Editing UNSC Navy

{{Status|Canon}}

|image=[[File:UNSC Navy Logo.svg|100px|class=invert-dark]]<br>The [[Symbols of the UNSC|logo of the Navy]]

[[File:H2A-fleet readout.jpg|300px]]<br>Naval members [[John-117]], [[Miranda Keyes]], and [[Terrence Hood]] looking at a readout of ships

|branch=  

|type= Space force

|role= Space warfare and operations

The '''UNSC Navy''' ('''UNSCN''')<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 64''</ref> is the branch of the [[United Nations Space Command]] armed forces responsible for space warfare and operations. Its roles include [[space warfare]], [[orbital bombardment]], the deployment of atmospheric and [[space fighter]]s, and the delivery of [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]] into combat.

The UNSC Navy's mission is to ''"Provide naval forces to ensure freedom of access for aerospace and terrestrial operations."''<ref name="OSFM126">'''Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual''', ''p.126''</ref> More specifically, the Navy is responsible for destroying and suppressing enemy space combatants, especially those attempting to attack UEG commercial and terrestrial holdings. The Navy's collateral functions include;

*Interstellar transportation of UNSC assets.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM126}}

*Development of doctrine, procedures and equipment that are of common interest to the Air Force and Marine Corps.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM126}}

*Providing forces for joint aerospace and terrestrial operations, in accordance with UNSC doctrine.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM126}}

*Coordination with UEG civil agencies for the establishment and maintenance of naval depots and orbital yards.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM126}}

*Establishment of emergency military government in designated crisis areas.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM126}}

The UNSC Navy was created during the [[Interplanetary War]] of the [[2160]]'s—precisely during the [[Mars Campaign]] of [[2163]]—as a result of the [[United Nations]]' need to oversee and monitor [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] deployments from space, thus forming the [[United Nations Space Command]]. After the UN's victory in that war, the UNSC Navy became involved in colonization, the settling of minor trade disputes, and anti-[[piracy]] operations as humanity spread through space.<ref name="evolutions436">'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]", ''pages 436-437''</ref> The navy has always been a carrier-heavy organization, with carriers forming the core of doctrine and organisation.{{Ref/Reuse|WFEpoch}}

Such low-level operations continued until the [[Insurrection]], which forced the Navy to develop a modern space warfare doctrine. Beginning with the [[Callisto Incident]] of [[2494]], the UNSC Navy was involved in a series of small but important actions against [[Insurrectionists]] across human space.<ref name="evolutions cole">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"</ref> In 2494, the [[Eridanus Government]] requested aid from the UNSC when rebels performed a well-planned and efficiently executed [[terrorism|terrorist]] campaign on the planet. This led to [[Operation: CHARLEMAGNE]] in [[2494|January of 2496]], when the UNSC Navy responded to the government's requests and began their campaign to retake Eridanus II, deploying a battle group to engage the makeshift Insurrectionist defense fleet.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 44'' (2011 edition)</ref> The clandestine activities of the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] also proved to be particularly useful in dealing with Insurrectionists during [[Operation: TREBUCHET]] in the [[Eridanus system|Eridanus]] and [[Epsilon Eridani system]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''pages 9-20''</ref> The Navy played an important role in the elimination of rebel cells and in engagements of more organized insurgent groups—most notably the [[United Rebel Front]]. Other major battles and engagements the UNSC Navy participated in include the [[Battle of Theta Ursae Majoris]] and the [[Skirmish at Capella]].{{Ref/Reuse|evolutions cole}}

Prior to the [[Human-Covenant War]], the UNSC Navy had a large fleet of warships, including many [[capital ship]]s and [[Space fighter|single-ship craft]]. However, beginning with the near-total destruction of the [[Colonial Military Authority]]'s [[Battle Group 4]] at the [[First Battle of Harvest]], followed by the loss of thirteen out of forty ships at the [[Second Battle of Harvest]], the UNSC Navy sustained heavy losses of materiel and personnel throughout the war against the Covenant. Going on the offensive from [[2526]] to [[2543]], the bulk of the UNSC Navy under Admiral Preston Cole fought a series of victorious but enormously costly actions against the [[Covenant fleet]].{{Ref/Reuse|evolutions cole}} To buy the fleet time to prepare, Cole launched [[Operation: SILENT STORM]] where [[Task Force Yama]] inflicted as much damage as possible on the Covenant through stealth to give them pause while [[Battle Group X-Ray]] kept the main Covenant force distracted. The task force was able to cause substantial damage to the operations of the Covenant [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] and caused heavy damage to the Covenant planet of [[Zhoist]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'''</ref>

