View source for Maelstrom-class carrier

{{Era|SV}}
{{Writer|Auguststorm1945}}
{{Under Construction}}
{{Title|''Maelstrom''-class light carrier}}
{{Ship Class Infobox/AS45
|name=''Maelstrom''-class
|image= 
|builders=
|operators=[[United Nations Space Command (Stormverse)|United Nations Space Command]]
|succeeded=[[Gift of Wings-class carrier|''Gift of Wings''-class (2377)]]
|preceded=[[Windstorm-class carrier|''Windstorm''-class (2446)]]
|subclasses=
|cost=
|built=2399 — 
|commission=2402 — 2472
|total ships building=
|total ships planned=
|total ships completed=
|total ships cancelled=
|total ships active=
|total ships laid up= 
|total ships lost=
|total ships retired=
|total ships scrapped=
|total ships preserved=
|type=[[Ships of the United Nations Space Command#Assault carriers|Assault carrier]]<br/>[[Ships of the United Nations Space Command#Light carriers|Light carrier (2475)]]
|length=1,325 meters
|width=
|height=
|propulsion=
|slipspace_drive=
|speed=
|slipspace_speed=
|sensor=
|target=
|navigation=
|EW=
|armament=magnetic accelerator cannon<br/>missiles
|armor=
|spacecraft=
|complement=
|crew=
|era=[[Interstellar Era]]<br/>
—[[Inner Colony Wars (Stormverse)|Inner Colony Wars]]<br/>
—[[Insurrection (Stormverse)|Insurrection]]<br/>
—[[Human-Covenant War (Stormverse)|Human-Covenant War]]
|role=
|notes=
}}
The '''''Maelstrom''-class''' [[Ships of the United Nations Space Command#Carriers|assault carriers]] began entering [[United Nations Space Command (Stormverse)|United Nations Space Command (UNSC)]] service in 2402 to drastically increase the number of assault carriers available to the fleet. Prior to the commissioning of the UNSC ''Maelstrom'', the UNSC had only six [[Gift of Wings-class carrier|''Gift of Wings'' assault carriers]] available to respond to the ongoing [[Inner Colony Wars (Stormverse)|Inner Colony Wars]]. The ''Maelstrom'' assault carriers were instrumental in bringing the colonial crisis to an end by 2411. 

<!--perceived poor quality, ill-suited to long term assault ship role, replaced by ''Windstorm'' carriers-->
Following the introduction of the new [[Windstorm-class carrier|''Windstorm'' assault carriers]], the ''Maelstrom''-class began to be withdrawn from service and most were decommissioned and in reserve by the 2460s; the last of the class were out of service by 2472. Alongside the still active ''Windstorm''-class, all extant ''Maelstrom'' carriers were reclassified as [[Ships of the United Nations Space Command#Light carriers|light carriers]] in 2475. 

The majority of the ''Maelstrom'' carriers languished in reserve during the [[Insurrection (Stormverse)|Insurrection]] and seemed likely to remain there until the [[Human-Covenant War (Stormverse)|Covenant invasion]] in 2525. 

==History==
===Development and construction===
*Desperate Need: The Inner Colony Wars
*After being delayed by politicking for most of the 2390s, UEG approves construction in late 2398
===Service===
*''Maelstrom'' answers the 'Tempest Challenge': quelling the colonial crisis in under 10 years
*"What we needed then is not what we need now": potential replacements
*''Windstorm'' and the slow retirement (2450 - 2472)
*The "perceived ignominy of reclassification"
*Return to action: the Human-Covenant War
==Design==
*Speed for construction, speed for deployment, speed for assault actions
*Light armor even by contemporary standards
*Underwhelming main gun (and some that didn't even get that)
==Ships in class==
*UNSC ''Maelstrom'' (2402)

<!--
==Ships==
*Dependable, Homeland, Trustworthy, Honest, Reliable, Freedom, Justice, Strength, Brawn, Heavyweight, Strongman, Independent, Deliverance, Deception
-->

{{UNSC ship classes (Inner Colony Wars)}}
{{UNSC ship classes (Human-Covenant War)}}
[[Category:Carrier classes]]