Covenant cruisers are a classification of Covenant starships that span numerous sizes, shapes, and functions.[1] They are ubiquitous and possess weapon capabilities that can bring extinction or submission.[2] Typically, Covenant cruisers are mid-sized vessels capable of conducting independent naval operations.[3]
Overview
Cruisers were the most prominent vessels used by the Covenant during an invasion.[1] Since the beginning of Covenant history, cruisers served as the empire's primary mode of galactic transportation and method of enforcing the authority of the Hierarchs. The Covenant manufactured cruisers in vast quantities, easily surpassing the numbers of any other known Covenant starship class. The role of a Covenant cruiser can be for attack, interdiction, occupation, patrol, surveying or command.[4]
Design details
Each cruiser class has specific shapes and functions, but they often share an overall similar design. The different classes also have similar equipment and armament, such as energy shields, ventral cleansing beams, anterior plasma cannons and point laser defense.[1]
Like most starships of the Covenant, cruisers follow a typical structural design—a smooth hull with wide, extensive contours and near-perfect symmetry. The design of a cruiser is reminiscent of large marine animals that are native to the colonies of the Sangheili. Two to four hangar bays are found on the undercarriage of each cruiser, aft of a large gravity lift that can be detached and lowered onto a world's surface. A vertical gravity beam can then be generated for the transportation of infantry, supplies, and other assets. Modular bays scattered around a cruiser can be configured as engineering, medical, armory, barracks, or religious facilities. All of these facilities are interconnected by a network of narrow corridors and lifts.[4]
The command deck is located within the center of each cruiser. This deck is a large room with a centralized bridge platform occupied by only the highest-ranking officers aboard the vessel.[4]
Classes
There are many cruiser classes used by the Covenant, each with different roles. All classes are identified according to the standard Covenant starship classification code.[5] Four primary classes of the Covenant cruiser existed: CRS, CCS, RCS and ORS. Though there are other kinds of cruisers, their differences are minimal and they easily fall within one of the main classes.[1]
| Class | Image | Length | Tonnage | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zanar-pattern light cruiser |  |
300 meters (984.3 ft)[2][1] | 190,000 tonnes[2] | Smaller than the average Covenant cruiser, but it still performs well during attack and interference operations.[1] Light cruisers are prominently used by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. |
| Ket-pattern battlecruiser |  |
1,782 meters (5,846 ft)[2][1] | 90.7 million tonnes[2] | Easily the most prominent warship used by the Covenant during the Human-Covenant War. It performs exceptionally during the invasion and occupation of a world.[1] The class was ideal during ship-to-ship engagements and during vehicle and infantry ground deployments.[4] |
| Elefen-pattern battlecruiser | One of the mainstay battlecruiser designs employed by the Covenant, alongside Ket-pattern. | |||
| Maugen-pattern armored cruiser |  |
2,000 meters (6,562 ft)[2][1] | 122 million tonnes[2] | A class of cruiser mainly used for patrol and planetary occupation.[1] Developed when energy shielding technology was more limited, the class was not as heavily armed or robust as the CCS class.[4] |
| Varric-pattern heavy cruiser |  |
3,000 meters (9,843 ft)[2][1] | 200 million tonnes[2] | Significantly larger than most Covenant cruisers and is used for planetary occupation and naval command.[1] The heavy cruiser is often used as a support for Covenant flagships.[6] |
Unidentified
An unidentified cruiser was crewed more than 10,000 Covenant troops and contains 3 Banshee squadrons and dozens of Wraiths. One such vessel was deployed over Longhorn Valley during the Fall of Reach following the decimation of the Epsilon Eridani Fleet.[7]
Known vessels
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Gallery
A Halo 4 concept art for Jul 'Mdama's Covenant fleet of numerous Covenant cruisers and assault carriers, including Song of Retribution.
List of appearances
Sources
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 41
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 264-265
- ^ Twitter, Halo (@Halo): "Covenant cruisers are midsize capital ships capable of conducting independent naval operations. #FictionFriday" (Retrieved on Mar 27, 2021) [archive]
- ^ a b c d e Halo Waypoint, Covenant Cruiser (Retrieved on Oct 28, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Have S'moa (Retrieved on Mar 16, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 277
- ^ Halo: First Strike
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