ODST armor: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|H2|H3|HW|H3R|RE|FOR|TF|CH|TCP|HGN|UP|HE|LE}}

<center>''Were you looking for the [[Black Body Suit]], a vacuum-enabled suit of light armor?''</center>

[[File:1 318340723l.jpg|thumb|right|130px|The Helljumper BDU.]]

The '''ODST Battle Armor''', or '''Battle Dress Uniform''' ('''BDU''' for short) is a suit of combat armor worn exclusively by the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s, special-operators of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]].

The ODST Battle Dress Uniform is the signature piece of equipment used by the [[105th ODST Division|105th Special Forces]] - the armor is [[Vacuum Suit|vacuum-rated]]; capable of [[Extra-Vehicular Activity]] for fifteen minutes.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''Chapter 4: page 48, Chapter 5: page 56''</ref> The armor provides numerous advantages in the field, including ballistic protection, temperature control, as well as thermal insulation against extreme temperatures experienced during atmospheric entry and thermal protection from Covenant energy weapons.

The ODST Armor has gone through several design changes since the start of the Human-Covenant War. The current version incorporates technology initially developed for the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR Armor]]. This includes CTCs for body armor, [[titanium]] and ceramic composite armor plating to give the user added protection - along with [[Heads-Up Display|HUD]] and Communications Systems to give more situational awareness to the wearer.<ref name="H3">'''[[Halo 3]]'''</ref>

The ODST BDU has been in use for well over 50 years by the 105th, and remains unmatched in its ability to protect its wearer over other BDUs during the toughest operations. The BDU excels at providing more protection against small arms fire than other infantry body armor, and also excels at allowing a trooper to conduct Military Operations in Urban Terrain without the slightest chance of being detected in dark locations. The BDU's stealth capability is partly thanks to its black and gray camouflage patterns on the legs, boots, gloves, chest, helmet and undersuit - these urban camouflage patterns are optional; without the camouflage panels, the BDU is black. On the left shoulder pad of every ODST is a UNSC MED REF patch.<ref>'''[[We Are ODST]]'''</ref><ref name="H3R">'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Landfall]]'''</ref> This patch contains basic medical information about the trooper, and allows a UNSC certified medic to gain a quick medical reference to an ODST wounded in the field. Despite the armor's obvious advantage over standard infantry armor, it is still vulnerable to Covenant energy weapons, larger armor piercing rounds, as well as large explosive devices.

==Armor Variants==

While the standard ODST BDU is fully capable for any role, there are specialized variants of the BDU - these suits are specifically issued to a specialist of a certain field to provide them certain advantages during an operation. As such, specialized gear is only available by Mission Conditional Requisition (MCR). Depending on mission requirements, an ODST operative may request either additional, or variant equipment that ranges from helmet attachments, gloves, battery, equipment or communication rucksack. The following is the specialized battle dress uniforms currently in use by the Navy.

====Close Quarters====

While designated as a CQB suit, this variant is also issued to demolition experts in the field. This BDU is specifically designed to aid an ODST in [[CQB]] type combat conditions. The standard left pauldron is replaced with a longer two piece ballistic plate, which aids in protecting the trooper's left arm from ballistic attacks, and also to reduce severe injury from plasma-based weaponry. The helmet is also issued with an optics device that aids the user in relaying images and video to teammates or command.  

[[File:ODST Sniper.jpg|90px|right]]

The Sharpshooter BDU is issued to sniper experts in the field. This BDU is designed to give an ODST sharpshooter more freedom in combat - the standard right pauldron is removed, allowing the sniper to aim better and move his arm more freely with a sniper rifle, while the standard left pauldron is replaced with a larger plate to protect the sniper's arm from counter attacks. The Sharpshooter variant is also issued with an optics device attached to the helmet, while the Oracle scope on the SRS99 can uplink to the user's HUD.  

[[File:Recon Trooper.jpg|90px|right]]

====Recon

====

R.E.C.O.N. stands for Rats extra cats on nothing

==== Other Versions ====

There are also variants or models of the ODST armor that have not been named; one example of this is a suit that ODSTs [[Gretchen]], [[Taylor H. Miles|Dutch]] and [[Kojo Agu|Romeo]] wore during a mission some time prior to the Battle of Ariel. It differed greatly from the normal ODST armor in that it bore a great resemblance to standard Marine armor. The chestplate that Romeo wore was olive drab in color, and appeared almost identical to those worn by the Marines. However, the armor retains the basic form of the ODST armor, with standard helmet and bodysuit pieces obviously shown. It is possible that this variant is either an earlier version of the armor or a field-expedient modification.

==Armor Components==

The ODST battle dress uniform is made up of several different components and layers that make the suit what it is, while technology from other projects across the military have been incorporated into the suit, ODST equipment still has proprietary technology that has not been adopted into other equipment for the military.

The ODST helmet is made of titanium, coated with a heat resistance material to help disperse heat - the inside is lined with black padding to provide comfort when the user is wearing it. The helmet's faceplate is made of a strong, glass-like material with the ability to polarize. When polarized, the helmet's faceplate has a silver blue color to it, and obscures the wearer's face completely.

