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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Ratings}} |
| {{Weapon infobox | | {{Era|FOR|TF|H2|FS|GOO|H3|CH|HW|}} |
| | image=[[File:FoR - Archer missile.jpg|250px]] | | {{Weapon |
| | name=Archer missile | | | image=[[Image:13101574-Medium.jpg|300px]] |
| | manufacturer= | | | name=Archer Missile Pod |
| | model= | | | manufacturer=[[United Nations Space Command]] |
| | type=[[Missile delivery system|Anti-ship missile]] | | | model=Unknown |
| | | type=Missile |
| | cost= | | | cost= |
| | length= | | | affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]] |
| | weight= | | | size= |
| | ammotype=Varies{{Ref/Reuse|WF36}} | | | damage per hit=Very High |
| | operation=Tube-fired | | | fire=Tube Fired |
| | rate= | | | ammotype=High Explosive |
| | range=Long{{Ref/Reuse|WF26}} | | | operation=Ship-to-ship missile |
| | service=*[[Insurrection]] | | | rate of fire= |
| *[[Human-Covenant War]]
| | | accuracy=Computer Guided |
| *[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
| | | range= |
| | affiliation=*[[UNSC Navy]] | | | era=[[Human-Covenant War]] |
| *[[Insurrectionist]]s
| | | counterpart=Covenant [[Pulse laser]] |
| | | counterwep=Covenant [[Point Defense Laser]] |
| | | affiliation= [[United Nations Space Command]] |
| }} | | }} |
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| The '''Archer missile''' is an anti-ship [[missile delivery system]] used by the [[CMA Navy]] and [[UNSC Navy]].
| | '''Archer Missiles''' are ship-to-ship missiles carried by [[UNSC]] capital ships for engaging enemy warships in space combat. UNSC ships usually carry large numbers of them, their sheer numbers making up for their underperformance against Covenant shield technology, though unprotected ships are able to be destroyed by Archer missile strikes to the hull and superstructure. |
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| ==Overview==
| | Prior to the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC found the missiles to be effective against combatant ships, likely Insurrectionist-controlled ships.<ref>''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''</ref> Against the Covenant, however, they realised that the defensive measures employed by the enemy ships such as energy shields and point defence lasers suddenly rendered Archer missiles obsolete - lasers were able to pick off up to half of the missiles launched, and those that hit were rarely enough to penetrate the shields.<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''</ref><ref>''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''</ref> At least one Covenant ship class, the [[Stealth Corvette]], possesses jamming measures that interfere with the guidance systems. Tactics were developed to counter this, using the more devastating but slower-firing Magnetic Accelerator Cannons to break through the shields, rendering the hulls vulnerable, but on the whole Archers proved ineffective weapons against the Covenant. Smaller ships, such as boarding craft or fighters, are much easier targets<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''</ref>, and Archers may be used in support of ground forces, launched from orbit to strike a ground-based target.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''</ref> |
| Archers are relatively cheap anti-ship missiles, and considered highly-adaptable and long-ranged. They are used as generalist missiles for all purposes, and continued to see use as extremely capable armaments throughout the [[Insurrection]], [[Human-Covenant War]] and [[Post-Covenant War conflicts]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-encyclopedia-extravaganza|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Encyclopedia Extravaganza|D=01|M=06|Y=2022}} They are capable of being fitted with a number of warhead options.{{Ref/Reuse|WF36}}
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| Warships usually carry large numbers of Archer missiles to complement their [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]s. While individual Archers are vulnerable to point-defense weapons and have limited destructive potential, their sheer numbers make up for their lack of individual effectiveness. [[Covenant]] [[Energy shielding|shield technology]] can withstand large numbers of Archers, though unprotected ships can be destroyed by Archer missile strikes to the hull and superstructure.
