Halcyon-class light cruiser: Difference between revisions

The most noteworthy design feature was a series of internal cross bracings and honeycombs designed by [[Robert_McLees_(ship_designer)|Doctor Robert McLees]].<ref name="HCESGuide">'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets]]''', ''page 60''</ref> This internal superstructure made the ships surprisingly resistant to battle damage; ships of the class were able to remain operational despite sustaining breaches to all compartments and losing 90% of their armor.<ref name="for238">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 238''</ref> The durability of the design was demonstrated by the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} when she survived a crash-landing on [[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]] after taking a tremendous beating at Reach and over the ring.  However, while the cruiser was intact, it was damaged beyond repair and could never fly again, although some systems were still online such as the fusion core, engines, and self-destruct.<ref name="maw">'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[The Maw]]''</ref>  Another example of the ship's durability was during the [[Fall of Reach]] when the ship took on an immensely powerful [[Unidentified Covenant warship|Covenant warship]]. Having wrecked havoc on Reach's defense fleet, this formidable Covenant warship breached the ''Autumn's'' hull with two piercing beam attacks, one of which severely damaged its reactors. Not only did the ''Autumn'' continue its engagement with limited loss of functionality, it destroyed the Covenant vessel after a protracted battle. However, the special superstructure was deemed unnecessarily over-massed and costly due to its cross-bracings and interstitial honeycombs. This led to the design being dropped from future models of ''Halcyon''-class ships. The ''Pillar of Autumn'' and 10/50 others were built with this type of superstructure.<ref name="HCESGuide"/>