {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}s, and would take risks during combat to prove their worth in hopes of reassignment.<ref name="Warfleet64">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''Examiners'', ''pages 64-65''</ref> They regarded escorting Executor-type ships and their disgraced crews such as the {{Class|CPV|heavy destroyer}} as a more distasteful assignment, and could never be relied on to do more than their basic duties.<ref name="Warfleet61">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''Executioners'', ''pages 60-61''</ref> When the Prophets took their Procurator-type ships and fled Covenant space in the wake of the [[Great Schism]], they held many light cruisers whose crews remained loyal with them.<ref name="Warfleet68">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''Procurators'', ''pages 68-69''</ref> As with other small attack craft employed by various Covenant fleets, ''CRS'' cruisers didn't have permanent crew quarters, instead rotating fresh crew members on between missions.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}

==Specifications==
Resembling a luminous manta ray,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 205''</ref> the ''CRS'' is essentially a smaller, weaker version of the {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}},{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} with the ''Zanar''-pattern light cruiser originally spawning as a stable mutation of the class' ''Elefen'' and ''Ket'' design patterns. One notable difference is that the ''CRS''-class (at least those used by [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]) bears green lights, as opposed to the white-blue lighting on the ''CCS'' class. The control coils of ''CRS''-class light cruisers require careful fine-tuning to prevent disorientation and hallucination when operating at full power. In addition, in rare cases the sensor arrays of these ships subject to aberrant mutations during fabrication that make them appear friendly to Forerunner defense protocols.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}

The four ''Pok''-pattern beam lasers coordinate fire using two dedicated auger arrays to coordinate fire and rapidly target dozens of targets in quick succession, a useful feature during suppression operations on Covenant worlds. Their ''Sintra''-pattern plasma torpedoes were extremely fast, but their high velocity in flight made them almost impossible to guide to the target, making them better employed as airborne artillery.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}} 

The "R", for ''Reverence'', in the cruiser's three-letter classification code indicates that the cruiser is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and is capable of excavating [[Forerunner]] artifacts. The "S", for ''Salvation'', denotes that the ''CRS''-class light cruiser is a dedicated [[warship]].<ref name="canon fodder2">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-have-s-moa '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder: Have S'moa'']</ref>

==Operational history==
While some ''CRS''-class light cruisers engaged human forces during the [[Human-Covenant War]], the majority of them were assigned in rear echelon assignments to ensure Covenant supply lines were well protected. This made them a prime target for opportunistic warlords during and after the Great Schism to expand their fleets, using them in more combat focused roles than they were intended for.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet72}}

One single light cruiser ''[[Unrelenting]]'' of the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] led an [[Space warfare|space]] [[Battle of Chi Ceti|attack]] on [[Chi Ceti IV]] where it was able to damage the {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} but was damaged in return by the UNSC [[Paris-class heavy frigate|heavy frigate]].<ref>See </ref> It was eventually destroyed by the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] company after being boarded. Ships of the class participated in the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]] in [[2543]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions]] Volume I''', "[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]", ''page 329''</ref> Several light cruisers were used during the Covenant's [[Fall of Reach|invasion]] of [[Reach]] in [[2552]].<ref name="HFS18">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''Chapter 18'', ''page 167'' -- ''"Two exceptions to this patrol pattern were a pair of light cruisers hovering over Menachite Mountain"''</ref> Later during the same year, they were deployed during the [[Battle for Earth|occupation]] of [[Earth]].<ref name=SC2>''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]'', Series 1</ref>

The heavily-modified light cruiser ''[[Spear of Light]]'' acted as the vessel for [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]] who used it to rescue the [[Boru'a'Neem|Minister of Preparation]] during the [[Fall of High Charity]] and personally destroyed a number of Sangheili-controlled vessels such as the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Eternal Reward]]''. Convinced that [[Rtas 'Vadum]] was responsible for the death of his family, the Prelate formed [[Tem'Bhetek's faction|a faction]] to get revenge upon the [[Sangheili]]. The cruiser attacked two [[Sangheili colonies]] and ambushed the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' at the second one with the crew abandoning the ''Spear of Light'' to board the ''Shadow of Intent''. After the boarders were repelled, the cruiser was captured and its navigation database led the Sangheili to the [[prototype Halo installation]]. Though most of the ship's systems were damaged beyond repair in the battle, the ''Spear of Light's'' database later revealed that more of the [[San'Shyuum]] had survived then was previously believed and was used by 'Vadum to begin a search for them.<ref>'''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'''</ref>

In the wake of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the ''CRS'' class forms the backbone of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]'s fleet, which deployed numerous ''CRS''-class cruisers to [[Requiem]] prior to and during the [[Battle of Requiem]].<ref name="H4">'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref> After finding the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, one approached the ship with its shields down, not expecting a threat, intending to open fire on the ''Dawn''. However, [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] destroyed the cruiser with one of the ''Forward Unto Dawn's'' [[M4093 Hyperion nuclear delivery system|''Hyperion'' nuclear missiles]] before it could fire. Several were destroyed moments later when the [[gravity well]] of Requiem pulled them in.<ref name="Dawn">'''Halo 4''', campaign level, ''[[Dawn]]''</ref> Three cruisers made a slipspace jump into [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]] to deploy troops around the satellite containing the Didact's [[Cryptum]]. At least one of these cruisers, possibly more, was sucked into the [[gravity well]] created by the Didact's Cryptum entering slipspace and was destroyed.<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level, ''[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]''</ref> Numerous light cruisers were later sent to attack the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} after it crashed into Requiem, but at least two were destroyed by ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defensive turrets and surface-to-air-missile launchers after John-117 reactivated ''Infinity's'' defenses.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level, ''[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]''</ref> During the Didact's [[Raid on Ivanoff Station]], at least three cruisers were present, deploying Phantoms to stop the evacuation as John and [[Cortana]] reprogrammed [[Ivanoff Station]]'s defense turrets to cover the evacuation. As their Phantoms continued to be shot down by [[Mark 2551 Onager|Onagers]], the three cruisers moved into position over the station, remaining in close proximity to each other.<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level, ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''</ref>

