Marathon-class heavy cruiser

Marathon-class heavy cruiser

Marathon-class heavy cruiser
Production information
Manufacturer	UNSC
Technical specifications
Engine unit(s)	Deuterium fusion reactor
Slipspace drive	Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine
Hull	;Hull 191 centimetres (75 in) titanium-A battle plate Mass 100,000 tons (200,000,000 lbs)
Length	1,192 metres (3,910 ft)
Width	293 metres (960 ft)
Armament	2 Magnetic Accelerator Cannons Oversized Archer missile pods (60 missiles each) 50 mm Point-defense guns 5 Fusion rockets
Complement	24 Longsword interceptors Pelican dropships (D77-TC or D77H-TCI) Marines ODSTs HEVs Warthogs Scorpions Hornets
Function information
Role(s)	Attack, defense
Affiliation	UNSC Navy

The Marathon-class heavy cruiser is a cruiser classification used by the UNSC Navy. The class was meant to be a replacement for the aging Halcyon-class light cruisers. Their numbers are limited and they are usually commanded by the highest-ranking officers.

Nearly all Marathon-class cruisers were destroyed during the Battle of Earth, and were subsequently replaced by the Autumn-class heavy cruiser.

Description

The silhouette of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser.

At 1192 meters long, Marathon-class heavy cruisers are approximately three times the length of a UNSC frigate. They are equipped with thick layers of Titanium-A armor, and are able to sustain far greater damage than any UNSC frigate or destroyer. Due to their size, durability and firepower (2 MACs as well as dozens of oversized Archer missile pods), these massive vessels are commanded by UNSC Admirals and primarily served as flagships for UNSC fleets.

Use

During the early years of the Human-Covenant war, Marathons played a crucial role in defending the outer colonies, although most ended up getting destroyed during that period of time. The remainder of these great cruisers were reassigned to the defense of the Inner colonies in the latter years of the Human-Covenant war. They were considered extremely valuable in terms of firepower and armor, and it was seen to by the UNSC admiralty that they were only used in the most dire and occasional of circumstances. Marathons were present at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV and the Fall of Reach. At least twelve, but likely many more, saw action at the Battle of Earth under Fleet Admiral Harper and another was part of Battle Group Stalingrad during the Battle of Onyx.

Following the introduction of the Autumn-class heavy cruiser most of the surviving Halcyon-class light cruisers and Marathon-class heavy cruiser were decommissioned, with just a handful of them staying in service.

Ships of the Line

• UNSC Leviathan - Flagship of Admiral Hieronymus Michael Stanforth. Likely lost during the Fall of Reach.
• UNSC Hannibal - Destroyed in 2552.
• UNSC Prophecy - Destroyed in 2531.
• UNSC Say My Name - Present at the Battle of Earth.
• UNSC Dresden - Destroyed over Biko. Carried a saddle box drive.

Trivia

• In Halo: The Fall of Reach, the Marathon classification is erroneously identified as a carrier.
• The name Marathon is a reference to Bungie's Marathon game series.
• In Halo: The Fall of Reach, it is mentioned that the Leviathan was one of twenty UNSC cruisers left in the Fleet, which were being slowly pulled back to protect the Inner colonies. At least eight of them were present in the UNSC Home Fleet in October 2552.

Gallery

The UNSC Prophecy.

Marathon-class heavy cruisers on a video display of the Home Fleet.

ODST's gathered around a holo-table inside a Marathon-class cruiser.

A view of the UNSC Say My Name via a glitch.

A Marathon-Class, under escort by Longsword fighters.

A Marathon-class heavy cruiser in combat

A Marathon-class heavy cruiser's engines attempting to re-light after taking a direct hit from a Covenant Assault Carrier. Note John-117 in the foreground.

Appearances

• Halo 2
• Halo Wars (Mentioned only)
• Halo 3: ODST
• Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
• Halo: First Strike
  • Tug o' War (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
• Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
  • The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole
• Halo Graphic Novel
  • Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa
• Halo Wars: Genesis
• Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp