Cruiser (Broken Mirror)

There is more information available on this subject at Cruiser on the English Wikipedia.
A Cruiser is a type of warship. Cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after carriers and battleships, and can usually perform several roles. Cruisers are a type of heavily-armed and armoured warship designed with an emphasis on weaponry and armour over complements. Cruisers were operated by both the UNSC, the Covenant, and the various Covenant Remnant factions, such as , or .
In the UNSC Fleet, Cruisers are often found escorting larger carriers, or leading fleets of Frigates and Destroyers, in combat. However, unlike smaller Frigates and Destroyers, Cruisers can act independently from fleet support, and conduct missions as necessary behind enemy lines far from friendly forces. Cruisers can be found in numerous flavours, such as Light Cruiser, Heavy Cruiser, Battlecruiser, and Super-heavy Cruiser. These sub-types of Cruiser can fulfill a wide array of tasks, operations, and roles.
== Strategic Implications ==
Cruisers are middle-weight warships, and are faster than Carriers and Battleships, and more heavily-armed and armoured than frigates or destroyers. Both the UNSC and Covenant fleets possessed numerous warships of such classification, though the tactical philosophies followed by the two navies were radically different.
For the UNSC, Cruisers were often the standard patrol unit, and often find themselves leading frigate flotillas, often in small engagements, such as pirate suppression campaigns. Cruiser-weight warships are the standard bread and butter of UNSC fleets, often being the heaviest warships deployed, designed to engage and destroy enemy warships that may otherwise threaten a fleet's carrier force, serving as the backbone of Humanity's fleets. UNSC Cruisers additionally often are used for "show the flag" patrols in the colonies, reminding the colonies of Earth's ever present gaze, which only strengthened after the Covenant War's conclusion.
Within the Covenant, and it's splintered remnants, they wield their cruisers in a different manner. Despite possessing many different cruiser classifications, the Covenant, and it's remnants use assault carriers as the backbone, and defining powerhouses of their fleets. Covenant cruisers were typically considerably larger than their UNSC counterparts, though not universally. light cruisers for instance, were significantly smaller than even the UNSC's light cruiser, one of the smallest warships ever fielded by the UNSC to be called a cruiser.
== Brief History ==
Though the overall history of the Covenant cruisers is sparse, certain cruisers have details which are known. Maugen-pattern cruisers for instance, were introduced into Covenant service during the Fifth Age of Reclamation, which occurred when humanity was beginning to make early long-distance oceanic-based voyages on Earth. In essence, the early epoch of the age of sail.
For humanity, the evolution of cruisers stems from the following eras, often to refer to an independent warship during the 17th century, with "Cruiser" meaning the intended purpose or mission of a given ship, rather than any intended category of vessel. It would not be until the 19th century before "Cruiser" came to be used to refer to a type or category of vessel. They would see heavy use, and see the most development during the early stages of the 20th century, during World War I, and World War II, but the most contemporary development of ship design, occurred in the late 20th, and early to mid 21st century. Doctrine shifted from predominantly gun-based warships, to missile based warships. Development of railguns, and coilguns began during these eras as well. These advances in technology define modern warships of the UNSC, including Cruisers.
Ultimately, human cruiser designs and doctrine was iterated upon rarely, with most improvements to design and doctrine most directly occurring throughout the long-lasting Insurrection, and more obviously, after the Human-Covenant war's conclusion.
== Overview ==
=== Characteristics ===
Doctrine between the UNSC, the Covenant, and Covenant remnants vary greatly. The Covenant, and it's remnants often use carriers, in place of cruisers, to be the centerpiece of their fleets. Command and control of action would be coordinated through carriers, rather than cruisers. This is a stark contrast to the UNSC, which uses Cruisers as their typical flagships, with many Admirals preferring Cruisers over Carriers for this purpose, due to their frequency, with the UNSC losing, or lacking, as many carriers, as they had Admirals. Often, Cruisers are used to protect a fleet's carrier, or carriers, and in place of those, crucial assets during planetary defense, such as orbital repair yards, or defensive stations, such as Cairo-Station in high geosynchronous orbit over the city of Cairo at Earth.
