Marathon-class heavy cruiser

Marathon-class heavy cruiser
Production information
Class:	Cruiser
Role:	Attack and defense Transportation Command Light Carrier
Technical specifications
Length:	1,192 meters (3,910 ft)
Width:	293 meters (960 ft)
Height:	375 meters (1,230 ft)
Engine(s):	Fusion drives
Slipspace drive:	Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine
Hull:	191 cm of Titanium-A battle plate
Armament:	Two Magnetic Accelerator Cannons 1,800 Archer missiles Five fusion rockets Point Defense Network
Complement:	1,000 personnel Marines Orbital Drop Shock Troopers 24 GA-TL1 Longswords Dropships SOEIV drop pods
Chronological and affiliation
Era:	Human-Covenant War Post-Covenant War conflicts
Affiliation:	UNSC Navy

The Marathon-class heavy cruiser (hull classification symbol: CA) is a classification of cruiser in service with the UNSC Navy. Built as a replacement for the Halcyon-class light cruiser, the Marathon-class is nearly 1.2 kilometers long, heavily armored, and equipped with two Magnetic Accelerator Cannons and an impressive arsenal of missiles.

These vessels were most often deployed in attack and defense roles, serving as the backbone of UNSC fleets, though they were also popular among high-ranking UNSC officers for use as command ships, and were even deployed in rare instances in a light carrier configuration. They were primarily used during the Human-Covenant War, though their numbers were heavily diminished and only very few remain in service in the conflict's aftermath alongside their successor vessel, the Autumn-class heavy cruiser.

Specifications

Superstructure and hull

The UNSC Leviathan, Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth's flagship.

At 1,192 meters (3,910 ft) long, Marathon-class heavy cruisers are more than twice the length of a typical frigate. Despite their size, Marathon-class cruisers are dwarfed by most Covenant cruiser classes. As the successor to the Halcyon-class cruiser, these vessels have a similar profile, with a forward 'head' and large engine segment protected by armor cowlings, yet are not not identical and feature a streamlined inwards-slanted underside. The class also sports a thick 191-centimeter hull of Titanium-A armor, enabling it to withstand substantial amounts of fire even from plasma weaponry. By 2552 the Marathon was considered to be one of the more powerful warships ever built by humanity, outclassing its predecessor in virtually every respect.

Like all warships of the UNSC Navy, Marathon-class heavy cruisers have a degree of operational flexibility that is achieved through the use of modular mission packages and reconfigurable hangar bays. Though a rare configuration, these cruisers could be modified and equipped to function as a light carrier, sacrificing missile pods and all of its cargo bays for additional hangar capacity.

Crew and complement

Marathon-class heavy cruisers feature a standard complement of one thousand personnel, and are typically commanded by a captain or rear admiral, often being reserved for admirals to use as command ships due to their characteristic durability and firepower. They are also known to have the capacity to carry Marine contingents as well as accompanying dropship transportation.

Cruisers of the Marathon class are fitted with at least two hangar bays. A large deployment bay containing numerous Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicles, referred to by Orbital Drop Shock Troopers as "Hell's waiting room", is located amidships. Space aboard a Marathon is optimized to maximize the amount of heavy weapons and armor equipped on each ship, preventing the cruisers from carrying more space fighters; despite this, Marathons can carry two dozen GA-TL1 Longswords.

Armaments

Marathon-class heavy cruisers are mounted with two Magnetic Accelerator Cannons as their primary armament, supplemented by a missile delivery system with 1,800 Archer missiles and five fusion rockets. In addition, the Marathon-class utilises a network of point-defense guns.

Operational history

File:Outcome of Second Battle of Harvest.png

Several Marathon-class heavy cruisers engaging the Covenant super-destroyer at Harvest.

