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Several ''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers served in [[Battle Group X-Ray]] under [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Vice Admiral Preston Cole]] during the [[Second Battle of Harvest]]. Throughout the early years of the [[Human-Covenant War]], Cole continued to command ''Marathon''s as part of his [[Third Fleet]]. Several ''Marathon''s from the fleet, including the {{UNSCship|Prophecy}}, participated in the [[Harvest Campaign]].<ref name="Genesis">''Halo Wars: Genesis''</ref><ref name="Timeline">''Halo wars'' in-game timeline</ref>
Several ''Marathon''-class heavy cruisers served in [[Battle Group X-Ray]] under [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Vice Admiral Preston Cole]] during the [[Second Battle of Harvest]]. Throughout the early years of the [[Human-Covenant War]], Cole continued to command ''Marathon''s as part of his [[Third Fleet]]. Several ''Marathon''s from the fleet, including the {{UNSCship|Prophecy}}, participated in the [[Harvest Campaign]].<ref name="Genesis">''Halo Wars: Genesis''</ref><ref name="Timeline">''Halo wars'' in-game timeline</ref>


As their numbers were diminished by the onslaught of the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], many ''Marathon''s were reassigned to the defense of the [[Inner Colonies]] during the later years of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="page162">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 162''</ref><ref group="note">According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', as of July 2552 the Leviathan was one of twenty ''Marathon''-class cruisers left in the Fleet, presumably referring to the entire Navy. Even if one assumes that this refers only to FLEETCOM Sector One, this number is clearly retconned in later media.</ref> ''Marathon''s were present at the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] in [[2552#July|July 2552]], including [[Vice Admiral]] [[Hieronymus Michael Stanforth]]'s flagship [[UNSC Leviathan|''Leviathan'']], which was severely damaged during the battle. Numerous ''Marathon''-class cruisers participated in the [[Fall of Reach]].
As their numbers were diminished by the onslaught of the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], many ''Marathon''s were reassigned to the defense of the [[Inner Colonies]] during the later years of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="page162">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 162''</ref><ref group="note">According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', as of July 2552 the Leviathan was one of twenty ''Marathon''-class cruisers left in the Fleet, presumably referring to the entire Navy. Even if one assumes that this refers only to FLEETCOM Sector One, this number is clearly retconned in later media.</ref> ''Marathon''s were present at the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] in [[2552#July|July 2552]], including [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]]'s flagship [[UNSC Leviathan|''Leviathan'']], which was severely damaged during the battle. Numerous ''Marathon''-class cruisers participated in the [[Fall of Reach]].


Eight ''Marathon''-class cruisers assigned to the [[UNSC Home Fleet]] were present at the onset of the [[Battle of Earth]]. Led by [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Harper]] and supported by sixty-seven frigates, these ships formed a defensive perimeter around the [[orbital defense platform]] cluster over the Mediterranean.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref> [[Carl Patterson|Admiral Carl Patterson's]] [[Patterson's battle group|battle group]], drawn from the Home Fleet, was led by the {{UNSCship|Stalingrad}} during the [[Battle of Onyx]]. It seems that most or all of the ''Marathon''-class cruisers in the Home Fleet were eventually destroyed, but it is unconfirmed. Hood was seen in atmosphere on Earth but it is noted only Frigates have the ability to sustain themselves in atmosphere where larger ships need booster rockets to assists them.<ref name="HF" group="note">As of November 17, 2552, [[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Hood]] appeared to have only three {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}s under his command and used [[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|''Forward Unto Dawn'']] as his flagship. If any larger ships were intact and accessible at the time, he presumably would have used one of those as his flagship instead. However, it is noted that Hood was in atmosphere during the specific cut-scene where UNSC Frigates fire their MACs. It could be possible Hood was simply on the Frigates, as they are the only UNSC warship capable of sustaining their own atmospheric flight - whereas the ''Marathon"'s could not without the assistance of booster rockets.</ref>
Eight ''Marathon''-class cruisers assigned to the [[UNSC Home Fleet]] were present at the onset of the [[Battle of Earth]]. Led by [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Harper]] and supported by sixty-seven frigates, these ships formed a defensive perimeter around the [[orbital defense platform]] cluster over the Mediterranean.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref> [[Carl Patterson|Admiral Carl Patterson's]] [[Patterson's battle group|battle group]], drawn from the Home Fleet, was led by the {{UNSCship|Stalingrad}} during the [[Battle of Onyx]].
 
