Battle at Szurdok Ridge: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:24, January 26, 2012

The Battle at Szurdok Ridge was a major engagement between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant Empire during the Fall of Reach in August 2552.^[1]

Background

On the night prior to the battle, Spartan Noble Team, split into two splinter groups, Recon Team Alpha and Bravo, conducted a reconnaissance mission at Szurdok Ridge to determine the Covenant force deployments in the area. They discovered a massive ground army amassing in the plain, with three corvettes hovering overhead.^[2]

The UNSC responded with a massive ground and air based counterattack the following morning. The overall goal of the UNSC was to blitz the Covenant strike force before the rest of the Covenant fleet arrived, preventing any solid Covenant foothold on Reach. The main target for the UNSC counterattack was to take out the Covenant Spires located along the valley ridge. Upon attacking, UNSC did not yet know what the main purpose of the spires.^[1]

The battle

A massive UNSC strike force stormed the Viery plains towards the Covenant-occupied site, attempting to reclaim the land and eliminate all Covenant presence from Reach. The entire assault force was mechanized, as the lack of available cover on the plains prohibited an infantry assault. The UNSC thus resolved to close the distance with the Covenant and engage in an armored battle at close quarters. An advance wave of Warthogs, backed up by Scorpion tanks, as well as Mongooses, formed the ground component of the attack. Air support was provided by a mixture of Falcons and Pelicans. Six and Kat-B320 led the ground attack, while Jorge-052 and Carter-A259 coordinated air support.

The destroyed bridge.

The battle begins

As the UNSC force closed on the Covenant landing zone, the Covenant detected the incoming attack and opened fire, hammering the advancing UNSC force with long range plasma mortar fire, supplemented by Banshees, which preformed strafing runs. Although the Covenant bombardment inflicted casualties, the UNSC was undeterred and continued the advance. During the charge, Kat detonated the charge set on the stealth pylon by Jun-A266. Covenant heavy units, including three Scarabs, moved to counterattack the UNSC force. A small group of Warthogs, including Noble Six and Kat, and supported by Falcons, split off from the main assault wave onto a ridge overlooking the main battleground; however, a Wraith mortar shot destroyed a bridge over a large ravine that the group needed to cross to gain access to the ridgeline. Kat successfully managed to jump the gap, but the following Warthog was not so lucky, falling into the ravine below, and the Spartan's Warthog was destroyed by the crash. All of the preceding Warthogs were either destroyed by the destruction of the bridge, or by two Shade, which also forced the Falcons to withdraw.

A Tyrant anti-aircraft gun overlooking the field of battle.

Clearing the skies

The two Spartans took out the two nearby Covenant Shade emplacements, and cleared the way for a Pelican to deliver a Rocket Warthog. Covenant heavy anti-aircraft artillery, meanwhile, was preventing the UNSC from bringing heavy air support into play. A Covenant anti-aircraft gun with a commanding view of the battlefield was inflicting casualties on the UNSC's airpower, so the two Spartans were assigned to destroy it. The two succeeded, clearing the skies for three Longswords that made a bombing run on the main Covenant force, destroying the three Scarabs serving as the linchpin of the Covenant defense. The strike punched a hole in the Covenant's lines, allowing UNSC Scorpions and Warthogs on the plains to advance upon the rest of the Covenant force. The Paris-class heavy frigates UNSC Grafton and UNSC Saratoga also moved in on the battlefield, supporting ground units with their autocannons. A Pelican placed a deployable bridge to replace a destroyed one near the AA gun, allowing Six and Kat to progress further towards the Covenant lines.

Assault on the spires

The Grafton destroys Spire One.

Six and Kat joined a group of Troopers assaulting a Covenant outpost located in a BXR Mining facility. They cleared the outpost and killed the Zealot in command of it. Upon passing through the facility, the two Spartans advanced further, destroying a second AA gun. As a result, the UNSC gained air superiority over the battlefield and let the frigates advance closer to the first Spire. Jorge picked up Six in a Falcon to fly him to the Spire through a Covenant-fortified canyon. The main UNSC ground force continued their advance, and Six supported them by using the Falcon's grenade launcher turret. The Falcon passed through the electromagnetic shields emitted by the Spire structure to drop off Jorge and Noble Six, but the shield disabled the Falcon, causing it to crash, and killing the crew; however, Jorge and Noble Six were able to make it out in one piece. The pair continued fighting their way into the structure, with Six managing to deactivate the structure's shielding system. Cleared of defenses, the UNSC called in a MAC strike executed by the Grafton to destroy the Spire.