The Marathon-class heavy cruiser was commissioned and built as a replacement for the Halcyon-class light cruiser, a smaller and more lightly armed cruiser which suffered from excessive production costs and a lack of tactical viability. After a brief era of service, most ships of the Halcyon-class were decommissioned, which led to the Marathon-class rising to prominence. By 2525, the Marathon-class was the most popular line of cruiser in service with the Navy. Several Marathon-class heavy cruisers served in Battle Group X-Ray under Vice Admiral Preston Cole during the Battle of Harvest. Throughout the early years of the Human-Covenant War, Marathons continued to serve in Cole's Third Fleet. Several Marathons from the fleet, including UNSC Prophecy, participated in the Harvest campaign. At least one Marathon-class heavy cruiser, UNSC Dresden, participated in the Battle of Biko, where it was destroyed by the Covenant.

Numerous Marathons hold position over Earth.

As their numbers were diminished by the onslaught of the Covenant, many Marathons were reassigned to the defense of the Inner Colonies and Earth during the later years of the Human-Covenant War. Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth's flagship Leviathan of the Battle Group Leviathan was present at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552 and was severely damaged during the battle. Numerous Marathon-class heavy cruisers participated in the Fall of Reach, many of which were destroyed, including Leviathan.

At least eight Marathon-class cruisers (including UNSC Canberra and Say My Name, assigned to the Fifth Fleet, a part of the UNSC Home Fleet) were present at the onset of the Battle for Earth. Led by Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper aboard Canberra and supported by sixty-seven Stalwart-class light frigates, these ships formed a defensive perimeter around the orbital defense platform cluster over the Mediterranean to prevent the Fleet of Sacred Consecration from reaching Earth's surface. Admiral Carl Patterson's Battle Group Omicron, drawn from the Home Fleet, contained one Marathon-class heavy cruiser that participated in the Onyx Conflict, where she was destroyed with the rest of her battle group. Several Marathon-class cruisers of the Home Fleet were presumably destroyed over the course of the Battle for Earth, particularly after the final wave of Covenant reinforcements arrived.

Most remaining Marathon-class heavy cruisers were decommissioned after the Autumn-class heavy cruiser was introduced, with only a handful staying in service. The Autumn class became slated to serve as the core of the reconstituted UNSC Navy's fleet, a role the Marathon class had previously fulfilled. A Marathon-class heavy cruiser served as the flagship of Admiral Graselyn Tuwa during an operation on Gao in 2553. The presence of the cruiser prevented Minister of Protection Arlo Casille from taking naval action against the UNSC, realizing that the cruiser could easily decimate his entire fleet of patrol corvettes.

Ships of the line

• UNSC Canberra – Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper's flagship; led the Fifth Fleet against the Covenant during the Battle for Earth on October 20, 2552.
• UNSC Dresden – Equipped with a saddle box drive. Destroyed during the Battle of Biko in 2526.
• UNSC Feeling Lucky – Part of the Fifth Fleet; destroyed during the Battle of Earth on October 20, 2552.
• UNSC Hannibal – Destroyed during the Fall of Reach.
• UNSC Leviathan – Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth's flagship. Severely damaged during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552 and destroyed during the Fall of Reach.
• UNSC Marathon – The lead ship of the class.
• UNSC Prophecy – Destroyed during the Harvest campaign in February 2531.
• UNSC Say My Name – Deployed ODSTs to board Solemn Penance as part of Operation: BUMRUSH during the Battle of Mombasa on October 20, 2552.

Halo: Fleet Battles

UNSC Marathon Heavy Cruiser This element includes a single Marathon-class heavy cruiser. Cost: 95 points Movement: 8" Damage Track: 6 • 6 • 3 Build rating: 2 Hangars: 2 Boarding Craft: 2 Security detail: 3 System loadouts: Hard Burn (2") Missile barrage Point defense (4) Titanium armor (3) Primary weapon: Heavy MAC Range: 16/32" Weapon loadouts: MAC (2) Firing arc: Forward Dice: 8 Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries Range: 12/24" Weapon loadouts: Missiles Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard Dice: 7 UNSC Supported Marathon Heavy Cruiser This element includes a Marathon-class heavy cruiser and one Paris-class heavy frigate. Cost: 110 points Movement: 8" Damage Track: 7 • 6 • 3 Build rating: 3 Hangars: 2 Boarding Craft: 2 Security detail: 4 System loadouts: Hard Burn (2") Missile barrage Point defense (4) Titanium armor (4) Primary weapon: Heavy MAC Range: 16/32" Weapon loadouts: MAC (2) Firing arc: Forward Dice: 10 Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries Range: 12/24" Weapon loadouts: Missiles Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard Dice: 8

