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Marathon-class heavy cruiser: Difference between revisions

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As their numbers were diminished by the onslaught of the Covenant, many ''Marathon''s were reassigned to the defense of the [[Inner Colonies]] and [[Earth]] during the later years of the Human-Covenant War.<ref name="page162">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 162''</ref><ref group="note">According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', as of July 2552, UNSC ''Leviathan'' was one of twenty cruisers left in the Fleet, presumably referring to the entire Navy. Even if one assumes that this refers only to [[FLEETCOM Sector One]], this number is clearly retconned in later media.</ref> ''Marathon''s were present at the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] in [[2552#July|July 2552]], including [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]]'s [[flagship]] [[UNSC Leviathan|''Leviathan'']],<ref name="for188"/> which was severely damaged during the battle.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 224'' (2010)</ref> Numerous ''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers participated in the [[Fall of Reach]], many of which were destroyed, including ''Leviathan''.<ref name="ENC"/><ref name="fb"/><ref name="fs206">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 168'' (2003), ''page 206'' (2010)</ref>
As their numbers were diminished by the onslaught of the Covenant, many ''Marathon''s were reassigned to the defense of the [[Inner Colonies]] and [[Earth]] during the later years of the Human-Covenant War.<ref name="page162">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 162''</ref><ref group="note">According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', as of July 2552, UNSC ''Leviathan'' was one of twenty cruisers left in the Fleet, presumably referring to the entire Navy. Even if one assumes that this refers only to [[FLEETCOM Sector One]], this number is clearly retconned in later media.</ref> ''Marathon''s were present at the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] in [[2552#July|July 2552]], including [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]]'s [[flagship]] [[UNSC Leviathan|''Leviathan'']],<ref name="for188"/> which was severely damaged during the battle.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 224'' (2010)</ref> Numerous ''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers participated in the [[Fall of Reach]], many of which were destroyed, including ''Leviathan''.<ref name="ENC"/><ref name="fb"/><ref name="fs206">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 168'' (2003), ''page 206'' (2010)</ref>


At least eight ''Marathon''-class cruisers (including {{UNSCShip|Canberra}}<ref name="h2a"/> and [[UNSC Say My Name|''Say My Name'']],<ref name="waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/unsc-say-my-name/87da73b5-cede-44fd-906e-c3d1f57abf44 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''UNSC Say My Name''] (defunct, backup on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110424040357/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/unsc-say-my-name/87da73b5-cede-44fd-906e-c3d1f57abf44 Archive.org])</ref> assigned to the [[Fifth Fleet]], a part of the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]) were present at the onset of the [[Battle for Earth]]. Led by [[Joseph Harper|Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper]] aboard ''Canberra'' and supported by sixty-seven {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}s, these ships formed a defensive perimeter around the [[orbital defense platform]] cluster over the Mediterranean to prevent the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] from reaching Earth's surface.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref> [[Carl Patterson|Admiral Carl Patterson]]'s [[Battle Group Omicron]], drawn from the Home Fleet, contained one ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser that participated in the [[Onyx Conflict]], where she was destroyed with the rest of her [[battle group]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 292, 333''</ref> Several ''Marathon''-class cruisers of the Home Fleet were presumably destroyed over the course of the Battle for Earth, particularly after the final wave of Covenant reinforcements arrived.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]''</ref>
At least eight ''Marathon''-class cruisers (including {{UNSCShip|Canberra}}<ref name="h2a"/> and [[UNSC Say My Name|''Say My Name'']],<ref name="waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/unsc-say-my-name/87da73b5-cede-44fd-906e-c3d1f57abf44 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''UNSC Say My Name''] (defunct, backup on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110424040357/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/unsc-say-my-name/87da73b5-cede-44fd-906e-c3d1f57abf44 Archive.org])</ref> assigned to the [[Fifth Fleet]], a part of the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]) were present at the onset of the [[Battle for Earth]]. Led by [[Joseph Harper|Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper]] aboard ''Canberra'' and supported by sixty-seven {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}s, these ships formed a defensive perimeter around the [[orbital defense platform]] cluster over the Mediterranean to prevent the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] from reaching Earth's surface.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref> [[Carl Patterson|Admiral Carl Patterson]]'s [[Battle Group Omicron]], drawn from the Home Fleet, contained one ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser that participated in the [[Onyx Conflict]], where she was destroyed with the rest of her [[battle group]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 292, 333''</ref> Several ''Marathon''-class cruisers of the Home Fleet were presumably destroyed over the course of the Battle for Earth, particularly after the final wave of Covenant reinforcements arrived.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Crow's Nest]]''</ref>