As the battle for Earth went on and the final wave of Covenant reinforcements arrived, the already weakened Home Fleet was reduced to near-annihilation. With this, most, if not all, ''Marathon''-class cruisers in the fleet were supposedly destroyed.<ref name="HF" group="note">As of November 17, 2552, [[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Hood]] appeared to have only three {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}s under his command and used [[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|''Forward Unto Dawn'']] as his flagship. If any larger ships were intact and accessible at the time, he presumably would have used one of those as his flagship instead. However, since Hood is only shown to be aboard the ''Dawn'' during the events of the level ''The Storm'', it is possible that he wanted to lead the assault on the Forerunner Dreadnought personally. As ''Marathon''s can not withstand prolonged atmospheric flight, the particular scenario would require Hood to be aboard a frigate.</ref>


==Ships of the line==
==Ships of the line==
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*{{UNSCShip|Leviathan}} - Vice Admiral H. M. Stanforth's flagship. Severely damaged during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552.
*{{UNSCShip|Leviathan}} - Vice Admiral H. M. Stanforth's flagship. Severely damaged during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552.
*{{UNSCShip|Hannibal}} - Destroyed during the Fall of Reach on August 30, 2552.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 168''</ref>
*{{UNSCShip|Hannibal}} - Destroyed during the Fall of Reach on August 30, 2552.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 168''</ref>
*{{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} - Deployed ODSTs to board ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' during the [[Battle of Mombasa]] on October 20, 2552.<ref name="ODST"/> Presumably destroyed.<ref name="HF" group="note"/>
*{{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} - Deployed ODSTs to board ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' during the [[Battle of Mombasa]] on October 20, 2552.<ref name="ODST"/>


==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==

Revision as of 00:17, August 28, 2013

Template:Ship Class Infobox The Marathon-class heavy cruiser is a cruiser classification used by the UNSC Navy.[1] Built as a replacement for the aging Halcyon-class light cruiser, the Marathon class is 1192 meters in length,[2] making it one of the largest warships used by the UNSC. Due to their limited numbers, Marathon-class cruisers are typically commanded by officers of the Rear Admiral rate or higher and are commonly used as flagships.[2] The class is named for the historical Battle of Marathon.

Overview

Design

At 1192 meters long, Marathon-class heavy cruisers are approximately three times the length of a typical frigate. Marathons have 191cm-thick layers of Titanium-A armor, allowing them to sustain far greater damage than any frigate or destroyer. Marathon-class cruisers sport two Magnetic Accelerator Cannons and an unknown number of point defense guns.[2] In addition to their integrated armament, the cruisers have dozens of oversized M58 Archer missile pods containing dozens of missiles each, as well as five fusion rockets.[2]

Marathon-class vessels have a similar profile to their predecessors, the Halcyons, though their ventral surfaces are concave rather than flat. A large deployment bay containing Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicles, known by Orbital Drop Shock Troopers as "Hell's waiting room", is located amidships.[3] Marathons can carry two dozen GA-TL1 Longswords[2] in addition to numerous D77-TC Pelicans and other ground and air vehicles. Vessels of the class can also carry large Marine complements, likely of battalion strength.[note 1]

Service history

Several Marathon-class heavy cruisers served in Battle Group X-Ray under Vice Admiral Preston Cole during the Second Battle of Harvest. Throughout the early years of the Human-Covenant War, Cole continued to command Marathons as part of his Third Fleet. Several Marathons from the fleet, including the Template:UNSCship, participated in the Harvest Campaign.[4][5]

As their numbers were diminished by the onslaught of the Covenant, many Marathons were reassigned to the defense of the Inner Colonies during the later years of the Human-Covenant War.[6][note 2] Marathons were present at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552, including Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth's flagship Leviathan, which was severely damaged during the battle. Numerous Marathon-class cruisers participated in the Fall of Reach.

