Kerel-pattern assault carrier

"Look at the size of that thing!"

- Edward Buck after an assault carrier arrives over New Mombasa.

The CAS-class assault carrier is a large capital ship used by the Covenant. The CAS is designed for ship-to-ship combat, command and control of fleet operations, and close atmospheric support for ground occupation forces. Such vessels are typically deployed during invasions of worlds with high strategic value.

Superstructure and hull
The CAS-class has a length of 5347 m, a beam of 2118 m, and a height of 746 m. This makes it the second largest ship of the line the Covenant navy employed throughout the Human-Covenant War. Although the CAS-class carrier's keel length is inferior, its width and mass are more than twice as large as even the UNSC's prototype flagship, the largest vessel in human history.

The class' hull is comprised of nanolaminate plating; however, its greatest assets are its energy shields, which are amongst the strongest in the Covenant fleet. During the opening hours of the Battle for Earth, the Prophet of Regret's flagship Solemn Penance was able to penetrate Earth's orbital defense grid in spite of Cairo Station focusing fire on it. Furthermore, Rtas 'Vadum employed the tactic of ramming s during the Battle of Installation 00 with no visible damage being inflicted upon his flagship. A further testament to this vessel's survivability is that it was selected by the Covenant alongside the much larger to serve as the Hierarchs' personal flagships when they were not aboard the also heavily shielded High Charity. Like most Covenant vessels, the command deck of the CAS is buried deep within the vessel's deck, allowing it to function even with the vessel taking tremendous damage.

Assault carriers can also carry large nature preserves on board. An example of this is the Solemn Penance which had a large nature preserve like those found on the s.

Assault carriers, like the majority of Covenant ships, are characterized by their bulbous, whale-like front, sleek silhouette and pale white-blue hull. However, they also tend to be characterized by their unique swollen and bulbous "hooked" bow section that is frequently characterized to be similar to the head of a whale and would (theoretically) be a massive weakness as the ship could be blown in half comparatively easily, given its shields were down. Rather than possessing multiple smaller hangar bays, like smaller cruisers, assault carriers use a single, gargantuan hangar bay for storage of fighters, dropships, boarding craft and small capital ships, at least 500 meters long, 320 meters wide and 120 meters high. There is a second hangar bay visible, near the stern of the carrier, above the main engines.

The assault carrier is also fitted with Modular Dispersal Technology, giving it the ability to completely detach sections of its outer hull as well as whole corridors, as seen during Operation: WARM BLANKET. They can also separate into two distinct sections which leaves the rear section (with the main engines) behind and allows the fore-section to move away with previously hidden engines, the fore section, and likely the rear, are still slipspace-capable. Unlike its unorthodox means of use by the Fleetmaster in an attempt to disperse the advancing SPARTAN forces, the dispersal feature is actually intended to be used in order to detach sections of the carrier that sustained extensive damage in order to increase the chances of saving what is left of the ship and its crew for future use.

The "S", or Salvation, in the carrier's three-letter classification code, "CAS", indicates that the CAS-class assault carrier is a dedicated warship.

Propulsion
For propulsion, assault carriers rely on large deuterium-tritium pinch fusion reactors, housed in cavernous chambers, which power the ship's vital systems, as well as the three aft-mounted repulsor engines that propel the ship, capable of operating in a vacuum or in an atmospheric environment. They also employ non-reactive gravity drives for standard maneuvering and hovering above the surface of a planet, resisting its gravity.

The vessel is propelled by three massive engine units, and possess, like all Covenant vessels, the ability to make pinpoint slipspace jumps in atmosphere. As shown in the Battle of Earth, such slipspace jumps cause massive discharges of EMP, rivaling those set off by nuclear devices.

Crew and complement
The CAS-class' exact crew size and complement are unknown, however its size and combat records suggest a crew of thousands. The ship's living quarters which consisted of habitat domes, hunting grounds, and places of repose for the ship's permanent crew, is located in the lower bow section behind the energy projector. A single CAS-class assault carrier is capable of deploying a military force sizable enough to secure an entire 26th century city. The class' cavernous main hangar has the capacity of carrying hundreds of Seraph multirole fighters, Banshee attack craft, and  dropships, and boarding craft.

