Covenant starship

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This article is about the various space-worthy ships of the Covenant Empire. For the cut Halo 2 level, see Covenant Ship.
The fleet at Unyielding Hierophant.
Many different classes of Covenant starships in front of the Unyielding Hierophant.
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Covenant starships are the ships used by the species of the Covenant through its various ministries.

History

Pre-Writ of Union

Millenia prior to the forming of the Covenant, the San'Shyuum were a spacefaring civilization, allied with humans.[1]

Prior to joining, the Sangheili had a number of starships. This included the Hekar Taa-pattern fast interdictor, the Carrack merchant cruiser, Man O' War, and the Brigantine.[2]

Early Covenant

A number of starships were designed following the signing of the Writ of Union. One of the earliest ship designs was the ORS-class heavy cruiser, designed during the earliest Age of Conflict and Age of Doubt.[3] Another ancient ship was the RCS-class armored cruiser.[4]

Around the time of the Rending, an unnamed class of Covenant ship was used.

Human-Covenant war

Main article: Human-Covenant war
Several different classes of Covenant starships during the Human-Covenant war.

One of the first engagements prior to the outbreak of the war was the Skirmish on Minor Transgression.

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Great Schism

Main article: Great Schism

Post-war

"Every vessel counts. We can't yet replace what we lose, so the war against the Arbiter and the other blasphemers may be won or lost on a single hull."
Shipmaster Avu Med 'Telcam of the Servants of the Abiding Truth[5]
Main article: Post-Covenant War conflicts

With the Covenant war over, and the Schism breaking into a multitude of conflicts, Covenant ships began finding themselves in the hands of a number of remnant factions, like the Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, Merg Vol's Covenant, Rojka 'Kasaan's faction, Servants of the Abiding Truth, Swords of Sanghelios, and the Banished.

Created conflict

Main article: Created conflict
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Organization

Management

Main article: Covenant fleet

The starships of the Covenant were commanded under different ministries. The Ministry of Resolution commanded ships, and was responsible for directing offensive actions by the Covenant.[6] The Ministry of Tranquility managed the fleet of relic hunting and missionary ships.[7]

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Tactical groupings

Main article: Fleet

Covenant Starships have been known to be grouped in multiple ways. These include Fleets, Battle Groups, and Flotillas.

Identification

Covenant ship classes can be identified by the Covenant ship classification system.[2]

Design

Different species have different design philosophies for starships. The Sangheili preferred starships that echoed the aggressive nature of various animals from Sanghelios and other Sangheili colonies. The San'Shyuum preferred more ornate designs, something that carried into the Covenant, as well as preferring multi-role vessels.[2]

Covenant starships, like most Covenant technology, were constructed using the Design pattern method.[8] Some manufacturers of Covenant starships include Forgemasters of Tanus, Gorgon Assembly Vault[9] and Lathe of the Enlightened.[10]

Engines

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Power

Covenant starships were powered by Pinch fusion reactors.[11]

Armor & Defense

The hull of Covenant starships is composed of the durable and heat resistant Nanolaminate.[12] Most Covenant ships also make use of Energy shielding to prevent damage from affect the hull.

Armament

Energy Projector

Main article: Energy Projector
An energy projector slicing through the Feeling Lucky.

Covenant warships often had Energy Projectors. An energy projector is a large beam of plasma which can be used to devastating effect in either ship-to-ship combat or in ground operations.

In ship-to-ship scenarios, they are known to slice through UNSC ships. The UNSC Herodotus[13] and the UNSC Feeling Lucky[14] were two ships to fall prey to its destructive power.

Often during ground campaigns, it was used in a method called glassing, whereby a Covenant starship burns the surface of a planet in order to render it lifeless.

Turrets

Plasma turrets on the side of the Ardent Prayer.

Covenant warships also used a variety of turret emplacements. This includes the Plasma turret and the Pulse laser turret.

Torpedos

Covenant starships also make use of the Plasma Torpedo.

Complement

Small craft

Main articles: Dropship, Space fighter

Several types of space fighters were used in conjunction with larger ships. These include the Tarasque-class heavy fighter and the Gigas-class fighter-bomber, it's replacement, the Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter, and the Type-27 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter.

Type-52 "Phantoms" picking up troops in a hangar bay.

Dropships were also in use acting as troop, vehicle and supply transport. These include the Type-25 Spirit, the Type-44 Troop Carrier and the Type-52 Troop Carrier. As well, the Type-28 Intrusion Vehicle helped the Covenant board enemy ships.

Types

Support ships

Main article: Support ship

The Covenant have operated a number of support starships. These include the ADP-class escorts and the food providing DSC-class support ship.

Warships

Main article: Warship

The Covenant operated a number of lighter capital warships. These include some of the smaller Covenant cruisers, like the CCS-class battlecruisers and the CRS-class light cruisers. As well as the various corvette, frigate, and destroyer classes the Covenant operated.

A scale comparison of several Covenant capital ship classes.
A comparison of different ship classes and their sizes.

The Covenant were known for their larger capital ships including the RCS-class armored cruiser, the ORS-class heavy cruiser and the Unidentified Covenant warship. On top of this, they operated various large carrier classes. Finally, they were known to use heavily armed battleships.

Other Ships

Covenant ships were not exclusively designed for war and often operated in a number of non-warfare based situations. This can include the Missionary ship, operated by the Ministry of Tranquility.[15] The Covenant also operated a number of tithe fleets, which were often filled with Sangheili Brigantines.[2]

List of Covenant starships

The following is a list of the starships that belong to and are used by the Covenant.