Eight Marathon-class cruisers assigned to the UNSC Home Fleet were present at the onset of the Battle of Earth. Led by Fleet Admiral Harper and supported by sixty-seven frigates, these ships formed a defensive perimeter around the orbital defense platform cluster over the Mediterranean.[7] Admiral Carl Patterson's battle group, drawn from the Home Fleet, was led by the Template:UNSCship during the Battle of Onyx.

As the battle for Earth went on and the final wave of Covenant reinforcements arrived, the already weakened Home Fleet was reduced to near-annihilation. With this, most, if not all, Marathon-class cruisers in the fleet were supposedly destroyed.[note 3]

Ships of the line

Behind the scenes

  • Though in-universe the class is named for the Battle of Marathon, in reality its name is a reference to Bungie's Marathon trilogy and its titular ship the UESC Marathon.
  • According to the Halo Encyclopedia, the Marathon class was introduced as a replacement for the aging Halcyon class. The Halcyon was designed in 2510 and likely did not enter service until years later. However, The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole depicts a ship called the Leviathan under the command of Admiral Stanforth in June 2503. One may infer that the Leviathan mentioned in the story was an early ship that served as the Marathon-class Leviathan's namesake. See here for more details.
  • The cruiser's dimensions are derived from the 3D model of the in-game ship.

Gallery

  • A Marathon-class heavy cruiser orbiting Earth.

    A Marathon-class heavy cruiser orbiting Earth.

  • The UNSC Leviathan.

    The UNSC Leviathan.

  • UNSC Prophecy.png

    The UNSC Prophecy.

  • Marathon-class heavy cruisers on a video display of the Home Fleet.

    Marathon-class heavy cruisers on a video display of the Home Fleet.

  • Outcome of Second Battle of Harvest.png

    Several Marathon-class heavy cruisers engaging a Covenant super-destroyer at the Second Battle of Harvest.

  • The starboard profile of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

    The starboard profile of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

  • The SOEIV drop bay aboard a Marathon; the SOEIV deployment rings can be seen above.

    The SOEIV drop bay aboard a Marathon; the SOEIV deployment rings can be seen above.

  • ODSTs gathered around a holo-table inside a Marathon-class cruiser.

    ODSTs gathered around a holo-table inside a Marathon-class cruiser.

  • A view of the UNSC Say My Name via a glitch.

    A view of the UNSC Say My Name via a glitch.

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

List of appearances

Notes

  1. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named complement
  2. ^ According to Halo: The Fall of Reach, as of July 2552 the Leviathan was one of twenty Marathon-class cruisers left in the Fleet, presumably referring to the entire Navy. Even if one assumes that this refers only to FLEETCOM Sector One, this number is clearly retconned in later media.
  3. ^ As of November 17, 2552, Fleet Admiral Hood appeared to have only three Charon-class light frigates under his command and used Forward Unto Dawn as his flagship. If any larger ships were intact and accessible at the time, he presumably would have used one of those as his flagship instead. However, since Hood is only shown to be aboard the Dawn during the events of the level The Storm, it is possible that he wanted to lead the assault on the Forerunner Dreadnought personally. As Marathons can not withstand prolonged atmospheric flight, the particular scenario would require Hood to be aboard a frigate.

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 42
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ENC
  3. ^ a b Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Prepare to Drop
  4. ^ a b Halo Wars: Genesis
  5. ^ a b Halo wars in-game timeline
  6. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 162
  7. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Cairo Station
  8. ^ Halo: First Strike (2010), Tug o' War
  9. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 168

Template:UNSC Ships

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