| Resembling a luminous manta ray,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 205''</ref> the ''CRS'' is essentially a smaller, weaker version of the {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}.<ref name="EVG"/> The two classes are virtually identical in outward appearance apart from being built on different scales.<ref group="note">While the majority of the Covenant cruisers seen in ''Halo 4'' closely resemble the ''CCS'' class, they are considerably smaller. This is clearly evident from their appearance in the level ''[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]'', where even the roughly 250 meter-long aft section of the frigate ''Forward Unto Dawn'' is noticeably larger; however, the ''Dawn'' is greatly oversized for the sake of gameplay. The size difference is also conspicuous in the [[S1/Departure|first episode]] of ''[[Spartan Ops]]'', in which the UNSC ''Infinity'' rams a large Covenant cruiser while many far smaller cruisers are seen nearby; this size disparity is later shown in the [[S1/Exodus|last episode]], when several of the smaller cruisers escort one of the larger vessels to one of Requiem's exit portals. Since the ''Essential Visual Guide'' describes the ''CRS'' class as being essentially a smaller version of the ''CCS'' class, and given its size in comparison with the smaller cruisers in ''Halo 4'', one can surmise that the cruisers seen predominantly in ''Halo 4'' belong to the ''CRS'' class. However, the ''Halo 4 Essential Visual Guide'' reveals that the cruiser ''Infinity'' rams into is in fact an RCS-class cruiser, which is larger than the CCS class. This would explain the apparent discrepancy.</ref> As one notable difference, the CRS-class bears green-glowing lights, as opposed to the white-blue lighting on the CCS-class; however, this may be due to the post-Schism Covenant's overall preference for green lights on most of their equipment.<ref group="note">In the multiplayer map ''[[Landfall]]'', set during the [[Battle of Tribute]] in 2552, CRS-class cruisers are depicted with green lighting, suggesting that this may be standard for ships of this class as opposed to a postwar adjustment to fit the new Covenant's aesthetic style. However, given that there are a number of chronological discrepancies in War Games maps, specifically relating to the use of post-war designs over Covenant War-era ones, it is not certain if the ships in the background of ''Landfall'' are entirely representative of the appearance of the CRS-class during the war.</ref> This is akin to the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} and the {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}, which are likewise identical despite the latter being over five times larger than the former. | | Resembling a luminous manta ray,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 205''</ref> the ''CRS'' is essentially a smaller, weaker version of the {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}.<ref name="EVG"/> The two classes are virtually identical in outward appearance apart from being built on different scales. As one notable difference, the CRS-class bears green-glowing lights, as opposed to the white-blue lighting on the CCS-class; however, this may be due to the post-Schism Covenant's overall preference for green lights on most of their equipment.<ref group="note">In the multiplayer map ''[[Landfall]]'', set during the [[Battle of Tribute]] in 2552, CRS-class cruisers are depicted with green lighting, suggesting that this may be standard for ships of this class as opposed to a postwar adjustment to fit the new Covenant's aesthetic style. However, given that there are a number of chronological discrepancies in War Games maps, specifically relating to the use of post-war designs over Covenant War-era ones, it is not certain if the ships in the background of ''Landfall'' are entirely representative of the appearance of the CRS-class during the war.</ref> This is akin to the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} and the {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}, which are likewise identical despite the latter being over five times larger than the former. |