The Long Night of Solace revealed

The Long Night of Solace de-cloaked above the ridge.

ONI had discovered that the Spire served a dual purpose, serving as a teleportation terminal and projecting a cloaking field, but what the Spire was cloaking, and what its teleporter was linked to, was as yet unrealized. With Nobles Five and Six evacuated by Carter's Falcon, Grafton moved in and destroyed the Spire with its MAC gun. The disruption of the cloaking field revealed a new danger: a Covenant supercarrier, the Long Night of Solace, in low orbit above Reach. With its cloaking shield gone, the supercarrier opened fire, instantly destroying the Grafton with one of its energy projectors. Unable to compete with the sheer firepower of the Covenant warship, the UNSC retreated. The supercarrier withdrew into Covenant held space in orbit above Reach, apparently unwilling to risk being pinned down by Reach's gravity well in its current position.

Aftermath

With the appearance of the supercarrier, the UNSC forces disengaged and fell back. The UNSC were unable to destroy the carrier as all their Nuclear weapons were either destroyed or unavailable. Covenant forces deployed from the supercarrier continued to harry UNSC forces on Reach until the launch of Operation: UPPER CUT, which, utilizing a makeshift Slipspace bomb, succeeded in destroying the ship at the cost of the Template:UNSCship and its crew, one SPARTAN-II, and a squad of Sabre pilots.

Gallery

Viery.jpg

UNSC force deployments in the Viery territory during the battle.
UNSC ground forces charge a Covenant formation during the battle.
Kat detonating the charge in the pylon.
UNSC armored forces engage Covenant Scarabs in the valley.
The Grafton advances after the destruction of the AA cannon.
A Longsword supporting ground troops.
The Scarabs are bombed by Longswords.
A Pelican deploying a bridge so Six and Kat can proceed.
The UNSC Saratoga and the Grafton holding position above Szurdok Ridge.
The Grafton and Saratoga participate in the battle.
The objective of the assault: the Covenant Spires.
The Grafton is destroyed by the Covenant supercarrier, forcing the UNSC to retreat.

List of appearances

Halo: Reach (First appearance)

Sources

^ ^a ^b Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of The Spear
^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Nightfall

