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{{Era|Forerunner}}
{{Title|''Fortress''-class vessel}}
{{Ratings}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Stub}}
{{disambig header|a starship class|other articles named "Fortress"|Fortress}}
{{Ship Class Infobox
{{Ship class infobox
|name= ''Fortress''-class Warship
|name= ''Fortress''-class vessel
|image=
|image=[[File:Enc22 FortressClass.png|300px]]<br>An example of a ''Fortress''-class vessel
|manufacturer= Forerunner
|manufacturer= Forerunner ecumene
|class=
|class=
|role=
|role=[[Carrier]]
|length=50 km (old versions), 100 km (new versions)
|length=Varies
|width=
|width=Varies
|height=
|height=
|engine=
|engine=
|slipspace drive= Yes
|slipspace drive= Equipped
|hull=
|hull=
|armament= Large, powerful laser, many smaller guns
|armament=
|complement= Picket cruisers
*[[Heavy ion weapon system]] {{C|On larger examples}}{{Ref/Reuse|Ion}}
|era=  
*Tail-mounted [[directed-energy weapon]]ry{{Ref/Reuse|HC20}}
|affiliation= Forerunner
|complement=*[[Harrier-class vessel|Attack harriers]]{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 25, Fragment 1}}
*Phalanxes of [[weapon-ship]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HC20}}
*Hundreds of thousands of [[Warrior-Servants|warriors]]{{Ref/Reuse|HC20}}
|era= *[[Human-Forerunner War]]
*[[Forerunner-Flood War]]
|affiliation=*[[Forerunner]] [[Ecumene]]
*[[Created]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=Out23|Out|Chapter=23}}
}}
}}
'''Fortress-class vessels''', more commonly known as '''fortresses''' or '''fortress ships''', were massive warships used by the [[Forerunner]] military.<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 145''</ref>
'''''Fortress''-class vessels''', more commonly known as '''fortresses''' or '''fortress ships''', were massive warships used by the [[Forerunner]] military. The ''Fortress''{{'}} name is in reference to the ship's size and power.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=360}}


==Design details==
==Overview==
Fortress-class warships were some of the largest and most powerful vessels in the Forerunner navy. From bow to stern the ships were approximately 50 kilometers long and 10 kilometers across at the widest point. A single fortress ship can carry thousands of support craft.
===Design details===
While not all of a single unified design, ''Fortress''-class vessels were known to be some of the largest and most powerful vessels in the [[Forerunner fleet|Forerunner navy]]. From bow to stern, some many of these ships were approximately 50 kilometers long and 10 kilometers across at the widest point. The hull was generally divided into three sections and the foremost section of the ship sometimes featured a massive hemispherical structure that was 10 kilometers in diameter. The dome's hollow core served as living space for hundreds of thousands of Forerunner [[Warrior-Servant]]s. Below the dome was a mid-section composed of layered platforms supporting landing bays and weapon mounts. The aft section of the ship was a long "tail" covered in gun emplacements and other forms of energy weaponry.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HC20|Cry|Chapter=20}}


The hull is divided into three sections: the foremost section of the ship is a massive hemispherical structure 10 kilometers in diameter. The dome's hollow core serves as living space for hundreds of thousands of Forerunner [[Warrior-Servant]]s. Below the dome is a mid-section composed of layered platforms supporting landing bays and weapon mounts. The aft section of the ship is a long "tail" covered in gun emplacements and other forms of energy weaponry. The power of these weapons was legendary, even among the forerunners. When fully charged, a blast from the main weapon on the stern of this vessel was capable of punching a hole through the center of a planet 100 times the size of earth. The weapon could also "spread" the beams tip, from an impact point of 400 yards, to over 30 miles wide. This was used to make sweeping motions on the surface of planets to wipe out all life up to 200 feet deep from the surface, effectively Glassing the surface similar to the covenant glassing, just faster and more powerful.  
As previously noted, ''Fortress'' ships did not follow a single design and could be encountered in different shapes and sizes; ships used toward the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] measured up to 100&nbsp;km in length with far more destructive capabilities.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HC27|Cry|Chapter=27}} Extremely large examples of ''Fortress''es (presumably such as the aforementioned hundred-kilometre example) may be fitted with [[heavy ion weapon system]]s as their primary superweapons.{{Ref/Book|Id=Ion|Enc22|Page=377}} ''Fortress''-class ships may also incorporate [[Minoris Assembler Vats]] into their structure to allow for the mass on-site fabrication of lower-tier constructs such as [[Sentinel]]s.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=325}}


==Capabilities==
===Complement===
Fortresses were capable of deploying hundreds, if not thousands, of [[Forerunner picket cruiser|orbital picket cruisers]], [[weapon-ship]]s, and [[fast attack runner]]s.
Due to their behemoth structure, a single fortress ship was capable of carrying and deploying enormous amounts of [[Harrier-class vessel|harriers]] and [[weapon-ship]]s. During battle, fortresses would first deploy thousands of swift attack craft in outward-fanning formations.{{Ref/Reuse|HC20}} They also had automated screens of weapon-ships, up to a million of which could be commanded by individual Warriors.{{Ref/Reuse|HC20}}


