There is more information available on this subject at Cruiser on the English Wikipedia.

The cruiser is a type of heavily-armed and armored warship designed with an emphasis on weaponry and armor over fighter complements.

Summary

Even though both UNSC and Covenant fleets possess warships of such classifications, the tactical philosophies of the two navies are different. The Covenant, while possessing many different cruiser classifications, use assault carriers as the powerhouses of their fleets. The UNSC, on the other hand, use cruisers as their heaviest warships, designed to engage and destroy enemy warships that may otherwise threaten a fleet's carrier force. Cruisers served as the backbone of human fleets. However, it should be noted that Covenant cruisers were considerably longer than their UNSC counterparts.

Types

Human

Prehistoric human

• Prime cruiser - A type of large warship used by Ancient humanity during the Human-Forerunner wars.

UNSC

• Halcyon-class light cruiser - The smallest vessels to be designated a cruiser by the UNSC.

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  The UNSC Pillar of Autumn, a heavily modified Halcyon-class cruiser.

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  The UNSC Toulouse, an unmodified Halcyon-class cruiser.

• Marathon-class heavy cruiser - A larger cruiser designed to replace the Halcyon-class. Rarely deployed in a light carrier configuration.

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  A Marathon-class cruiser

• Autumn-class heavy cruiser - Designed to be a successor to the Halcyon-class.

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  The UNSC Euclid's Anvil, an Autumn-class cruiser.

• Valiant-class super-heavy cruiser - One of the most powerful vessel in the UNSC Navy, primarily used in fleet command and coordination.

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  A Valiant-class cruiser

Covenant

Main article: Covenant cruiser

• CRS-class light cruiser - While classified as a cruiser by the UNSC despite the ship's small size, the role of the CRS in the Covenant is closer to to that of a Police cutter . However, following the Great Schism, they began to see frontline use.

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  A CRS-class light cruiser

• CCS-class battlecruiser - An intermediary warship. It is frequently used, surpassing all other Covenant vessels numerically.

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  A CCS-class battlecruiser

• RCS-class armored cruiser - An older cruiser. It pales in comparison to the smaller, newer CCS-class.

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  An RCS-class cruiser

• ORS-class heavy cruiser - Used for planetary occupation, command and supporting flagships.

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  An ORS-class cruiser

Forerunner

• Forerunner cruiser - A type of vessel used in the Ecumene's fleets that defended Maethrillian.
• Forerunner picket cruiser - A type of cruiser used by the Forerunners.

Related vehicles

Covenant

• DAS-class storm cutter - A type of small vessel, described as a cruiser.

Sangheili

• Carrack - Described as a "merchant cruiser", the Carrack was used to ferry troops and materiel.

List of appearances

Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance) Halo: Combat Evolved Halo: The Flood Halo: First Strike Halo 2 Halo Graphic Novel Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa Halo: Ghosts of Onyx Halo: Landfall Arms Race Halo: Uprising Halo 3 Halo: Contact Harvest Halo: The Cole Protocol Halo Wars: Genesis Halo Wars Halo 3: ODST Halo Legends Origins The Package

Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole Halo: Reach Halo: Fall of Reach Boot Camp Covenant Invasion Halo: Glasslands Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Halo: The Thursday War Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Halo 4 Terminals Spartan Ops Halo: Spartan Assault Halo: Escalation Halo: Mortal Dictata Halo 2: Anniversary Halo: Fleet Battles Halo 5: Guardians