The helmet provides excellent protection against small arms fire and small explosive attacks. The helmet is also essential in providing an ODST the ability to perform EVA and also provides a Heads Up Display, giving the wearer basic information including a targeting reticule, weapon information, ammo capacity, and basic health readout. The newest version of the helmet integrates with the user's standard [[Neural Interface]] to provide more tactical data to the HUD. Helmet integrated neural interfaces is another piece of technology that has seen widespread adoption from Project MJOLNIR. Along with this state-of-the-art equipment, the helmet is also equipped with its own thermal imaging and motion sensors.<ref name="encyclopedia">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''Chapter 2: page 57''</ref> The [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/AA variant]] was developed as an improvement of the ODST helmet, indicating intended use by ODST personnel as well as SPARTAN-II or SPARTAN-III teams.<ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/14276699/halo-reach/videos/halor_armory_montage_072210.html| ''IGN.com'' - ''Halo: Reach'' Armory montage]</ref>

===VISR===

The Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance or VISR, is issued with the ODST helmet. The VISR proprietary data management suite enables a user to link into UEG, CAA, and UNSC infrastructure systems at the local, national, and global levels - however actual access level is administered on a need/rating basis.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo 3: ODST Field Guide'']</ref> This allows the user to store and review mission content up to 610MB combined, the system also provides street level navigational data, and receive secure real-time mission data. In addition, every current issue helmet ODST BIOS A29.817941B.01 or later is equipped with low-light vision enhancement, which outlines hostile units in red, friendlies in green, and objects of interest in yellow.<ref name="H3R"/>

===Rucksack===

The rucksack issued to ODSTs is, for all intents and purposes, an armored backpack that attaches to the back of the armored vest. The rucksack comes in a number of different variants. The main purpose is storage, which allows a trooper to store equipment, ranging from ammunition, to medical supplies, to explosives, to battery packs which provides power to any equipment an ODST may carry, and communications, which houses the necessary radio and satellite gear that an ODST squad requires to report in to their superiors. For longer missions, ODSTs can carry larger rucksacks with enough supplies for two weeks of operation without external resupply.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 58''</ref> Rucksacks have integrated magnetic holding devices to allow for external back mounting of additional equipment. Equipment with magnetic properties, such as longer weaponry, can be carried externally over the rucksack eliminating the use of extra straps or slings.

===Body Suit===

The ODST body suit is made up of several different layers and materials, the inner layer of the black-gray undersuit is made up of Kevlar material to aid in protecting the wearer from small arms fire, the inner layer also contains a heating and cooling system which regulates temperatures to keep the user warm or cool depending on the weather conditions - the heating and cooling system can also match infrared signatures of the current weather as well to allow an ODST to go undetected in hostile locations.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> The outer layer of the undersuit is coated with a heat resistance material to aid in reducing temperatures experienced during orbital drop, and against Covenant Plasma Weapons. The body suit also doubles as a pressure suit to allow an ODST to perform EVA. The outer shell layer is comprised of Titanium and Ceramic composite armor plating that covers the chest, shoulders, legs and feet.

ODST armor is compatible with several upgrades, including an Up-armored Command Network Module, and a Hardened Uplink Module for operations in hazardous environments.

==Multiplayer Variant==

The ODST battle helmet is available as an [[Armor Permutations|armor permutation]] in the ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[Multiplayer]] component. The SPARTAN version of the helmet differs from the standard version in the polarization color of its visor; regular ODST helmets have blue/silver polarization, while the MJOLNIR ODST helmet retains the gold electroplating possessed by most MJOLNIR armor. It is attained and unlocked by the [[Spartan Graduate]] [[Achievement]], or by earning 5 XP in Matchmaking.<ref name="H3"/>

 

The shoulder pauldrons and helmet of the ODST armor will be available as an armor permutation in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_060410 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 06.04.10'']</ref><ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_070210 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 07.02.10'']</ref>

*The ODST armor is derived from the first concept of the MJOLNIR armor. This original concept done by artist [[Shi Kai Wang]] was scrapped because it made the [[John-117|Master Chief]] look "too mean."<ref>'''[[The Art of Halo 3]]'''</ref>

*The visor's ability to polarize, the VISR mode, and the HUD it displays may mean it has a transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screen coating it.

*The [[Good Samaritan (Achievement)|Good Samaritan]] achievement unlocks the ODST armor for your Xbox Live Avatar, if the user has Halo Waypoint. It's listed under the "Awards" section when customizing the avatar.

*It should be noted that the armor used by the ODSTs in ''Halo 3: ODST'' is similar to the one seen in ''Halo 3'', despite the game taking place during the events of ''Halo 2''. This suggests that the changes between the games are merely aesthetic and that there is no canonical difference between the ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3''-era suits.

*The ODST armor worn by [[Unnamed Shock Trooper Squad|the Squad]] in Halo 3: ODST have the exact same scratches and burns. All the male members of the team wear the exact same armor with different collours and "Ad-ons". This is easy to see if you pay attention to the chest plate, they all have the same scratches.{{fact}}

*The above statement will be countered on ''Halo: Reach'' as the visor color can be changed for it to look similar to the ''Halo 3: ODST'' helmet.

<gallery widths="150" orientation="portrait" captionalign="left">

File:Odst2.jpg|Private S. Hartley during the [[Battle of Sector Six]] from [[Halo: Landfall|Landfall]].

File:Char odst.jpg|The ODST BDU in ''Halo 2''.

File:1203722528 Odstsinpelican.jpg|A squad of ODSTs aboard a Pelican in ''Halo 2''.

File:ODSTbattlearmor.png|A study of the ODST ballistic battle armor in ''Halo 3''.

File:AP ODST.jpg|The MJOLNIR Mark VI with the ODST helmet in ''Halo 3''.

File:Engaged in Combat.jpg|ODST troops seen wearing their armor in ''Halo 3''.

File:The Rookie.jpg|[[The Rookie]] from ''Halo 3: ODST''.

File:The Squad.jpg|The different ODST armor permutations worn by the squad in ''Halo 3: ODST''.

File:ODST Helmet.png|The ODST helmet as seen in ''Halo: Reach''.

File:Halo-reach-20100806092438101.jpg|An ODST helmet on a suit of MJOLNIR armor in Halo Reach (player customized)

{{Armor}}

{{MJOLNIR Variations}}

[[Category:Armor]]