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| {{Status|Canon}}
| | [[Image:HW_1920x1200_6.jpg|thumb|right|250px|UNSC Shortsword]][[Image:Skyhawk or is it.jpg|thumb|250px|Front view]] |
| {{Vehicle infobox
| | A [[UNSC]] fighter that may have preceded the [[Longsword]] Bomber. Was once thought to be the [[Skyhawk]] in the [[Halo Wars]] trailer but has since been named in a desktop picture from Halowars.com.<ref>[http://www.halowars.com/images.html www.halowars.com Desktop Images]</ref> |
| |image=[[File:HW-B65ShortswordBomber.png|325px]]
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| |name=B-65 Shortsword | |
| |manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Reuse|vis}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=161}}
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| |line=
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| |model=
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| |cost=
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| |length={{Convert|89.6|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|vis}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| |width={{Convert|116|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|vis}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| |height=
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| |mass={{Convert|91.2|MT|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| |max speed=
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| |engine=
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| |hull=
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| |armament=
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| *[[Machine-linked autocannon#M955 ASW/AC 30mm|M955 ASW/AC 30mm MLA]]{{Ref/Book|Id=vis|EVG|Page=176}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| *[[Maastricht/Raleigh Ordnance Delivery-Application System|M/RODAS delivery system]]{{Ref/Reuse|vis}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| **[[Mark 208 bomb|Mark 208 carpet bomb]]
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| **[[GBU-1105 bomb|GBU-1105 cryo bomb]]
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| **[[XGBU-302 bomb|XGBU-302 disruption bomb]]
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| **[[Nuclear weapon]]s{{Ref/Reuse|MD4}}
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| |crew=*1 [[pilot]]{{Ref/Reuse|vis}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| *1 copilot{{Ref/Reuse|vis}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| *1 system technician{{Ref/Reuse|vis}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| |complement=
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| |consumables=
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| |othersystems=
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| |firstuse-title=In service
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| |firstuse=
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| *[[Human-Covenant War]]
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| *[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
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| |role=Suborbital long-range strategic bomber
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| |affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]]<br>
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| [[UNSC Air Force]] {{C|primary operator as of [[2560]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| }}
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| The '''B-65 Suborbital Long-Range Bomber''',{{Ref/Reuse|vis}} commonly known as the '''Shortsword''', is an atmospheric [[Wikipedia:strategic bomber|strategic bomber]] produced by [[Misriah Armory]]. It is fielded by [[UNSC Air Force]] reserve units and was formerly operated by the [[UNSC Navy|Navy]].{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin}}{{Ref/Reuse|CFFeet}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
| | UNSC "'''Shortsword'''" bomber - A ground based atmospheric bomber that is used primarily for short range, heavy payload, runs against ground targets. Primarily developed as a low altitude bomber the shortsword has proven to be very effective against Covenant installations. |
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| ==Overview==
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| ===Design details===
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| The Shortsword is similar in design to [[Misriah Armory]]'s [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] interceptor, though its airframe is less angular. The bomber features elongated primary wings as well as smaller winglets attached to a large boom apparatus at the rear of the fuselage. A large air intake is mounted on the dorsal surface of each wing; pronged structures, possibly ailerons, are located at the rear tip of each wing. The B-65 is not designed for space combat but rather to provide suborbital air support. Despite this, it is capable of functioning in outer space;{{Ref/Book|Id=Guide|Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide|Page=28}} Shortswords are often deployed from parent vessels in low orbit.
