Editing D96-TCE Albatross

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ship class infobox
|name=D96-TCE Albatross
|image=[[File:Single Albatross.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Ushuaia Armory]]{{Ref/Book|Id=essential|EVG|Page=5}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|class=Heavy-lift [[dropship]]{{Ref/Book|Id=enc259|Enc11|Page=259}}
|role=*Long-range matériel deployment{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}
*Troop and equipment transport{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}
|length={{Convert|36.9|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}
|width={{Convert|19.3|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}
|height={{Convert|44.2|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|mass={{Convert|151|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|power=
|engine=
|slipspace drive=None{{Ref/Site|Id=condor|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/d81-lrt-condor|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Condor|D=30|M=06|Y=2021}}
|navigation=
|hull=Heavily armored{{Ref/Reuse|enc259}}
|armament=Typically none{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|complement=45–50 passengers{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|crew=
*1 [[pilot]]
*1–2 crewmen{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|othersystems=
|era=
*[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Map|Id=relic|H2|Relic}}
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]{{Ref/Map|Id=Remnant|H2A|Remnant}}
*[[Created conflict]]{{Ref/Reuse|SOR17}}
|introduced=
|affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}
}}
The  '''D96-TCE Albatross''', formally designated as the '''D96 Troop Carrier, Equipment'''{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=151}}, is a heavy-lift [[dropship]] in service with the [[United Nations Space Command]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc259}} Manufactured by [[Ushuaia Armory]], the Albatross is one of the UNSC's primary modes of long-range matériel deployment, transporting troops, vehicles, and equipment across long distances.{{Ref/Reuse|essential}}
==Overview==
===Design details===
A heavy-lift [[dropship]] manufactured by [[Ushuaia Armory]], the D96-TCE Albatross is capable of deploying equipment behind enemy lines from both atmospheric and exoatmospheric locations. Although Albatrosses possess no offensive capabilities{{Ref/Reuse|enc259}} as they are not typically armed, its nimble maneuverability and heavily protected, expansive cargo bay allow it to transport troops, vehicles, and equipment safely.{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} However, this agility only applies while the vehicle is unloaded - once the cargo bay is full, the ship is notoriously sluggish in the air.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

The Albatross lacks any form of [[slipspace drive]].{{Ref/Reuse|condor}} The dropship's propulsion system consists of four engines, two on each side, attached to the Albatross' body.{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} The dropships are also equipped with an autopilot feature that allow them to be operated remotely by a [[dumb AI]].<ref name="for">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 71'' (2010)</ref>

The cockpit, located at the front of the Albatross, allows for a single [[pilot]] and one or two crewmen. The Albatross' large cargo bay can carry between forty-five to fifty passengers, or vehicles and weapons for battlefield deployment.{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} Once the dropship has landed, the Albatross lowers three metal ramps holding the bay, allowing troops and cargo to roll on/roll off (RO/RO), before the hatches are closed and the ship departs back to friendly lines.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Heavily armored, the Albatross is able to serve as a makeshift base or command center.{{Ref/Reuse|enc259}}

===Usage===
The Albatross is unarmed, and thus typically reserved for usage well away from the front lines.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Despite this, it is an indispensable part of the UNSC's fleet of dropships,{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} remaining behind the [[Pelican]] in terms of importance.{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=112}} The Albatross is similar in operation to the [[D82-EST Darter]], which specializes in the transportation of base supplies.{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} The functionality of the [[D81-LRT Condor]] overlaps with both the Albatross and Darter, though the Condor is equipped with a slipspace drive.{{Ref/Reuse|condor}}

==Operational history==
[[File:HTFOR-Albatross.png|thumb|The Albatross dropping off the Spartan-II trainees in Reach's wilderness.]]
The Albatross has been a part of the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s fleet of [[dropship]]s for many decades. In [[2517]], during a [[SPARTAN-II training|training]] mission for the young [[Spartan-II]] candidates, an Albatross deployed the seventy-five children to the [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve]] in [[Reach]]'s [[Highland Mountains]].{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} An Albatross was later commandeered by the children to return back to the [[Reach Naval Officers Academy]], autopiloted by the [[dumb AI]] [[Déjà]].{{Ref/Reuse|for}}