Most remaining ''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers were decommissioned after the {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}} was introduced, with only a handful staying in service.<ref name="H4VG"/> The ''Autumn'' class became slated to serve as the core of the reconstituted UNSC Navy's fleet, a role the ''Marathon'' class had previously fulfilled.<ref name="universe"/> A ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser served as the flagship of Admiral [[Graselyn Tuwa]] during [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE|an operation]] on [[Gao]] in [[2553]]. The presence of the cruiser prevented [[Arlo Casille|Minister of Protection Arlo Casille]] from taking naval action against the UNSC, realizing that the cruiser could easily decimate his entire fleet of [[patrol corvette]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo: Last Light]]''', ''page 71''</ref>
Most remaining ''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers were decommissioned after the {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}} was introduced, with only a handful staying in service.<ref name="H4VG"/> The ''Autumn'' class became slated to serve as the core of the reconstituted UNSC Navy's fleet, a role the ''Marathon'' class had previously fulfilled.<ref name="universe"/> A ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser served as the flagship of Admiral [[Graselyn Tuwa]] during [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE|an operation]] on [[Gao]] in [[2553]]. The presence of the cruiser prevented [[Arlo Casille|Minister of Protection Arlo Casille]] from taking naval action against the UNSC, realizing that the cruiser could easily decimate his entire fleet of [[patrol corvette]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo: Last Light]]''', ''page 71''</ref>

Revision as of 12:20, June 9, 2020

Marathon-class heavy cruiser
A cropped transparent render of the Marathon-class heavy cruiser for Blur Studio's cutscenes.
Production information

Class:

Cruiser[1]

Role:

Technical specifications

Length:

1,192 meters (3,910 ft)[2]

Width:

293 meters (960 ft)[2][4]

Height:

375 meters (1,230 ft)[4]

Engine(s):

Fusion drives[5][6]

Slipspace drive:

Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine[7]

Hull:

191 cm of Titanium-A battle plate[8]

Armament:

Complement:

Chronological and affiliation

Era:

Affiliation:

UNSC Navy

 

The Marathon-class heavy cruiser (hull classification symbol: CA)[5] is a classification of cruiser in service with the UNSC Navy. Built as a replacement for the Halcyon-class light cruiser, the Marathon-class is nearly 1.2 kilometers long, heavily armored, and equipped with two Magnetic Accelerator Cannons and an impressive arsenal of missiles.[8]

These vessels were most often deployed in attack and defense roles, serving as the backbone of UNSC fleets, though they were also popular among high-ranking UNSC officers for use as command ships,[2] and were even deployed in rare instances in a light carrier configuration.[3] They were primarily used during the Human-Covenant War, though their numbers were heavily diminished and only very few remain in service in the conflict's aftermath alongside their successor vessel, the Autumn-class heavy cruiser.[11]

Specifications

Superstructure and hull

The UNSC Leviathan, Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth's flagship.

