Halcyon-class light cruiser: Difference between revisions

|class identification = [[Hull classification symbol]]: '''C'''<ref name="HCESGuide">'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets]]''', Chapter ''The Pillar of Autumn'', ''page 60''</ref>

|class operator      = [[UNSC Navy]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Chapter=Human Spaceships, Cruisers|Page=119}}

|class architect      = [[Robert McLees (ship designer)|Dr. Robert McLees]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Chapter=UNSC Ships|Page=261}}

|width          = {{Convert|1155.73|ft|m|sp=us|sigfig=5|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|H1GameData}}<ref name= "data drop">[https://www.halopedia.org/File:DDR-A340024-1115-08-27-52.pdf '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Data Drop 5'']</ref>

The '''''Halcyon''-class light cruiser''',{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} known as the '''Human Attack Ship class C-II''' by the [[Covenant]],{{Ref/Book|Id=TF|TF|Chapter=Prologue}} is a [[United Nations Space Command]] cruiser starship classification designed by [[Robert McLees (ship designer)|Dr. Robert McLees]] before [[2507]], with a [[hull classification symbol]] of '''C'''. Originally designed for attack and defense role in mind,{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Chapter=Cruiser|Page=42}} they were also capable of being used as troop and supply transports.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}

Their service lives were short due to a unique hull design that was costly to construct and maintain with low maneuverability, poor armament, and concerns about their tactical viability. They were replaced by the {{Class|Marathon|cruiser}}. Despite the disadvantages of the original design, the heavily modified {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} proved to be one of the most effective, and costly, ships deployed in the war. After the Human-Covenant War, surviving ''Halcyon''-class hulls were recycled to form the basis of the {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser|heavy cruisers}}.

The most curious element of the ''Halcyon''-class was their unusual frame construction. Designed by [[Robert McLees (ship designer)|Doctor Robert McLees]], they made use of a series of internal cross bracings and [[Titanium-A armor|Titanium-A]]{{Ref/Reuse|FoRC29}} honeycombs. This feature gave the class a reputation for enduring serious punishment, despite their usage of older, heavier armor that provided less protection than modern standards. ''Halcyon''-class cruisers were known to remain operational despite suffering breaches to all compartments and losing 90% of their armor. However, such a scheme was costly and grossly overmassed compared to more conventional measures, which led to it being dropped after the first eleven cruisers.<ref name="FoRC25">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', Chapter 25</ref> Aiding in this, corridors aboard the ''Halcyon''-class possessed retractable containment bulkheads which could seal off breached or overrun sections of the ship.<ref name="maw">'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[The Maw]]''</ref> During emergencies, the environmental systems could vent each section to asphyxiate the occupants within.{{Ref/Book|Id=TFC1|TF|Chapter=1}} The ship was pocketed with numerous maintenance and service corridors that ran the length of the ship. If necessary, these expansive corridors, including a [[Class Seven service corridor]] running along the dorsal structure of the vessel, could permit passage to [[Warthog]]s and some sections were large enough to accept [[Pelican]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|maw}}

The ''Halcyon''-class was by far the most lightly-armed of the UNSC's cruiser classes, being armed with only one [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]], 1,800 [[Archer missile]]s, and four [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}

By far the most expansive and famous of these were the alterations the UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'' received as part of preparations for Operation: RED FLAG. Selected due to its possession of the honeycomb framing scheme, the refit took advantage of the need to replace its hull plating with reformulated [[Titanium-A armor]], which reduced its mass but also freed up internal volume. Much of this would be taken up by hangars and [[SOEIV]] launch bays, although the former required the removal of long-term accommodations.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Power was improved with an experimental reactor setup that could not only increase output by up to 300% for short periods of time, but made use of a very efficient laser-induced ion cooling system. Armament was finally expanded, with a MAC capable of firing three times on the same charge,{{Ref/Book|Id=FoRC29|FoR|Chapter=29}} 32 M58 Archer missile pods, 8 Mark 33 Spitfire naval coilgun batteries, and six M66 Sentry autocannons. 18 M910 Rampart point defense guns with overlapping fields of fire provided the final layer of protection against missiles and incoming munitions.{{Ref/Book|Id=WFPoA|WF|Chapter=Human, Pillar of Autumn|Page=24-25}}

At just over 1.17 kilometers in length, the ''Halcyon''s were the lightest of vessels to be designated and structured as cruisers. Compared to later capital ships, the original ''Halcyon''s were sorely underpowered and undergunned: their Mark II fusion engines provided but a tenth of the output of modern reactors and their armament consisted of a mere six [[Archer missile]] pods and a single [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] gun. According to the AI [[Cortana]], these ships were considered subpar within the [[UNSC fleet]] by 2552.{{Ref/Reuse|FoRC25}} Many of these cruisers were retired and placed into long-term storage near [[Europa]] after only a few years of service.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

When the [[Human-Covenant War]] erupted in [[2525]] a number of ''Halcyon'' cruisers were reactivated from storage and refitted. With the right upgrades, a ''Halcyon''-class cruiser could be a formidable foe. During the [[Battle for Arcadia]] in [[2531]], the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} teamed up with three other ships to destroy [[CCS-U321|a]] {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}, suffering heavy damage but remaining combat ready enough to provide ground support for the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}. Later, during the [[Fall of Reach]], the upgraded ''Pillar of Autumn'' was able to inflict damage far beyond its tonnage, engaging and destroying [[Covenant frigate]]s, a {{Pattern|Ruma|light carrier}} and a [[Kewu-pattern battleship|powerful warship]] of unspecified class. Later, in orbit above the Forerunner construct known as [[Installation 04|Halo]], the ''Autumn'' destroyed four additional ''Ket''-pattern battlecruisers under the guidance of the AI Cortana. While much of this success was due to the tactical genius of Captain Jacob Keyes and his crew, the upgraded ''Autumn'' was highly resilient and capable of unleashing tremendous artillery barrages.  

The ship's main Magnetic Accelerator Cannon was enhanced to fire in three-round bursts. While each individual round was weakened, this firing pattern typically ensured at least one projectile would penetrate a Covenant vessel's shields. Damaged, the targeted ship could then be overwhelmed with Archer missiles, nuclear weaponry, or further bombardment once the ''Autumn'' recharged its main batteries. Unfortunately, the ship and nearly all of its original crew were destroyed in an attempt to prevent the firing of the Halo ring, and to prevent the release of the parasitic life-form known as the [[Flood]]. The detonation of the ''Autumn's'' fusion reactors destroyed not only the ring, but the majority of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice|Covenant fleet]] which had pursued it from Reach.

The {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}}, commissioned into service following the end of the Human-Covenant War, is based upon the ''Halcyon''-class cruiser ''Pillar of Autumn'' in both superficial design and name.<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'''</ref>