Valiant-class super-heavy cruiser: Difference between revisions

|role=[[Fleet]] command and control<ref name="universe"/>

|width={{Convert|373|m|ft|sigfig=3|sp=us}}<ref name="EVG"/>

|engine=[[Fusion drive]]s<ref name="canon fodder"/>

*[[Archer missile]] pods<ref name="armory"/>

*[[M810 Helix point defense gun]]s<ref name="armory"/>

*{{Class|Shiva|nuclear missile}}s<ref name="armory"/>

|era=*[[Insurrection]]<ref name="canon fodder"/>

*[[Human-Covenant War]]<ref name="canon fodder"/>

|introduced=[[2493]]<ref name="canon fodder"/>

|affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]]<ref name="canon fodder"/>

The '''''Valiant''-class super-heavy cruiser''' is a [[capital ship|capital warship]] classification in the [[UNSC Navy]].<ref name="c462">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 462-463''</ref> Among the most powerful vessels in the [[UNSC fleet]], one of their primary uses is fleet command and coordination.<ref name="universe"/>

Despite its designation as a cruiser, the ''Valiant'' also bears similarities to a [[battleship]].<ref name="spartan games">[http://shop.spartangames.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HFUN08 '''Spartan Games''': ''UNSC Valiant-Class Super Heavy Cruiser'']</ref> The ''Valiant'' class features [[fusion drive]]s that were considered next generation at the time of the class' inception, though there were delays in incorporating them.<ref name="canon fodder"/> As one of the most powerful [[warship]]s in the [[UNSC Navy]], these cruisers are capable of holding their own against most opponents.<ref name="spartan games"/> The ''Valiant'' class has the tonnage and firepower to augment [[battle group]]s composed of smaller warships on patrols, as well as the space to install flag [[bridge]] facilities to be commanded by [[admiral]]s.<ref name="canon fodder"/> These flag bridges can be enormous, with two dozen bridge stations used not only to control the ship and its systems, but also to coordinate the activities of the entire battle group. They also have large view screens that stretch from the floor to the ceiling.<ref name="c462"/> However, due to resource and crew shortages during the [[Insurrection]] and [[Human-Covenant War]], plans to give all ''Valiant''-class cruisers a complete suite of command upgrades were abandoned.<ref name="canon fodder"/>

The ''Valiant''-class super-heavy cruiser was originally drafted by the [[UNSC Navy]] as a compromise between a [[battleship]] and [[Cruiser|heavy cruiser]].<ref name="canon fodder"/><ref name="spartan games"/> However, the class went through years of feasibility studies and redesigns before {{UNSCShip|Valiant}} was commissioned and released from her [[Mars|Martian]] shipyard in [[2493]]. Though the ''Valiant'' showed promise during initial testing and evaluation, the high costs and delays in incorporating next-generation [[fusion drive]]s seemingly doomed further manufacturing of the class. Less than two years later, all commissioned ships of the ''Valiant'' class were stricken from the UNSC Navy rolls and partially scrapped. However, the escalating [[Insurrection]] ultimately prevented the ''Valiant'' class from being a mere footnote in Navy history when it was discovered that the [[Colonial Military Administration]] had been infiltrated by [[Insurrectionist]] sympathizers in [[2497]]. Converted into fleet command ships, the ''Valiant'' class was deployed in expeditionary engagements in the Insurrection, using its tonnage and firepower to augment Navy battle groups.<ref name="canon fodder"/>

[[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] commanded the ''Valiant''-class super-heavy cruiser {{UNSCShip|Everest}} as his [[flagship]], beginning with the [[Battle of Harvest|Battle]] of [[Harvest]] in [[2526]]. Over the course of the [[Human-Covenant War]], most notably prior to his last stand at the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]] in [[2543]], Cole made several modifications to the ship's armament and armor.<ref name="armory"/> UNSC ''Valiant'' was later attached to the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] by the beginning of the [[Fall of Reach]] in [[2552#July|summer 2552]].

*{{UNSCShip|Valiant}} – The lead ship of the class; commissioned in [[2493]].<ref name="canon fodder"/>