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The UNSC heavy frigate[1] is a form of light capital warship operated by the UNSC Navy. It saw use during the UNSC's twenty-seven year-long war with the genocidal theocracy known as the Covenant.
History
Prior to the Insurrection of the late 25th century, the concept of a "heavy" frigate was considered a gross misuse of the UNSC's funding. In the years following the coup d'etat on Eridanus II and the rebels' capture of the Template:UNSCship, there was much more support for a shake-up of the UNSC's relatively lax and ill-defended fleet. These upgrades would take effect during the disastrous Operation: TREBUCHET.
Design
The heavy frigate is essentially a more heavily-armored variant of the standard UNSC frigate, equipped with more point-defense guns to provide stronger support in battle situations. The heavy frigate lacks the small hangar present on the standard frigate, but its additional firepower means that it can easily handle Covenant fighter craft and can hold its own against small Covenant capital ships, as shown when the heavy frigate UNSC Savannah engaged the much larger Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer during the Fall of Reach. Heavy frigates are also capable of atmospheric maneuvering and are occasionally used by the UNSC for ground-support operations.
Known "heavy" frigates
Gallery
Profile view of a UNSC heavy frigate as seen in Halo: Reach.
Size comparison between a heavy frigate and a Covenant corvette.
- HaloReach - Frigates.jpg
Two heavy frigates engaging Covenant ground forces in the Fall of Reach.
A close up of two UNSC heavy frigates.
The UNSC Savannah above Reach.
A YSS-1000 "Sabre"-class starfighter and the Template:UNSCship engaging Ardent Prayer over Reach.
- UNSC Savannah.jpg
The UNSC Savannah in combat.
Savannah sends down a steady stream of 50mm flak.
Sources
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear