Canon

Battle group

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

A battle group, sometimes rendered as battlegroup, is an organization of ships that is generally smaller than a fleet. The term applies to both UNSC and Covenant naval groups.[1]

UNSC[edit]

Battlegroups are subdivisions of a UNSC fleet, flexible fighting formations that can be formed on an as-needed basis in several different tactical formations, which themselves can be "plugged together" into ad-hoc task forces.[2] Battle groups are usually created on a temporary basis, with a specific mission or to accomplish a specific task.[3][4][5] Battle groups can range in size from as little as three ships to larger carrier groups with smaller "tactical" carriers at their core.[6] These battle groups are referred to as carrier groups.[7]

Under the NAVCOM rank structure, battle groups are usually commanded by a rear admiral,[8] though there have been instances of smaller battle groups being led by captains.[4] Each battle group is assigned a number or a code name.[9]

By 2552, all UNSC battle groups had a prowler assigned to their ranks, to provide electronic intelligence and to gain an advantage over the enemy by laying minefields.[10]

The concept of a flight may be related to the concept of battle groups.

Known UNSC battle groups[edit]

Covenant[edit]

Although the Covenant organize smaller fleet units on a temporary basis similar to UNSC battle groups, their naval doctrine identifies such units as fleets rather than battle groups; for example, the Fleet of Sacred Consecration was still identified as a fleet despite only consisting of 15 ships.[11] Instead, the term "battle group" is applied to certain tactical formations of Covenant ships that are part of a larger fleet;[12] for example, the Fleet of Particular Justice had several "CCS-class battle groups", each consisting of three Ket-pattern battlecruisers.[13] Similar to the naming of their ships and fleets, the Covenant themselves often derived the naming of their battle groups from their religious nomenclature.[12]

Trivia[edit]

The funding of the SPARTAN-II program, including their MJOLNIR armor and training, cost about as much as a battle group.[14]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Library: Ket-pattern battlecruiser
  2. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Cole Rulebook - page 9
  3. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
  4. ^ a b Halo Wars: Genesis
  5. ^ Halo: Evolutions, "The Impossible Life and Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"
  6. ^ Halo: Warfleet, p.40-41
  7. ^ Bungie.net: Military Power: Reach (excerpt from CAA FACTBOOK l.update 1.5.2550)
  8. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, PART 8: UNSC ORGANISATION, NAVCOM Ranks (p. 140-141)
  9. ^ Halo Graphic Novel, page 86
  10. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 329
  11. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 180
  12. ^ a b Halo: Fleet Battles, Core Rulebook - pages 120-121
  13. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved campaign level, The Pillar of Autumn ("I've isolated approach signatures from multiple Ket-pattern battle groups, make it three capital ships per group.")
  14. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 45