Valiant-class large cruiser

The Valiant-class large cruiser (: CB/CBCValiant-class cruisers outfitted with a command suite have their hull classification symbol changed to the latter. Otherwise, all stock ships of the class have the former code.), incorrectly dubbed as a super-heavy cruiser and battleship by many, is the heaviest model of battlecruiser utilised by the during the . Introduced as a compromise between a and a , it is equipped with incredible amounts of lighter-tier weapons such as missiles rather than battleship-scale guns. Heavily armed, versatile and capable of engaging a group of opponents at once, they became a favourite of admirals and frequently served as flagships for prestigious fleets.
The Valiant was originally launched in , however, excessive production costs and issues with incorporating its next-generation meant that only those currently under construction were allowed to be produced. However, a lack of feasibility would see all Valiant-class cruisers stricken from the UNSC Navy rolls and partially scrapped in ; however, they would be saved as the rapidly increased in escalation. Augmenting and task forces, a small but famous handful would be converted into fleet command ships, becoming a favourite of admirals who disliked the larger supercarriers but felt existing command ships were too lightly-armed. They would be deployed above the most well-fortified rebel worlds as well as strongholds of the Colonial Military Administration as the UNSC usurped its authority.
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== Operational History ==
=== Development ===
The origins for the Valiant-class large cruiser lay in the , more than three decades before the first ships of the class would even be built. Despite the emerging signs of unrest and political tension that would later bring about the , for the most part, human space had settled into a wave of peace, and prosperity. The UNSC, continuing to use stagnating equipment and ships even despite some advances being brought out by the some fifty years before, had expanded their dominion to encompass the . This was against the whims of the Colonial Military Administration (CMA), who were growing increasingly discontent with the UNSC's efforts to usurp them and took to thoroughly modernising their military to oppose future pushes from their rival. Disregarding this, the UNSC saw no need to update their navy or most of their military forces, believing that they could quickly crush the CMA if push came to shove.
Regardless, the need for a small number of heavily-armed modern ships was a necessity they couldn't afford to ignore. After witnessing the success of their being undercut by the CMA's newly-adopted , they decided to unveil the "Special Prototype, hEavy Assault and Rearmament (SPEAR)" program. This project encouraged the Core's shipwrights to work together to create a heavy capital ship that could beat several smaller cruisers. They requested for cutting-edge technology to be used, with the design still be capable of being upgraded over a century to top-of-the-line specifications. Nominations had to be entered by July 4, ; unfortunately, this was pushed back due to the lack of interest from private entities
The -based was the first company to endorse the program, and allocated a considerable amount of resources to the upcoming warship's design. Headed by Doctor Samuel Tatiana with assistance from a UNSC liaison, , the Valiant-class would begin development in . The design's unprecedented complexity to allow it to even fulfil the requirements lengthened the predicted time to completion, thanks to both the incorporation of what were then cutting-edge systems and the superstructural strength. Regardless, the team would be able to rise to the challenge, and after extensive in-house testing, was submitted to the in 2472.
In addition to Halifax, two other corporations would also later participate in the program:
*PassiGear Manufacturing Company, who offered a modernised, conventional adaptation of the experimental UNSC Blenheim.
*, which developed a sizable battleship that would later inspire the .
All three would be put through a lengthy examination period which included simulated computers, which saw the UNSC accepting Aerofabrique's submission for a time. It was selected on the grounds for its firepower and ability to outlast both other submissions. Unfortunately, the entire program would be held in jeopardy when the ruling denied the Navy's proposal for funding the construction for twenty battleships. In addition to Aerofabrique's excessive development costs and the price for even a single one of their warships, a debate ruptured over whenever such heavily-armed were even necessary in the UNSC. In the end, the Navy conceded that while they felt a large combat ship was necessary, a ship as well-armed as supercarriers of the day was not. As a result, they cancelled the previous contract and awarded it to Halifax, with only a dozen large cruisers being ordered. By this time, the company's industrial power had largely waned, and while they did still update the designs to meet the cutting-edge technology of the day, they had to bring in the Reyes-McLees Corporation to help fabricate the ships.
== Layout ==
== Specifications ==
=== Propulsion and powerplant ===
=== Armament ===
=== Armour and Superstructural Supports ===
=== Countermeasures ===
== Ships of the Line ==
Name 	Hull Classification Symbol	Commissioned 	Destroyed 	Notes
 	CB/CBC-1 	Febuary 19, 2493 	August 30, 2552	Lead ship of the class, destroyed during the .