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| The [[AVIATOR-class Mjolnir]] helmet is recommended for use by Shortsword crew members.{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=147}} Following the [[Human-Covenant War]] the UNSC no longer required every available combat-worthy airframe to be used in service against the [[Covenant]]. Instead the remaining Shortswords were either transferred to [[UNSC Air Force]] reserve units or scrapped, depending on the condition of a given craft.{{Ref/Site|Id=Bulletin|URL=https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-9-24-14|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The Halo Bulletin: 9.24.14|D=24|M=09|Y=2014}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFeet|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-feet-first|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Feet First|D=27|M=07|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Some Shortswords were found on the [[Venezia]]n [[black market]] after the war.{{Ref/Novel|Id=MD4|HMorDi|Chapter=4}}
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| In [[2556]], the UNSC opened up investigations to investigate the viability of a potential upgraded model of Shortsword to begin production. However, as of [[2560]] the role formerly filled by the Shortsword has mostly been taken over by [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] variants.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| ===Armaments===
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| The Shortsword is typically armed with conventional bombs for performing [[carpet bombing]] runs. When releasing its payload, the Shortsword "punches" its munitions into the ground; the munitions then explode a short time later. As the bombs detonate in the order in which they are dropped, carpet bombing runs carried out by the Shortsword resemble twentieth-century napalm strikes. Bombers equipped with the [[Maastricht/Raleigh Ordnance Delivery-Application System|M/RODAS delivery system]] can carry less conventional payloads such as [[nuclear weapon]]s{{Ref/Reuse|MD4}}, the [[XGBU-302 bomb|XGBU-302 disruption bomb]] or the [[GBU-1105 bomb|GBU-1105 "cryo" bomb]]. Shortswords are additionally equipped with [[Machine-linked autocannon#M955 ASW/AC 30mm|M955 ASW/AC 30mm machine-linked autocannons]] that fires 30mm projectiles.{{Ref/Reuse|vis}}
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| ==In-game information==
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| ===''Halo Wars''===
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| The Shortsword is only ever seen during gameplay briefly, where it can be seen flying over the battlefield dropping ordnance wherever the player chooses. The use of the Shortsword differs depending on which leader character the player uses. [[Ellen Anders|Professor Ellen Anders]] uses it to drop [[GBU-1105 bomb|cryo bomb]]s, a simple point-and-click power which can be used to effectively freeze a large area of the battlefield, as well as the units or buildings in it. [[John Forge|Sergeant John Forge]] uses it to perform [[carpet bombing]] runs, where the beginning of the bombing run must be selected, an arrow appears and can be rotated around the start point, setting the angle of the bombing run. Carpet bombing runs are useful for hitting a number of enemies in different formations. All UNSC leaders can call on a Shortsword to deliver [[XGBU-302 bomb|disruption bomb]]s which can be used to block enemy [[Halo Wars#Leader abilities|leader powers]]. The Shortsword cannot be attacked, or destroyed, in-game.
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| The Shortsword is not featured in ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'', in which bombing runs carried out via [[Archer missile]]s fulfill a similar gameplay role.
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| ==Trivia== | | ==Trivia== |
| *A Shortsword is a reference to a number of weapons intermediate between the sword and the dagger, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming exoatmospheric vehicles like the [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] and the [[FSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre]] after bladed weapons.
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| *The Shortsword's profile is known as a "flying wing", and is similar in appearance to the United States Air Force's [[Wikipedia:B-2 Spirit|B2 ''"Spirit"'' stealth bomber]], with the notable exception of the Shortsword's large boom apparatus and the trailing edges of the wings. Both aircraft fill a similar role, acting as bombers, although it is unknown if the Shortsword has any stealth capabilities, or if conventional (anti-radar based) stealth capabilities would have any impact on Covenant tracking technology.
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| *During the development of ''Halo Wars'', the Shortsword was originally to be seen docked at the [[UNSC airpad|airpad]]. In the concept art, its tail is retracted and its wings are angled up to make it more compact and allow docking, similar to modern-day carrier born aircraft, such as the [[Wikipedia:Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II|F-35C Lightning II]].
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| ==Gallery==
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| {{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
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| ===Development images===
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| <gallery>
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| File:HW Announce Shortsword Concept.jpg|Finalized concept art of the Shortsword.
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| File:Shortsword.png|Dorsal view of the Shortsword.
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| File:HW_Shortsword_view_02.png|Underside view of the Shortsword.
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| File:HW Airpad Early Model.jpg|Early concept art of the airpad. A Shortsword is docked on the runway, with wings angled up and tail retracted.
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| File:UNSC Shortsword.jpg|Early concept art image of the Shortsword bomber.
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| File:HW X06SpartanOmega.jpg|A Shortsword (center) as seen in the [[Halo Wars announcement trailer]].
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| </gallery>
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| ===Screenshots===
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| <gallery>
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| File:HaloWars-B65ShortswordBomber.png|In-game view of the Shortsword in ''Halo Wars''.
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| File:HW AlphaBaseRetaken.png|A Shortsword above [[Alpha Base (Harvest)|Alpha Base]] on Harvest.
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| File:HW10.jpg|In-game screenshot of a Shortsword on a bombing run.
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| File:HW ShortswordBombingRun.png|A Shortsword doing a bombing run on [[Beasley's Plateau]].
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| </gallery>
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| ==List of appearances==
| | *[[Macolm Thomas-Gustave]] was the animator who worked on the Shortsword in the [[Halo Wars Announcement Trailer]]<ref>[[Macolm Thomas-Gustave]] Halo Trailer work breakdown</ref> |
| *''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{1st}} | | *There is also a Lion on the wing. |
| *''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' {{mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
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| {{Human aircraft}} | | <references/> |
| | {{UNSC vehicles}} |
| | [[Category:Vehicles]][[Category: UNSC]][[Category:Single Ships]] |