Supplementing their considerable infantry detachments, each assault carrier holds large fleets of Ghosts and Wraiths, along with a number of Scarabs. In November 2552, the UNSC frigate docked inside the launch bay of Shadow of Intent, an assault carrier, demonstrating the immense size of the class. The class is also fitted with Covenant escape pods.

Assault carriers are often used as flagships, leading Covenant fleets into battle. Though designed for planetary combat, they also excel at ship-to-ship combat, possessing multiple pulse laser batteries, plasma turrets, and at least three energy projectors. Along with the larger CSO-class supercarrier, the CAS is designated a "Class-Five flagship carrier" by the UNSC due to its common use at the center of fleets.

Given the similar design and purpose of the CAS to the CSO-class supercarrier it is possible that light cruisers may even be capable of using the CAS as a refueling depot in the absence of repair and resupply stations like Unyielding Hierophant. Like many vessels in the Covenant fleet the vessel was capable of rapidly deploying Covenant soldiers to the front with the use of orbital insertion pods. Like most Covenant ships, they also possess gravity lifts, used for ferrying supplies, personnel, and vehicles from the ship and to a planet's surface.

Armament
As some of the largest ships in the Covenant fleet, the CAS-class are favored as flagships by both Sangheili commanders and Prophet Hierarchs. As well as their exemplary shielding the vessel is also presumably amongst the most heavily armed in the Covenant. Assault carriers possess multiple energy projectors on its ventral and dorsal surfaces which are powerful enough to cut through UNSC capital ships. They also possess multiple pulse laser turrets, which are used for intercepting enemy missiles and fighters, and plasma torpedoes for engaging in ship-to-ship combat and assaulting planetary defenses. There is also some variety within the assault carrier class; individual assault carriers sometimes possess differing capabilities in terms of defenses and armament.

Throughout the war the CAS proved to be superior to human vessels in both durability and firepower, with the vessel being capable of easily destroying the much vaunted with a single blast of its dorsal energy projector.

Operational history
The CAS-class assault carrier had entered production at least by circa 2135. The Battle of Bliss saw the first known deployment of the CAS-class assault carrier during the Human-Covenant War. Five of these vessels alongside the smaller but more numerous s and s attacked and glassed the world. Subsequently, the assault carrier Pious Rampage was the flagship of the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience which glassed at least seven human worlds. The Pious Rampage was one of the few vessels to survive the Attack on Zhoist which decimated the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience. Over the next two decades of conflict the assault carrier would grow to be known as one of the most fearful inspiring vessels in the Covenant armada.

Following the destruction of the Long Night of Solace at least three such vessels led the Covenant reinforcement fleet sent by the Ministry of Resolution to assault the planet Reach. During the ensuing Fall of Reach these vessels alongside many others and hundreds of other warships that arrived later at the end of the campaign led by the Seeker of Truth of the Fleet of Particular Justice would lead to the destruction of humanity's largest and most well defended colony. At least one assault carrier was present at the Battle of Tribute.

Months later two such vessels led the Fleet of Sacred Consecration to Earth, where they engaged the UNSC Home Fleet, including the Fifth Fleet, in orbit above Africa. The first one, carrying the Prophet of Regret himself, managed to penetrate Earth's orbital defenses. The second, Day of Jubilation, attempted to follow, but was subsequently destroyed by SPARTAN John-117 with one of the Covenant's own bombs. After the Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 disabled a, the Prophet of Regret's assault carrier Solemn Penance fled to slipspace, as the UNSC forces were likely to recapture the city of New Mombasa with the and four other ships following close behind in its slipspace wake, leading human forces to Installation 05.

