Autumn-class heavy cruiser: Difference between revisions

The '''''Autumn''-class heavy cruiser''' is a class of [[capital ship]] in service with the [[UNSC Navy]],<ref name="VIS"/> given the [[hull classification symbol]] '''CA'''. Manufactured by [[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]],<ref name="wf"/> these [[Cruiser|heavy cruisers]] mostly fulfill attack or command roles within the [[fleet]], though some also provide escort support when needed.<ref name="VIS"/> Commissioned following the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]] to form the core of the reconstituted UNSC Navy’s [[battle group]]s,<ref name="universe"/> the ''Autumn'' class was designed to be the successor for the [[Marathon-class heavy cruiser|''Marathon'' class]] and the [[Halcyon-class light cruiser|''Halcyon'' class]], as most cruisers of those classes were destroyed or decommissioned in the war.<ref name="VIS"/>

The name behind the ''Autumn'' class is derived from the colloquialism for that of its [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn II|lead ship]], which in turn is named for the legendary ''Halcyon'' class {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}.<ref name="loftus">[[Stephen Loftus]] on [[Talk:Autumn-class heavy cruiser|this article's talk page]]</ref> Adapting the improvements and modifications made to ''Pillar of Autumn'' for [[Operation: RED FLAG]] in [[2552]], the ''Autumn''-class heavy cruiser represents a considerable leap forward in [[human]] [[warship]] design, a testament to the [[UNSC]]'s modern technological prowess.<ref name="en voyage"/>

As the first ships of the class were built on the recycled hulls of {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}s, the hull of the ''Autumn'' class superficially resembles the preceding hulls of the ''Halcyon'' class.<ref name="wf"/> Additionally, a number of improvements and modifications tested on the ''Halcyon'' class {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} for [[Operation: RED FLAG]] were incorporated into the ''Autumn'' class by [[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]] as a starting point.<ref name="en voyage"/>

The ''Autumn''-class heavy cruiser is a well-rounded [[capital ship]], striking a balance between mobility, armor, firepower, crew requirements, and ease of manufacturing. Much of the resiliency these cruisers' display comes from the installation of thick plates of [[Titanium-A armor]]. When the cruisers come under fire from [[plasma]] weaponry, the Titanium slabs boil off, sparing the internal structure, weapons, and crew from critical damage until it is eroded away. The ''Autumn'' class is built with distinctive armor cowlings protecting the cruiser's powerful [[fusion drive]]s, inspired from costly lessons learned by the [[UNSC Navy]] during the [[Insurrection]].<ref name="wf"/> Naval architects at SinoViet have implemented shield-reinforced armor to this cruiser class.<ref name="en voyage"/> A novel variation of electromagnetic armor, the [[energy shielding]] of the ''Autumn'' class incorporates a distributed array of small shield generators, which are both cheaper and easier to produce than the more advanced shielding technologies implemented on [[Covenant]] [[warship]]s. When the outer Titanium hull is damaged, sensors within the armor trigger the nearest shield generator, creating an intense, transient energy shield effect localized solely on the point of impact.<ref name="wf"/>

The ''Autumn'' class also features an advanced and extensive long-range sensory arsenal. Though most tactical systems utilized by the cruisers are similar to those installed on ships constructed in the late-[[Human-Covenant War|Covenant War]], the ''Autumn'' class features reverse-engineered Covenant [[hyperscanner]] detectors, combined with state-of-the-art naval [[UNSC battle network|battle network]] relays located on its dorsal superstructure. Planetary survey sensors and probe launchers, mounted at the front of the ship, deploy microsatellite constellations and drones in support of orbital and ground operations.<ref name="wf"/>

Crewed by a total of eight hundred sailors, the ''Autumn'' class requires a crew size smaller than average for ships of its size. In addition, the cruiser maintains a complement of only forty-five [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] and two hundred-and-twenty [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]. Nicknamed "Hell's Waiting Room", there are six [[drop pod]] bays with the ''Autumn'' class. The cruiser has cramped accommodations for an ODST [[company]] and their gear. As much as 216 [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle]] and cargo drop pods can be deployed simultaneously from the bay racks after the armored doors are opened. These cruisers have [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]-standard [[airlock]] and cargo reception ports for crew and consumables transfer.<ref name="wf"/>

This cruiser class is heavily armed with a wide range of firepower.<ref name="wf"/> While the cruisers' weapons and systems are continuously being improved, the class features modern long-range targeting matrixes.<ref name="en voyage"/> The primary armament of the ''Autumn'' class is a single [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|Mark IX, Heavy Coil - 45J3D3/MAC]],<ref name="VIS"/> a state-of-the-art [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]].<ref name="en voyage"/> The secondary armament is a [[Archer missile|M58 Archer missile delivery system]],<ref name="VIS"/> which features thirty-two pods that launch long-range anti-ship [[missile]]s.<ref name="wf"/>

The class sports four [[Spitfire naval coilgun battery#Mark 40 Spitfire|Mark 40 Spitfire naval coilgun batteries]] batteries, autocannons that have higher muzzle velocity, improved tracking speed, and better accuracy than their Mark 33 predecessors. These coilguns are armored with a new titanium-A formulation that shaves several tons off each turret without compromising protection. These cruisers are also armed with a [[Point defense gun|point defense network]], consisting of six [[M66 Sentry autocannon]] turrets and six [[M910 Rampart point defense network|M910 Rampart point defense guns]].<ref name="wf"/>