Related pages

[tip-1] Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of The Spear

[2] Halo: Reach, campaign level Nightfall

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 ==The battle==
 A massive UNSC strike force stormed the Viery plains towards the Covenant-occupied site, attempting to reclaim the land and eliminate all Covenant presence from Reach. The entire assault force was mechanized, as the lack of available cover on the plains prohibited an infantry assault. The UNSC thus resolved to close the distance with the Covenant and engage in an armored battle at close quarters. An advance wave of [[M12 LRV|Warthogs]], backed up by [[M808 Scorpion|Scorpion tanks]], as well as [[M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle|Mongooses]], formed the ground component of the attack. Air support was provided by a mixture of [[UH-144 Falcon|Falcons]] and [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]].  [[SPARTAN-B312|Six]] and [[Catherine-B320|Kat-B320]] led the ground attack, while [[Jorge-052]] and [[Carter-A259]] coordinated air support.
+[[File:Reach TotS Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|The destroyed bridge.]]
-As the UNSC force closed on the Covenant landing zone, the Covenant detected the incoming attack and opened fire, hammering the advancing UNSC force with long range [[plasma mortar]] fire, supplemented by [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]], which preformed strafing runs. Although the Covenant bombardment inflicted casualties, the UNSC was undeterred and continued the advance. During the charge, Kat detonated the [[Unidentified UNSC explosive|charge]] set on the [[stealth pylon]] by [[Jun-A266]]. Covenant heavy units, including three [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarabs]], moved to counterattack the UNSC force. A small group of Warthogs, including Noble Six and Kat, split off from the main assault wave onto a ridge overlooking the main battleground; however,  a Wraith mortar shot destroyed a bridge over a large ravine that the group needed to cross to gain access to the ridgeline. Kat successfully managed to jump the gap, but the following Warthog was not so lucky, falling into the ravine below, and the Spartan's Warthog was destroyed by the crash.
+===The battle begins===
+As the UNSC force closed on the Covenant landing zone, the Covenant detected the incoming attack and opened fire, hammering the advancing UNSC force with long range [[plasma mortar]] fire, supplemented by [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]], which preformed strafing runs. Although the Covenant bombardment inflicted casualties, the UNSC was undeterred and continued the advance. During the charge, Kat detonated the [[Unidentified UNSC explosive|charge]] set on the [[stealth pylon]] by [[Jun-A266]]. Covenant heavy units, including three [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarabs]], moved to counterattack the UNSC force. A small group of Warthogs, including Noble Six and Kat, and supported by Falcons, split off from the main assault wave onto a ridge overlooking the main battleground; however,  a Wraith mortar shot destroyed a bridge over a large ravine that the group needed to cross to gain access to the ridgeline. Kat successfully managed to jump the gap, but the following Warthog was not so lucky, falling into the ravine below, and the Spartan's Warthog was destroyed by the crash. All of the preceding Warthogs were either destroyed by the destruction of the bridge, or by two [[Type-26 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun|Shade]], which also forced the Falcons to withdraw.
+[[File:Reach TotS Tyrant Overlook.jpg|thumb|left|A ''Tyrant'' anti-aircraft gun overlooking the field of battle.]]
-The two Spartans took out two nearby Covenant [[Type-26 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun|Shade]] emplacements, and cleared the way for a Pelican to deliver a [[M12R Light Anti-Armor Vehicle|Rocket Warthog]]. Covenant heavy anti-aircraft artillery, meanwhile, was preventing the UNSC from bringing heavy air support into play. A Covenant [[Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|anti-aircraft gun]] with a commanding view of the battlefield was inflicting casualties on the UNSC's airpower, so the two Spartans were assigned to destroy it. The two succeeded, clearing the skies for three [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]] that made a bombing run on the main Covenant force, destroying the three Scarabs serving as the linchpin of the Covenant defense. The strike punched a hole in the Covenant's lines, allowing UNSC Scorpions and Warthogs on the plains to advance upon the rest of the Covenant force. The [[Paris-class heavy frigate|''Paris''-class heavy frigates]] {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} and {{UNSCShip|Saratoga}} also moved in on the battlefield, supporting ground units with their autocannons. A Pelican placed a [[deployable bridge]] to replace a destroyed one near the AA gun, allowing Six and Kat to progress further towards the Covenant lines.
+===Clearing the skies===
+The two Spartans took out the two nearby Covenant Shade emplacements, and cleared the way for a Pelican to deliver a [[M12R Light Anti-Armor Vehicle|Rocket Warthog]]. Covenant heavy anti-aircraft artillery, meanwhile, was preventing the UNSC from bringing heavy air support into play. A Covenant [[Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|anti-aircraft gun]] with a commanding view of the battlefield was inflicting casualties on the UNSC's airpower, so the two Spartans were assigned to destroy it. The two succeeded, clearing the skies for three [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]] that made a bombing run on the main Covenant force, destroying the three Scarabs serving as the linchpin of the Covenant defense. The strike punched a hole in the Covenant's lines, allowing UNSC Scorpions and Warthogs on the plains to advance upon the rest of the Covenant force. The [[Paris-class heavy frigate|''Paris''-class heavy frigates]] {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} and {{UNSCShip|Saratoga}} also moved in on the battlefield, supporting ground units with their [[M910 PDN|autocannons]]. A Pelican placed a [[deployable bridge]] to replace a destroyed one near the AA gun, allowing Six and Kat to progress further towards the Covenant lines.