The Albatross was also used throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]]. During the [[Battle of Installation 05]] in [[2552]], {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} deployed the surveillance team [[RECON 127]] to [[Installation 05]] to investigate a [[Forerunner]] structure on an island, but the team met heavy [[Covenant]] opposition and their Albatross was shot down over the island.{{Ref/Reuse|relic}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/delta-halo|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Delta Halo|D=30|M=06|Y=2021}} {{UNSCShip|Aegis Fate}} deployed the Albatross ''[[03]]'' to an abandoned [[Jiralhanae]] base, where the ultimately dropship crash-landed nearby.{{Ref/Map|Id=sandtrap|H3|Sandtrap}} Following the Covenant War, the [[Venezian Militia]] had acquired an assortment of Albatrosses, among other UNSC aircraft, hidden in a hanger under [[Mount Longdon Road]] in [[New Tyne]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''', ''page 103''</ref> After the [[Rookie]]'s death in the [[Draco III|rebellion]] on [[Draco III]] in [[2554]], an old Albatross was used by [[Alpha-Nine]] to bring his body out to one of Draco III's oceans.<ref>'''[[Halo: New Blood]]''', ''page 97''</ref>

Albatrosses were later employed by the ground force complement of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} during [[Operation: WOLFE]], intended to follow a [[drop pod]] deployment of [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IVs]] onto [[Reach]] with Marine reinforcements.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR13|HSoR|Chapter=13}} Eight such craft were deployed in the invasion supported by a wing of [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadswords]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR17|HSoR|Chapter=17}} At the end of the campaign, the ''Infinity'' was forced to evacuate before all the craft were able to return to dock, resulting in at least one Albatross being marooned on Reach.{{Ref/Novel|HSoR|Chapter=Epilogue}}

==Known Albatrosses==
*''[[03]]'': Attached to {{UNSCShip|Aegis Fate}}, ''03'' crash-landed near an abandoned [[Jiralhanae]] [[Sandtrap|base]].{{Ref/Reuse|sandtrap}}

==Production notes==
{{Main|Cut Halo Wars units}}
In early builds of ''[[Halo Wars]]'', the Albatross was set to appear as the logistical dropship delivering supplies to the UNSC [[Firebase]]s. While the vehicle was modelled and implemented (see below for images), for reasons unknown in the final game it was replaced with the [[D82-EST Darter]] dropship. Despite this, Darters are still referred to in the game files as Albatrosses.

==Trivia==
{{linkbox|gallery=yes}}
*An [[Wikipedia:Albatross|albatross]] is a seabird, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming most of their dropships (IE the Pelican, [[Condor]], Darter, and [[D20 Heron|Heron]]) after seabirds.
*Some Albatrosses have words inscribed on their hulls by their crews, similar to those pilots painted on the exterior of their bombers in [[World War II]]. ''03'' bears the words "Covenant Killer Mk C" and "Humanity-1 Flood-0".

==Gallery==
===Developmental images===
<gallery>
File:Halo-2-Anniversary-Relic-Screenshot-3.png|An Albatross on the ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' map [[Remnant]].
File:TFoR AS Concept Alabatross.png|Concept art of an Albatross dropping off Spartan-II trainees in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''.
File:HTFoR AS AlbatrossInterior.jpg|Concept art of the Albatross's interior for ''Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series''.
File:Unsc vehicledepot screen.jpg|An early screenshot of the ''Halo Wars'' [[UNSC Vehicle Depot]]; the Albatross can be seen on the [[UNSC Supply Pad|Supply Pad]] just out-of-frame on the right.
</gallery>
===Screenshots===
<gallery>
File:H2_Relic_Albatross.jpg|A crashed Albatross on the ''[[Halo 2]]'' map [[Relic]].
File:H2 Relic Albatross Front.png|Front view of the Albatross on Relic.
File:H2 Relic Albatross Rear.png|Rear view of the Albatross on Relic.
File:H3 AlbatrossProfile.png|Various views of the Albatross on the ''[[Halo 3]]'' map [[Sandtrap]].
File:H3_Sandtrap_Albatross.png|The cargo bay of an Albatross when fully opened in ''Halo 3''.
File:Albatrosslayout.jpg|The sillhouette of an Albatross from ''Halo 3''.
File:HTMCC-H2A RemnantAlbatross 1.png|Front view of the Albatross on the ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' map [[Remnant]].
File:HTMCC-H2A RemnantAlbatross 2.png|Rear view of the Albatross on Remnant.
File:HTMCC-H2A RemnantAlbatross 3.png|Profile view of the Albatross on Remnant.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{C|2010 edition}}
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Human aircraft}}