Paris-class heavy frigate

Template:Ship Class Infobox The Paris-class heavy frigate is a type of fleet escort ship in service with the UNSC Navy.^[1] The Paris class saw extensive use by the Epsilon Eridani Fleet during the invasion of Reach in August 2552. The class was manufactured by SinoViet Heavy Machinery on Reach.^[2]

Specifications

Design details

Though its primary hangar bay is smaller than that of the Charon-class light frigate, the Paris class is more heavily armed and armored than smaller frigates types. Heavy frigates are capable of atmospheric maneuvering and are occasionally used by the UNSC for ground-support operations.^[3] The Paris class is very fast and maneuverable in space, allowing it to engage hostile vessels while avoiding high volumes of fire from largely superior Covenant plasma weaponry.^[4]

Armament

Paris-class frigates are more heavily armed than most UNSC frigates. Like all frigates in service with the UNSC, the Paris class's primary armament is a single light Magnetic Accelerator Cannon. The frigate is also armed with fifty Archer missile pods. Paris-class frigates have twelve point defense guns located across the hull.^[1] Its additional firepower means that it can easily handle Covenant fighter craft and can hold its own against small Covenant warships, as shown when the heavy frigate UNSC Savannah engaged the much larger Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer during the Fall of Reach.^[4]

Service history

Prior to the Insurrection of the late 25th century, the concept of a heavy frigate was considered a gross misuse of the UNSC's funding. In the years following the coup d'etat on Eridanus II and the rebels' capture of the UNSC Bellerophon, there was much more support for a shake-up of the UNSC's relatively lax and ill-defended fleet. These upgrades would take effect during the disastrous Operation: TREBUCHET.^[5] Several Paris-class heavy frigates saw action during the Fall of Reach. After the Human-Covenant war, multiple Paris-class vessels continued to be used with multiple serving as escorts for the UNSC Infinity.^[6]

Ships of the line

UNSC Paris - Lead ship of the class, participated in the Battle of Earth.
UNSC Cascadia - Participated in a search-and-rescue mission on Cleyell in 2556.
UNSC Commonwealth - Participated in the Battle of Chi Ceti IV, decommissioned by 2552 on Reach.
UNSC Gettysburg - Heavily damaged during the Fall of Reach, salvaged and returned to Earth.
UNSC Grafton (FFG-318) - Participated and destroyed in the Fall of Reach.
UNSC Saratoga - Participated in the Fall of Reach.
UNSC Savannah (FFG-371) - Participated and destroyed in the Fall of Reach.

Halo: Fleet Battles

Arrowhead Formation

Cost: 25 points
Movement: 10"
Damage Track: 3 • 3 • 3
Build rating: 1
Hangars: 0
Boarding Craft: 0
Security detail: 1
System loadouts:
- Elusive
- Hard Burn (3")
- Missile barrage
- Point defense (2)
- Titanium armor (2)
Primary weapon: Light MAC
- Range: 10/20"
- Weapon loadouts: MAC (1)
- Firing arc: Forward
- Dice: 4
Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries
- Range: 12/24"
- Weapon loadouts: Missiles
- Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
- Dice: 2

Trident Formation

Cost: 25 points
Movement: 10"
Damage Track: 3 • 3 • 3
Build rating: 1
Hangars: 0
Boarding Craft: 0
Security detail: 1
System loadouts:
- Elusive
- Hard Burn (3")
- Missile barrage
- Point defense (2)
- Titanium armor (2)
Primary weapon: Light MAC
- Range: 10/20"
- Weapon loadouts: MAC (1)
- Firing arc: Forward
- Dice: 3
Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries
- Range: 12/24"
- Weapon loadouts: Missiles
- Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
- Dice: 3

Shield Formation

Cost: 40 points
Movement: 10"
Damage Track: 4 • 4 • 4
Build rating: 2
Hangars: 0
Boarding Craft: 0
Security detail: 2
System loadouts:
- Hard Burn (3")
- Missile barrage
- Point defense (3)
- Titanium armor (3)
Primary weapon: Light MAC
- Range: 10/20"
- 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: 4

Trivia

The class' name could be a reference to the city of Paris, the capital of France. Alternatively, it could be named in reference to Paris, a major figure of the Trojan War.
The design of the Paris class was closely adapted from concept art for the UNSC Andraste for Halo 3. Whereas the Charon-class light frigates seen in Halo 3 differ from the initial design in a variety of ways, including a bulkier hangar bay, the Paris-class heavy frigates are virtually identical to the Andraste.^[7]
During the development of Halo: Reach, the UNSC frigates featured in the game were known as the Stalwart class.^[8] Halo: The Essential Visual Guide reveals that the type featured in Halo: Reach is the Paris-class heavy frigate, while the Stalwart class' name was repurposed for the frigates that appear in Halo 2. The class was also known as the Stalwart during the production of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.^[9]

Gallery

Profile view of a Paris-class heavy frigate
Profile view of the UNSC Savannah in Halo: Reach
A high-detail model of a Paris-class heavy frigate in Halo: Reach
A high-poly render of a Paris-class heavy frigate in Halo: Reach
Size comparison between a heavy frigate and an SDV-class heavy corvette
Two heavy frigates over Szurdok Ridge during the Fall of Reach
UNSC Savannah above Reach
A YSS-1000 Sabre starfighter and Savannah engaging Ardent Prayer over Reach
UNSC Savannah in combat
Savannah fires her point-defense guns against Ardent Prayer
H3 - FrigateOverview.png

Halo 3 concept art for the UNSC Andraste, which the design of the Paris-class is based on
A comparison of the Paris-class' engines at various levels of thrust
A Paris-class fires upon a CCS-class battlecruiser
The UNSC Cascadia in 2556
A Paris-class frigate's scale next to the Marathon-class heavy cruiser and the Epoch-class heavy carrier