During the deep and bloody siege of Earth that was still continuing, numerous assault carriers were assigned within multiple Covenant reinforcement fleets to complete the destruction of humanity's last and most important and defended stronghold. Near the end of the Battle of Mombasa, at least three assault carriers that were part of a large Jiralhanae excavation fleet sent by the Prophet of Truth joined the remaining battlecruisers of the Fleet of Sacred Consecration in finishing the glassing of Mombasa and excavating the Portal at Voi. One, having exited slipspace nearby to begin glassing operations, nearly killed Alpha-Nine as they escaped in a hijacked Phantom. Near the end of the Battle for Earth, at least a few of survived carriers retreated with Truth's ship and his fleet through the portal to the Ark.

The assault carrier Shadow of Intent later became the flagship of the Fleet of Retribution, which also includes another assault carrier. The Special Operations Commander and Fleetmaster Rtas 'Vadum, in command of the ship, led his fleet to Earth in pursuit of a surviving Flood ship, arriving in time to glass the infected area of the planet. Shadow of Intent and its escorting cruisers joined the remnants of the UNSC Home Fleet's Seventh Fleet to launch a joint attack on the Covenant at Installation 00, destroying their fleet and providing a distraction while ground forces engaged Truth's loyalists that had landed on the installation. It later evacuated the UNSC and Sangheili personnel and returned to Earth for a short time before returning to Sanghelios. The Shadow of Intent later became embroiled in a conflict with Tem'Bhetek's faction which was seeking revenge against the Sangheili. After defeating the faction, Rtas decided to seek out the surviving San'Shyuum.

By 2554, Jul 'Mdama, a shipmaster and Supreme Leader of his self-proclaimed Covenant commanded the assault carrier Song of Retribution during his attempts to enter the Forerunner shield world Requiem. Three years later, the Song of Retribution led a fleet of numerous s. After rebelling against Jul, Sali 'Nyon stole away the assault carrier Breath of Annihilation from him.

Numerous assault carriers were present at the peace talks on Ealen IV under the command of the Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam, and the Elder Jiralhanae Chieftain, Lydus. Many assault carriers were also used under the command of Vata 'Gajat during the battle that ensued in an attempt to capture the delegates.

Around May 6, 2553, Atriox, leader of the Banished, was able to sway the assault carrier Enduring Conviction, commanded by Shipmaster Let 'Volir, to his side with the vessel becoming his flagship. Enduring Conviction transported the Banished to the Ark in the wake of the beginning of the Created conflict. During the Second Ark Conflict, after forces from the killed his second-in-command Decimus, Atriox had the assault carrier directly attack the Spirit of Fire with the old  proving to be no match for the assault carrier. In response, smart AI Isabel devised a plan to destroy the assault carrier using the Ark's own defenses. After Isabel boarded the ship alongside Spartan-II Jerome-092, she fired Enduring Conviction's ventral energy projector at the Ark's surface, prompting the Ark's Sentinel defenses to assault Enduring Conviction, ultimately cutting it in half and destroying the assault carrier. The ship's destruction left the Banished without both their greatest asset and the only ship they had capable of slipspace travel, stranding the Banished upon the Ark.

Kerel-pattern

 * Breath of Annihilation – A carrier serving within Sali 'Nyon's Covenant.
 * Seeker of Truth – The flagship of the Fleet of Particular Justice.
 * Shadow of Intent – The flagship of the Fleet of Retribution.
 * Song of Retribution – The personal flagship of Supreme Leader Jul 'Mdama.

Syfon-pattern

 * Day of Jubilation – A carrier of the Fleet of Sacred Consecration, destroyed over Earth in 2552.
 * Enduring Conviction – The flagship of the Banished, destroyed over Installation 00 by Aggressor Sentinels.
 * Solemn Penance – The personal flagship of the Prophet of Regret.

Unnamed pattern (Halo: Reach)

 * Purveyor of Virtue - Employed by an unspecified remnant faction.

Unknown pattern
The following CAS have no confirmation on what pattern they are:
 * Clarity of Faith – A carrier serving under the Ministry of Fortitude.
 * Eternal Reward – Destroyed at Installation 05 during the Great Schism.
 * Pious Rampage - The flagship of the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience.
 * Resplendent Fervor – The flagship of the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence.