Several ''CRS''-class cruisers were present during the [[Requiem Campaign]] in [[2558#February|February 2558]]. Many provided escort for an {{Class|RCS|armored cruiser}} that was destroyed immediately after ''Infinity's'' emergence from slipspace. They immediately engaged ''Infinity's'' {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s, though they were quickly destroyed or routed.<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Departure|S101 Departure]]</ref> Later, a light cruiser was [[Skirmish at Two Giants|deployed]] to "[[Two Giants]]" in response to [[Fireteam Crimson]] activating one of the structures in the area. Despite being supported by numerous [[Type-44 Phantom|Phantoms]], [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and ground troops, it was destroyed by a MAC round launched by ''[[Infinity Sub-Vessel 3]]'' and the UNSC's operation was a success.<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Catherine/Shootout In Valhalla|S103 Shootout in Valhalla]]</ref>  Another light cruiser [[Battle at The Refuge|attacked]] the UNSC base at [[The Refuge (Requiem location)|the Refuge]], but was destroyed when [[Fireteam Shadow]] boarded and overloaded its power core.<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Memento Mori/Everything Has Gone Wrong|S105 Everything Has Gone Wrong]]</ref> Shortly thereafter, a light cruiser took part in the [[Ambush at the Quarry|capture]] of Fireteam Crimson at the "[[Quarry]]" accompanied by several Phantoms and Banshees.<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Memento Mori/Spartan Thorne|S105 Spartan Thorne]]</ref> A light cruiser, possibly the same one, remained on station over "[[Lockup]]" as Crimson [[Escape from Lockup|escaped]] with [[Icebreaker squad]] in a hijacked Phantom.<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Scattered/Escape Plan|S106 Escape Plan]]</ref> At least three more were at the [[Warrens]] when Crimson [[Raid on the Warrens|visited]],<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Scattered/Need To Know|S106 Need To Know]]</ref> though they were gone by the time Crimson returned with [[Fireteam Lancer]].<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Expendable/Lancer|S108 Lancer]]</ref> Later, several light cruisers participated in the Covenant-Promethean [[Invasion of the UNSC Infinity|attack]] on ''Infinity''. At least one was destroyed when Fireteam Crimson brought the ''Infinity's'' weapons back online.<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Invasion (Spartan Ops)|S107 Invasion]]</ref> Several light cruisers fled Requiem with an ''RCS''-class armored cruiser and several [[Morsam-pattern Seraph|Seraphs]] after Jul 'Mdama set the planet on a collision course with its parent star.<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Exodus (Spartan Ops)|S1010 Exodus]]</ref>

In [[2558#July|July 2558]], multiple light cruisers were present on [[Aktis IV]] when Jul 'Mdama and Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] set a trap to get the UNSC's half of the [[Janus Key]]. Hidden undetected under the planet's ocean, the ships rose to [[Battle of Aktis IV|attack]] the ''Infinity'' and her sub-vessels, blocking the UNSC [[flagship]] off in low orbit for over seven hours.<ref name="HE15">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref>

==Ships of the line==
===Unknown pattern===
*''[[Spear of Light]]''
*''[[Unrelenting]]''

==Trivia==
*During the ''[[Spartan Ops]]'' level ''[[Scattered/Need To Know|Need to Know]]'', if the player activates a console near the beginning of the level too soon, it will trigger a brief bombardment from one of the nearby light cruisers.

==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of CRS-class light cruiser}}
<gallery>
File:H4-Render-CRS.jpg|Renders of the ''CRS''-class light cruiser for ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:H4-CRSLightCruiser-ScanRender.png|Alternate extraction of a ''CRS''-class light cruiser.
File:H4-CRSLightCruiser-ScanScreen.jpg|In-game screenshot of a ''CRS''-class light cruiser.
File:H4 campaign dawn.jpeg|''CRS''-class cruisers swarm the remains of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}.
File:H4-CovenantRemnant-Cruisers-Fleet.jpg|The [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|reformed Covenant's]] light cruiser fleet outside of [[Requiem]].
File:H4 SO S01E10 Palmer watching Covenant fleet.jpg|''CRS''-class cruisers escorting an {{Class|RCS|armored cruiser}} during the [[Requiem Campaign]].
File:CRS-Corvette size comparison.jpg|Size comparison between the ''CRS''-class cruiser and the {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}.
File:HE15 Infinity Attacked.jpg|''CRS''-class cruisers attacking the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} during the [[Battle of Aktis IV]] in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:HM-CRS.png|''CRS''-class light cruisers attacking the ''Infinity'' during the Battle of Aktis IV in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''

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

{{Covenant Ships}}


[[Category:Cruiser classes]]
[[Category:Covenant ship classes]]