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{{Status|Canon}}
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[[File:CCS weapons.png|thumb|300px|A {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} firing its pulse laser turrets.]]
'''Pulse laser turrets''' are a light spacecraft-mounted [[directed-energy weapon]] system. They have historically been predominantly employed by the [[Covenant]] and its [[Covenant remnants|remnants]], though in more [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|recent years]] have seen adoption among the [[UNSC starship|starships]] of the [[UNSC Navy]].


[[File:ArabiaVostok.png|right|thumb|180px|Two Pulse Laser destroying the [[UNSC]] [[Frigate|Frigates]] [[UNSC Arabia|Arabia]] and [[UNSC Vostok|Vostok]].]]
Pulse lasers are typically used in point-defence roles against [[Space fighter|strikecraft]] and inbound projectile weapons such as [[missile]]s, though can be used in a limited anti-ship role when needed.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=261}}
The '''Pulse Laser Turret''' is a light [[Covenant]] ship to ship weapon. These pulse weapons are known to have been mounted on most Covenant ships including artifact retrieval ships such as the ''[[Minor Transgression]]'' and [[Seraph-class Starfighter|Seraph Fighters]]. The weapon can be used against starships but is also a likely candidate for a Covenant anti-aircraft weapon. Strangely enough, [[UNSC Prowler]]s are also mounted with pulse laser weaponry, but this version is likely an independent UNSC development rather than reverse engineering of Covenant technology - pulsed laser technology was available to [[Humanity]] as early as 1960, and at least as early as the year 2000 in weapon form.


==Physics==
==Overview==
{{Main|Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation}}
===Design details===
Before the weapon fires, it must first charge, during the charge a sphere of light energy forms around the charging weapon. After it is finished charging, it expels a cyan/purple beam of energy. According to the Halo novels and combat observations, a section of the ship's shields must be dropped for it to fire completely.
The pulse laser turret is one of the Covenant's primary weapon systems, often classified as a point-defense weapon comparable to [[human]] projectile [[point-defense gun]]s. They are generally mounted aboard spacecraft of all sizes, ranging from smaller {{Pattern|R'shwupa|Phantom}} gunships to the largest [[Covenant cruiser|cruisers]] and [[Covenant carrier|carriers]].


==Damage==
Covenant pulse lasers are typically considered superior to the projectile equivalents employed by humanity, due to the Covenant's superior power storage systems and [[Gravitics|gravitic]]-lensing focal arrays.{{Ref/Book|Id=WFG|HWF|Page=91}}
Pulse Lasers are rated in the kilowatt range <ref>''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', Page 27</ref>


The weapon is said to have reduced the [[UNSC frigate]] ''[[UNSC Commonwealth|Commonwealth]]'''s armor in sections three and four to a quarter the original width, which would mean (as frigates are known to have 60cm-thick armor) that a pulse laser salvo is capable of melting through 45cm of Titanium-A battle-plate in a single shot.<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''</ref> This means that pulse lasers pose a serious threat to UNSC frigates and smaller, lighter armored UNSC ships as it would only take one salvo to melt through parts of its armor. However, it is believed that larger UNSC ships with thicker armor would have to take multiple pulse laser salvos to show the same results. The [[Halcyon-class]] cruiser class&nbsp;can only&nbsp;resist 4-5 pulse lasers&nbsp;but&nbsp;[[Supercarriers]] would be able to&nbsp;resist over 20 shots (10 meters of armor, 45 centimeters melted off&nbsp;per shot), making tactics come before strength in the mind of a [[UNSC]] ship captain.
===Firing operation===
{{Main|Laser}}
Pulse laser turrets operate using lasers as their preferred method of operation. The weapon type used on the missionary ship ''Minor Transgression'' consisted of a [[Wikipedia:Hydrogen fluoride laser|hydrogen fluoride]]-based chemical laser, though it is possible other pulse lasers on larger starships operate via other means.{{Ref/Novel|HCH|Chapter=10}} This specific example had a power output measuring in the kilowatts, which could fry the circuits of a maser dish installed on the [[Horn of Plenty]], an unmanned human civilian ship.{{Ref/Novel|HCH|Chapter=1}}
 
The operation of the pulse laser turret can vary from model to model; some such as the ''Pol Naran''-pattern operate as beam lasers, while others such as the ''R'aka''-pattern consist of a rapid-firing pulse laser. However, most pulse lasers generally have a fairly low rate-of-fire.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Before the weapon fires, it must first charge; during the charge, a sphere of light energy forms around the charging weapon. After finishing charging, the weapon expels a cyan/purple beam of energy.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR14}}
 
