The ISA Cruiser is an advanced ship in the ISA Navy and is manufactured by the ISA Vekta Shipbuilding Division.

Specifications

Measuring 550 meters in height^[1] and propelled by nuclear-powered beam thrusters that double as weapons, the Cruiser provide the ISA with the persuasive force it requires to keep rebelling planets in line. Each ISA Cruiser holds a complement of 7,600^[1], including 5,000 Marines^[1], 600 pilots^[1], 1,800 support crew^[1], and 200 officers^[1]. In addition, it can store up to 160 Intruder-type landing craft^[1] and 30,000 metric tons of ammunition^[1] for the ship's main defense cannons. Cruisers also have 'dispersive armor'^[2] which can handle repeated hits from enemy ships, and even provide some defense against the heavy main cannon of the Helghast MAWLR.

Designing and constructing the cruiser was a massive undertaking for the ISA engineers.^[1] These ships differ greatly from their UCA counterparts, as they can change their positioning in-flight from combat operations in space to acting as on-station support in atmospheric conditions. An automated deployment system allows the Cruisers to rapidly send Intruder troop transports to a planet's surface, ensuring total planetary containment.

Armament

These towering hulks carry enough firepower to level a city several times over. Weapons onboard include:

• 'Snow Missiles', long-range missiles capable of disintegrating entire enemy vessels in a few shots.
• M10 AA Cannon, anti-aircraft cannons with four automatic 35x228mm guns, and includes an additional guided missile launcher.
• Bombardment Laser, which is prow-mounted for pinpoint orbital to ground strikes.

In ship-to-ship combat, the ISA Cruiser completely outmatches Helghast Cruisers, a single cruiser is capable of destroying an entire Helghast battle-group with a single missile barrage. Generally, the only effective means the Helghast have of engaging ISA Cruisers are boarding parties, ground-based orbital defense weapons, or just having a larger number of Cruisers in order to overwhelm them.

Service history

During the Second Extrasolar War, ISA Cruisers participated in the counter-invasion of planet Helghan in Operation Archangel. The Cruisers made up the twelve battle groups led by the flagship New Sun.^[3] In November 2359, the Cruisers engaged against their Helghast counterparts over Helghan's orbit and managed to secure a total orbital blockade.^[3] However, ISA forces were ultimately repulsed from Helghan after the New Sun was destroyed and the majority of the ISA forces were wiped out by the Red Dust nuclear weapon. The remaining ISA Cruisers assisted in evacuating the ISA survivors from Helghan.^[2]

During the cold war on Vekta in 2390, a fleet of ISA Cruisers under the command of the Vektan Security Agency launched an assault on Jorhan Stahl's base on Helghan to prevent the Helghast from launching an invasion force against Vekta. The Cruisers engaged against Stahl's forces, but were ultimately decimated by Dr. Hillary Massar's bioweapon.^[4]

Ships of the line

• ISC Arcturus - Participated in Operation Archangel and successfully evacuated from Helghan.
• ISC Bright Dawn - Destroyed in Operation Archangel.
• ISC Compulsion - Commanded by Captain Mandaloniz. Destroyed by incoming debris from the Dauntless during the evacuation of Helghan.
• ISC Dauntless - Commanded by Captain Donaggio. Destroyed during the evacuation of Helghan.
• ISC Denver - Bearing the number 14.
• ISC De Ruyter - Bearing the number 17. Participated in Operation Archangel.
• ISC Cassandra - Bearing the number 12. Re-purposed as a weapon-based research station. Scuttled into a sun by Shadow Marshal Lucas Kellan.
• ISC Hexis - Classified research station in deep space.^[5]
• ISC Rydion - Classified research station in deep space.^[5]
• ISC New Sun - Flagship of Battle Group Mandrake, commanded by Colonel Jan Templar. Destroyed in Operation Archangel.
• ISC Moor Time - Bearing the number 98.
• ISC Mora - Bearing the number 23. Participated in Operation Archangel.
• ISC Solar Wind - Commandeered by Admiral Alex Grey.
• ISC St. Nicolaas - Bearing the number 29. Participate in Operation Archangel.
• ISC St. Paul - Bearing the number 73.
• ISC Zephyr - Destroyed in Operation Archangel.
• ISC Valiant - Destroyed in Operation Archangel. Used to contact Earth by the remnants of the ISA forces stranded after the Helghast fight-back following Visari's death.^[6]

Gallery

Killzone 2

Docked ISA Cruisers shown in Killzone 2's cinematic intro.

An ISA Cruiser launches Snow Missiles.

ISA Cruiser destroying a Helghast Cruiser at range with Snow Missiles.

ISA Cruiser group shown in Corinth River.

Killzone 3

Cruisers Compulsion, Dauntless, and Arcturus.

Dauntless and Compulsion burn over Phyrrus

MAWLR takes aim at Compulsion

Compulsion takes direct hit from MAWLR

Compulsion shortly before imploding after impact

Killzone Shadow Fall

Bridge of the ISC Rydion.

Trivia

• The ISA Cruiser is purposely designed to resemble a hanging sword. Their presence in Killzone 2 echoes to the Sword of Damocles story, as the cruisers ominously hung over the Helghast capital of Pyrrhus and their leader Scolar Visari.^[1]
• During the attack on The New Sun, many vehicles can be seen stored on platforms.
• Miguel Martinez designed the ISA Cruiser to have a realistic, functional look based on real-life naval cruisers, aircraft carriers, space shuttles, and rockets.^[1]
• ISA Cruisers De Ruyter and St. Nicolaas are both based on Dutch history. The former being a reference to Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyer, and the latter being a reference to the Bishop Saint Nicholas, who is associated with the Dutch holiday of Sinterklaas.

References