| | Archer missiles are usually stored in pods of thirty, although Destroyers and Cruisers employ oversized missile pods to carry a larger payload. Both [[UNSC Frigate|Frigates]] and [[UNSC Destroyer|Destroyers]] carry twenty six pods, though as mentioned, Destroyers carry a larger number per pod. The Halcyon-class Cruiser {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} may have possessed as many as 300 missile pods. |
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| ==Models== | | ==Trivia== |
| The pre-refit {{Class|Able|heavy destroyer}} is equipped with Archer missiles of an unknown model. An unidentified [[Unidentified UNSC carrier class| UNSC carrier class]] is also equipped with three hundred Archer missiles of an unspecified model.{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=259}}
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| ===M42 Archer===
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| The M42 Archer was employed as early as the mid-25th century, and was employed on vessels of the [[CMA Navy]] alongside the [[Ares missile]]s. Several CMA warships of the era including the gargantuan {{Class|Punic|supercarrier}}, {{Class|Mako|corvette}} and the UNSC's [[S-14 Baselard]] strike fighter equipped the M42 Archer, with the CMA predominantly stocking them alongside the [[Ares missile]] series for its warships.
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| The dawn of the 26th century brought more usage for the M42, with the {{Class|Point Blank|prowler}} employing it. Following the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|end of]] the [[Human-Covenant War]], the M42 gained prominence in the fleets of the rebuilding [[UNSC Navy]]. The {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} and {{Class|Poseidon|light carrier}} are both armed with two M42 pods each. However, its most notable postwar usage would come in the form of a mass stocking on the ''Punic''{{'}}s spiritual successor, the {{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}}. | | *Contact Harvest quotes that "A single Archer missile can disable all but the most heavily-armored UNSC ships." The UNSC fires hundreds of missiles at ''each'' Covenant ship giving testimony to their incredible defensive capabilities. |
| | *When the [[UNSC In Amber Clad]] arrived at [[Delta Halo]] from Slipspace, a bridge officer under the command of [[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]] says, "Archer pods are cold. I'll need to rekey the system." |
| | *Archer missiles are usually ineffective against Covenant shields, needing a MAC to punch through first. |
| | *During the [[Battle of Reach]], there was an enormous and deadly [[Covenant]] ship that Captain [[Jacob Keyes|Keyes]] tried to stop. The Archer missiles only "scratched" the armor. He later destroyed it with a [[Shiva-class Nuclear Missile|Shiva nuclear warhead]]. |
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| ;Carriers
| | ==References== |
| *{{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}} - 350x M42 Archer pods (24 missiles per-pod; 8400 Archers total){{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Carriers|Enc22|Page=126-127}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2012/10/10/The-Halo-Bulletin-101012-.aspx|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The Halo Bulletin: 10.10.12|D=10|M=10|Y=2012}}
| | <references/> |
| *{{Class|Punic|supercarrier}} - 100x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}
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| *{{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}} - N/A
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| **{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} refit - 24x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=48-49}}
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| *{{Class|Poseidon|light carrier}} - 2x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}
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| ;Frigates
| | ==See Also== |
| *{{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} - 2x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Frigates}}
| | {{Template:UNSC Heavy Weapons}} |
| | | [[Category:Human Weapons]] |
| ;Corvettes
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| *{{Class|Mako|corvette}} - 2x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Corvettes|Enc22|Page=128-129}}
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| ;Prowlers
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| *{{Class|Point Blank|prowler}} - 80x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Corvettes}}
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| ;Strikecraft
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| *[[S-14 Baselard]] - Two M42 Archer missiles{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=159}}
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| ===M58 Archer===
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| M58 Archers are considered long-ranged anti-ship missiles{{Ref/Book|Id=WF26|HWF|Page=26-27}}, and can be fitted with various warhead options{{Ref/Book|Id=WF36|HWF|Page=36-37}}. As a mainstay munition in the fleet, the M58 is mounted on the majority of warships designed for UNSC usage, starting in the late 25th century.
