Whirlwind-class carrier

The Whirlwind-class comprised nine assault carriers that served the United Nations Space Authority (UNSA) and the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) during the Interplanetary Conflict. Four assault carriers were completed with slight modifications in 2164 and were considered the Firestorm-subclass. All but one of the Whirlwind assault carriers were knocked out during the war after sustaining heavy damage. The sole surviving carrier, the Vortex, became an ODST training ship in 2185 and remained in service until 2217. 
Despite playing a major role during the Battle of Mars and supporting operations throughout the system, the Whirlwind assault carriers were overshadowed by their peers: first the contemporary Typhoon-class armored assault carriers and later the Fearless-class assault carriers. The Whirlwind-class served a critical role in the development of the assault carrier concept but suffered several deficiencies, most notably a thinly armored hull, weak point defenses, and a frail internal structure. In the event that enemy forces were able to successfully attack a Whirlwind carrier, the resulting damage was often beyond realistic repair. Similar strikes against Fearless-class and Typhoon-class carriers were far less devastating. 
==History==
===Development and construction===
*Early concepts in the 2140s and 2150s; real development after the Jovian Crisis
*Three of the Whirlwind-class and one of the Typhoon-class ordered in late 2160
*Order increased to six Whirlwind and four Typhoon in early 2162 (1 Whirlwind cancelled)
**Firestorm-type ordered in January 2163
===Service===
====Interplanetary War====
*Performance at the Battle of Mars 
*Deficiencies and steady losses; Effective replacement by the Fearless-class
**Europa Whirlwind losses
*Vortex inner system security carrier and training ship role
*Vortex returns to service in 2552 as decoy ship
==Design==
*Launch bays
*Structural deficiencies due to rushed construction
*Point defense system weaknesses and improvements
===Firestorm-class===
*Improvements: more anti-ship weapons, more point defenses, some reinforcement to the internal structure 
*Insufficient to prevent massive damage during combat
==Ships in class==
Carrier 	Commission 	Struck	Details
Whirlwind ‡ 	2162:12:002162	2166 	The UNSC Whirlwind was commissioned in December 2162. The Whirlwind was irreparably damaged by Frieden forces in 2166 during the Europa Whirlwind.
Vortex 	2163:05:002163	2217 	The UNSC Vortex was commissioned in May 2163. In 2185, the assault carrier was designated as an ODST training carrier. The Vortex was decommissioned in 2217 and placed in reserve. After more than three centuries of inactivity, the old carrier was recalled to service in late 2552 and was expended as a decoy ship during the Sol Campaign.
Cyclone † 	2163:08:002163	2167 	The UNSC Cyclone was commissioned in August 2163. The Cyclone was destroyed by Frieden forces in 2167 during the Jupiter Campaign.
Hurricane ‡ 	2163:09:002163	2169 	The UNSC Hurricane was commissioned in September 2163. The Hurricane was irreparably damaged by Frieden forces in late 2169 during the Braam-Saburov Offensive.
Tornado † 	2163:09:002163	2164 	The UNSC Tornado was commissioned in September 2163. The Tornado was blown in two by Frieden forces in March 2164 during the Battle of the Martian Moons.
Windstorm 	2164N/A 	N/A 	The Windstorm was cancelled in early 2163.
Firestorm ‡Firestorm-class	2164:02:002164	2166 	The UNSC Firestorm was commissioned in February 2164. The Firestorm was irreparably damaged by Frieden forces in 2166 during the Battle of the Belt.
Inferno ‡Firestorm-class 	2164:02:002164	2168 	The UNSC Inferno was commissioned in February 2164. The Inferno was irreparably damaged by Frieden forces in September 2168 during the Siege of Ceres.
Blaze †Firestorm-class 	2164:04:002164	2165 	The UNSC Blaze was commissioned in April 2164. The Blaze was destroyed by Frieden forces in August 2165 during the Fleet action of 2165.
WildfireFirestorm-class 	2164:05:002164	2242 	The UNSC Wildfire was commissioned in May 2164. Following considerable damage inflicted by Frieden forces at Europa in 2166, the Wildfire was converted into an ODST training carrier in 2167 and was later transferred to the Vredefort flotilla. The Wildfire was decommissioned in 2242 and sold for scrap.
