SKT-9 Bumblebee: Difference between revisions

SKT-9 Bumblebee
Production information
Manufacturer:	Vosper Engineering
Class:	Lifeboat shuttle
Role:	Short-range personnel transfers; Ship hull surveys; Emergency evacuations;
Technical specifications
Length:	10.5 meters (34.5 ft)
Width:	5.2 meters (17.2 ft); 9.3 meters (30.5 ft) (with air brakes deployed);
Height:	4.1 meters (13.3 ft)
Mass:	12.7 metric tons (14 tons)
Slipspace drive:	None
Crew:	1 pilot; 8 passengers;
Chronological and affiliation
Affiliation:	UNSC Navy

Latest revision as of 09:00, January 25, 2024

This article is about the class of lifeboats onboard UNSC Pillar of Autumn. For other lifeboats named "Bumblebee", see Bumblebee.

The SKT-9 Bumblebee,^[5] formally known as the Class-3 Enclosed Heavy Lifeboat, Controlled,^[2] is a variant of the UNSC lifeboat commonly known as the Bumblebee.^[1]^[6] It is a sixth-generation lifeboat, and features a pilot-operated guiding system similar to that of SKT-13 and SKT-21 shuttlecrafts.^[2]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The SKT-9 Bumblebee is a medium-endurance (Class 3) vehicle;^[1] it is well armored, though Jacob Keyes considered that a 12.7x40mm round may penetrate the relatively thin hull.^[7] They are typically found on UNSC cruisers,^[2] which carry several sets of them, stationed at designated airlocks. Several SKT-9 Bumblebees were carried aboard Cairo Station.^[5] The docking ports for Bumblebees are comparable in size to the Brhi Xur-pattern Leech boarding craft used by the Covenant, allowing the Covenant to use the airlocks to conduct boarding actions on UNSC spacecraft.^[8]

Like Pelican and other dropships, each has a call sign, usually consisting of three letters from the phonetic alphabet, followed by a two-digit number.^[9] SKT-9 Bumblebees are equipped with beacons,^[10] and possess limited visual and audio capture capabilities.^[11]

The SKT-9 can hold up to nine people (including the pilot), and it has enough supplies to support 126-person-days of life support.^[1] It has one pilot seat as well as eight side-facing crash seats. The seats have harnesses to keep passengers from injury when crash-landing.^[3]^[4] Though they are noted as being one of the safer methods of UNSC ship evacuation,^[2] the effectiveness of the safety features on this Bumblebee vary greatly, as can their reliability. During the Battle of Installation 04, some of these Bumblebees landed without any injuries to their passengers, while others suffered catastrophic failures while in mid-air, resulting in the deaths of most, if not all, aboard upon impact.^[10]

SKT-9 Bumblebees employ thrusters and air-brakes to slow down during descent.^[2] Although it has a pilot control station,^[1]^[12] the Bumblebee has little in the way of maneuverability, as it is not intended for extended atmospheric use, nor are its thrusters powerful enough to escape a planet's atmosphere;^[3]^[4] Jacob Keyes noted that a Bumblebee lifeboat "flew like a rock".^[9] Instead, the lifeboat using a simple escape-and-evasion autopilot routine after boosting away from its host vessel.^[1]^[12] Once it enters atmosphere, the Bumblebee makes a controlled crash landing with aerobraking panels and drogue chutes.^[1] Thus, after a landing, the lifeboat can never be used again, as the air brakes disengage upon descent; the lifeboat would have likely suffered a great amount of damage as well.^[3]^[4]

There may be some animosity between Bumblebee pilots and Pelican pilots; during the Battle of Installation 04, Carol Rawley noted she would rather die piloting her own Pelican than trust her fate to "some lifeboat jockey".^[7]

Known SKT-9 Bumblebees[edit]

Operational History[edit]