At the [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae]] in the [[Origami Asteroid Field]] in [[2526|October 2526]], a total of 117 UNSC naval vessels defeated the Covenant's twelve—at least three of which were {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s. However, thirty-seven UNSC ships were lost. The [[Battle of XI Boötis A]] in 2528 saw the loss of thirty ships out of the UNSC's seventy to the Covenant.<ref name="battles">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 470''</ref> The [[Battle of the Great Bear]] at the [[Groombridge 1830 system]] in [[2530]] saw eleven destroyers out of the fleet of seventeen destroyed by three enemy ships.{{Ref/Reuse|battles}}

[[File:H2A - BattleofEarth.png|250px|thumb|The Home Fleet engaging Covenant vessels during the [[Battle for Earth]].]]

By [[2536]], the Covenant had begun to [[Siege of the Inner Colonies|encroach]] on humanity's [[Inner Colonies]]. To prevent the Covenant from discovering more [[human colonies]] or Sol itself, Admiral Preston Cole established the [[Cole Protocol]]. The protocol forbade retreating vessels from setting a direct slipspace course toward any colony and dictated the destruction of navigation data on Covenant-captured naval ships. Every shipboard commanding officer in the Navy was ordered to read the new protocol.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 33''</ref> Some naval vessels, such as {{UNSCShip|Midsummer Night}}, were ordered to patrol UNSC space to enforce the Cole Protocol.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 36''</ref> In [[2543]], the UNSC Navy scored one final offensive victory against the Covenant at the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]], though at the cost of the apparent death of Preston Cole.{{Ref/Reuse|evolutions cole}} Towards the end of the Covenant War, most remaining UNSC ground forces were consolidated on worlds in the Epsilon Eridani and [[Sol system]]s. As a result, the only representative that several surviving colonies had of UEG authority and defense were UNSC Navy ships. While the Navy attempted to provide aid to colonies cut off from direct military assistance, worlds with little strategic value or unstable local governments were sometimes abandoned to prevent risking the loss of irreplaceable Navy vessels and personnel.{{Ref/Book|Id=fb9|Halo: Fleet Battles core rulebook|Page=9}}

In [[2552]], the Navy scored a morale-boosting [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|victory]] at [[Sigma Octanus IV]], but this was quickly offset by the crippling military losses of the [[Fall of Reach]] and the [[Battle of Tribute]]. The Navy lost over a hundred ships, including irreplaceable cruisers and carriers such as the {{UNSCShip|Basra}}, {{UNSCShip|Trafalgar}}, and the {{UNSCShip|Musashi}} at [[Reach]],<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 320'' (2001 edition)</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 168'' (2003 edition); ''page 206'' (2010 edition)</ref> and lost ninety percent of naval assets at [[Tribute]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''Dutch's biography''</ref> In the same year, most of the remaining forces of the UNSC Navy retreated to Earth and were merged with the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]] prior to the [[Battle for Earth]].<ref name="lootcrate2">''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]'', [[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]</ref> A very large portion of the combined fleet were lost when the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Truth's fleet|final military forces]] arrived at [[Earth]] in mid [[2552#November|November 2552]].{{Ref/Level|Id=H3CN|Game=Halo 3|Level=Crow's Nest}} As a result, the UNSC Navy was only able to make a contribution of at least [[Battle Group Victory|seven]] [[Charon-class light frigate|frigates]]<ref name="mythos">'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 117''</ref> to the [[Battle of Kenya]] and the [[Battle of Installation 00]], with the [[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] navy handling most of the space fighting.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign levels ''[[The Storm]]'', ''[[Floodgate]]'', and ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref>

