Attack Ships are a classification order used by the Covenant Empire. They are small, swift, and utterly disposable, and are typically commanded by the lower-ranking members of their society.

Characteristics

Made up of the very smallest starships that are recognised as warships, Attack Ships occupy an odd step between strikecraft and true warships, and fulfil the Covenant's need for cheap escorts and cannon fodder in fleet engagements. Weighing up to three million metric tonnes and reaching a maximum length of six hundred metres, Attack Ships are the smallest vessels that are classified as warships. They are expected to operate independently or in small groups within the Covenant's borders, and perform menial tasks such as manifest checks, delivering personnel and supplies to ships and naval bases, and respond to civil unrest on their worlds. That said, their wide range of shapes and capabilities makes them a versatile classification. During fleet engagements, their small size restricts the power of their weapons and shields, which means that they must use their speed and strength of numbers to win or offer support to larger starships. Other systems are often minimal, such as victuallers and fire suppression systems.

Attack Ships are viewed with disdain by anyone wishing to climb the ranks of the Covenant, and their crews are given a number of additional restrictions. They are forbidden from contacting their Fleetmaster directly, as such an act is seen as wasting their time, and recognition for their battle honours must be verified by at least two other shipmasters. Because of this, and the fact that comparatively few see service in the Covenant's expeditionary fleets, Sangheili treat them as disposable tools. Instead, command of these ships fall to experienced Kig-Yar and Jiralhanae officers, who often tweak and brand these ships with their own markings to make them their own.