==Known vessels==
==Ships of the line==
*''[[Deep Reverence]]''
*''[[Deep Reverence]]''
*''[[Long Reverence]]''


==Trivia==
==Operational history==
*The design of the fortress bears many similarities to the design of ''[[High Charity]]''.
===Forerunner-Flood War===
During the [[Battle of the Capital]], a battle group of fortresses and [[Forerunner cruiser|cruisers]] attacked the original [[Halo Array|Halo installations]] under [[Mendicant Bias]]'s control.{{Ref/Reuse|HC27}} Later, in one of the final battles of the war, the [[Falchion]]'s interstellar defensive clench comprised twelve fortresses—only partially mobile due to [[reconciliation|space-time debt]]—for a fleet of 700,000 [[Harrier-class vessel|harriers]].{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 25, Fragment 5}}
 
===Covenant===
[[File:HWF_HighCharity_CrossSection.jpg|thumb|250px|A cross-section of High Charity, showcasing the Forerunner metal hemispherical dome of the Tuluk'katho Fortress ship buried deep within the station's vast layers.]]
During the early years of the [[Covenant]] empire, prior to around [[648 BCE|648]]-[[791 BCE]], a derelict ''Fortress''-class vessel was discovered in orbit around [[Tuluk'katho]]. The ship's nigh-unbreakable superstructure was used as the basis for the [[Spine of the Gods]], the large "tail" extending through the bottom of the Covenant's capital-station [[High Charity]]. The site of this discovery became the site of High Charity's construction.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=226}}


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
{{Forerunner|ships}}


{{Forerunner}}
[[Category:Carrier classes]]
[[Category:Forerunner Ship Classes]]
[[Category:Forerunner ship classes]]

Latest revision as of 01:37, February 27, 2024

This article is about a starship class. For other articles named "Fortress", see Fortress.
Fortress-class vessel
An illustration of a Fortress-class ship.
An example of a Fortress-class vessel
Production information

Manufacturer:

Forerunner ecumene

Role:

Carrier

Technical specifications

Length:

Varies

Width:

Varies

Slipspace drive:

Equipped

Armament:

Complement:

Chronological and affiliation

Era:

Affiliation:

 

Fortress-class vessels, more commonly known as fortresses or fortress ships, were massive warships used by the Forerunner military. The Fortress' name is in reference to the ship's size and power.[5]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

While not all of a single unified design, Fortress-class vessels were known to be some of the largest and most powerful vessels in the Forerunner navy. From bow to stern, some many of these ships were approximately 50 kilometers long and 10 kilometers across at the widest point. The hull was generally divided into three sections and the foremost section of the ship sometimes featured a massive hemispherical structure that was 10 kilometers in diameter. The dome's hollow core served as living space for hundreds of thousands of Forerunner Warrior-Servants. Below the dome was a mid-section composed of layered platforms supporting landing bays and weapon mounts. The aft section of the ship was a long "tail" covered in gun emplacements and other forms of energy weaponry.[2]

As previously noted, Fortress ships did not follow a single design and could be encountered in different shapes and sizes; ships used toward the end of the Forerunner-Flood war measured up to 100 km in length with far more destructive capabilities.[6] Extremely large examples of Fortresses (presumably such as the aforementioned hundred-kilometre example) may be fitted with heavy ion weapon systems as their primary superweapons.[1] Fortress-class ships may also incorporate Minoris Assembler Vats into their structure to allow for the mass on-site fabrication of lower-tier constructs such as Sentinels.[7]

Complement[edit]

Due to their behemoth structure, a single fortress ship was capable of carrying and deploying enormous amounts of harriers and weapon-ships. During battle, fortresses would first deploy thousands of swift attack craft in outward-fanning formations.[2] They also had automated screens of weapon-ships, up to a million of which could be commanded by individual Warriors.[2]

Ships of the line[edit]

Operational history[edit]

Forerunner-Flood War[edit]

During the Battle of the Capital, a battle group of fortresses and cruisers attacked the original Halo installations under Mendicant Bias's control.[6] Later, in one of the final battles of the war, the Falchion's interstellar defensive clench comprised twelve fortresses—only partially mobile due to space-time debt—for a fleet of 700,000 harriers.[8]

Covenant[edit]

A cross-section of High Charity, showcasing the Forerunner metal hemispherical dome of the Tuluk'katho Fortress ship buried deep within the station's vast layers.

During the early years of the Covenant empire, prior to around 648-791 BCE, a derelict Fortress-class vessel was discovered in orbit around Tuluk'katho. The ship's nigh-unbreakable superstructure was used as the basis for the Spine of the Gods, the large "tail" extending through the bottom of the Covenant's capital-station High Charity. The site of this discovery became the site of High Charity's construction.[9]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 377
  2. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Cryptum, chapter 20
  3. ^ Halo: Silentium, String 25, Fragment 1
  4. ^ Halo: Outcasts, chapter 23
  5. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 360
  6. ^ a b Halo: Cryptum, chapter 27
  7. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 325
  8. ^ Halo: Silentium, String 25, Fragment 5
  9. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 226