The CPV-class heavy destroyer is one of several destroyer-type warships used by the Covenant and its remnants.[1][2]
Overview
The CPV-class heavy destroyer was the predominant offensive ship of the Covenant's now-defunct naval forces, used primarily for ship-to-ship warfare and glassing operations. CPVs are deployed aggressively, often being the first ships in a fleet to engage the enemy.[2] Heavy destroyers that served in the forces of the various Ministries were largely assigned to crews deemed unfit for service aboard other ships, who had been condemned for disloyalty or disobedience, but whose actions did not warrant execution as heretics, who hoped to earn redemption through service for themselves and their families. Most glassing operations were undertaken by heavy destroyers, as the work was considered distasteful or suicidal by other shipmasters, and human colonies attacked by the Covenant are littered with the wreckage of CPV-class heavy destroyers eliminated by the UNSC Navy during these enagements. Heavy destroyers were also assigned to combat human forces that a Supreme Commander considered beneath his notice.
Late in the Human-Covenant War, the crews of heavy destroyers had developed a kind of mercenary culture of their own, with many shipmasters offering their services to various ministries to secure artifacts and relics from conquered human worlds, working alongside or in opposition to artifact retrieval teams.[3] Heavy destroyers are sufficiently equipped to serve as occupation vessels during planetary assaults, in lieu of the more occupation-centered CCS-class battlecruiser and CAS-class assault carrier.[2] Although ships of the class were commonly employed in glassing operations using their ventral energy projectors, the CPV classification code lacks the S (for "Salvation") that generally indicates the presence of such a weapon.[4]
Specifications
Design details
The CPV-class heavy destroyer features a roughly teardrop-shaped fore section that droops downward, forming a bulbous protrusion; the dorsal surface of this section contains a recessed area. Near the aft end, the hull splits into six sleek, wing-like structures. The shortest pair face outward at a slightly upward angle, the mid-sized structures curve upward at an inward-facing angle, and the largest structures curve downward, also facing inward.
CPVs carry large complements for ground engagements, including numerous infantry and ground vehicles. They also carry a large number of aircraft, including Seraph exoatmospheric fighters and Banshee attack craft, and Vampire atmospheric fighters.[1] CPVs can also use their gravity lifts to help assemble prefabricated bases.[5]
Armament
The CPV-class destroyer is built for heavy combat. It is armed primarily with a ventrally mounted energy projector which is often used in glassing operations.[2][6][7][8] The ship sports at least eight plasma cannons: two of these weapons are mounted on the vessel's anterior,[2] two more are mounted on the inside of each ventral wing structure,[9] and at least two more are mounted laterally.[9] A number of pulse laser turrets are used to provide point defense.[2]
Operational history
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After the battlecruiser Rapid Conversion began destroying Harvest's population centers in February 2525, many CPV-class heavy destroyers were deployed to continue glassing the planet.[10][6] CPV-class heavy destroyers were deployed throughout the Harvest campaign, which lasted from 2526 to 2531. During the Covenant's counterattacks in the early years of the campaign, CPVs were used to glass areas that had been secured by the United Nations Space Command, eradicating most of the human presence on Harvest; this cycle continued until the planet's liberation in February 2531.[6]
Near the end of the Battle of Arcadia, several CPV-class destroyers arrived to do battle with the counterattacking UNSC forces, of which at least five were present. During this engagement, then-Captain Terrence Hood confronted at least one of these destroyers in a direct attack, and was ultimately forced to retreat after finding himself outgunned. Around this time, Template:UNSCship pursued a CPV to a mysterious planet, which was later revealed to be a Forerunner shield world.[11] One such vessel, possibly the one that Spirit of Fire pursued from Arcadia, was present at the shield world; there it engaged Spirit of Fire after a midair collision between the two ships. The destroyer dispatched several large boarding parties, supported by Banshees, Vampires, and plasma turret fire, in an effort to disable the human vessel, though the attack was repelled. UNSC Battle Group Sierra-3 were nearly destroyed by a CPV-class destroyer at the Battle of 18 Scorpii in 2543, but were saved by the sudden arrival of, and subsequent assistance by, a large independent fleet led by the heavily modified, formerly assumed-destroyed Insurrectionist frigate Bellicose. With the help of the Insurrectionist reinforcements, the UNSC battle group was able to destroy the opposing Covenant vessel.[12]
CPV-class heavy destroyers also appeared in large numbers during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV and the Fall of Reach in 2552.[13]
After the Human-Covenant War CPV-class heavy destroyers were used by both forces under the command of Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and Jiralhanae Chieftain Lydus during the Battle of Ealen IV.[14]
Ships of the line
Halo: Fleet Battles
Covenant CPV Heavy DestroyerThis element includes a single CPV-class heavy destroyer.
Covenant Supported CPV Heavy DestroyerThis element includes a CPV-class heavy destroyer and one SDV-class heavy corvette.
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Covenant Escorted CPV Heavy DestroyerThis element includes a CPV-class heavy destroyer and one ADP-class escort.
Covenant Defended CPV Heavy DestroyerThis element includes a CPV-class heavy destroyer and two ADP-class escort.
Special Rule: Penitents
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Gallery
- HW Genesis back cover.png
CPV-class heavy destroyers glassing Harvest in Halo Wars: Genesis.
Concept art of a CPV-class heavy destroyer in space for Halo Wars.
A group of CPV-class heavy destroyers glassing Harvest.
A CPV-class heavy destroyer collides with the UNSC Spirit of Fire, destroying a large portion of the latter vessel's port side.
A CPV-class heavy destroyer, flanked by several CCS-class battlecruisers, deploys invasion forces to the surface of a human colony in Halo Legends: Origins.
Several CPV-class heavy destroyers during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in Halo: Fall of Reach.
The UNSC Spirit of Fire pursues several CPVs present at the Battle of Arcadia in Halo: Escalation.
Terrence Hood, then-captain of the UNSC Roman Blue, ordering a retreat from a losing battle with the Radiant Perception.
CPV-class heavy destroyers in Halo: Fleet Battles.
- HM-Covenantfleet.png
A CPV-class heavy destroyer in Halo Mythos.
Profile of the CPV.
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List of appearances
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx (First appearance)
- Halo Wars: Genesis
- Halo Wars
- Halo Legends
- Halo: Evolutions
- Halo: Fall of Reach
- Halo: Escalation
- Halo 2: Anniversary (Poster only)
- Halo: Fleet Battles
- Halo Mythos
- Halo: Fractures
- Into the Fire (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Smoke and Shadow
- Halo: Envoy
Sources
- ^ a b Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedENC - ^ a b c d e f Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedEVG - ^ Halo Waypoint - Canon Fodder: Bulkhead Banter
- ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder: Have S'moa
- ^ Halo Wars
- ^ a b c Halo Wars, cutscene Five Long Years
- ^ Halo Wars: Genesis
- ^ Halo Legends, Origins
- ^ a b Halo Wars, campaign level Repairs, cutscene Freefall
- ^ Halo Wars: Genesis, back cover
- ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Anders' Signal, cutscene She Is Not My Girlfriend
- ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, page 472-473
- ^ Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant
- ^ Halo: Escalation #1
- ^ a b Transmissions