+===Assault on the spires===
+[[File:Spire_MAC%27d.jpg|thumb|right|The ''Grafton'' destroys Spire One.]]
 Six and Kat joined a group of Troopers assaulting a Covenant outpost located in a [[BXR Industries|BXR Mining]] facility. They cleared the outpost and killed the [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] in command of it. Upon passing through the facility, the two Spartans advanced further, destroying a second AA gun. As a result, the UNSC gained air superiority over the battlefield and let the frigates advance closer to the [[Spire One|first Spire]]. Jorge picked up Six in a Falcon to fly him to the Spire through a Covenant-fortified canyon. The main UNSC ground force continued their advance, and Six supported them by using the Falcon's [[M460 Automatic Grenade Launcher|grenade launcher turret]]. The Falcon passed through the electromagnetic shields emitted by the Spire structure to drop off Jorge and Noble Six, but the shield disabled the Falcon, causing it to crash, and killing the crew; however, Jorge and Noble Six were able to make it out in one piece. The pair continued fighting their way into the structure, with Six managing to deactivate the structure's shielding system. Cleared of defenses, the UNSC called in a MAC strike executed by the ''Grafton'' to destroy the Spire.
-ONI had discovered that the Spire served a dual purpose, serving as a teleportation terminal and projecting a cloaking field, but what the Spire was cloaking, and what its teleporter was linked to, was as yet unrealized. With Nobles Five and Six evacuated, ''Grafton'' moved in and destroyed the Spire with its [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC gun]]. The disruption of the cloaking field revealed a new danger; a [[Covenant supercarrier]], the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', in low orbit above Reach. With its cloaking shield gone, the supercarrier opened fire, instantly destroying the ''Grafton'' with one of its energy projectors. Unable to compete with the sheer firepower of the Covenant warship, the UNSC retreated. The supercarrier withdrew into Covenant held space in orbit above Reach, apparently unwilling to risk being pinned down by Reach's gravity well in its current position.
+===The ''Long Night of Solace'' revealed===
+[[File:ToTS Ending.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Long Night of Solace'' de-cloaked above the ridge.]]
+ONI had discovered that the Spire served a dual purpose, serving as a teleportation terminal and projecting a cloaking field, but what the Spire was cloaking, and what its teleporter was linked to, was as yet unrealized. With Nobles Five and Six evacuated by Carter's Falcon, ''Grafton'' moved in and destroyed the Spire with its [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC gun]]. The disruption of the cloaking field revealed a new danger: a [[Covenant supercarrier]], the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', in low orbit above Reach. With its cloaking shield gone, the supercarrier opened fire, instantly destroying the ''Grafton'' with one of its energy projectors. Unable to compete with the sheer firepower of the Covenant warship, the UNSC retreated. The supercarrier withdrew into Covenant held space in orbit above Reach, apparently unwilling to risk being pinned down by Reach's gravity well in its current position.
 ==Aftermath==
-With the appearance of the supercarrier, the UNSC forces disengaged and fell back. Covenant forces deployed from the supercarrier continued to harry UNSC forces on Reach until the launch of [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], which succeeded in destroying the ship at the cost of the {{UNSCship|Savannah}} and its crew, [[Jorge-052|one SPARTAN-II]], and a squad of [[YSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre]] pilots.
+With the appearance of the supercarrier, the UNSC forces disengaged and fell back. The UNSC were unable to destroy the carrier as all their [[Nuclear weapon|Nuclear weapons]] were either destroyed or unavailable. Covenant forces deployed from the supercarrier continued to harry UNSC forces on Reach until the launch of [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], which, utilizing a makeshift [[Slipspace]] bomb, succeeded in destroying the ship at the cost of the {{UNSCship|Savannah}} and its [[Savannah Actual|crew]], [[Jorge-052|one SPARTAN-II]], and a squad of [[YSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre]] pilots.
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 71: / Line 80: @@
 File:HReach - Charge Det.png|Kat detonating the charge in the pylon.
 File:Reach 5016777 Full.jpg|UNSC armored forces engage Covenant [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarab]]s in the valley.
+File:Reach Grafton's Advance.jpg|The ''Grafton'' advances after the destruction of the AA cannon.
 File:Reach_5016743_Full.jpg|A Longsword supporting ground troops.
+File:Reach Bombing Run.jpg|The Scarabs are bombed by Longswords.
 File:Pelican carrying bridge.jpg|A Pelican deploying a bridge so Six and Kat can proceed.
 File:Frigates 1.jpg|The UNSC ''Saratoga'' and the ''Grafton'' holding position above Szurdok Ridge.
 File:HaloReach - Frigates.png|The ''Grafton'' and ''Saratoga'' participate in the battle.
 File:Spire afar.jpg|The objective of the assault: the Covenant Spires.
-File:Spire_MAC%27d.jpg|The ''Grafton'' destroys Spire One.
 File:Grafton Destroyed.jpg|The ''Grafton'' is destroyed by the Covenant supercarrier, forcing the UNSC to retreat.
 </gallery>