Covenant carrier: Difference between revisions

{{Era|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

|image=[[File:H3-ShadowOfIntent-Side.png|350px]]<br>The distinctive shape of most Covenant carrier classes (in this case a ''CAS''-class assault carrier)

|engine=[[Repulsor engine]]s

*[[Plasma turret]]s

*[[Pulse laser turret]]s

|complement=Thousands of infantry

*[[Human-Covenant War]]

*[[Great Schism]]

*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]

|affiliation=[[Covenant]]

*Several [[Covenant remnants|remnant factions]]

}}

'''Carrier''' is a [[Covenant]] [[Covenant starship|ship]] classification. This classification includes both [[capital ship]]s and light support vessels. Carriers fulfilled a prominent role within the now-defunct [[Covenant fleet]].

==Overview==

{{Expand-section}}

There are three main heavy-tonnage carrier classes: the {{Class|DDS|carrier}}, the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, and the {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}. The Covenant sometimes referred to these classes as "supercarriers" to distinguish them from lighter carrier vessels that filled support roles.<ref name="moa">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-have-s-moa '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Have S'moa'']</ref>

There is also another model of Covenant supercarrier, which has a length of 32,490 meters (106,593 ft). Very large and powerful warships rarely documented by the UNSC, like other models of supercarrier they are often used as flagships for Covenant fleets, and may be used by Prophets as their personal command ships. One, the ''[[Sublime Transcendence]]'', led the [[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]], while another commanded the [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]].<ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''Covenant Ships'', page 277 (2011 edition)</ref>

There is also an unidentified model of light carrier. Measuring 1,455 meters (4,790 ft) in length, it boasts 13 launch bays that contain a total of 300 [[Seraph]] fighters, 200 [[Banshee]]s, and 34 [[dropship]]s, and is crewed by more than 4,000 Covenant troops. It is armed with multiple [[plasma torpedo]] silos and [[pulse laser turret]]s. As it is less common and more powerful than a Covenant cruiser, it is most likely designed to act as a command ship and provide fighter support during engagements.<ref name="ENC"/>

Covenant forces have long made use of various carrier classes within their fleets.{{Ref/Note|This section details the use of unidentified carrier classes only. For specific appearances of named carrier classes, see the "Operational history" sections in the articles for the ''[[DDS-class carrier#Operational history|DDS]]'', ''[[CAS-class assault carrier#Operational history|CAS]]'', and ''[[CSO-class supercarrier#Operational history|CSO]]'' classes.}}

For a number of years leading up to the [[Human-Covenant War]], several Covenant carriers were served as support ships and some along with "supercarriers" were assigned in the [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]] of the [[High Charity defense fleet|defense fleet]] of ''[[High Charity]]''.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 338''</ref> By [[2526#April|April 15, 2526]], a Covenant supercarrier ''[[Hammer of Faith]]'' was under construction at the [[Ring of Mighty Abundance]] and above [[Zhoist]], a Covenant-controlled [[world]], and remained incomplete, it was destroyed by two [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]] by [[John-117]] and [[Kelly-087]] during the [[Attack on Zhoist]], along with its surrounding fabrication barns.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Silent Storm}} On [[2552#July|July 17, 2552]], a carrier, escorted by a pair of [[Covenant frigate]]s and a [[RPV-class light destroyer|destroyer]], attempted to [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|seize control]] of the [[human]] [[human colonies|colony]] world [[Sigma Octanus IV]]. When the destroyer and the two frigates were destroyed by Captain [[Jacob Keyes]], the carrier retreated until reinforcements arrived. However, the carrier did succeed in deploying 34 [[dropship]]s to the surface of the planet to initiate an invasion while hailing the rest of the [[Second Fleet of Solemn Accord|Covenant fleet]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 170-180'' (2010 edition)</ref>

During the [[Battle of Installation 05]] and the [[Great Schism]], the light carrier ''[[Lawgiver]]'' assisted ''[[Incorruptible]]'' during the battle against the [[Jiralhanae]] and the [[Flood]].<ref name="goo193">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 193-195''</ref> A carrier would also go on assist [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant forces]] in the [[Onyx Conflict]] later that month.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 305''</ref>

By [[2559#October|October 2559]], a former Covenant supercarrier was used as part of the [[Banished]] occupation fleet under [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]]'s commands, presumably used as a flagship for the formidable armada, and carried the War Chief's personal [[intrusion corvette]].{{Ref/Novel|HSoR}}

File:Overview - Covenant Assault Carrier.png|Overview of a ''CAS''-class assault carrier.

File:HReach-CovenantSupercarrier-LNoS.png|A ''CSO''-class supercarrier.