Orion-class assault carrier

Orion-class
Class attributes
Operators:	UNSC Navy
Manufacturer:	SinoViet Heavy Machinery
In service:	2473-present
General characteristics Type: Carrier Length: 2,220 meters (7,284 ft) Width: 610.00 meters (2,001.3 ft) Height: 660.01 meters (2,165.4 ft) Mass: 40 million tonnes Power plant: Fusion reactor Maneuver drive: Fusion drive (1 primary, 2 secondary) Slipspace drive: Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine Complement: D77-TC Pelicans Tanks Cargo lighters Resource gatherers Troops: UNSC Marines Hull: Titanium-A battle plate Armaments: 2 heavy 90C1E1 MACs 70 M58 Archer pods 12 M870 Rampart point defense guns

The Orion-class assault carrier is a class of capital ship in service with the UNSC Navy during the Insurrection and the Human-Covenant War.

Overview

Design details

Considered state-of-the-art when it was introduced, the Orion-class assault carrier incorporated the miniaturized and reconfigurable automated factories and chemical processors that were commonly found in colony support vessels, allowing the carriers to produce fuel, spare parts, and rarely even complete combat vehicles without outside assistance. As such, each Orion-class assault carrier holds a number of cargo lighters and resource gatherers to support its troops and support ships in harsh expeditionary environments. Of considerable tonnage by carrier standards, the Orion outmasses both the Poseidon-class light carrier and Epoch-class heavy carrier. These carriers also carry complements of UNSC Marines and tanks.

Armament

The Orion-class assault carrier is armed with two heavy 90C1E1 Magnetic Accelerator Cannons, which serve as the carrier's primary weapon. In addition, the assault carrier is outfitted with 70 M58 Archer missile pods and and 12 M870 Rampart point defense guns.

Ships of the line

• UNSC Fifth Winter – Participated in the Human-Covenant War.
• UNSC Orion – Lead ship of the class

Operational history

The Orion-class assault carrier was built for war against rebellious human colonies during the Insurrection. The class was conceived as a new type of carrier that could directly aid the United Nations Space Command's sustained ground operations in addition to maintaining aerospace control over contested worlds. Throughout the Insurrection, the appearance of a battle group led by an Orion-class assault carrier was seen as a symbol of the UNSC's military strength.

As the Human-Covenant War began in 2525, Orion-class assault carriers commonly served as flagships, serving in numerous battles throughout the Outer Colonies in desperate defensive actions against the Covenant. The Covenant War saw the destruction of most Orion-class carriers as many of these vessels sacrificed themselves to buy time for civilians and troops to be evacuated to the Inner Colonies. The remaining vessels of the Orion class formed the core of long-range battle groups that attempted to disrupt Covenant supply lines and staging areas, with limited success.

Halo: Fleet Battles

UNSC Orion Assault Carrier This element features a single Orion-class assault carrier. UNSC Orion Assault Carrier Capital Ship, Medium (120 PTS) Movement 6" Systems Loadout Damage Track 7 • 6 • 4 Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3) Missile Barrage* Point Defence (4) Titanium Armour (4) Build Rating 3 Hangars 3 Boarding Craft 4 Security Detail 3 Primary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Heavy MAC 16/32" MAC (2) Forward 6 Secondary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Missile Batteries 12/24" Missiles Forward or Port + Starboard 8 UNSC Supported Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carrier and one Paris-class heavy frigate. UNSC Supported Orion Assault Carrier Capital Ship, Medium (135 PTS) Movement 6" Systems Loadout Damage Track 8 • 6 • 4 Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3) Missile Barrage* Point Defence (5) Titanium Armour (4) Build Rating 4 Hangars 3 Boarding Craft 4 Security Detail 4 Primary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Heavy MAC 16/32" MAC (2) Forward 7 Secondary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Missile Batteries 12/24" Missiles Forward or Port + Starboard 9 UNSC Reinforced Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carriers and two Paris-class heavy frigates. UNSC Reinforced Orion Assault Carrier Capital Ship, Medium (150 PTS) Movement 6" Systems Loadout Damage Track 8 • 6 • 5 Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3) Missile Barrage* Point Defence (5) Titanium Armour (5) Build Rating 4 Hangars 3 Boarding Craft 4 Security Detail 5 Primary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Heavy MAC 16/32" MAC (2) Forward 8 Secondary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Missile Batteries 12/24" Missiles Forward or Port + Starboard 10

UNSC Combat Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carriers and three Paris-class heavy frigates. UNSC Combat Orion Assault Carrier Capital Ship, Medium (165 PTS) Movement 6" Systems Loadout Damage Track 8 • 7 • 5 Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3) Missile Barrage* Point Defence (6) Titanium Armour (6) Build Rating 5 Hangars 3 Boarding Craft 4 Security Detail 6 Primary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Heavy MAC 16/32" MAC (2) Forward 9 Secondary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Missile Batteries 12/24" Missiles Forward or Port + Starboard 11 UNSC Escorted Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carriers and one Halberd-class destroyer. UNSC Escorted Orion Assault Carrier Capital Ship, Medium (145 PTS) Movement 6" Systems Loadout Damage Track 8 • 6 • 4 Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3) Missile Barrage* Point Defence (4) Titanium Armour (5) Build Rating 4 Hangars 3 Boarding Craft 5 Security Detail 4 Primary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Heavy MAC 16/32" MAC (3) Forward 10 Secondary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Missile Batteries 12/24" Missiles Forward or Port + Starboard 9 UNSC Defended Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carrier and two Halberd-class destroyers. UNSC Orion Assault Carrier Capital Ship, Medium (160 PTS) Movement 6" Systems Loadout Damage Track 8 • 6 • 5 Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3) Missile Barrage* Point Defence (4) Titanium Armour (5) Build Rating 4 Hangars 3 Boarding Craft 5 Security Detail 5 Primary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Heavy MAC 16/32" MAC (3) Forward 12 Secondary Weapon Range Weapon Loadouts Arc Dice Missile Batteries 12/24" Missiles Forward or Port + Starboard 10

Gallery

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  Undetailed model of an Orion.

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  A scale side-on comparison between an Orion and a Covenant Maugen-pattern armored cruiser.

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  An Orion scaled against a Marathon-class cruiser and a Paris-class frigate.

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  An Orion-class vessel with its Paris-class escorts.

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  A fleet of Orion-class carriers escort a Punic-class supercarrier with several Paris-types in support.

List of appearances

• Halo: Fleet Battles (First appearance)