If equipped with [[energy shielding]], a given warship must disable a section of the ship's shielding to allow the pulse weapons to fire completely.{{Ref/Novel|Id=FOR14|TFOR|Chapter=14}}
 
===Damage===
Damage dealt by the pulse laser turrets are known to be serious threats to most, if not all UNSC ships; a pulse laser salvo is capable of melting through {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}'s {{Convert|60|cm|in}} of [[Titanium-A armor]] hull in a single shot.{{Ref/Novel|Id=melt|TFOR|Chapter=12}} In this instance, the {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} received severe damage in sections three and four, armor down to twenty-five percent and hull breach in section three.{{Ref/Reuse|melt}}
 
==Usage==
===Covenant===
{| class="wikitable"
! [[Design pattern]] !! Ships
|-
| ''R'aka''-pattern rapid fire pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}
|-
| ''Gon''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}
*{{Pattern|Maugen|armored cruiser}}
*{{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}}
*{{Pattern|Wik|light destroyer}}
|-
| ''Eriu''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|R'sikosh|man o' war}}
*{{Pattern|Hekar Taa|blockade runner}}
|-
| ''Ferriel''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}
*{{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}}
*{{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}}
|-
| ''Pallio''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}}
|-
| ''Phot Et''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Ester|armored frigate}}
*{{Pattern|Kewu|battleship}}
*{{Pattern|Mutan Et|storm cutter}}
*{{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}}
|-
| ''Phot''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}
*{{Pattern|Akton|escort}}
*{{Pattern|R'shwupa|Phantom}}
|-
| ''Pol''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Ruma|light carrier}}
|-
| ''Quiran''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Lursu|brigantine}}
|-
| ''Reskuk''-pattern pulse laser ||
*{{Pattern|Rasus|interdictor}}
|}
 
Alongside the above vessels, pulse laser turrets are employed on [[Kig-Yar]] ships such as the [[missionary ship]] ''[[Minor Transgression]]'' and aboard [[Jiralhanae]] warships, such as the [[Banished dreadnought|dreadnoughts]] and [[Tronto]] boarding craft used by the [[Banished]].
 
===UNSC===
Toward the later years of the [[Human-Covenant War]], humanity was able to develop a number of energy weapon systems based on technological advances resultant of reverse-engineered alien technology. As such, the [[United Nations Space Command]] have begun to employ pulse lasers on a small handful of their craft. These include the [[Magna-320 pulse laser]], used as a primary armament on the {{Class|Anlace|light frigate}} and several small pulse laser turrets employed on the [[G81 Condor]] gunship.
 
==Production notes==
[[File:HTMCC-HR PhantomGunboat PulseLaser 3.png|thumb|250px|The behavior of plasma bolts fired from ''Phot''-pattern pulse laser in ''Halo: Reach''.]]
On the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' campaign level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]'', the ''Phot''-pattern pulse laser turrets on the {{Pattern|R'shwupa|Phantom}}s and the {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' fire explosive plasma bolts—moving projectiles that detonate after travelling a distance—instead of pulse lasers.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HaloLegends-PulseLaserTurret-Closeup1.png|Closeup of the pulse laser turret.
File:HaloLegends-PulseLaserTurret-Closeup2.png|Another closeup of the turret.
File:CCS Legends.jpg|A ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser firing its ventral pulse laser turrets and dorsal [[plasma turret]]s.
File:HTMCC-HR PhantomGunboat PulseLaser 2.png|''Phot''-pattern pulse lasers on {{Pattern|R'shwupa|Phantom}}s.
File:HTMCC-HR PhantomGunboat PulseLaser 1.png|Closeup of ''Phot''-pattern pulse laser on the ''R'shwupa''-pattern Phantom.
File:CirciniusIV attacked1.jpg|An {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} fires a pulse laser at a [[space elevator]] at the [[Corbulo Academy]], triggering its collapse.
File:H2A Terminals - Laser.jpg|The laser being used against UNSC vessels.
File:HW2 - Condor models.jpg|[[G81 Condor]] armed with five twin pulse laser turrets.
</gallery>
 
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: Legends]]
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Template:Covenant Weapons}}
{{Covenant heavy weapons}}
[[Category:Covenant Weapons]]
[[Category:UNSC naval weapons]]
[[Category:Covenant naval weapons]]
[[Category:Directed-energy weapons]]
[[Category:Starship weapons]]

Latest revision as of 20:34, March 9, 2024

A Ket-pattern battlecruiser firing its pulse laser turrets.