At 1,192 meters (3,910 ft) long,[2] Marathon-class heavy cruisers are more than twice the length of a typical frigate. Despite their size, Marathon-class cruisers are dwarfed by most Covenant cruiser classes.[8] As the successor to the Halcyon-class cruiser, these vessels have a similar profile, with a forward 'head' and large engine segment protected by armor cowlings, yet are not not identical and feature a streamlined inwards-slanted underside. The class also sports a thick 191-centimeter hull of Titanium-A armor, enabling it to withstand substantial amounts of fire even from plasma weaponry.[8] By 2552 the Marathon was considered to be one of the more powerful warships ever built by humanity,[12] outclassing its predecessor in virtually every respect.[8]

Like all warships of the UNSC Navy, Marathon-class heavy cruisers have a degree of operational flexibility that is achieved through the use of modular mission packages and reconfigurable hangar bays. Though a rare configuration, these cruisers could be modified and equipped to function as a light carrier, sacrificing missile pods and all of its cargo bays for additional hangar capacity.[3]

Crew and complement

Marathon-class heavy cruisers feature a standard complement of one thousand personnel, and are typically commanded by a captain or rear admiral, often being reserved for admirals to use as command ships due to their characteristic durability and firepower.[8] They are also known to have the capacity to carry Marine contingents as well as accompanying dropship transportation.[9]

Cruisers of the Marathon class are fitted with at least two hangar bays.[13][14] A large deployment bay containing numerous Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicles, referred to by Orbital Drop Shock Troopers as "Hell's waiting room", is located amidships.[10] Space aboard a Marathon is optimized to maximize the amount of heavy weapons and armor equipped on each ship, preventing the cruisers from carrying more space fighters; despite this, Marathons can carry two dozen GA-TL1 Longswords.[8][note 1]

Armaments

Marathon-class heavy cruisers are mounted with two Magnetic Accelerator Cannons as their primary armament,[1][2] supplemented by a missile delivery system[1] with 1,800 Archer missiles and five fusion rockets.[8] In addition, the Marathon-class utilises a network of point-defense guns.[1]

Operational history

File:Outcome of Second Battle of Harvest.png
Several Marathon-class heavy cruisers engaging the Covenant super-destroyer at Harvest.

The Marathon-class heavy cruiser was commissioned and built as a replacement for the Halcyon-class light cruiser,[8] a smaller and more lightly armed cruiser which suffered from excessive production costs and a lack of tactical viability.[2] After a brief era of service,[1] most ships of the Halcyon-class were decommissioned, which led to the Marathon-class rising to prominence. By 2525, the Marathon-class was the most popular line of cruiser in service with the Navy.[2] Several Marathon-class heavy cruisers served in Battle Group X-Ray under Vice Admiral Preston Cole during the Battle of Harvest. Throughout the early years of the Human-Covenant War, Marathons continued to serve in Cole's Third Fleet. Several Marathons from the fleet, including UNSC Prophecy, participated in the Harvest campaign.[13][15] At least one Marathon-class heavy cruiser, UNSC Dresden, participated in the Battle of Biko, where it was destroyed by the Covenant.[7]

Numerous Marathons hold position over Earth.

As their numbers were diminished by the onslaught of the Covenant, many Marathons were reassigned to the defense of the Inner Colonies and Earth during the later years of the Human-Covenant War.[16][note 2] Marathons were present at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552, including Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth's flagship Leviathan,[12] which was severely damaged during the battle.[17] Numerous Marathon-class heavy cruisers participated in the Fall of Reach, many of which were destroyed, including Leviathan.[8][14][18]

At least eight Marathon-class cruisers (including UNSC Canberra[5] and Say My Name,[19] assigned to the Fifth Fleet, a part of the UNSC Home Fleet) were present at the onset of the Battle for Earth. Led by Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper aboard Canberra and supported by sixty-seven Stalwart-class light frigates, these ships formed a defensive perimeter around the orbital defense platform cluster over the Mediterranean to prevent the Fleet of Sacred Consecration from reaching Earth's surface.[20] Admiral Carl Patterson's Battle Group Omicron, drawn from the Home Fleet, contained one Marathon-class heavy cruiser that participated in the Onyx Conflict, where she was destroyed with the rest of her battle group.[21] Several Marathon-class cruisers of the Home Fleet were presumably destroyed over the course of the Battle for Earth, particularly after the final wave of Covenant reinforcements arrived.[22]