CAS-class Assault Carrier

 * Cost: 750 Points
 * Movement: 5"

Fore Section

 * Damage Track: 10 • 8 • 7
 * Build rating: 5
 * Hangars: 3
 * Boarding Craft: 3
 * Security Detail: 6
 * System Loadouts:
 * Glide (3")
 * Labyrinthine
 * point Defense (7)
 * Defense Array (8)
 * Primary Weapon: Plasma Lance
 * Range: 20/40"
 * Weapon Loadouts: Plasma
 * Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
 * Dice: 20
 * Alternative Primary Weapon: Plasma Beam
 * Range: 20/-"
 * Weapon Loadouts: Beam/Plasma
 * Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard
 * Dice: 15/15/15
 * Secondary Weapon: Plasma Torpedoes
 * Range: 12/24"
 * Weapon loadouts: Missiles/Plasma
 * Firing arc: Forward
 * Dice: 10

Mid Section

 * Damage Track: 11 • 10 • 5
 * Build rating: 6
 * Hangars: 10
 * Boarding Craft: 5
 * Security Detail: 8
 * System Loadouts:
 * Carrier Action (3)
 * Glide (3")
 * Labyrinthine
 * point Defense (8)
 * Defense Array (9)
 * Primary Weapon: Plasma cannon Arrays
 * Range: 10/20"
 * Weapon Loadouts: Plasma
 * Firing arc: Port & Starboard
 * Dice: 15
 * Secondary Weapon: Plasma Torpedoes
 * Range: 12/24"
 * Weapon Loadouts: Missiles/Plasma
 * Firing arc: Port+Starboard
 * Dice: 16

Aft Section

 * Damage Track: 10 • 8 • 7
 * Build rating: 5
 * Hangars: 2
 * Boarding Craft: 2
 * Security Detail: 6
 * System Loadouts:
 * Glide (3")
 * Labyrinthine
 * point Defense (7)
 * Defense Array (8)
 * Primary Weapon: Plasma Cannon Arrays
 * Range: 10/20"
 * Weapon Loadouts: Plasma
 * Firing arc: aft
 * Dice: 15
 * Secondary Weapon: Plasma Torpedoes
 * Range: 12/24"
 * Weapon loadouts: Missiles/Plasma
 * Firing arc: Aft
 * Dice: 16

Covenant Assault carrier (CAS) Special Rules

 * Cathedral of the Faithful:
 * Each Section on a CAS can replace ONE of its listed boarding Craft with a Zealot for NO POINTS! This bonus is in addition to the standard number of Zealots available to a Fleet.
 * Seraph Hosts:
 * All Seraph Interceptor Wings launched by a CAS increase their maximum size to 6 rather than the normal 5.
 * Limited Resources:
 * All CAS-class Assault carrier exist as individual Battle Groups and are not required to follow the standard rules for Battle group creation. Whilst they are not specialist Battle Groups, they are restricted by the size of Fleet they are attached to. A single CAS-class Assault Carrier can be included in a fleet for every FULL 1250 Points being played.

Trivia

 * An early draft of Halo 2 was intended to feature a level tentatively called Covenant ship, in which John-117 would board an assault carrier and destroy it from within.
 * In the modern US Navy, the term "assault carrier" refers to the Amphibious Assault Ship, which is used to transport troops over water and offload them via hovercraft or helicopter.

List of appearances

 * Halo 2
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo: Uprising
 * Halo 3
 * Halo Wars: Genesis
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Palace Hotel
 * The Return
 * The Mona Lisa
 * Halo: Blood Line
 * Halo Legends
 * Origins
 * The Package
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo 4
 * Terminals
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Terminals
 * Halo: New Blood
 * Hunt the Truth
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo: Fleet Battles
 * Halo: Shadow of Intent
 * Know Your Enemy
 * Halo Mythos
 * Halo Wars 2
 * Halo: Silent Storm
 * Halo: Lone Wolf
 * Halo: Oblivion
 * Halo: Shadows of Reach
 * Halo: Divine Wind
 * Halo Infinite
 * Halo: The Television Series
 * Contact
 * Unbound