In the aftermath of the Human-Covenant War, all remaining naval assets were gathered to the [[Sol system]] for months so that the UNSC could take stock of its fleet. This time was spent accounting for, repairing, and refitting what little remained—only a few hundred vessels.<ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 132''</ref> The Office of Naval Intelligence began operations to sow dissent amongst the [[Sangheili]], disregarding their wartime alliance in the hopes of rendering them unable to fight should they become a threat again. Among this operation's effects was the beginning of the [[Blooding Years]] and the establishment of a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant remnant]] led by [[Jul 'Mdama]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 22''</ref> While the former Covenant fleet's naval vessels fell into the hands of various splinter factions established by the former client species,<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 195''</ref><ref>'''[[Eleventh Hour reports]]''', ''Report 2''</ref> the UNSC Navy began to rebuild and continued to grow.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 43''</ref> In the aftermath of the war, the rapidly modernizing Navy introduced the {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}}, based on the highly resilient advancements applied to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} as well as the {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} and the {{Class|Anlace|light frigate}} among others, rapidly supplanting the prewar designs still central to the UNSC Navy.   

Also in July 2557, the UNSC launched a massive fleet to the [[Korinth Prior system]] after the discovery of the debris field of [[Trove]], a Forerunner [[shield world]] destroyed in [[2531]] by the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}. The fleet launched a massive bombardment of [[nuclear weapon]]s upon arrival, obliterating the shield world remnants in an act of asset denial as the field was too large for the UNSC to cover effectively.<ref name="Renegades24">'''[[Halo: Renegades]]''', ''Chapter 24''</ref>

On [[2558#October|October 28, 2558]] the UNSC Navy was largely [[Subjugation of Earth|incapacitated]] by [[Cortana]]'s [[Guardian]]s, with only a few ships, including ''Infinity'', managing to escape the [[Created]].<ref name="Guardians">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level ''[[Guardians]]''</ref><ref name="Rossbach">'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', ''[[Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World]]''</ref>

*[[Naval Logistical Operations Command]], or NavLogCom, oversees the construction, maintenance, and distribution of supplies and matériel, including ships, ammunition, replacement parts, and food.  

*[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare Command]], or NAVSPECWARCOM, and Naval Special Weapons (NAVSPECWEP) are responsible for all Naval special operations, including deployments of [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]]s.<ref name="enc">'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 64'' (2011 edition)</ref> They provide mission parameters, ships and specialist personnel to support Spartan actions in deep space or planetary orbit.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM124}}

The UNSC Navy also operates with [[Unified Ground Command|UNICOM]] forces to form one of four [[Central Command]]s (CENTCOM) which hold responsibility over a certain area of space. These territories are known as CentCom regions, and follow well-mapped routes that connect star systems together. Forces assigned to one CentCom region can not be moved to another without HIGHCOM approval<ref name="OSFM122">'''Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual''', ''p.122-123''</ref> However, a CENTCOM commander has the authority to blockade a system,{{Ref/Reuse|evolutions436}} or aid in the coordination of a battle occurring within the regional space they command.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Halo: Reach radio conversations#Part 6 - Reflection|Reflection radio conversation]]''</ref> UNSC and UEG space is further divided, governed, and protected by the Navy's [[UNSC Fleet Command#FLEETCOM Sectors|Fleet Command sectors]] which each contain a number of planetary systems.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 289''</ref>

The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] is technically subordinate to the UNSC Naval Command. In practice, however, ONI's activities extend far beyond intelligence gathering, and it often receives mandates and directives from HIGHCOM or even higher.{{Ref/Reuse|enc}} ONI holds a strong presence in the UNSC fleet and maintains joint control of the Navy's post-war flagship, {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 46''</ref> Despite being under the command of the Navy, ONI's [[Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence|Commander-in-Chief]] holds a seat on the [[UNSC Security Council|Security Council]] with equal stature and privilege to the committee members of the Navy, Marines, Army, and Air Force.<ref name="HE1">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</ref>

Commanding positions in NAVCOM tend to be held by [[admiral]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|fs}}<ref name="h2">'''[[Halo 2]]'''</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|goo}} Because of their role as an "amphibious", space-deployed force, the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] enjoys a close relationship with the Navy, with Marine complements being deployed on most [[warship]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|h2}}<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'''</ref><ref name="tfor">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach'''</ref>