UNSC Terra Firma 	CB/CBC-2 	May 8, 2493 	 	Flagship of Rear Admiral Jeriah Colt. Participated in the Battle of New Tyre.
UNSC GogSubmitted by . 	CB-3 	August 27, 2493 	 	Participated in the Battle of Rhododendron. Frequently paired up with its twin sister-ship the UNSC Magog.
UNSC Magog 	CB-4 	November 3, 2493 	 	Participated in the Battle of Rhododendron. Frequently paired up with its twin sister-ship the UNSC Gog.
 	CB/CBC-5 	January 28, 2494 	 	Flagship of Vice Admiral Roi Olimpia, participated in the Siege of Sol.
 	CB/CBC-6 	March 19, 2494 	2542 	Flagship of Vice Admiral , captained by Captain Ashok Raymond, led Strike Group Killamanjaro during the Fall of Alluvion.
 	CB/CBC-7 	June 4, 2494 	April 18, 2543 	Flagship of Vice Admiral , earned the highest kills for its class, went missing during the .
UNSC KosciuszkoSubmitted by . 	CB/CBC-8 	October 14, 2494 	 	
UNSC CaspianSubmitted by . 	CB/CBC-9 	January 4, 2495 	 	Flagship of Admiral Lin Zhi, participated in the Imperial War.
UNSC ElbrusFree slot for anyone to take.	CB-10 	April 18, 2495 	 	
UNSC Denali 	CB-11 	May 21, 2495 	 	
UNSC Olympus 	CB/CBC-12 	June 14, 2495 	2535 	Flagship of Vice Admiral Tera McBay. Destroyed during the Battle of Scorpion Nebula.
 	CB/CBC-13 	July 19, 2499 	 	Attached to the .
UNSC Paladin 	CB/CBC-14 	August 8, 2499 	 	Assigned to Battle Group Eclipse. Badly damaged after the Conflict on Utopia. Decommissioned in 2560.
Claimed by 	CB/CBC-15 	December 3, 2499 	 	
Submitted by . (ex-UNSC Matterhorn 	CB/CBC-16 	June 25, 2498 	 	Flagship of Vice Admiral Richard 'Basher' Hooker, completed to a heavily modified design.
Submitted by . 	CB/CBC-19 	April 3rd, 2500 	N/A 	Flagship of Admiral Ansel Thompson.
UNSC Ben Nevis 	CB/CBC-20 	November 22nd, 2500	 	Last ship of class to be completed.
UNSC Vinson Massif 	N/A 	2502 	 	Cancelled and scrapped before being completed.
== Gallery ==
===Ship pictures===
VALCOMP2.jpg|Different views of the Valiant.
Valiant on patrol.jpg|A Valiant leading a small but powerful battle group.
Valiant.png|The layout of the Valiant.
Valiant_Covenant.jpg|A Valiant attacking a Covenant staging area.
Coles_Last_Stand.png|The painting .
Fleet_Battles_-_Valiant_and_frigates.jpg|The UNSC Terminus and escorts orbiting Reach.
===Ship Badges===
CBC-1 UNSC Valiant.png|Badge for the UNSC Valiant, following refit.Created by .|link=https://www.halopedia.org/UNSC_Valiant
CBC-2 UNSC Terra Firma.png|Badge for the UNSC Terra Firma, following its refit.
CBC-5 UNSC Chevalier.png|Badge for the UNSC Chevalier, following its refit.|link=https://www.halopedia.org/UNSC_Chevalier
CBC-6 UNSC Kilimanjaro.png|Badge for the UNSC Kilimanjaro, following its refit.|link=UNSC Kilimanjaro
CBC-7 UNSC Everest.png|Badge for the UNSC Everest, following its refit.|link=https://www.halopedia.org/UNSC_Everest
CBC-8 UNSC Kosiuszko.png|Badge for the UNSC Kosiuszko, following its refit.
CBC-9 UNSC Caspian V.3.png|Badge for the UNSC Caspian, following its refit.
CBC-12 UNSC Olympus.png|Badge for the UNSC Olympus, following its refit.
CBC-13 UNSC Terminus.png|Badge for the UNSC Terminus, following its refit.|link=https://www.halopedia.org/UNSC_Terminus
CBC-15 UNSC Aconcagua.png|Badge for the UNSC Aconcagua, following its refit.
CBC-16 UNSC Blood of Kings.png|Badge for the UNSC Blood of Kings, following its refit.|link=UNSC Blood of Kings
CBC-20 UNSC Ben Nevis.png|Badge for the UNSC Ben Nevis, following its refit.
== UNSC Remarks ==
== Notes==
Category:Cruiser classes