One universal constant between various factions however, is that often, Cruisers are considered Capital Ships, which sets it apart from frigates, or destroyers. However, this is not a universal constant on the human side of the pond. Examples lie in the Strident-Class heavy frigate, and the Halberd-Class light destroyer, which are both considered capital ships, where other frigates and destroyers are not.
=== Design Details ===
As stated earlier, cruisers can be found in numerous flavours. However, by doctrine, and intention of design, one must extrapolate additional detail. Within the UNSC, cruisers are defined as a Light Cruiser, Heavy Cruiser, Battlecruiser, and Super-heavy Cruiser. This is unlike the Covenant, which had no use for such terminology, and indeed several ships considered cruisers by humanity, but were only considered "attack ships" by the covenant. An example is the Zanar-pattern "light cruiser", as an attack ship was beneath the notice of Fleetmasters or Supreme Commanders, and often used in the role of a police cutter, or similar roles. Indeed, the Zanar-pattern did not merit a Shipmaster's chair, and associated honours and boons. Instead, the Covenant divides it's ships between a number of categories. As an example, the heavy cruiser, was as considered by the Covenant, to be an . This is an excellent example of classes in addition to the above which may be considered cruisers due to differing classification systems.
== Known Types ==
=== Covenant ===
Class 	Image	Details
Zanar-pattern (CRS) Light Cruiser 	 	Strangely, the Zanar-pattern Light Cruiser stands as a confusing, and perhaps misidentified design. Being only 300 metres in length, the Zanar-pattern's role within the Covenant was that of a , not a frontline warship. Though that has changed in the post-war era, it is still woefully undergunned and outclassed compared to other Covenant craft considered cruisers, which makes it's inclusion as a cruiser all the more interesting of a choice, from the UNSC. By Covenant reckoning, the Zanar-pattern was considered but a mere Attack Ship.
Ket-pattern (CCS) Battlecruiser 	 	By Covenant standards, the Ket-pattern Battlecruiser was considered an intermediary warship. By far the most numerous of the Covenant's vessels numerically, it was only contended, by the nearly as common Elefen-pattern. Due to the similarities between the Ket and Elefen-patterns superficially, the exact number of each class is undeterminate. Out of all the ships that the UNSC encountered however, by far the Ket-pattern was the most frequent, with more sightings and engagements than the Elefen-pattern. By Covenant reckoning, the Ket-pattern was considered an Advocate.
Elefen-pattern (OCS) Battlecruiser 	 	Alongside the venerable Ket-pattern Battlecruiser, the Elefen-pattern was a mainstay battlecruiser in service in the Empire, though despite it's numerity, even contending the Ket-pattern in number and in ages long past, even eclipsing it, fell out of fashion after the Human-Covenant war. Indeed, by 2553, there was no ship more ubiquitous than the Ket-pattern. By Covenant reckoning, the Elefen-pattern was considered an Advocate.
Maugen-pattern (RCS) Armoured Cruiser	 	The two kilometre long Maugen-pattern was an older cruiser within the Covenant armadas, and paled in comparison to the smaller, newer, and more sophisticated Ket and Elefen-pattern Battlecruisers. Despite this, the Maugen was considered reliable, and simple to operate. These traits made them particularly valuable after the Great Schism, and the end of the Human-Covenant war, as Covenant splinter factions could rely on the Maugen to remain operational with limited assistance, where newer vessels would be beyond the resources of the disjointed, and fractured Covenant Remnants. By Covenant reckoning, the Maugen-pattern was considered an Advocate.
Varric-pattern (ORS) Heavy Cruiser 	 	The Varric-pattern Heavy Cruiser, is the second-largest known cruiser to have served the Covenant, at three kilometres long, it superficially resembles smaller cruisers visually with the main superstructure following similar design motifs, and sensor veins protruding from the ship's "head". However, it retains distinct differences which set it apart, and evoke ships such as the Ceudar-pattern Heavy Corvette, and a profile ultimately more similar to Covenant carriers. They were often used to occupy planets, command fleets, and support the flagships of Fleetmasters or Supreme Commanders. Varric-pattern Heavy Cruisers are considered one of the most pristigeous ships to serve on during the Covenant, but they were labour intensive to maintain and operate. This is due to the vessels of this pattern displaying now-cryptic messages in an ancient Sangeili dialect, which required special interpreters and scholars on the bridge. Due to this glaring issue, the Varric fell nearly completely out of service at the end of the Human-Covenant war, as no faction had the resource, nor personnel to operate these mighty warships. By Covenant reckoning, the Varric-pattern was considered an Examiner.
