Zanar-pattern light cruiser: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:02, June 13, 2020

The CRS-class light cruiser is a Covenant capital warship classification.^[1]

Overview

While classified as "light cruisers" by the UNSC, the Covenant intended them to fill a role more analogous to police cutters to patrol inhabited star systems, conducting routine inspections and enforcing travel laws.^[2] After the war, CRS-class cruisers became the backbones of fleets owned by Covenant remnants, serving in combat roles against humanity and the Swords of Sanghelios.^[2] 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 ORS-class heavy cruisers, and would take risks during combat to prove their worth in hopes of reassignment.^[3] They regarded escorting Executor-type ships and their disgraced crews such as the CPV-class heavy destroyer as a more distasteful assignment, and could never be relied on to do more than their basic duties.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[2]

Specifications

Resembling a luminous manta ray,^[6] the CRS is essentially a smaller, weaker version of the CCS-class battlecruiser,^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[2]

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.^[7]

Operational history

While some CRS-class light cruisers engaged human forces during the 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.^[2]

Ships of the class participated in the Battle of Psi Serpentis in 2543.^[8] Several CRS-class cruisers were used over Reach during the Covenant's invasion of the planet in 2552.^[9]

The light cruiser Spear of Light acted as the vessel for Prelate Tem'Bhetek who used it to rescue the Minister of Preparation during the Fall of High Charity. Convinced that Rtas 'Vadum was responsible for the death of his family, the Prelate formed 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.^[10]

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.^[11] After finding the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, one approached the ship with its shields down, not expecting a threat, intending to open fire on the Dawn. However, Spartan John-117 destroyed the cruiser with one of the Forward Unto Dawn's Hyperion nuclear missiles before it could fire. Several were destroyed moments later when the gravity well of Requiem pulled them in.^[12] Three cruisers made a slipspace jump into 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.^[13] Numerous light cruisers were later sent to attack the UNSC Infinity after it crashed into Requiem, but at least two were destroyed by Infinity's defensive turrets and surface-to-air-missile launchers after John-117 reactivated Infinity's defenses.^[14] 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 Onagers, the three cruisers moved into position over the station, remaining in close proximity to each other.^[15]

Several CRS-class cruisers were present during the Requiem Campaign in February 2558. Many provided escort for an RCS-class armored cruiser that was destroyed immediately after Infinity's emergence from slipspace. They immediately engaged Infinity's Strident-class heavy frigates, though they were quickly destroyed or routed.^[16] Later, a light cruiser was deployed to "Two Giants" in response to Fireteam Crimson activating one of the structures in the area. Despite being supported by numerous Phantoms, 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.^[17] Another light cruiser attacked the UNSC base at the Refuge, but was destroyed when Fireteam Shadow boarded and overloaded its power core.^[18] Shortly thereafter, a light cruiser took part in the capture of Fireteam Crimson at the "Quarry" accompanied by several Phantoms and Banshees.^[19] A light cruiser, possibly the same one, remained on station over "Lockup" as Crimson escaped with Icebreaker squad in a hijacked Phantom.^[20] At least three more were at the Warrens when Crimson visited,^[21] though they were gone by the time Crimson returned with Fireteam Lancer.^[22] Later, several light cruisers participated in the Covenant-Promethean attack on Infinity. At least one was destroyed when Fireteam Crimson brought the Infinity's weapons back online.^[23] Several light cruisers fled Requiem with an RCS-class armored cruiser and several Liches after Jul 'Mdama set the planet on a collision course with its parent star.^[24]

In 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 attack the Infinity and her sub-vessels, blocking the UNSC flagship off in low orbit for over seven hours.^[25]

Ships of the line

Zanar-pattern

Unrelenting

Unknown pattern

Spear of Light

Trivia

During the Spartan Ops level 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

Renders of the CRS-class light cruiser for Halo 4.
Alternate extraction of a CRS-class light cruiser.
In-game screenshot of a CRS-class light cruiser.
CRS-class cruisers swarm the remains of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn.
The reformed Covenant's light cruiser fleet outside of Requiem.
CRS-class cruisers escorting an RCS-class armored cruiser during the Requiem Campaign.
Size comparison between the CRS-class cruiser and the SDV-class heavy corvette.
CRS-class cruisers attacking the UNSC Infinity during the Battle of Aktis IV in Halo: Escalation.
CRS-class light cruisers attacking the Infinity during the Battle of Aktis IV in Halo Mythos.

List of appearances

Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
Halo: First Strike
Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
- The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole
Halo: Fall of Reach
- Invasion
Halo 4
- Spartan Ops
Halo: Escalation
Halo: Shadow of Intent
Halo Mythos

Sources

^ ^a ^b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 41
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Warfleet72
^ Halo: Warfleet, Examiners, pages 64-65
^ Halo: Warfleet, Executioners, pages 60-61
^ Halo: Warfleet, Procurators, pages 68-69
^ Halo: First Strike, page 205
^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder: Have S'moa
^ Halo: Evolutions Volume I, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", page 329
^ Halo: First Strike, Chapter 18, page 167 -- "Two exceptions to this patrol pattern were a pair of light cruisers hovering over Menachite Mountain"
^ Halo: Shadow of Intent
^ Halo 4
^ Halo 4, campaign level, Dawn
^ Halo 4, campaign level, Forerunner
^ Halo 4, campaign level, Infinity
^ Halo 4, campaign level, Composer
^ Spartan Ops, S101 Departure
^ Spartan Ops, S103 Shootout in Valhalla
^ Spartan Ops, S105 Everything Has Gone Wrong
^ Spartan Ops, S105 Spartan Thorne
^ Spartan Ops, S106 Escape Plan
^ Spartan Ops, S106 Need To Know
^ Spartan Ops, S108 Lancer
^ Spartan Ops, S107 Invasion
^ Spartan Ops, S1010 Exodus
^ Halo: Escalation, Issue #15

[EVG-1] Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 41

[Warfleet72-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Warfleet72

[Warfleet64-3] Halo: Warfleet, Examiners, pages 64-65

[Warfleet61-4] Halo: Warfleet, Executioners, pages 60-61

[Warfleet68-5] Halo: Warfleet, Procurators, pages 68-69

[6] Halo: First Strike, page 205

[canon_fodder2-7] Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder: Have S'moa

[8] Halo: Evolutions Volume I, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", page 329

[HFS18-9] Halo: First Strike, Chapter 18, page 167 -- "Two exceptions to this patrol pattern were a pair of light cruisers hovering over Menachite Mountain"

[10] Halo: Shadow of Intent

[H4-11] Halo 4

[Dawn-12] Halo 4, campaign level, Dawn

[13] Halo 4, campaign level, Forerunner

[14] Halo 4, campaign level, Infinity

[15] Halo 4, campaign level, Composer

[16] Spartan Ops, S101 Departure

[17] Spartan Ops, S103 Shootout in Valhalla

[18] Spartan Ops, S105 Everything Has Gone Wrong

[19] Spartan Ops, S105 Spartan Thorne

[20] Spartan Ops, S106 Escape Plan

[21] Spartan Ops, S106 Need To Know

[22] Spartan Ops, S108 Lancer

[23] Spartan Ops, S107 Invasion

[24] Spartan Ops, S1010 Exodus

[HE15-25] Halo: Escalation, Issue #15

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 The 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]]. 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 (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>
+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 [[Type-56 Lich|Liches]] after Jul 'Mdama set the planet on a collision course with its parent star.<ref>''Spartan Ops'', [[Exodus (Spartan Ops)|S1010 Exodus]]</ref>