UNSC prowler

This article is about the UNSC spacecraft classification. For the Jiralhanae vehicle, see [[Jiralhanae prowler]].

UNSC prowler

Production information

Product line

Corvette

Model

Stealth corvette

Class

Prowler

Technical information

Length

162 metres (530 ft)^[1] to 281 metres (920 ft)^[2]

Engine unit(s)

Equipped

Slipspace drive

Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine

Hull

Resistant to several pulse laser bursts^[3]

Sensor systems

X-ELF Radar System

Navigation system

Artificial intelligence or NAV computer

Countermeasures

Ablative baffles
Counter-electronic systems
Matte black ablative stealth coating
Texture buffers
Stealth Ablative Coating

Armament

Minimal

Complement

none

Crew

90 crewmen^[6]

Usage

Role(s)

Stealth infiltration and exfiltration, electronic intelligence, mine laying

Era(s)

Affiliation

UNSC
- ONI
  - UNSC Prowler Corps

The UNSC prowler was a stealth corvette classification within the UNSC.^[7] They are used exclusively by the Office of Naval Intelligence and are crewed by select ONI personnel.^[8] ONI operates prowlers through the UNSC Prowler Corps.^[9]

Class History[]

Human-Covenant war[]

Main article: Human-Covenant war

In 2526, Task Force Yama was created. This task force had three squadrons of Eclipse-class and Razor-class prowlers, with each squad being led by a Sahara-class.^[10]

Near the end of the war, the Winter-class light prowler was introduced. At the time, it was one of the most advanced vessels in use.^[11]

Design[]

Dimensions[]

The Sahara-class heavy prowler was significantly larger than other classes at 281 meters long.^[2]

Superstructure[]

Unlike other UNSC ships which are rectangular, long, and narrow in design, the UNSC Prowler is rather wide and has curved, wing-like extensions on its hull.

Role[]

In a similar role to its namesake, it is used to gather electronic intelligence, and its primary role is to stay hidden while safely gathering such intelligence, not to charge into battle, as that would invariably be an irreversibly fatal tactic, due to its light weapons and armor. Because of its tactical value and potential to change the outcome of any given combat situation, every UNSC battlegroup has at least one Prowler assigned to its ranks.^[12]

The Prowler's only combat role, beside active combat monitoring and recording, is discreetly laying minefields of stealthed nuclear HORNET Mines in orbital regions. Enemy ships that unknowingly enter these minefields can be destroyed by a single prowler, allowing the remainder of the UNSC forces to move in and finish off the survivors with MAC strikes and Archer Missiles. This stratagem allowed Battlegroup Stalingrad to wage a short but devastating battle against the Covenant at Onyx, destroying significantly more ships than their own number, an extremely rare outcome among UNSC-Covenant engagements.

Stealth systems[]

Ablative baffles
Counter-electronic systems
Stealth ablative coating
Texture buffers

Ships of the Line[]

Classes[]

Unnamed Classes[]

The UNSC Point of No Return was said to be a stealth cruiser, the largest of the Prowler classes.^[13]
The UNSC Last Gleaming was of a class that appeared to be more triangular and no noticeable protrusions.
The UNSC Taurokado was of a class that was more cylindrical, featured one large engine, and forward protruding antenna.^[14]

Named Ships[]

Trivia[]

SPARTAN-II Gray Team was able to pilot a Prowler, meaning a Prowler could be piloted by a crew of only three people.
The UNSC Wink of an Eye possessed Active camouflage systems, which were not common among UNSC or Covenant starships. The technology was most likely experimental, since the camouflage could not keep up with the constantly changing atmosphere of the gas giant Viperidae. Such a system was also used by the UNSC Dusk, during the Battle of Onyx, but bizarrely not described as being used during the Covenant Schism at Installation 05, despite there being five times as many, or more Covenant ships than at Onyx.