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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|UNSC|HCW}} |
| [[File:HW2 Blitz Pelican Transport.png|300px|thumb|A [[UNSC]] Pelican embarking troops.]] | | [[File:H4-PelicanDropship.png|thumb|250px|The UNSC's ubiquitous Pelican dropship.]] |
| A '''tactical aerospace lifter''', more commonly known as a '''combat dropship''' or '''dropship'''<ref name="warfleet44">''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'', p.44-45</ref> is an atmospheric, exoatmospheric, and/or limited space flight transport aircraft/spaceplane of small proportions. They are chiefly designed to service a ship, generally by transporting personnel and/or supplies to and from surfaces or another ship. They are often referred to as an '''assault boat''',<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 35''</ref> '''shuttlecraft''', or '''troop carrier'''; depending on the application of their intended type and role. | | A '''dropship''', sometimes referred to as an '''assault boat''' or '''shuttlecraft''',<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 35''</ref> is a space craft of small proportions that ferries troops into combat. The primary definition of a dropship is a military logistical support/deployment platform that can deliver (or extract) troops from space to the surface of a planet, but dropships also serve as gunships and utility craft, providing ground operations with close air support in addition to ferrying infantry and matériel between combat zones within terrestrial environments. Occasionally, dropships are also used for [[boarding]] operations.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'''</ref> Some dropships are designed to carry specific types of cargo, such as supplies or prefabricated structures.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref> |
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| ==Role== | | ==Known dropship types== |
| The dropships main role is rapid insertion and extraction of troops, equipment and vehicles from the battlefield. Some dropships are designed to carry specific types of cargo, such as supplies or prefabricated structures.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref> On capital ships, dropships perform double duty, serving as tenders in day-to-day activities, but fully equipped to act as evacuation crafts in an emergency.
| | ===In the Covenant=== |
| | | *'''[[Type-28 Troop Carrier|Type-25 ''"Spirit"'' Troop Carrier]]''' - A dropship commonly used to transport matériel, though also used to transport personnel. |
| A military dropship's primary technical definition is any logistical support/deployment platform that can deliver (or extract) troops, military assets, and hardware from space platforms to the surface of a planet or ship (or vice versa) for infiltration, invasion, and [[Naval boarding|boarding]] operations. These dropships also serve as gunships and utility craft, providing ground operations with close air support in addition to ferrying infantry and matériel between combat zones within atmospheric and/or terrestrial environments.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'''</ref>
| | *'''[[Type-44 Troop Carrier|Phantom dropship]]s''' - The primary Covenant dropship. |
| | | **[[Type-44 Troop Carrier|Type-44 ''"Phantom"'' Troop Carrier]] - A dropship supplanted by a newer model, the Type-52, which was ubiquitous later in the Human-Covenant War. The Covenant remnant use the Type-44 as their primary dropship, likely due to the scarcity of the newer model. |
| ==Covenant dropships==
| | **[[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Type-52 ''"Phantom"'' Troop Carrier]] - A more heavily armed version of the Type-44 typically used to transport personnel, though also used to transport matériel. |
| [[File:HaloReach - Spirit.png|thumb|250px|A {{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}}, a [[Covenant]] dropship.]]
| | ***[[Phantom gunboat|Type-52 ''"Phantom"'' Gunboat]] - Exoatmospheric combat craft and a variant of the Type-52 Troop Carrier. It is used for space-based engagements |
| | | *'''[[Deployment Platform Type-56 Ground Support/Ultra Heavy|Type-56 ''"Lich"'' Ground Support/Ultra Heavy Deployment Platform]]''' - The largest airborne deployment platform, the Type-56 boasts heavy armament and is capable of mass deployments of up to forty soldiers. |
| ===Boarding craft===
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| *{{Pattern|R'sisho|Tick}} | |
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| ===Evacuation craft===
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| *[[Covenant]] [[Covenant escape pod|escape pod]]
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| ===Gunship/close air support craft===
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| *[[Phantom|Phantom dropship]]s - The primary series of Covenant dropship.