Onura-pattern (DOS) Supercruiser 	 	The Onura-pattern Supercruiser, oft referred to as the Onura-pattern Battleship due to it's overwhelming firepower. At 3500 metres in length, and with a weapons system which could cut apart even the most durable of UNSC capital ships in one attack, it was seldom deployed due to both rarity, complexity of construction, and ultimately most be reserved for service in proximity to High Charity. Receiving, and more importantly, being able to deploy an Onura-pattern was one of the most bureaucratic processes in the former Covenant. With only one ever seen during the war, where it was used in the Epsilon Eridani system, cutting through Reach's defenses. Most were lost during the Great Schism, with the surviving ships of the pattern falling into the hands more often than not of Sangheili lead Covenant Remnants. However, the Prudent Justice, found it's way into service with the Swords of Sanghelios. By Covenant reckoning, the Onura-pattern was considered an Examiner.
=== UNSC ===
Class 	Image	Details
 	 	The Halcyon-class Light Cruiser, or simply the "Halcyon-class Cruiser", is widely considered to be the smallest class of vessel to be designated a cruiser by the UNSC, but older classes from the Domus Diaspora and pre-Insurrection eras held the classification of cruiser, with smaller size.
Hermes-class Light Cruiser	 	Larger than a Halcyon-class, but smaller than a Marathon-class, the Hermes is arguably the weakest warship in UNSC service to be designated a cruiser. With no MAC system, in favour of advanced cyber and electronic warfare suites, the Hermes favours disrupting the weapons, sensors, and other critical systems of their opponents, than outright destruction. More common during the Insurrection, many were destroyed during the Human-Covenant war, and their technologies and capabilities were simply integrated into most post-war era warships.
 	 	The Marathon-class Heavy Cruiser is a larger cruiser than the Halcyon-class, and intended to replace it. It is the most commonly produced cruiser in UNSC history, and became the backbone of the UNSC navy during the Human-Covenant war. Additionally, the Marathon was rarely deployed in a configuration, sacrificing firepower, for a larger support complement.
 	 	An artillery capital ship which excels at long-range combat and dealing heavy damage to enemy capital ships. It is built on modified and retrofitted Marathon-class frames, using a similar superstructure and superficially similar, but weaker armament, and lighter armour. It trades these weaknesses for a more powerful MAC array, and additional speed.
 	 	The Autumn-Class Heavy Cruiser was designed to be a successor to the Halcyon-class Light Cruiser, taking the knowledge and developments of the Human-Covenant war, and the strengths of the class's namesake, the Pillar of Autumn, to design an improved and modern cruiser design meant for a new era of peace, exploration, and expansion for the UNSC and UEG.
 	 	Widely considered one of the most powerful vessels to be fielded by the , it was primarily used as the centrepiece of fleets, operating as the focal point of command and coordination during engagements, and being a favourite of many an Admiral, who used the Valiant during the war as their Flagships. Many in the service have often referred to the Valiant as both Battlecruiser, and even Battleship, due to it's immense size, armament, and armour for the era in which it served.
 	 	The largest warship built by the UNSC not to be classified as a carrier, designed to replace the Artemis and Valiant classes, and designed to resemble the smaller Artemis-class, the Kallisto-class Battlecruiser is oft remarked upon by many in the navy as "The Battleship who's playing Cruiser", due to it's immense size, eclipsed in scale only by the largest of carriers in UNSC service. Despite this, it has made a name for itself as a potent and capable capital ship, designed to stand on equal footing with Covenant capital ships.