UNSC Navy forces are divided into a number of [[fleets]]. These tend to be large formations, though they seldom patrol together; single ships are commonly seen patrolling throughout UNSC space.{{Ref/Reuse|tfor}} System defense fleets, such as the [[UNSC Home Fleet]], the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] or [[Bliss Defense Fleet]], are commonly formed to patrol and defend a human colonized-system.{{Ref/Reuse|fb9}}<ref name="Crows">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station]]''</ref> Defense fleets were often considered to be little more than glorified revenue police, though they proved to hold an imperative role during the [[Human-Covenant War]] as they provided desperately needed training cadres and battle-ready—albeit, sometimes outdated—warships.{{Ref/Reuse|fb9}} Defensive fleets typically find a smaller "tactical" [[UNSC carrier|carrier]] at their core.{{Ref/Reuse|WFEpoch}} The UNSC Navy also has several numbered expeditionary fleets,{{Ref/Reuse|fb9}} five of which were active during the Covenant War—the [[Second Fleet|Second]], [[Third Fleet|Third]], [[Fifth Fleet|Fifth]], [[Seventh Fleet|Seventh]], and [[Sixteenth Fleet]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 205''</ref> Several expeditionary fleets were decimated early in the Covenant War. Expeditionary fleets find their core comprised of massive supercarriers such as the ''Epoch''-class, which formed the core of many UNSC fleets and battlegroups during the Insurrection and early Covenant War.{{Ref/Reuse|WFEpoch}}

Fleets are typically assigned to sectors, groupings of [[Inner Colonies|Inner]] and [[Outer Colonies]] organised by the most efficient slipspace routes branching away from [[Reach]]. By late [[2552]], there was no longer any appreciable difference between fleets, as the Navy was no longer capable of conducting offensive operations without leaving the remaining colonies and Earth vulnerable- despite this, the navy maintained these divisions.{{Ref/Reuse|fb9}} By this time, however, the navy was the only representation of the UEG had in the colonies, as all remaining ground forces had been consolidated at Earth and Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|fb9}}

These fleets are further divided into several [[battle group]]s,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 188''</ref> more common [[UNSC Navy tactical formations|tactical formations]] which are formed on an as-needed basis and vary dramatically in size from three ships to large carrier groups{{Ref/Reuse|evolutions cole}}<ref name="goo">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', ''page 86''</ref> with smaller tactical carriers at their core.{{Ref/Reuse|WFEpoch}} Battle groups are flexible fighting organizations that can be "plugged together" into arranged [[task force]]s. A squadron is a group of warships that is smaller than a fleet. By the final years of the Covenant War, squadrons became administrative—rather than tactical—units that ships were enrolled in for record-keeping and honorific purposes. [[Artificial intelligence]] administrators of the Navy carefully arranging the dwindling ship roles into attack, battle, carrier, monitor, and support squadrons. Many of the Navy's fleets had also become "paper fleets", or "dead fleets", with no command and no ships. These fleets were assigned to [[sector]]s lost to the Covenant early in the war, with their destroyed squadrons remaining attached to the sector to honor their sacrifice and as deference for tradition. A new ship was occasionally inadvertently attached to one of these dead fleets due to bureaucratic error, though such assignments were considered ill omens by their crew members.{{Ref/Reuse|fb9}}

Large numbers of men and women are employed by the UNSC Navy. Servicepeople hold ranks, which are divided between officers and enlisted. UNSC Navy personnel are given training in self-defense. All crewmen are trained to use the [[M6 series|M6 series of handguns]].<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref> Naval personnel are sometimes referred to as "[[swabbie]]s", which can be a joke or a sign of disrespect.{{Ref/Reuse|flood}}<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 92''</ref> Navy recruits serve in initial recruit training operated by the [[Unified Combined Military Boot Camp]]. At boot camp, recruits are trained, tested, and evaluated on their physical fitness, proficiency with firearms, and command potential. Following graduation from UCMB, a naval recruit may be required to complete additional training revolving around the vacuum of space and microgravity. Finally, a recruit is assigned aboard a naval vessel or installation as a non-commissioned recruit within the Navy.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 421''</ref> Several [[human colonies]] are home to [[Officer Candidate School]]s that provide training and allows enlisted personnel or civilians to become officers.<ref name="for38">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 38''</ref> Renowned OCS academies include the [[Academy at Mare Nubium|Luna OCS Academy]] and the [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]].<ref>'''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''', ''Part 1''</ref>