Most remaining Marathon-class heavy cruisers were decommissioned after the Autumn-class heavy cruiser was introduced, with only a handful staying in service.[11] The Autumn class became slated to serve as the core of the reconstituted UNSC Navy's fleet, a role the Marathon class had previously fulfilled.[1] A Marathon-class heavy cruiser served as the flagship of Admiral Graselyn Tuwa during an operation on Gao in 2553. The presence of the cruiser prevented Minister of Protection Arlo Casille from taking naval action against the UNSC, realizing that the cruiser could easily decimate his entire fleet of patrol corvettes.[23]

Ships of the line

Halo: Fleet Battles

UNSC Marathon Heavy Cruiser

This element includes a single Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

  • Cost: 95 points
  • Movement: 8"
  • Damage Track: 6 • 6 • 3
  • Build rating: 2
  • Hangars: 2
  • Boarding Craft: 2
  • Security detail: 3
  • System loadouts:
    • Hard Burn (2")
    • Missile barrage
    • Point defense (4)
    • Titanium armor (3)
  • Primary weapon: Heavy MAC
    • Range: 16/32"
    • 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: 7

UNSC Supported Marathon Heavy Cruiser

This element includes a Marathon-class heavy cruiser and one Paris-class heavy frigate.

  • Cost: 110 points
  • Movement: 8"
  • Damage Track: 7 • 6 • 3
  • Build rating: 3
  • Hangars: 2
  • Boarding Craft: 2
  • Security detail: 4
  • System loadouts:
    • Hard Burn (2")
    • Missile barrage
    • Point defense (4)
    • Titanium armor (4)
  • Primary weapon: Heavy MAC
    • Range: 16/32"
    • Weapon loadouts: MAC (2)
    • Firing arc: Forward
    • Dice: 10
  • Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries
    • Range: 12/24"
    • Weapon loadouts: Missiles
    • Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
    • Dice: 8

UNSC Reinforced Marathon Heavy Cruiser

This element includes a Marathon-class heavy cruiser and two Paris-class heavy frigates.

  • Cost: 120 points
  • Movement: 8"
  • Damage Track: 8 • 7 • 4
  • Build rating: 4
  • Hangars: 2
  • Boarding Craft: 2
  • Security detail: 4
  • System loadouts:
    • Hard Burn (2")
    • Missile barrage
    • Point defense (5)
    • Titanium armor (5)
  • Primary weapon: Heavy MAC
    • Range: 16/32"
    • Weapon loadouts: MAC (3)
    • Firing arc: Forward
    • Dice: 12
  • Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries
    • Range: 12/24"
    • Weapon loadouts: Missiles
    • Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
    • Dice: 10

UNSC Paired Marathon Heavy Cruisers

This element features two Marathon-class heavy cruisers.

  • Cost: 220 points
  • Movement: 8"
  • Damage Track: 10 • 10 • 5
  • Build rating: 6
  • Hangars: 4
  • Boarding Craft: 4
  • Security detail: 6
  • System loadouts:
    • Hard Burn (2")
    • Missile barrage
    • Point defense (8)
    • Titanium armor (6)
  • Primary weapon: Heavy MAC
    • Range: 16/32"
    • Weapon loadouts: MAC (4)
    • Firing arc: Forward
    • Dice: 18
  • Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries
    • Range: 12/24"
    • Weapon loadouts: Missiles
    • Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
    • Dice: 14

Trivia

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Gallery

  • Detail of the rear engines of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

    Detail of the rear engines of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

  • Comparison of the fore and aft of the Marathon.

    Comparison of the fore and aft of the Marathon.

  • A Marathon-class heavy cruiser orbiting Earth.

    A Marathon-class heavy cruiser orbiting Earth.

  • Marathon-class heavy cruisers on a video display of the Home Fleet.

