Space warfare: Difference between revisions

===Defenses===

UNSC warships use various forms of [[Titanium-A armor]] (an enhanced form of [[titanium]]) as their exterior battleplate.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 315''</ref> Covenant vessels are covered in [[nanolaminate hull plating]], which is significantly stronger and more resilient.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'']</ref> Most Covenant ships are further protected by [[energy shielding]], which has seen limited adoption among UNSC Navy warships—including the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} and the {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s—in the post-war era.<ref name="evg strident"/> Both sides also make use of point defense weapons, designed to target and destroy singleships and missiles. UNSC ships use a number of different magnetic-accelerator [[Point-defense gun|point defense systems]], while Covenant point defense is usually performed by more advanced [[pulse laser turret]]s.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 315 (2011)''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 127''</ref> UNSC point defense, among other tasks, is usually handled by onboard ship [[Artificial intelligence|AIs]], capable of performing threat assessment and target designation faster than humans can react. The Covenant have been slower to adopt AIs, due to the example of [[Mendicant Bias]]'s role in the defeat of the Forerunners by the Flood.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 188''</ref> Despite this, the Covenant had installed their own versions aboard [[Truth and Reconciliation's AI|some]] [[Ascendant Justice's AI|warships]] and the space station [[Unyielding Hierophant]] by 2552, though they were of inferior quality to both Forerunner or UNSC AI constructs.<ref>''Halo: 'Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''Terminal 3''</ref><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 76''</ref><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 196''</ref>

===Ship classes===

====[[Warships]]====

Most space warfare is conducted by warships, supported by resupply ships, fighters and dropships, and space stations that serve as static defenses around planetary orbit. The UNSC Navy designate their ships along similar lines to planetary-based navies. [[UNSC corvette]]s are generally the fastest warship classification,<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 63-64''</ref> too small to carry craft larger than an [[SKT-13 Shuttlecraft]], used by the UNSC Navy and colonial system defense forces.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 60''</ref> [[UNSC frigate|Frigate]]s and [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]]s are larger combat warships equipped with heavier armaments, used for fleet escort and recon, and tend to make up the bulk of the UNSC fleets because they are cheaper to build, faster to replace, and can cover a greater volume of space than larger ships. Frigates tend to be faster and more evasive,<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''campaign level [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> while destroyers feature thicker armor and heavier armaments.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 139''</ref> Larger [[capital ship]]s are build for dedicated ship-to-ship combat. [[Cruiser]]s tend to form the cores of UNSC fleets, serving as fleet command and control ships in the absence of larger carriers.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/unsc-cruiser '''Halo Waypoint''': ''UNSC Cruiser'']</ref> [[UNSC carrier|Carriers]] are large but lightly armed warships that transport and deploy large numbers of fighters and dropships in support of both space combat and planetary assaults.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 249 (2009)''</ref> After the Human-Covenant War the UNSC operated at least one [[battleship]] class.<ref>'''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 5.14.14''</ref>