UNSC Reinforced Marathon Heavy Cruiser This element includes a Marathon-class heavy cruiser and two Paris-class heavy frigates. Cost: 120 points Movement: 8" Damage Track: 8 • 7 • 4 Build rating: 4 Hangars: 2 Boarding Craft: 2 Security detail: 4 System loadouts: Hard Burn (2") Missile barrage Point defense (5) Titanium armor (5) Primary weapon: Heavy MAC Range: 16/32" Weapon loadouts: MAC (3) Firing arc: Forward Dice: 12 Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries Range: 12/24" Weapon loadouts: Missiles Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard Dice: 10 UNSC Paired Marathon Heavy Cruisers This element features two Marathon-class heavy cruisers. Cost: 220 points Movement: 8" Damage Track: 10 • 10 • 5 Build rating: 6 Hangars: 4 Boarding Craft: 4 Security detail: 6 System loadouts: Hard Burn (2") Missile barrage Point defense (8) Titanium armor (6) Primary weapon: Heavy MAC Range: 16/32" Weapon loadouts: MAC (4) Firing arc: Forward Dice: 18 Secondary Weapon: Missile batteries Range: 12/24" Weapon loadouts: Missiles Firing arc: Forward or Port+Starboard Dice: 14

Trivia

Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

• Though in-universe the class is likely named for the Battle of Marathon, in reality its name is a reference to Bungie's Marathon trilogy and its eponymous ship, the UESC Marathon.
• The Marathon class is featured in Halo: Fleet Battles; although the Halcyon-class light cruiser was originally intended to appear instead, it was decided that the latter's appearance would not be canonically possible. The design for the Marathon class in the game was noted to have been difficult to sculpt, although the models created by Blur Studio for Halo 2: Anniversary aided in the process.

Gallery

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  Detail of the rear engines of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

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  Comparison of the fore and aft of the Marathon.

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  A Marathon-class heavy cruiser orbiting Earth.

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  Marathon-class heavy cruisers on a video display of the Home Fleet.

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  The starboard profile of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

• UNSC Prophecy.png

  UNSC Prophecy.

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  The SOEIV drop bay aboard a Marathon; the SOEIV deployment rings can be seen above.

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  ODSTs gathered around a holo-table inside a Marathon-class cruiser.

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  UNSC Leviathan.

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  A Marathon class is destroyed in the Halo: The Master Chief Collection announcement trailer.

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  The back of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

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  A Marathon glides past Cairo Station, flanked by squads of Longswords.

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  A Marathon hull being pierced by a CAS-class assault carrier's energy projector.

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  The Marathon's scale compared to that of the Epoch class and the Paris class.

• HFB-Marathonduo.png

  Marathon-class heavy cruisers in Halo: Fleet Battles.

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  Profile of a Marathon in Halo Mythos.

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  Halo Wars 3 pitch artwork depicting a Marathon facing down a CAS-class carrier.

List of appearances

Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance) Halo: First Strike Tug o' War Halo 2 Halo Graphic Novel Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa Halo: Ghosts of Onyx Halo: Landfall Arms Race Halo Wars: Genesis Halo Wars (Mentioned only)

Halo 3: ODST Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole Halo: Fall of Reach Boot Camp Covenant Invasion Halo: Escalation Halo 2: Anniversary Terminals Halo: Fleet Battles Halo: Last Light Halo Mythos