    Marathon-class heavy cruisers on a video display of the Home Fleet.

  • The starboard profile of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

    The starboard profile of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

  • UNSC Prophecy.png

    UNSC Prophecy.

  • The SOEIV drop bay aboard a Marathon; the SOEIV deployment rings can be seen above.

    The SOEIV drop bay aboard a Marathon; the SOEIV deployment rings can be seen above.

  • ODSTs gathered around a holo-table inside a Marathon-class cruiser.

    ODSTs gathered around a holo-table inside a Marathon-class cruiser.

  • UNSC Leviathan.

    UNSC Leviathan.

  • A Marathon class is destroyed in the Halo: The Master Chief Collection announcement trailer.

    A Marathon class is destroyed in the Halo: The Master Chief Collection announcement trailer.

  • The back of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

    The back of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

  • A Marathon glides past Cairo Station, flanked by squads of Longswords.

    A Marathon glides past Cairo Station, flanked by squads of Longswords.

  • A Marathon hull being pierced by a CAS-class assault carrier's energy projector.

    A Marathon hull being pierced by a CAS-class assault carrier's energy projector.

  • The Marathon's scale compared to that of the Epoch class and the Paris class.

    The Marathon's scale compared to that of the Epoch class and the Paris class.

  • HFB-Marathonduo.png

    Marathon-class heavy cruisers in Halo: Fleet Battles.

  • Profile of a Marathon in Halo Mythos.

    Profile of a Marathon in Halo Mythos.

List of appearances

Notes

  1. ^ As this is a very large number of fighters, and it has been stated that UNSC cruisers specifically trade fighter-carrying capacity for armaments and armor, it is likely that this number represents the carrying capacity of the Marathon-class when in its converted light carrier configuration instead of in its standard form.
  2. ^ According to Halo: The Fall of Reach, as of July 2552, UNSC Leviathan was one of twenty cruisers left in the Fleet, presumably referring to the entire Navy. Even if one assumes that this refers only to FLEETCOM Sector One, this number is clearly retconned in later media.

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo Waypoint: UNSC Cruiser
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 42
  3. ^ a b c Halo: Fleet Battles, Core Rulebook - page 125
  4. ^ a b 3D model data from Halo 2
  5. ^ a b c d Halo 2: Anniversary, campaign level Cairo Station
  6. ^ Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo, page 33
  7. ^ a b c Halo: First Strike, "Tug o' War", page 413 (2010)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Halo Encyclopedia, page 251 (2010 edition); page 261 (2011 edition)
  9. ^ a b c Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 23 (2019)
  10. ^ a b c d Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Prepare to Drop
  11. ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, UNSC Cruiser, page 191
  12. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 188 (2010)
  13. ^ a b c Halo Wars: Genesis
  14. ^ a b Halo: Fleet Battles, Stats
  15. ^ a b Halo Wars, Timeline
  16. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 162
  17. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 224 (2010)
  18. ^ a b Halo: First Strike, page 168 (2003), page 206 (2010)
  19. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: UNSC Say My Name (defunct, backup on Archive.org)
  20. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Cairo Station
  21. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, pages 292, 333
  22. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Crow's Nest
  23. ^ Halo: Last Light, page 71
  24. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Fifty Caliber
  25. ^ Halo Waypoint: Michael Stanforth
  26. ^ Stephen Loftus on the Autumn class' talk page
  27. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder: In the Loop

v • d • e
 
Human ship classifications
Stealth craft
Heavy frigates Paris-class • Strident-class
Light frigates Anlace-class • Charon-class • Mulsanne-class • Stalwart-class
Heavy destroyers Able-class • Hillsborough-class
Light destroyers Diligence-class • Halberd-class • Unidentified
Heavy cruisers Autumn-class • Marathon-class • Valiant-class
Light cruisers Halcyon-class
Unclassified
By human faction: UEG (UNSC • CAA) • Insurrectionist
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