The Halcyon-class light cruiser UNSC Pillar of Autumn carried eighteen of these Bumblebees. Most of them were used to evacuate the vessel when it was shot down during the Battle over Installation 04 on September 19, 2552.^[10] At least one was destroyed by the Covenant when it was ejected from the vessel,^[8] while at least six made landfall on the ring.^[9]^[10] In the final stages of the conflict, John-117 originally intended to take one of the remaining lifeboats on the Autumn to escape from the ring's destruction.^[13]^[14]

Production notes[edit]

When the Master Chief's lifeboat launches in Halo: Combat Evolved, its rear hatch remains open. This was rectified in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
In Halo: Custom Edition, Bumblebees can be modded into maps. They have closed rear hatches until a player pilots them, at which point the hatch opens. As Bungie only designed these for cutscenes, it is likely to allow for the doors opening or closing during the final cutscene on The Pillar Of Autumn.
There is an Easter egg underneath the pilot's seat with text that reads "put your head 'teen your legs & kiss your ass good bye!".^[15]

Gallery[edit]

Halo: Combat Evolved[edit]

Views of the Bumblebee without its air brakes and with air brakes deployed.
SKT-9 Bumblebee cutaway.
The texture for the interior of the Bumblebee, with the Easter egg.
Views of the Bumblebee.
Marines onboard a Bumblebee.
A Bumblebee entering the atmosphere of Installation 04.
A Bumblebee deploying its air brakes and forward thrusters during its descent.
A Bumblebee on the surface of Installation 04.
The interior of a Bumblebee.
A crashed Bumblebee and the sliding trench it left on impact.
A Bumblebee pilot at the control station.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary[edit]

Concept art of the Bumblebee.
Extracted concept art of the Bumblebee.
Ä Bumblebee ejecting from an airlock on UNSC Pillar of Autumn.
Bumblebee LFA-43 escapes the Autumn at the onset of the Battle of Installation 04.
A Bumblebee entering the atmosphere of Installation 04.
A Bumblebee approaching the orbit of Installation 04.
A Bumblebee deploying its air brakes and forward thrusters during its descent.
A Bumblebee on the surface of Installation 04.
The interior of a Bumblebee.
A Bumblebee pilot at the control station.

List of appearances[edit]

Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: The Flood
- Adjunct (Mentioned only)
Halo: Ghosts of Onyx (Mentioned only)
Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Halo Mythos

Sources[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 153
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Library: Bumblebee
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 250
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 260
^ ^a ^b Halo: Warfleet, page 30
^ Bungie.net, Bungie Weekly Update of 04-13-01
^ ^a ^b Halo: The Flood, chapter 1
^ ^a ^b Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn
^ ^a ^b ^c Halo: The Flood, chapter 2
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Halo
^ Halo: The Flood: Adjunct
^ ^a ^b Twitter, Halo (@Halo): "The SKT-9 Bumblebee is a heavy lifeboat that can hold up to eight passengers and has a pilot control station, though by default it uses a simple escape-and-evasion autopilot routine after boosting away from its host vessel. #FictionFriday"
^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Maw
^ Halo: The Flood, chapter 12
^ Halo: Combat Evolved, Bumblebee interior texture

[enc22-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 153

[library-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Library: Bumblebee

[enc09-3] Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 250

[enc11-4] Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 260

[Warfleet-5] Halo: Warfleet, page 30

[6] Bungie.net, Bungie Weekly Update of 04-13-01

[tf1-7] Halo: The Flood, chapter 1

[poa-8] Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn

[tf2-9] Halo: The Flood, chapter 2

[halo-10] Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Halo

[11] Halo: The Flood: Adjunct

[fictionfriday-12] Twitter, Halo (@Halo): "The SKT-9 Bumblebee is a heavy lifeboat that can hold up to eight passengers and has a pilot control station, though by default it uses a simple escape-and-evasion autopilot routine after boosting away from its host vessel. #FictionFriday"

