Pegasus-class cruiser-carrier

The Pegasus-class cruiser-carrier was a hybrid class of carrier/cruisers used by the United Nations Space Command during the Human-Covenant War.

The Pegasus-class was designed as part of an experiment based on experimental ship designs dating back in the 20th century to create a class of warship that can dually function as a heavy cruiser and fully functional carrier. By 2530 most of the Outer Colonies had been glassed by the Covenant. They had taken horrendous losses over the last five years, more than a hundred ships were lost and it was becoming rapidly clear that they would not be able to stop them from reaching the Inner Colonies. Concept designs began as early as 2528 as their stocks of older vessels were rapidly being depleted. The original idea was to create a carrier that mounted cruiser-sized MAC cannons but this design encountered immediate problems making room for both an extensive enough hangar bay and MAC cannons so the idea was scrapped. Then the idea changed to cruiser-sized escort carriers that would allow for economic production but this was also rejected by the brass who decided that the design lacked sufficient firepower for frontline engagements. Finally the designers settled on a heavily-armed and armor heavy cruiser with an elongated and expanded hull that would house extensive hangar bays for fighters and bombers without compromising space for the heavy weapons. There was significant opposition to the Pegasus-design. Several members of NAVCOM believed it a waste of resources Construction on the first hull began in the shipyards over Indus Minoris.

Only six were made before the destruction of their shipyards at the Battle of Indus Minoris. Without their primary construction facility production of the Pegasus was permanently halted.