Zanar-pattern light cruiser: Difference between revisions

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"/> While the two classes are virtually identical in outward appearance, one can distinguish them by the spikes protruding aft of the ''CCS''-class' bow.<ref group="note">While the majority of the Covenant cruisers seen in ''Halo 4'' closely resemble the ''CCS'' class in design, they are much 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 [[Charon-class light frigate]] {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} is noticeably larger. 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 (evidently of the ''CCS'' class) while many of the smaller cruisers are seen nearby. Since the ''Essential Visual Guide'' describes the ''CRS'' class as being essentially a smaller version of the ''CCS'' class, and its given size coincides with the smaller cruisers in ''Halo 4'', one can surmise that the cruisers seen in ''Halo 4'' belong to the ''CRS'' class.</ref>

Several ''CRS''-class cruisers were used over [[Reach]] during the Covenant's [[Fall of Reach|invasion of the planet]] in [[2552]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 167'' -- ''"Two exceptions to this patrol pattern were a pair of light cruisers hovering over Menachite Mountain"''</ref> In the wake of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the ''CRS'' class forms the backbone of the [[Covenant remnant|modern Covenant's]] fleet, which deployed numerous ''CRS''-class cruisers to [[Requiem]] during the [[Requiem campaign]].<ref name="H4">'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref> After finding the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, one approached the ship with its shields down, not expecting a threat, in order to deploy [[boarding]] parties. However, [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] destroyed it with one of the ''Forward Unto Dawn's'' [[M4093 Hyperion nuclear delivery system|''Hyperion'' nuclear missiles]]. Several were also destroyed when the [[gravity well]] of Requiem pulled them in.<ref name="Dawn">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]''</ref> More ''CRS''-class cruisers were used to deploy troops within Requiem's core.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]''</ref> Numerous light cruisers were later sent to attack the {{UNSCship|Infinity}} after it crashed into Requiem, but at least two were disabled by the ''Infinity'''s defenses.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]''</ref>

File:H4 campaign dawn.jpeg|''CRS''-class light cruisers swarm the remains of the UNSC ''Forward Unto Dawn''.

File:H4 SO S01E10 Palmer watching Covenant fleet.jpg|CRS-class light cruisers escorting an [[CCS-class battlecruiser]].