== Categories ==
=== UNSC ===
Cruisers may be referred to as simply Cruisers, without delineating down to the constituent Light, Heavy, Super-heavy, and Battlecruisers. However, certain cruisers fall somewhere between the line between light and heavy cruisers, blurring the lines. While officially, they may be designated one type, or the other, for practical communication of design elements, class, and intended use, it is often common to simply refer to these blurred vehicles as simply Cruisers, with specificity conventionally applied to delineat more neatly classes of cruiser which clearly fall within one specific category.
Cruisers can be named for a number of reasons. Common choices include adjectives such as "Halycon", or "Valiant", mountains such as "Everest" or "Rainier". Poems, phrases, allusions/references to poems, and names/phrases of biblical/mythological origin are further frequent, with names such as "Leviathan", "Pillar of Autumn", "Unto the Breach", and "Say My Name". Cities are also used often, with examples in "Canberra", and "Dresden". They can also be named for Dieties and Planets, such as "Jupiter", "Hades", and "Artemis". Lastly, Cruisers can be named for nouns, such as "Marathon", or "Prophecy". Cruisers are thusly some of the most diversely named warships in UNSC service, rivalled only in diversity, and creativity of names by Frigates.
Classification 	Description
Light Cruiser 	Light Cruisers are the smallest type of cruisers. Typically using lighter armaments, and lighter armour than heavier counterparts. However, Light Cruisers occupy a 'goldilocks zone' between armament, durability, hangar size, and speed, leading them to be extremely versatile warships, and commonly produced during the Insurrection. However, during the Human-Covenant War, they underperformed, and were decommissioned. As the war progressed however, a need for any and all warships saw them rushed back into service. With the war's conclusion however, the UNSC has once again prioritised the design and construction of heavier cruisers to escort it's carriers.
Light Cruisers are a type of small or medium-sized warship in the UNSC Navy. The terminology historically roots from the phrase "light armoured cruiser", which referred to a small vessel which carried armour in the same manner as an armoured cruiser, with a protective belt, and an armoured deck. Within the UNSC Navy, Light Cruisers use the Hull Code of C, meaning "Cruiser". Alternatively, though less commonly used, the Hull Code of CL is generally found acceptable, and means "Cruiser, Light".
Heavy Cruiser 	Heavy Cruisers are larger than Light Cruisers, and comparatively more heavily armed and armoured. Often the favoured choice of Admirals to act as command ships when a carrier isn't available, these mighty warships serve diligently, bringing to bear superior firepower, and endurance few other ships can match. They are the most common form of Cruiser in UNSC service, at a ratio of 3:1, being the very backbone by which the UNSC Navy is built, and saw the most frequent action of all Cruiser classifications during the Human-Covenant War, and post war era.
Heavy Cruisers are a type of medium or large-sized warship in the UNSC Navy. Designed for longer ranges, speed, and a heavier armament than their lighter cousins, they serve as an intermediate ship type between Light Cruisers and Super-heavy Cruisers, one larger and more powerful than Light Cruisers, but not as large and expensive as Super-heavy Cruisers to allow common production. Heavy Cruisers are the most common form of Cruiser in UNSC service, and are often referred strictly to as Cruisers, in lieu of the Heavy terminology. Within the UNSC Navy, Heavy Cruisers use the Hull Code of CA, originally meaning in antiquity "Cruiser, Armoured", but came to mean "Cruiser, Heavy".
Battlecruiser 	Battlecruisers are a niche classification that are larger than Light Cruisers, though equivalent or smaller than Heavy Cruisers. Instead, their classification comes from their heavy weapon batteries above and beyond a ship of contemporary size. However, battlecruisers are often glass cannons, which have typically sacrificed their survivability in favour of increased speed and firepower. Their presence however, was rare, with very few deployments during the Human-Covenant War. This rarity of deployment did not mean their presence was missed when deployed to action, with Battlecruisers becoming famous for turning the tide of losing campaigns time and again during the war.
Battlecruisers also written as battle cruiser or battle-cruiser, are a type of capital ship. Battlecruisers typically have thinner armour and a lighter armament than battleships, but eclipse them in speed. As with the seaborne battlecruisers of the 20th century, the Battlecruisers of the UNSC are intended to outrun any ship with similar or heavier armaments, and to chase down any ship with lesser armament. Within the UNSC Navy, Battlecruisers use the Hull Code of CC, which in antiquity meant either "Cruiser, Command" or, interestingly "Cruiser, Battle".
