Editing Marathon-class heavy cruiser

{{Title|''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser}}

{{Ship class infobox

|name=''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser

|class=[[Cruiser]]<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/unsc-cruiser '''Halo Waypoint''': ''UNSC Cruiser'']</ref>

|role=*Attack and defense<ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 42''</ref>

|width={{Convert|293|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}<ref name="model">3D model data from ''[[Halo 2]]''</ref>

|height={{Convert|375|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|model}}

|power=

|engine=[[Fusion drive]]s<ref name="h2a">'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo]]''', ''page 33''</ref>

|slipspace drive=[[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]<ref name="tug">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', "[[Tug o' War]]", ''page 413'' (2010)</ref>

|navigation=

*Five [[fusion rocket]]s{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}}

|complement=*1,000 personnel{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}}

*[[Marines]]{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR23}}

|era=*[[Human-Covenant War]]

*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]

|affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]]

}}

These vessels were most often deployed in attack and defense roles, serving as the backbone of UNSC fleets, though they were also popular among high-ranking [[UNSC]] officers for use as [[Flagship|command ships]],{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} and were even deployed in rare instances in a [[Carrier|light carrier]] configuration.<ref name="fb125">'''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''', ''Core Rulebook - page 125''</ref> They were primarily used during the [[Human-Covenant War]], though their numbers were heavily diminished and only very few remain in service in the conflict's aftermath alongside their successor vessel, the [[Autumn-class heavy cruiser|''Autumn''-class heavy cruiser]].<ref name="H4VG">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''UNSC Cruiser, page 191''</ref>

===Superstructure and hull===

[[File:HFB-UNSCLeviathan.png|thumb|250px|left|The {{UNSCShip|Leviathan}}, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]]'s [[flagship]].]]

''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers feature a standard complement of one thousand personnel, and are typically commanded by a [[captain]] or [[Admiral|rear admiral]], often being reserved for [[admiral]]s to use as [[Flagship|command ships]] due to their characteristic durability and firepower.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} They are also known to have the capacity to carry [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] contingents as well as accompanying [[dropship]] transportation.{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR23}}

===Armaments===

''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers are mounted with two [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]s as their primary armament,{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} supplemented by a missile delivery system{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} with 1,800 [[Archer missile]]s and five [[fusion rocket]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} In addition, the ''Marathon''-class utilises a network of [[point-defense gun]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}  

[[File:Fifth Fleet - H2A.png|thumb|250px|left|Numerous ''Marathon''s hold position over Earth.]]

At least eight ''Marathon''-class cruisers (including {{UNSCShip|Canberra}}{{Ref/Reuse|h2a}} and [[UNSC Say My Name|''Say My Name'']],<ref name="waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/unsc-say-my-name/87da73b5-cede-44fd-906e-c3d1f57abf44 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''UNSC Say My Name''] (defunct, backup on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110424040357/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/unsc-say-my-name/87da73b5-cede-44fd-906e-c3d1f57abf44 Archive.org])</ref> assigned to the [[Fifth Fleet]], a part of the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]) were present at the onset of the [[Battle for Earth]]. Led by [[Joseph Harper|Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper]] aboard ''Canberra'' and supported by sixty-seven {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}s, these ships formed a defensive perimeter around the [[orbital defense platform]] cluster over the Mediterranean to prevent the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] from reaching Earth's surface.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station]]''</ref> [[Carl Patterson|Admiral Carl Patterson]]'s [[Battle Group Omicron]], drawn from the Home Fleet, contained one ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser that participated in the [[Onyx Conflict]], where she was destroyed with the rest of her [[battle group]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 292, 333''</ref> Several ''Marathon''-class cruisers of the Home Fleet were presumably destroyed over the course of the Battle for Earth, particularly after the final wave of Covenant reinforcements arrived.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Crow's Nest]]''</ref>

Most remaining ''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers were decommissioned after the {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}} was introduced, with only a handful staying in service.{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}} The ''Autumn'' class became slated to serve as the core of the reconstituted UNSC Navy's fleet, a role the ''Marathon'' class had previously fulfilled.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} A ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser served as the flagship of Admiral [[Graselyn Tuwa]] during [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE|an operation]] on [[Gao]] in [[2553]]. The presence of the cruiser prevented [[Arlo Casille|Minister of Protection Arlo Casille]] from taking naval action against the UNSC, realizing that the cruiser could easily decimate his entire fleet of [[patrol corvette]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo: Last Light]]''', ''page 71''</ref>

==''Halo: Fleet Battles''==

===UNSC ''Marathon'' Heavy Cruiser===

This element includes a single ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser.

===UNSC Supported ''Marathon'' Heavy Cruiser===

This element includes a ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser and one ''Paris''-class heavy frigate.

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===UNSC Reinforced ''Marathon'' Heavy Cruiser===

This element includes a ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser and two ''Paris''-class heavy frigates.

===UNSC Paired ''Marathon'' Heavy Cruisers===

This element features two ''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers.

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{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Marathon-class heavy cruisers}}

*Though in-universe the class is likely named for the [[Wikipedia:Battle of Marathon|Battle of Marathon]], in reality its name is a reference to [[Bungie]]'s ''[[Marathon]]'' trilogy and its eponymous ship, the [[marathongame:UESC Marathon|UESC ''Marathon'']].

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:H2A-MarathonHeavyCruiser-Engines.png|Detail of the rear engines of a ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser.

File:H2A-MarathonHeavyCruiser-Views.png|Comparison of the fore and aft of the ''Marathon''.

File:Marathon-render-SLoftus.png|The starboard profile of a ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser.

File:Say My Name dropbay open.png|The SOEIV drop bay aboard a ''Marathon''; the SOEIV deployment rings can be seen above.

File:H3ODST PreparetoDropCinematic.jpg|ODSTs gathered around a [[Holotank|holo-table]] inside a ''Marathon''-class cruiser.

File:HomeFleetH2A.png|The back of a ''Marathon''-class heavy cruiser.

File:H2A - Cruiser over Cairo.jpg|A ''Marathon'' glides past ''Cairo Station'', flanked by squads of Longswords.

File:H2A Cutscene EnergyProjectorPiercing.png|A ''Marathon'' hull being pierced by a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}'s energy projector.

</gallery>

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*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''

**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''

*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''

**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''

**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''

*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''

*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''

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