UNSC Navy personnel wear distinctive [[UNSC Navy uniforms|uniforms]] for identification, comfort, and practicality. [[UNSC Navy Dress Uniform|Dress uniforms]] are worn on formal occasions, such as ceremonies and other official functions,{{Ref/Reuse|h2}} while [[UNSC Navy Service Uniform|service]] and [[UNSC Navy Working Uniform|working uniform]]s are the basic uniform worn by UNSC Naval personnel while on duty.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 322''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo]]''</ref> Carrier flight crew are a mix of Navy and Marine personnel, divided into "Blue" and "Green" sides respectively, with coloured jerseys signifying their role on the flight deck: red for ordnance handlers, white for safety technicians, green for technicians, and so on.<ref name="WFEpoch">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p.40-41''</ref>

Whilst crewing a war-era UNSC navy vessel, crew members could expect cramped and strictly utilitarian conditions, with most vessels forgoing recreational space and only having rudimentary kitchen facilities. Crew members are allocated a sleeping pod, with multiple crewmembers using the same sleeping pod depending on shift rotation on the ship and if the ship carries additional personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|WFHalberd}}

The primary offensive armament of UNSC spacecraft is the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] (MAC). These are high velocity coil guns that are used to accelerate projectiles ranging in mass from 600 metric tons in the case of smaller warships, and 3,000 tons in the case of Super MAC platforms. These projectiles are composed of [[titanium]], [[depleted uranium]], or [[tungsten]] with a [[Iron (element)|ferrous]] core.

The UNSC frigate ''[[UNSC Gettysburg|Gettysburg]]'' is quoted as firing a 600 ton shell at 30 kilometers per second.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 108'' (2001 edition); ''page 130'' (2010 edition)</ref> Before Reach fell, the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} was equipped with a modified MAC that could quickly fire three lighter projectiles in succession instead of just one heavier projectile. It was originally intended to allow the ''Pillar of Autumn'' a better chance of disabling a Covenant ship, which was a feature required for a mission that was later scrubbed following the [[Fall of Reach]].

Ships of the UNSC Navy also carry a number of [[GA-TL1 Longsword|GA-TL1 Longsword interceptors]]. These are armed with [[110mm rotary cannon]]s and [[ASGM-10 missile]]s, and sometimes a [[M1011 Moray space mine]] system or even a single Shiva-class nuclear missile. They can also be remotely-operated and used to carry a remotely-detonated Shiva missile, which, when detonated, effectively destroys both the Longsword and its selected target.<ref name="evg112">'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 112''</ref>

Despite all of this firepower, however, UNSC warships during the Human-Covenant War had great difficulty in defeating Covenant ships even with a numerical advantage. It typically took multiple hits from a ship-based MAC weapon to disable a Covenant ship's shields, although larger, [[Orbital defense platform|ODP-based]] "Super MACs" fire a round that can literally shatter Covenant capital ships.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 297''</ref> Archer missiles had to be used in tremendous volumes to breach Covenant shield systems. Even with their shields down, Covenant ships have been noted to remain operational after multiple direct hits from normal MAC rounds. Throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]], this advantage in firepower and shielding gave the Covenant an effective 3:1 ratio when in battle against the UNSC. However, as of the [[Timeline|post-war era]], thanks to Forerunner technology and the [[Huragok]] retrieved from [[Onyx]], UNSC ships have become faster and stronger, making them more effective against Covenant vessels.