Super-heavy Cruiser	Super-heavy Cruisers are the most powerful classification of cruiser, and are often nicknamed "Large Cruisers". Super-heavy Cruisers can best be described as a more formidable heavy cruiser, scaled up to allow them to easily overcome any light capital ship without assistance of support vessels.
Super-heavy Cruisers are powerhouse designs, representing a supersized cruiser design, and can sometimes be likened to "super cruisers", "large cruisers", or even "unrestricted cruisers". While superficially similar to a Battleship, Super-heavy Cruisers actual protection scheme and armament revealed simply a scaled-up Heavy Cruiser design. Super-heavy Cruisers are heavily armoured above and beyond other cruisers, having armour rivalling that of carriers, and carrying significant armaments akin to Battleships. Within the UNSC Navy, Super-heavy Cruisers use the Hull Code of CB, coming from antiquity, where it meant "Cruiser, Big".
Hull Codes are standardised across the entire UNSC Navy. One exception lies in the hull code of CBC. In antiquity, it was intended to be used as "Large command cruiser", but never saw operational use. Within the UNSC Navy, the Hull classification code of CBC which usually refers to either a Battlecruiser or a Super-heavy Cruiser which has been deliberately converted to operate as a flagship of a Flag Officer. The most famous example of this would be the UNSC Everest (CBC-14), a Valiant-class Super-heavy Cruiser. The ship was commanded by Admiral Preston J. Cole, and was presumed lost with all hands after the Battle of Psi Serpentis. Beyond the Everest and it's storied career, the ship's hull code was ultimately a temporary hull code, and much like Everest, only sees use on Battlecruisers and Super-heavy Cruisers, when operating as a Flagship. Should an Admiral cease to "fly their flag" aboard the vessel in question, the vessel's identification number would return to their class's standard hull code of CC, or CB, respective to class. Within this line of protocol and convention, had Admiral Cole ceased to use the Everest as his Flagship and centre of operations, the Everest would have returned to it's launch identification of CB-14.
Uniquely, one Marathon-class Heavy Cruiser has used the hull code of CBC, the UNSC Chevalier, CBC-5. Prior to the Battle of Earth, the UNSC Chevalier was assigned to the UNSC Home Fleet, and was the source of a security team deployed to Cairo Station by Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper's orders in order to prepare for Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood's arrival, who intended to use Cairo Station as his headquarters through the duration of the Human-Covenant war. However, the Chevalier was not used by Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper as his Flagship, instead preferring the UNSC Canberra CA-70, for his flagship. As such, it is unknown why the Chevalier used the CBC hull code, whether it was a specific modification to the class, and under which Admiral's flag was it in service.
=== Covenant ===
Due to the unique method in which the Covenant self-identifies it's warships, no perfect methodology for analysing and ascribing the idea of a Cruiser to Covenant doctrine and fleet philosophy would be accurate. However, one can mention, and analyse the similarities and differences between Human conceits and terminology, with those of the Covenant races, superficial and blatant both.
Category 	Description
Advocate 	Advocates are perhaps the most similar in design philosphy to that which humanity and through which extension the UNSC views Cruisers. With the Ket, Elefen, and Maugen patterns each being identified as cruisers, a clear comparison can be drawn. Indeed, with the identification of these patterns as Advocates, their numerity, and the roles in which they fulfilled within the Covenant armadas before, and during the Human-Covenant war, their use case is nearly identical to that which the UNSC used their own cruisers. As the backbone of their fleets, and the instrument by which victory was achieved. However, as the Covenant preferred to instead use their assault carriers, which were often of the Examiner classification, as the powerhouses of their fleets, and the centre by which their doctrine was designed. As such, the comparison is imperfect, and blatant doctrine similarities end there. Despite this, Covenant doctrine was often second to the truth of reality, and Advocates, due to their numerical superiority within the Covenant armadas, were the actual force projection instruments, and were used to support ground invasions and secure victory.