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| {{Col-begin}}
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| {{Col-2}}
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| ;Battleships
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| *{{Class|Vindication|light battleship}} - 50x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=125}}
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| ;Carriers
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| *{{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}} - 80x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}
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| *{{Class|Orion|assault carrier}} - 70x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}
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| ;Cruisers
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| *{{Class|Valiant|super-heavy cruiser}} - 50x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Cruisers|Enc22|Page=118-119}}
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| *{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} - 70x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Cruisers}}
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| *{{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}} - 32x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Cruisers}}
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| *{{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}} - 20x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Cruisers}}
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| **{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} refit - 32x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=25}}
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| {{Col-2}}
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| ;Destroyers
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| *{{Class|Able|heavy destroyer}} (2525 refit) - 20x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Site|Id=CFDigsite|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-digsite-dissection|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Digsite Dissection|D=28|M=07|Y=2023}}
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| *{{Class|Halberd|light destroyer}} - 26x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=124}}
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| ;Frigates
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| *{{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} - 26x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Frigates|Enc22|Page=120-123}}
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| *{{Class|Mulsanne|light frigate}} - 20x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Frigates}}
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| *{{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}} - 16x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Frigates}}
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| *{{Class|Charon|light frigate}} - 10x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Note|While ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' and the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'' both use the ''[[Halo 4]]''-derived stats for the ''Charon''-class frigate of having 50 M58 Archer missile pods, the canon model for the ship as seen in ''[[Halo 3]]'' only has 10. See [[Charon-class light frigate#Production notes]] for further details.}}
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| ;Corvettes
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| *{{Class|Gladius|heavy corvette}} - 2x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Corvettes}}
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| *{{Class|Scholte|missile corvette}} - 2x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFoundations|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-foundations|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Foundations|D=12|M=01|Y=2022}}
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| {{Col-end}}
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| The number of individual devices per pod varies: the refit ''Halcyon''-class light cruiser ''Pillar of Autumn'' was armed with twenty-four M58 Archers per each of its thirty-two pods as part of its refit for [[Operation: RED FLAG]], a notable increase from the standard ''Halcyon'' loadout of twenty.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/ONI/577839090903298928/DDR-A340024-1115-08-27-52.pdf|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Data Drop 5|LocalArchive=Data Drop|D=27|M=10|Y=2011}} while the ''Paris''-class heavy frigate {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}, mounted thirty missiles in each pod instead.{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR}}
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| ==Service history==
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| Prior to the [[Human-Covenant War]], the UNSC found the missiles to be effective against [[Insurrectionist]] combatant ships. with a single Archer missile considered capable of crippling all but the largest of UNSC ships.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest'''</ref> Against the Covenant, however, they realized that the defensive measures employed by the enemy ships such as energy shields and [[pulse laser turret|point defense lasers]] suddenly rendered Archer missiles near-obsolete - lasers were able to pick off up to half of the missiles launched, and those that hit were rarely enough to penetrate the shields.<ref name="TFoR">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach'''</ref><ref>'''Halo Wars: Genesis'''</ref> At least one Covenant ship class, the {{Pattern|Makar|light corvette}}, possesses [[Electronic countermeasures|jamming measures]] that interfere with the guidance systems. Tactics were developed to counter this, using the more devastating but slower-firing Magnetic Accelerator Cannons to break through the shields, rendering the hulls vulnerable, but on the whole Archers proved to be ineffective weapons against the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR}} Archers may be used in support of ground forces, launched from orbit to strike a ground-based target.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''level ???''</ref>
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| ==Gallery==
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| <gallery>
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| File:FoR - Archer missiles.jpg|The {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} firing Archer missiles during the [[Battle of Chi Ceti]].
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| File:H3 Archer pods.jpg|Archer missile pods on a {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}.
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| File:HW2-Archer.jpg|Archer missiles are ready for launch from the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.
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| File:HW2-SOF-Archer.jpg|The ''Spirit of Fire'' launches Archer missiles.
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| File:HINF Mulsanne M58Archer.png|Archer missile pods on a {{Class|Mulsanne|light frigate}}.
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| </gallery>
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| {{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
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| ==List of appearances==
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| *''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
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| *''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
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| *''[[Halo 2]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
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| *''[[Halo 3]]'' {{C|Pods only}}
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| *''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
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| **''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{C|Pods only}}
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| *''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
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| **''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
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| **''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
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| *''[[Halo 4]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
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| *''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Retribution]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
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| *''[[Halo Infinite]]''
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| ==Notes==
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| {{Ref/Notes}}
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| ==Sources==
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| {{Ref/Sources}}
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| {{UNSC ordnance}}
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| [[Category:Missiles]] | | [[Category:Missiles]] |
| [[Category:UNSC naval weapons]] | | [[Category:Starship Weapons]] |