Carriers

Carriers

Class Ship Name Notes
DDS-class carrier Ascendant Justice
CAS-class assault carrier Breath of Annihilation
Clarity of Faith Crash-landed on an unidentified moon in August 2552.
Day of Jubilation Destroyed at the beginning of Battle for Earth by an antimatter charge delivered by Spartan John-117.
Enduring Conviction Severed in half over Installation 00 by Aggressor Sentinels in 2559.
Eternal Reward Destroyed in the beginning of Great Schism by the Jiralhanae fleet.
Resplendent Fervor
Seeker of Truth
Shadow of Intent Returned to Sanghelios after ceasefire in March 2553
Solemn Penance
Song of Retribution
Pious Rampage Unknown Status after the battle of Zhoist.
CSO-class supercarrier Long Night of Solace Destroyed by a slipspace bomb during Operation: UPPER CUT.
Supercarrier Hammer of Faith Destroyed while under construction by a pair of HAVOK tactical nuclear weapons during Operation: SILENT STORM above Zhoist.
Sublime Transcendence
Unknown Lawgiver
Pledge of Holiness A carrier commanded by the Prophet of Inner Conviction which participated in the Rending in 850 BCE.
Splendid Intention Crash landed on Beta Gabriel
Cruisers

Cruisers

Class Ship Name Notes
ORS-class heavy cruiser Blight of the Profane
Gathering of Praise Destroyed over the planet Carrow in 2558
Incorruptible Destroyed in the Onyx Conflict
Unwavering Discipline Crashed on the planet Carrow in 2558
CCS-class battlecruiser Harbinger of Piety Destroyed by a MAC shot from Nassau Station.
Indulgence of Conviction Commandeered by Flood, destroyed in the Battle of Voi by Fleet of Retribution for Flood containment.
Pious Inquisitor Destroyed in the Skirmish on Pious Inquisitor
Purity of Spirit
Purveyor of Serenity
Sacred Promise
Sanctity of Purification
Triumphant Declaration
Truth and Reconciliation Destroyed during the Battle of Installation 04 in its third raid by Lieutenant McKay.
Undiminished Entelechy Infested by Flood during the Battle of Installation 04, shot down by order of Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee.
CCS-U624
CCS-U321
CRS-class light cruiser Spear of Light Captured by the Swords of Sanghelios from Tem'Bhetek.
Unknown Axiom
Far Vision
Infinite Sacrifice
Rapid Conversion
Unidentified cruiser (Particular Justice) Destroyed in the Fall of Reach by the Alpha division of Red Team.
Unrelenting Destroyed in the Battle of Chi Ceti
Destroyers

Destroyers

Class Ship Name Notes
CPV-class heavy destroyer Bloodied Spirit Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict.
Esteem
Reverence
Radiant Perception Destroyed during the Battle for Arcadia.
Proclamation's Tithe
Fighter's Blood
Hammerstrike
Unknown class Absolution Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict
Defender of Faith Destroyed by UNSC Infinity during the assault on Vadam keep in 2553.
Far Sight Lost Destroyed during the Onyx Conflict
Rapturous Arc Captured by the Flood and subsequently destroyed by combined Sangheili and Jiralhanae forces at the beginning of the Great Schism
Retribution's Thunder Scuttled by its Sangheili crew during Battle of the Rubble after being betrayed by their Kig-Yar escort.
Frigates

Frigates

Class Ship Name Notes
CAR-class frigate Contrition Unknown status
Penance Unknown status
Unknown Radiant Arrow Scuttled by its commander after being boarded by a team of Spartans over Netherop in 2526.
Reprisal's Fire
Retribution's Promise
Revenant Destroyed by the Incorruptible during the Onyx conflict.
Steadfast Strike Status unknown; last seen during the Battle of Netherop in 2526.
Tenebrous Destroyed by the Incorruptible during the Battle of Installation 05.
Transforming Splendor
Twilight Compunction Destroyed during the Battle of Installation 00.
Pure Resolve
Unflinching Resolve Decommissioned, later reinstated by Servants of the Abiding Truth and destroyed in March 2553.
Vengeful Deed
Corvettes

Corvettes

Class Ship Name Notes
SDV-class heavy corvette Ardent Prayer Captured by the UNSC, used as transportation for a Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine makeshift bomb and destroyed in Operation: UPPER CUT by Spartan Jorge-052.
Elegy's Lament Stolen by the Banished.
Quester of Glory Fell into Sangheili control during the Great Schism; renamed Mayhem. Crippled and salvaged by UNSC Witness in Operation: FAR STORM.
Supplication of Purity Destroyed in the Battle for Tribute in 2552, later salvaged and displayed at Outpost Discovery.
DAV-class light corvette Infinite Fire Fell into Sangheili control during the Great Schism; renamed The Lookout
Intrusion corvette Divine Whisper
Quiet Faith
Sacred Whisper
Silent Truth
Still Devotion
Worthy Silence
Unknown Adherent Crew massacred by the Silent Shadow.
Sacred Whisper
Vengeful Vitality A stealth corvette used by Mken 'Scre'ah'ben.

Production notes

During the development of Halo 2, a level was planned to take place on board a Covenant ship.

Gallery

Concept art

Overview

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 269
  2. ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Holiday Shipping (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  3. ^ Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo, page 64 & 65
  4. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Armory Amore (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  5. ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, chapter 2
  6. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Core Rulebook - page 7
  7. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 155
  8. ^ Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo, chapter Glossary, page 90
  9. ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 76-77
  10. ^ Halo: Warfleet, Shadow of Intent - p. 70-71
  11. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
  12. ^ Halo Waypoint, Catalog Interaction - Page 14 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  13. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 298 & 320
  14. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Cairo Station
  15. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 50