Pulse laser turrets are a light spacecraft-mounted directed-energy weapon system. They have historically been predominantly employed by the Covenant and its remnants, though in more recent years have seen adoption among the starships of the UNSC Navy.

Pulse lasers are typically used in point-defence roles against strikecraft and inbound projectile weapons such as missiles, though can be used in a limited anti-ship role when needed.[1]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The pulse laser turret is one of the Covenant's primary weapon systems, often classified as a point-defense weapon comparable to human projectile point-defense guns. They are generally mounted aboard spacecraft of all sizes, ranging from smaller R'shwupa-pattern Phantom gunships to the largest cruisers and carriers.

Covenant pulse lasers are typically considered superior to the projectile equivalents employed by humanity, due to the Covenant's superior power storage systems and gravitic-lensing focal arrays.[2]

Firing operation[edit]

Main article: Laser

Pulse laser turrets operate using lasers as their preferred method of operation. The weapon type used on the missionary ship Minor Transgression consisted of a hydrogen fluoride-based chemical laser, though it is possible other pulse lasers on larger starships operate via other means.[3] This specific example had a power output measuring in the kilowatts, which could fry the circuits of a maser dish installed on the Horn of Plenty, an unmanned human civilian ship.[4]

The operation of the pulse laser turret can vary from model to model; some such as the Pol Naran-pattern operate as beam lasers, while others such as the R'aka-pattern consist of a rapid-firing pulse laser. However, most pulse lasers generally have a fairly low rate-of-fire.[1] Before the weapon fires, it must first charge; during the charge, a sphere of light energy forms around the charging weapon. After finishing charging, the weapon expels a cyan/purple beam of energy.[5]

If equipped with energy shielding, a given warship must disable a section of the ship's shielding to allow the pulse weapons to fire completely.[5]

Damage[edit]

Damage dealt by the pulse laser turrets are known to be serious threats to most, if not all UNSC ships; a pulse laser salvo is capable of melting through Paris-class heavy frigate UNSC Commonwealth's 60 centimetres (24 in) of Titanium-A armor hull in a single shot.[6] In this instance, the UNSC Commonwealth received severe damage in sections three and four, armor down to twenty-five percent and hull breach in section three.[6]

Usage[edit]

Covenant[edit]

Design pattern Ships
R'aka-pattern rapid fire pulse laser
Gon-pattern pulse laser
Eriu-pattern pulse laser
Ferriel-pattern pulse laser
Pallio-pattern pulse laser
Phot Et-pattern pulse laser
Phot-pattern pulse laser
Pol-pattern pulse laser
Quiran-pattern pulse laser
Reskuk-pattern pulse laser

Alongside the above vessels, pulse laser turrets are employed on Kig-Yar ships such as the missionary ship Minor Transgression and aboard Jiralhanae warships, such as the dreadnoughts and Tronto boarding craft used by the Banished.

UNSC[edit]

Toward the later years of the Human-Covenant War, humanity was able to develop a number of energy weapon systems based on technological advances resultant of reverse-engineered alien technology. As such, the United Nations Space Command have begun to employ pulse lasers on a small handful of their craft. These include the Magna-320 pulse laser, used as a primary armament on the Anlace-class light frigate and several small pulse laser turrets employed on the G81 Condor gunship.

Production notes[edit]

Plasma bolts from Phot-pattern pulse lasers on a R'shwupa-pattern Phantom during Operation: UPPER CUT. From Halo: Reach campaign level Long Night of Solace.
The behavior of plasma bolts fired from Phot-pattern pulse laser in Halo: Reach.

On the Halo: Reach campaign level Long Night of Solace, the Phot-pattern pulse laser turrets on the R'shwupa-pattern Phantoms and the Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette Ardent Prayer fire explosive plasma bolts—moving projectiles that detonate after travelling a distance—instead of pulse lasers.

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 261
  2. ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 91
  3. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, chapter 10
  4. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, chapter 1
  5. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 14
  6. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 12

v • d • e
 
Heavy weaponry in service of the Covenant and its remnants
Support weapons
Stationary weapon emplacements
Vehicle-mounted weapons
Starship weapons
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