Epoch-class heavy carrier
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| Epoch-class heavy carrier | |
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2,563 meters (8,410 ft)[3] |
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1,300 sailors[1] |
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The Epoch-class heavy carrier (hull classification symbol: CV) is a warship class in service with the UNSC Navy.[1]
Overview[edit]
The heaviest variety of carrier in service behind only the immense supercarriers, the Epoch class' tonnage exceeds that of both the Poseidon and the Orion classes.[Note 1] Often forming the core of most UNSC fleets, the heavy carrier is capable of taking extreme damage in combat.[3] It is one of the most lauded designs in SinoViet Heavy Machinery's fleet.[4]
Design details[edit]
Measuring 2,563 metres at its longest point, the Epoch continues the traditional carrier design with large slanted wings that run across the ship's length. It is roughly divided into three parts, making it reminiscent of the Phoenix-class colony ship; however, as a military warship, it has been contracted and has the slab-sided, industrial feel of the UNSC. It has an open ventral hangar in the front, capable of holding a large complement of fighters and ground troops.
Armament[edit]
The Epoch's primary armament lies is its 56A2F9 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, a rapid-fire variant of the MAC normally mounted on Stalwart-class frigates. The Epoch often lent its firepower in coordinated volleys, despite the 56A2F9's intended use as a purely defensive weapon. The MAC is supplemented by two Mark 15 Breakwater naval coilguns on the prow. To defend against fighters and smaller attack ships that usually break through its escorting battle group, the ship possesses twelve M66 Sentry autocannons and M870 Rampart point defense guns, although these are ineffective against larger Covenant warships. Supplementing the Ramparts are twenty M810 Helix point defense guns. Seventy M58 Archer missile pods are fitted onto the hull for attacking strikecraft and larger ships, while a further twenty pods of Bident missiles are mounted on the wings. Although normally intended for use against other starships, the standard nuclear-pumped X-ray laser warhead can be replaced with kinetic rod bundles or fusion warheads ideal for surface bombardment.[1][4]
Crew and Complement[edit]
All Epoch-class heavy carriers have an embarked complement of both aerospace and ground units, which are crucial to their operation in UNSC battle groups. Eight hundred UNSC Marines - a full battalion - are designed to be accommodated on these capital ships. Twelve hangars are also fitted, each of which holds three Pelican dropships and two space fighters. Spacecraft which are too large to be stored in these, such as the C709 Longsword, can dock to the ship using a series of clamps and access umbilicals. An Epoch-class heavy carrier is capable of projecting UNSC naval power by dominating a planet's orbit, and then deploy its strike fighters and troop transports to high-value areas on the surface.[1][4]
1,300 naval personnel are needed to effectively man an Epoch-class carrier. Like all UNSC carriers, their flight crews are made up of a combination of UNSC Navy and Marine Corps servicemen, which are administratively divided into 'blue' and 'green' sides, respectively. While working within the hangar and supporting flight operations, they wear colored jerseys to distinguish their occupation. For example, red is for ordnance handlers, white is for safety personnel, and green is for technicians.[1]
Service history[edit]
The Epoch-class entered service in the UNSC Navy in 2475, prior to the outbreak of the Insurrection. It served as a lynchpin of the Navy's expeditionary forces throughout the conflict and well into the Human-Covenant War.[4] One Epoch-class heavy carrier helped defend Alpha Corvi II from the Covenant on December 2525.[5] A ship of the line was assigned to Battlegroup Leviathan at some point during the Human-Covenant War.[6]
The Epoch-class continued to see frontline service in the postwar years. One such surviving example, the UNSC Ozymandias engaged a large force of Banished ships above Mars in the Sol system in August 2557. Under the command of Captain Abigail Cole, the Ozymandias staged a major holding action above the planet, destroying several Banished warships before eventually being disabled by the numerically superior force. The crew were ultimately forced to abandon ship, with Captain Cole remaining at her post long enough to destroy a Banished dreadnought before the vessel succumbed to the damage it had sustained. The Ozymandias ultimately fell out of orbit and crash-landed upon Mars' surface.
Ships of the line[edit]
- UNSC Atlas - Conducted a funeral for the deceased participants of the augmentation procedures on the SPARTAN-IIs.
- UNSC Epoch – Lead ship of the class[7]
- UNSC Lyonesse - a carrier that served in the UNSC.
- UNSC Ozymandias - Destroyed by Banished forces in the 2557 Battle of Mars.
Halo: Fleet Battles[edit]
UNSC Epoch Heavy Carrier[edit]This element includes a single Epoch-class heavy carrier.
UNSC Supported Epoch Heavy Carrier[edit]This element includes an Epoch-class heavy carrier and one Paris-class heavy frigate.
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UNSC Defended Epoch Heavy Carrier[edit]This element includes an Epoch-class heavy carrier and two Halberd-class destroyers.
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