Orion-class assault carrier

Orion-class assault carrier
Production information
Class:	Assault carrier
Role:	Troop deployment and aid Maintaining aerospace control
Technical specifications
Length:	{{rnd/b||(6-−1)|}} meters (About 6,561.68 )
Slipspace drive:	Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine
Hull:	Titanium-A battle plate
Armament:	Two Magnetic Accelerator Cannons Missile batteries Point-defense guns
Complement:	UNSC Marines Tanks
Chronological and affiliation
Era:	Insurrection Human-Covenant War
Affiliation:	UNSC Navy

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

Specifications

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 moderate tonnage by carrier standards, the Orion outmasses the Poseidon-class light carrier but is outmassed by the Epoch-class heavy carrier. These carriers also carry complements of UNSC Marines and tanks.

The Orion-class assault carrier is armed with two heavy Magnetic Accelerator Cannons, which serve as the carrier's primary weapon. In addition, the assault carrier is outfitted with numerous missile batteries and point-defense guns as secondary and tertiary weaponry, respectively.

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.

Ships of the line

• UNSC Orion – Lead ship of the class

Halo: Fleet Battles

UNSC Orion Assault Carrier This element features a single Orion-class assault carrier. Cost: 120 points Movement: 6" Damage Track: 7 • 6 • 4 Build rating: 3 Hangars: 3 Boarding Craft: 4 Security detail: 3 System loadouts: Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3") Missile barrage Point defense (4) Titanium armor (4) Primary weapon: Heavy MAC Range: 16/32" Weapon loadouts: MAC (2) Firing arc: Forward Dice: 6 Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries Range: 12/24" Weapon loadouts: Missiles Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard Dice: 8 UNSC Supported Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carrier and one Paris-class heavy frigate. Cost: 135 points Movement: 6" Damage Track: 8 • 6 • 4 Build rating: 4 Hangars: 3 Boarding Craft: 4 Security detail: 4 System loadouts: Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3") Missile barrage Point defense (5) Titanium armor (4) Primary weapon: Heavy MAC Range: 16/32" Weapon loadouts: MAC (2) Firing arc: Forward Dice: 7 Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries Range: 12/24" Weapon loadouts: Missiles Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard Dice: 9 UNSC Reinforced Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carriers and two Paris-class heavy frigates. Cost: 150 points Movement: 6" Damage Track: 8 • 6 • 5 Build rating: 4 Hangars: 3 Boarding Craft: 4 Security detail: 5 System loadouts: Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3") Missile barrage Point defense (5) Titanium armor (5) 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: 10

UNSC Combat Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carriers and three Paris-class heavy frigates. Cost: 165 points Movement: 6" Damage Track: 8 • 7 • 5 Build rating: 5 Hangars: 3 Boarding Craft: 4 Security detail: 6 System loadouts: Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3") Missile barrage Point defense (6) Titanium armor (6) Primary weapon: Heavy MAC Range: 16/32" Weapon loadouts: MAC (2) Firing arc: Forward Dice: 9 Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries Range: 12/24" Weapon loadouts: Missiles Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard Dice: 11 UNSC Escorted Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carriers and one Halberd-class destroyer. Cost: 145 points Movement: 6" Damage Track: 8 • 6 • 4 Build rating: 4 Hangars: 3 Boarding Craft: 5 Security detail: 4 System loadouts: Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3") Missile barrage Point defense (4) Titanium armor (5) 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: 9 UNSC Defended Orion Assault Carrier This element includes an Orion-class assault carriers and two Halberd-class destroyers. Cost: 160 points Movement: 6" Damage Track: 8 • 6 • 5 Build rating: 4 Hangars: 3 Boarding Craft: 5 Security detail: 5 System loadouts: Carrier Action (1) Hard Burn (3") Missile barrage Point defense (4) Titanium armor (5) Primary weapon: Heavy MAC Range: 16/32" Weapon loadouts: MAC (2) Firing arc: Forward Dice: 12 Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries Range: 12/24" Weapon loadouts: Missiles Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard Dice: 10

Gallery

• 

  Undetailed model of an Orion.

• 

  A scale side-on comparison between an Orion and a Covenant RCS-class armored cruiser.

• 

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

• 

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

• 

  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)