Editing Wik-pattern light destroyer

{{Title|''Wik''-pattern light destroyer}}

{{Status|Canon}}

|name=''Wik''-pattern light destroyer

|length={{Convert|1500|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=48}}{{Ref/Site|Id=universe|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/covenant-destroyer|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Covenant Destroyer|D=30|M=06|Y=2022}}

|armament=

*1 [[Excavation beam|''Infernus''-pattern superheavy excavation beam]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

*2 [[Plasma beam emitter|''Aljordan''-pattern plasma beam emitters]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

*24 [[Plasma cannon (starship)|''Melusean''-pattern heavy plasma cannons]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

*6 [[Plasma torpedo|''Jaet''-pattern plasma torpedo silos]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

*40 [[Plasma bombardment mortar|''Carnax Et''-pattern plasma bombardment mortars]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

*20 [[Pulse laser turret|''Gon''-pattern pulse lasers]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

The '''''Wik''-pattern light destroyer'''{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=266}} {{3Letter|RPV|light destroyer}} is one of several [[Covenant destroyer|destroyer]]-class [[warship]]s in service with the now-defunct [[Covenant fleet]]. Such vessels are usually sent in advance of invasions and are used for escort on reconnaissance missions. Heavily armed, vessels of the ''RPV'' class are effective in ship-to-ship [[Space warfare|engagements]] and are tasked with pursing fleeing ships.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} They are also used as [[fleet]] escorts, protecting larger, more important ships from attack.<ref name="TFoR2">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 145'', ''page 170'' (2010 edition)</ref>

==Overview==

The ''RPV''-class destroyer features a sleek, amphibious design with sweeping contours and perfect symmetry. It possesses three bulbous protrusions, similar to those of larger Covenant ships, giving the impression of similar lethality.<ref name="Enc">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 270''</ref><ref name="TFoR">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 151-152'', ''page 177'' (2010 edition)</ref> The ''RPV'' is capable of carrying a great number of ground forces, [[dropship]]s, and support craft, as well as several [[Type-31 Seraph|Type-31 Seraph fighters]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} The "R", or Reverence, in the destroyer's three-letter classification code, "RPV", denotes that the destroyer is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions and is capable of excavating [[Forerunner]] artifacts.<ref name="canon fodder2">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder: Have S'moa'']</ref>

The vessel's primary weapon is a single ventral [[Excavation beam|cleansing beam]], which is capable of devastating even large human vessels.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc}} It is also armed with several ventrally mounted [[pulse laser turret]]s, which can be used to provide pinpoint firepower and can destroy inbound missiles. Two [[plasma torpedo]] turrets are mounted at the fore of the vessel.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

On [[2552#July|July 17, 2552]], an ''RPV''-class light destroyer, along with two [[Covenant frigate|frigates]] and a [[Covenant carrier|carrier]], arrived at [[Sigma Octanus IV]].{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} In the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|brief skirmish]] that followed, [[Commander]] [[Jacob Keyes]], the commanding officer of the [[Halberd-class light destroyer|UNSC destroyer]] [[UNSC Iroquois|''Iroquois'']], overcame the small enemy task force with an [[Keyes Loop|inventive tactic]]: ultimately, he tricked the Covenant vessels into firing on themselves. The destroyer and the frigates were both destroyed and the carrier was forced to retreat.{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} Several ''RPV''-class destroyers were used during the [[Great Schism]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 195''</ref>

In [[2558#September|September 2558]], four light destroyers were a part of [[Thars 'Sarov's faction]] at the opening of the [[Carrow Conflict]]. However, the ships of [[Rojka 'Kasaan's faction]] managed to destroy them along with two {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}}s and a [[Covenant frigate]] before the intervention of a [[Jiralhanae]] faction led by [[Hekabe]] turned the tide of the battle against them.<ref>'''[[Halo: Envoy]]''', ''Chapter 1''</ref>