Wik-pattern light destroyer

The RPV-class light destroyer is one of several destroyer class warships in service with the Covenant Navy.

Overview
The Covenant RPV-class light destroyer are usually sent in advance of an invasion and are used for escort on reconnaissance mission. They are smaller, but generally carry the same armament as the larger CPV-class heavy destroyer.

Operational history
In July of 2552, a RPV-class destroyer along with two frigates and a carrier arrived at the Sigma Octanus IV. in the brief skirmish that followed, Captain Jacob Keyes commanding officer aboard the UNSC Destroyer Iroquois was able to overcome the small enemy fleet with a new stratagy that resulted in the destruction of two enemy frigates and the RPV-class destroyer.

Design
RPV-class destroyers follow the typical architecture of a Covenant ship — a sleek amphibious design with sweeping contours and perfect symmetry, with bulbous protrusions.

Armament
The RPV destroyer is built for heavy combat. It is armed with ventrally mounted pulse laser turrets, which can provide point defense, particularly against single ships. The destroyer is also equipped with several laterally mounted plasma torpedo turrets, two of which are mounted on the inside of each wing structure. It is also armed with a single ventral energy projector, or "cleansing beam", for use in low-altitude glassing.