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| **{{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}} – A dropship supplanted by newer models which were ubiquitous later in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] use this model as their primary dropship before being replaced by the ''Mikpramu''-pattern Phantom. | |
| **{{Pattern|Kez'katu|Phantom}} - A more heavily armed version of the ''Ru'swum''-pattern Phantom typically used to transport personnel, though also used to transport matériel. | |
| **{{Pattern|Mikpramu|Phantom}} - an updated variant introduced into service among the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. | |
| **{{Pattern|R'shwupa|Phantom}} – Exoatmospheric combat craft, it is used for space-based engagements. It saw extensive use in [[Operation: UPPER CUT]] during the [[Fall of Reach]].
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| *[[Spirit|Spirit dropship]]s - A common Covenant dropship often used to transport matériel, although it can also be used to transport personnel. | |
| **{{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}} – A dropship commonly seen used throughout the Human-Covenant War.
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| **{{Pattern|Taaku Xur|Spirit}} - A less common dropship that features a [[gravity lift]] that is not seen on the other Spirit models.
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| **{{Pattern|Nuro'k Xur|Spirit}} - Post-war variant of the Spirit dropship used by the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]].
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| **{{Pattern|Mokol'ta|Spirit}} - A variant of Covenant dropship nicknamed the "Super Spirit" for its resemblance to the Spirit. The Super Spirit has three prows, as opposed to the usual two.
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| *{{Pattern|Kmiro'sish|Lich}} – The largest airborne deployment platform, the Type-56 boasts heavy armament and is capable of mass deployments of up to forty soldiers.
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| [[File:H2A Render Phantom.png|thumb|250px|The Covenant's ubiquitous ''"Phantom"'' troop carrier.]]
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| ===Orbital insertion craft===
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| *[[Orbital insertion pod]]
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| *{{Pattern|Gloto'kas|Assault Carapace}}
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| ===Tender/troop carrier===
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| *[[Kig-Yar shuttle]]
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| *[[Kig-Yar troop carrier]]
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| ===VIP/staff transport craft===
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| *[[Contrition-class transport]]
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| ==Banished dropships==
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| [[File:HW2-BanishedPhantom.png|thumb|250px|A Banished Phantom dropship]]
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| ===Gunship/close air support craft===
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| *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Phantom]] - A heavily modified dropship made using captured old Covenant Phantoms. Used by the [[Banished]] primarily as a gunship and firing platform.
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| *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Spirit]] - A modified Covenant-era Spirit dropship. Often used for the transportation of troops, vehicles, and prefabricated structures.
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| *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich]] - An ultra heavy matériel and infantry deployment vessel, likely a modified Type-56 Lich.
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| *[[Barug'qel Workshop Trespasser]] - A [[Jiralhanae]]-developed dropshop capable of deploying up to 30 passengers, being supported by 6 heavy plasma cannons, and often used for raiding parties by the Banished and [[Kig-Yar]] pirates alike.
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| ===Cargo/logistical support craft===
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| *[[Barukaza Workshop siege-hauler]] - a large heavy-lift vehicle employed for transporting large amounts of materiel to Banished outposts on the front lines of a conflict.
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| ==UNSC dropships==
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| ===Atmospheric-only craft===
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| *[[UH-144 Falcon]] – The primary air-to-ground support and troop transport aircraft of the UNSC Army.
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| ===Cargo/logistical support craft===
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| *[[D20 Heron]] – A very large, heavy dropship used for transporting prefabricated structures to groundside locations.
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| *[[D81-LRT Condor]] – A long-range, [[slipspace]]-capable dropship primarily used by the [[Sedran Colonial Guard]].
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| *[[D82-EST Darter]] – A dropship, similar to the Albatross, used to deliver supplies directly to forward bases.
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| *[[D96-TCE Albatross]] – A larger, less common dropship used to transport large quantities of matériel and large groups of personnel.