===UNSC Whirlwind===
The UNSC Whirlwind was commissioned in December 2162. The assault carrier was a major element of the Assault on Mars in December 2163 and subsequently took part in the Battle of the Martian Moons, the Battle of the Belt, and the fleet action of 2165. The Whirlwind was repeatedly attacked by Frieden forces in Jovian Space in 2166 during the Europa Whirlwind, suffering considerable damage, and was ultimately decommissioned and sold for scrap. 
===UNSC Vortex===
The UNSC Vortex was commissioned in May 2163. The assault carrier was a major element of the Assault on Mars in December 2163. The Vortex took part in the Battle of the Martian Moons, the Battle of the Belt, the Fleet Action of 2165, the Europa Whirlwind, and Braam-Saburov and Trojan Offensives. In 2185, the assault carrier underwent modifications and was redesignated as an ODST training carrier and was active in that role until the 2210s. The Vortex was decommissioned in 2217 and placed in reserve. While the old carrier was retained as a potential assault platform and maintained, the Vortex would have to wait 335 years to return to active duty. The Vortex was reactivated in late 2552 for the Defense of Sol, first as a support carrier and lastly as a decoy ship, successfully deceiving Covenant forces and giving the Vortex a glorious end in November 2552. 
===UNSC Cyclone===
The UNSC Cyclone was commissioned in August 2163. The assault carrier was a major element of the Assault on Mars in December 2163 and subsequently took part in the Battle of the Martian Moons, the Battle of the Belt, the Fleet Action of 2165, and the Europa Whirlwind. The Cyclone was destroyed by Frieden forces in 2167 in Jovian Space. 
===UNSC Hurricane===
The UNSC Hurricane was commissioned in September 2163. The assault carrier was a major element of the Assault on Mars in December 2163 and subsequently took part in the Battle of the Martian Moons, the Battle of the Belt, the Fleet Action of 2165, and the Europa Whirlwind. The Hurricane was irreparably damaged by Frieden forces during the Braam-Saburov Offensive in late 2169.
===UNSC Tornado===
The UNSC Tornado was commissioned in September 2163. The assault carrier was a major element of the Assault on Mars in December 2163. On March 18, 2164, the Tornado suffered multiple missile hits on its midsection and was blown in two by Frieden forces during the Battle of the Martian Moons. While some elements of the carrier were salvaged, the two halves of the sundered Tornado were sold for scrap. 
===Windstorm===
The Windstorm was ordered in early 2162 with construction beginning later that year. When the new Firestorm design debuted in January 2163, however, the Windstorm had the misfortune to be too far along to be easily modified to the new design but insufficiently advanced to be worth completing. Construction was paused in February 2163, and it was decided that the carrier would be broken up and scrapped, with some elements retained as potential replacements for the other five Whirlwind assault carriers. 
===UNSC Firestorm===
The UNSC Firestorm was commissioned in February 2164. The assault carrier took part in the Battle of the Belt, the Fleet Action of 2165, and the Europa Whirlwind. While underway through the Belt in 2166, the Firestorm was attacked and irreparably damaged by Frieden forces. The crippled carrier was towed to Ceres and broken up. 
===UNSC Inferno===
The UNSC Inferno was commissioned in February 2164. The assault carrier took part in the Battle of the Belt, the Fleet Action of 2165, the Europa Whirlwind, and the Battle of 3 Juno. During the Retaking of Ceres in September 2168, the Inferno suffered tremendous damage from Frieden forces. The carrier was declared irreparable and was scrapped at the newly liberated Ceres. 
===UNSC Blaze===
The UNSC Blaze was commissioned in April 2164. The assault carrier spent most of 2164 and early 2165 conducting operations in the Belt before joining the Jupiter Expeditionary Fleet. The Blaze was destroyed by Frieden forces in August 2165 during the Fleet action of 2165. 
===UNSC Wildfire===
The UNSC Wildfire was commissioned in May 2164. The assault carrier took part in the Battle of the Belt and the Fleet Action of 2165. The Wildfire was badly damaged by Frieden forces in Jovian Space in 2166 during the Europa Whirlwind. Instead of being scrapped, the damaged carrier was converted into an ODST training carrier in 2167 and made its way into the Vredefort flotilla. The Wildfire was decommissioned in 2242 and sold for scrap. 
Category:Carrier classes