Template:Ship Class Infobox The Paris-class heavy frigate[1][2] is a class of fleet escort ships in service with the UNSC Navy. Introduced during the Human-Covenant War, the Paris-class saw extensive use by the Epsilon Eridani Fleet during the invasion of Reach in August 2552. The Paris and the following ships in the class were manufactured by SinoViet Heavy Machinery.
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 Template:UNSCship, 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.[3] Several Paris-class heavy frigates saw action during the Fall of Reach. After the Human-Covenant war, multiple Paris-class heavy frigates continued to be used with multiple serving as escorts for the UNSC Infinity.[4]
Design
The heavy frigate is essentially a more heavily-armored variant of the standard UNSC frigate, equipped with more point-defense guns to provide stronger support in battle situations. The heavy frigate lacks the small hangar present on the standard frigate, but 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. Heavy frigates are also capable of atmospheric maneuvering and are occasionally used by the UNSC for ground-support operations.
Ships of the line
- UNSC Paris
- UNSC Commonwealth
- Template:UNSCship (FFG-318)
- Template:UNSCship
- Template:UNSCship (FFG-371)
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.
- During the development of Halo: Reach, the UNSC frigates featured in the game were known as the Stalwart class.[5] 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.[6]
Gallery
Profile view of the UNSC Savannah in Halo: Reach.
Size comparison between a heavy frigate and a Covenant corvette.
Two heavy frigates over Szurdok Ridge in the Fall of Reach.
A YSS-1000 Sabre starfighter and the Template:UNSCship engaging Ardent Prayer over Reach.
- H3 - FrigateOverview.png
Halo 3 concept art for the UNSC Andraste, which the design of the Paris-class is based on.
Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
List of appearances
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx (First appearance)
- Halo: Reach
- The Commissioning
- Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
Sources
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
- ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 76
- ^ Halo: Evolutions - The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole
- ^ Halo 4 Forward Unto Dawn - Part V
- ^ Matt Turner — UNSC Frigate
- ^ Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (Blu-ray) - pre-production visualizations