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| *{{UNSCShip|Antaeus}} – a heavily modified drop[[freighter]] of unknown model, fitted with experimental [[energy shielding]] technology.
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| ===Evacuation craft===
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| *[[Class-3 Bumblebee]]
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| **[[SKT-9 Bumblebee]]
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| *[[Class-5 Bumblebee]]
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| *[[SKT-13 shuttlecraft]]
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| *[[SKT-21 shuttlecraft]]
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| *[[SKT-29 shuttlecraft]]
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| *[[RLT-85 Emergency Shuttlepod]]
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| ===Gunship/close air support craft===
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| [[File:H2A-D77TC-PelicanDropship-FrontView.png|thumb|250px|The UNSC's ubiquitous Pelican dropship.]]
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| *[[Pelican|Pelican dropships]] – The primary series of UNSC dropship.
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| **[[D75-TC Pelican]] - Pelican dropship employed in the early years of the war with the Covenant.
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| ***[[D75-TC/r Pelican]] - A D75 Pelican variant nicknamed the "slash-r" outfitted with a special scouting package, used for reconnaissance missions.
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| ***[[D75-TC/g Pelican]] - A D75 Pelican variant nicknamed the "slash-g", which is furnished as a gunship.
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| **[[D77-TC Pelican]] – The standard Pelican dropship.
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| ***[[D77H-TCI Pelican]] – A more recent, upgraded model of the Pelican.
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| ***[[D77C Pelican]] - Paramilitary Pelican employed by law enforcement.
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| ****[[D77C-NMPD Pelican]] – A [[New Mombasa Police Department|law enforcement]] variant of the Pelican.
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| *****[[Troop deployment pod]] – Overhang extension to increase passenger load capacity.
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| ***[[G77S Pelican]] - Gunship Pelican variant.
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| **[[D78-TC Pelican]] - A less common model used after the Covenant War, with improved avionics and thrusters
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| **[[D79-TC Pelican]] – Became the UNSC's standard dropship by 2557; replacing the D77-TC and D77H-TCI models.
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| ***[[Corp Pelican]] - Pelican variant employed by the [[Liang-Dortmund Corporation]].
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| ***[[G79H-TC Pelican]] - A gunship variant of the D79-TC Pelican.
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| *[[D102 Owl]] - A stealth-capable insertion craft.
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| *[[G81 Condor]] - A gunship variant of D81-LRT Condor, used by the crew of [[UNSC Spirit of Fire]].
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| ===Orbital insertion craft===
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| *[[Drop pod]]s
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| **[[M7650 drop pod]]
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| **[[M8823 drop pod]]
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| **[[M8900 drop pod]]
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| **[[M9407 drop pod]]
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| **[[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]
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| ===VIP/staff transport craft===
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| *[[Command shuttle]]
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| ==Forerunner dropships==
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| *[[Falco-class space pod]]
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| ==Flood dropships==
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| *[[Flood dispersal pod]]
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| | ===In the UNSC=== |
| | *'''[[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican dropships]]''' - The primary UNSC dropship. |
| | **[[D77-TC Pelican]] - The standard Pelican dropship. |
| | ***[[D77H-TCI Pelican]] - A more recent, upgraded model of the Pelican. |
| | ***[[D77C-NMPD Pelican]] - A [[New Mombasa Police Department|law enforcement]] variant of the Pelican. |
| | **[[D79-TC Pelican]] - Became the UNSC's standard dropship by 2557; replacing the D77-TC and D77H-TCI models. |
| | *'''[[D82-EST Darter]]''' - A dropship, similar to the Albatross, used to deliver supplies directly to forward bases. |
| | *'''[[D96-TCE Albatross]]''' - A larger, less common dropship used to transport large quantities of matériel and large groups of personnel. |
| | *'''[[Pod]]''' - A very large, heavy dropship used for transporting prefabricated structures to groundside locations. |
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
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| {{Ship types}} | | {{Ship types}} |
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| [[Category:Dropships| ]]
| | [[Category:Ship Classifications]] |
| [[Category:Ship classifications]] | |
