Paris-class heavy frigate

The Paris-class heavy frigate is a type of fleet escort ship in service with the UNSC Navy. The Paris class saw extensive use by the Epsilon Eridani Fleet during the invasion of Reach in August 2552. The class was manufactured by SinoViet Heavy Machinery on Reach.

Design details
Though its primary hangar bay is smaller than that of the, the Paris class is more heavily armed and armored than smaller frigates types. Heavy frigates are capable of atmospheric maneuvering and are occasionally used by the UNSC for ground-support operations. The Paris class is very fast and maneuverable in space, allowing it to engage hostile vessels while avoiding high volumes of fire from largely superior Covenant plasma weaponry.

Armament
Paris-class frigates are more heavily armed than most UNSC frigates. Like all frigates in service with the UNSC, the Paris class's primary armament is a single Magnetic Accelerator Cannon. The frigate is also armed with fifty Archer missile pods. Paris-class frigates have twelve point defense guns located across the hull. Its additional firepower means that it can easily handle Covenant fighter craft and can hold its own against small Covenant warships, as shown when the heavy frigate engaged the much larger Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer during the Fall of Reach.

Service history
Prior to the Insurrection of the late 25th century, the concept of a heavy frigate was considered a gross misuse of the UNSC's funding. In the years following the coup d'etat on Eridanus II and the rebels' capture of the, there was much more support for a shake-up of the UNSC's relatively lax and ill-defended fleet. These upgrades would take effect during the disastrous Operation: TREBUCHET. Several Paris-class heavy frigates saw action during the Fall of Reach. After the Human-Covenant war, multiple Paris-class vessels continued to be used with multiple serving as escorts for the.

Ships of the line

 * - Lead ship of the class, participated in the Battle of Earth.
 * - Participated in the Battle of Chi Ceti IV, decommissioned by 2552 on Reach.
 * - Heavily damaged during the Fall of Reach, salvaged and returned to Earth.
 * (FFG-318) - Participated and destroyed in the Fall of Reach.
 * - Participated in the Fall of Reach.
 * (FFG-371) - Participated and destroyed in the Fall of Reach.

Trivia

 * The class' name could be a reference to the city of Paris, the capital of France. Alternatively, it could be named in reference to Paris, a major figure of the Trojan War.
 * The design of the Paris class was closely adapted from concept art for the for Halo 3. Whereas the s seen in Halo 3 differ from the initial design in a variety of ways, including a bulkier hangar bay, the Paris-class heavy frigates are virtually identical to the Andraste.
 * During the development of Halo: Reach, the UNSC frigates featured in the game were known as the Stalwart class. Halo: The Essential Visual Guide reveals that the type featured in Halo: Reach is the Paris-class heavy frigate, while the Stalwart class' name was repurposed for the frigates that appear in Halo 2. The class was also known as the Stalwart during the production of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo: Reach
 * The Commissioning
 * Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo 2 Anniversary
 * Terminals
 * Halo: Fleet Battles