Marathon-class heavy cruiser

File:Marathon Cruiser Outline.JPG

Silhouette of a Marathon Cruiser.

A Marathon-class Cruiser is a classification of UNSC Navy warships.

Description

These warships replaced the aging Halcyon-class Cruisers. These behemoths, ranking in at 1,192 meters (approx. 3,910 ft.), are over two times the length of a UNSC Frigate. They are also known for their heavy armor; they can survive multiple plasma impacts, being able to sustain far greater damage than any UNSC Frigate or UNSC Destroyer. Due to their size, durability and firepower (1 MAC guns as well as dozens of oversized Archer missile pods) these massive vessels are commanded by UNSC Admirals and primarily serve as command/capital ships.

Appearances

Due to their diminishing numbers and the onslaught of the genocidal Covenant, further numbers of these great cruisers have been reassigned to the defense of the Inner Colonies. Marathons were present at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV and the Battle of Reach. Eight saw action at the First Battle of Earth under Fleet Admiral Harper and another was part of Battle Group Stalingrad during the Battle of Onyx. Its likely that some were also engaged at the Second Battle of Earth, though, they were all probably destroyed.

Ships of the Line

• UNSC Leviathan
• UNSC Hannibal
• The Cruiser in the Battle Group Stalingrad

Images

File:UNSC Marathon-Class Cruisers.jpg

UNSC Marathon-Class Cruisers.

Trivia

• In Halo: The Fall of Reach, the Marathon classification is erroneously labeled as a Carrier.
• The name Marathon comes from the Battle of Marathon, fought in 490 BC where heavily outnumbered Athenians defeated an army of Persians who were trying to conquer Greece, this battle was also simulated by Wellsley while he was unoccupied in Halo: The Flood, this battle also gave its name to Bungie's Marathon series.
• They bear a resemblance to the older, Halcyon-class cruisers.
• In Halo: The Fall of Reach, it mentions that the Leviathan was one of twenty UNSC Cruisers left in the Navy, which were being slowly pulled back to protect the Inner Colonies.
• The name of this classification of ships is yet another reference to Bungie's previous series, Marathon.
• It seems that the refitted Pillar of Autumn, is stronger than any other Marathons, or just because of Captain Keyes' brilliant tactics.