Attack Ship	The only "Cruiser" by which to analyse from this classification, is currently the Zanar-pattern. However, given it's extraordinarily small scale compared to other cruisers, within both UNSC and Covenant conceptions of ship doctrine, design, and conceits, it is more akin to a very light frigate, or corvette, and should be analysed and considered through that lens, despite it's curious status. At 300 metres long, it was outclassed even by post-war UNSC frigates. This could be due to age, but simply put, the Zanar was never meant to be deployed as a warship, and within the Covenant, was little more than a Cutter, good only to patrol Covenant space, and act as a policing craft, suppressing pirates within Covenant space. As such, it can be considered apt, and perhaps fair, to conclude, and conceid, that the Zanar-pattern is not a true cruiser, as analysed by the UNSC, and best interpretted as a Corvette, of menial status and capability.
Examiner 	Examiners are included strictly for the Varric-pattern Heavy Cruiser. Due to it's immense size, one can consider the Varric more through the lens of an older battleship, which has simply been retyped due to age, and the shifting political and military realities of the galaxy, and the conflicts therein. Examiners are more famously portrayed through the Syfon and Kerel pattern Assault Carriers, and by which the idea of the Examiner is most well known. Through the lens of the Varric-pattern, one sees that despite it's impressive suite of Forerunner artifacts, it is held back by numerous shortcomings and design flaws, which ultimately serve to undermine the greater role and part it could play. Though ultimately, it would find itself serving much the role of the UNSC's Valiant-class. A command ship of prestige, status, and note, which oversaw campaigns, and often escorted ships of even greater importance. In the case of the Varric, it escorted the mighty nearly 30 kilometre long Sh'wada-pattern Supercarrier, wherein the Valiant escorted Epoch, Atlas, Orion, and Punic class carriers.
Executioner	Though no known Covenant warship as yet identified as Cruiser by the UNSC has been self-identified within Covenant doctrine as an Executioner, due to the strict purpose and design of the Executioners, it must be analysed. As they are intended for war, and nothing more than that, they are the ultimate warship within the Covenant armadas. Indeed, this analysis is more to make light of the fact that a yet identified ship within Covenant, or Remnant use, within the bounds of the category and classification of Executioner is not impossible, given the wide array of designations given to warships within this broad spectrum of options. From the mighty Kewu-pattern Battleship, to the devastating Sinaris-pattern Heavy Destroyer, to the ultimately average and underwhelming Ester-pattern Armoured Frigate. By such analysis, it is not unreasonable to assume and speculate, that a yet unseen vessel to the UNSC, which they might broadly categorise based on prior behaviour as a Cruiser, would fall within the Executioner category.
== Related Vehicles ==
=== Covenant ===
* Mutan Et-pattern (DAS) Storm Cutter: The Mutan Et-pattern Storm Cutter is a smaller vessel, which is described as a cruiser. This is likely another example of broadening UNSC association of the term Cruiser to a wider array of Covenant, and Covenant Splinter faction, ships. Much in the same vein as the Zanar-pattern. Given the Mutan Et-pattern's small size, small crew, and ultimately lacklustre armament, it was likely by Covenant reckoning, an Attack Ship of very little prestige or honour, and more equivalent to UNSC Corvettes than Cruisers.
=== Sangheili ===
* Rwaru-pattern Carrack: The Rwaru-pattern Carrack, as described as being a "Merchant Cruiser", can be associated, but quickly dismissed from being considered a true cruiser, as considered by the UNSC. Though larger than the Varric-pattern Heavy Cruiser in tonnage and overall mass, it has a shorter length, and comparatively weak armament. Further, given that it dates back to the age before the Covenant, the design is ancient, and thus comparitively underpowered, despite it's size. It was supposedly used to ferry troops and materiel to where it was needed, though ultimately, this would categorise more as an assault ship or troop carrier, than a cruiser. By Covenant reckoning, the Rwaru-pattern was a Vestige.
== See also ==
* Covenant Ship Classification System
* UNSC Hull Classification System
Category:Ship ClassificationsCategory:United Nations Space Command