{{Main|UNSC starship}}

The largest vessels of the UNSC fleet are [[UNSC carrier|carrier]]s and [[UNSC supercarrier|supercarriers]].{{Ref/Reuse|tfor}} While possessing weapons of their own, their primary role is to deploy fighter craft such as the [[GA-TL1 Longsword]], and may serve as [[flagship]]s in fleet actions.{{Ref/Reuse|goo}} If a carrier is unavailable, however, then heavily-armed and armored [[cruiser]]s may fill this role.{{Ref/Reuse|tfor}} The UNSC Navy has fielded numerous carrier types, among them the {{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}}, the {{Class|Orion|assault carrier}}, and the postwar {{Class|Poseidon|light carrier}}. The [[Punic-class supercarrier]]s, among the largest vessels in human history, upheld the Navy's outreach and field capabilities as "Space Control Vehicles" before assuming offensive roles in the Human-Covenant War. The ''Punic''-class was one of the few vessels to rival those of the Covenant in terms of tonnage and firepower. The current flagship of the UNSC Navy is the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, the first of the [[Infinity-class supercarrier|''Infinity''-class supercarriers]] which make use of defensive and offensive advances reverse-engineered from both Forerunner and Covenant technologies, with the specific intention of matching Covenant warships in terms of offensive firepower.{{Ref/Reuse|Glasslands 422}} The UNSC Navy has operated four known classes of cruiser; the {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}, the {{Class|Valiant|super-heavy cruiser}}, the now-obsolete {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}, and the postwar {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}}.<ref>'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 191''</ref>

Th primary shipyards utilized by the UNSC Navy are on and in orbit of [[Mars]],<ref name="havesmoa">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Have S'moa'']</ref> with at least some UNSC ship production handled by the [[Reyes-McLees Shipyards]] over Mars.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 238''</ref> [[Tribute]] is also host to prominent shipbuilding yards. By the end of the Covenant War, the shipyards orbiting Tribute and Mars began building a new generation of {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s and {{Class|Anlace|light frigate}}s,<ref name="WFStrident">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p.38-39''</ref> among other warships for the UNSC to replace losses.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-buzz-generating '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Buzz Generating'']</ref> Additionally, [[SinoViet Heavy Machinery]] manufactured and decommissioned {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s<ref name="alexandria">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level, ''[[New Alexandria]]''</ref> and ''Stalwart''-class light frigates<ref name="WFAmber">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p.36-37''</ref> on [[Reach]] prior to the [[Fall of Reach]]. UNSC naval design guidelines emphasise that the command crew of a given ship be given visibility of the surrounding area, a tradition hearkening back to the age of naval warfare on [[Earth]].<ref name="WFHalberd">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p.32-33''</ref> Because of this, UNSC naval vessels are prone to have [[bridge]]s exposed to space.

[[Space fighter]]s are small, maneuverable spacecraft, often used for bombing or "dog fighting" in space or in an atmosphere. The UNSC Navy operates a number of fighters, the most common of which is the [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]. The Longsword is a multi-role fighter that can be used in a variety of missions, including ground support, anti-ship attacks, and combat with other fighters.{{Ref/Reuse|tfor}}{{Ref/Reuse|evg112}}

A less common UNSC fighter is the [[OF92 Booster Frame|OF92/EVA "Booster Frame"]]. The Booster Frame is an experimental fighter developed as a prototype. They are specifically designed for [[extra-vehicular activity]] and special operations and Spartan roles, dropped from hooks within the hangars of specialized UNSC ships. The fighter itself has no sealed cockpit, so a [[Vacuum suit|pressurized suit]] must be worn in order to operate the vehicle.{{Ref/Reuse|WFStrident}}<ref>'''Halo Waypoint''', ''Gauss Technology article''</ref><ref>'''Halo Waypoint''', ''Booster Frame article''</ref>

{{Main|UNSC starships}}

File:Cradle1.png|The {{UNSCShip|Cradle}}, a specialized refit station capable of slipspace travel, takes the offensive along with numerous UNSC Navy ships in the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]].

File:H4 - MidnightShips1.png|A {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}, two {{Class|Vindication|light battleship}}, and a {{Class|Poseidon|light carrier}} over [[Earth]] in the post-war era.

File:HFB-ClassicUNSC.jpg|UNSC Navy ships in ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''.

File:H3ODST recruiting center2.jpg|A Navy recruitment advertisement in [[Mombasa]], [[East African Protectorate]].

**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''

**''[[Palace Hotel]]''

**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''

**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''

*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''  

*''[[Halo: Meridian Divide]]

*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''

*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''

{{Ref/Sources|3}}