[13] Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Maw

[tf12-14] Halo: The Flood, chapter 12

[15] Halo: Combat Evolved, Bumblebee interior texture

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 |affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[UNSC Navy|Navy]]
 }}
-The '''SKT-9 Bumblebee''',{{Ref/Book|Id=Warfleet|HWF|Page=30}} formally known as the '''Class-3 Enclosed Heavy Lifeboat, Controlled''',{{Ref/Game|Id=library|HCEA|[[Library (feature)|Library]]|Detail=Bumblebee}} is a variant of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] lifeboat commonly known as the [[Bumblebee]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}{{Ref/Generic|[[Bungie Weekly Update/04-13-01|''Bungie.net'', Bungie Weekly Update of 04-13-01]]}} It is a sixth-generation lifeboat, and features a pilot-operated guiding system similar to that of [[SKT-13 shuttlecraft|SKT-13]] and [[SKT-21 shuttlecraft|SKT-21]] shuttlecrafts.{{Ref/Reuse|library}}
+The '''SKT-9 Bumblebee''',{{Ref/Book|Id=Warfleet|HWF|Page=30}} formally known as the '''Class-3 Enclosed Heavy Lifeboat, Controlled''',{{Ref/Game|Id=library|HCEA|Library (feature)|Library|Detail=Bumblebee}} is a variant of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] lifeboat commonly known as the [[Bumblebee]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}{{Ref/Generic|[[Bungie Weekly Update/04-13-01|''Bungie.net'', Bungie Weekly Update of 04-13-01]]}} It is a sixth-generation lifeboat, and features a pilot-operated guiding system similar to that of [[SKT-13 shuttlecraft|SKT-13]] and [[SKT-21 shuttlecraft|SKT-21]] shuttlecrafts.{{Ref/Reuse|library}}
-==Design details==
+==Overview==
-The SKT-9 Bumblebee is a medium-endurance (Class 3) vehicle;{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} it is well armored, though [[Jacob Keyes]] considered that a [[12.7x40mm]] round may penetrate the relatively thin hull.{{Ref/Novel|Id=tf1|TF|Chapter=1}} They are typically found on UNSC [[cruiser]]s,{{Ref/Reuse|library}} which carry several sets of them, stationed at designated [[airlock]]s. Several SKT-9 Bumblebees were carried aboard [[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]].{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} Like [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] dropships, each has a call sign, usually consisting of three letters from the [[phonetic alphabet]], followed by a two-digit number.{{Ref/Novel|Id=tf2|TF|Chapter=2}} SKT-9 Bumblebees are equipped with beacons,{{Ref/Reuse|halo}} and possess limited visual and audio capture capabilities.{{Ref/Novel|TF|Detail=[[Halo: The Flood#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]}}
+===Design details===
+The SKT-9 Bumblebee is a medium-endurance (Class 3) vehicle;{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} it is well armored, though [[Jacob Keyes]] considered that a [[12.7x40mm]] round may penetrate the relatively thin hull.{{Ref/Novel|Id=tf1|TF|Chapter=1}} They are typically found on UNSC [[cruiser]]s,{{Ref/Reuse|library}} which carry several sets of them, stationed at designated [[airlock]]s. Several SKT-9 Bumblebees were carried aboard [[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]].{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} The docking ports for Bumblebees are comparable in size to the {{Pattern|Brhi Xur|Leech}} boarding craft used by the [[Covenant]], allowing the Covenant to use the airlocks to conduct [[Naval boarding|boarding]] actions on UNSC spacecraft.{{Ref/Reuse|poa}}
-The SKT-9 can hold up to nine people (including the pilot), and it has enough supplies to support 126-person-days of life support.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} It has one pilot seat as well as eight side-facing crash seats. The seats have harnesses to keep people from injury when crash-landing.{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} Though they are noted as being one of the safer methods of UNSC ship evacuation,{{Ref/Reuse|library}} the effectiveness of the safety features on this Bumblebee vary greatly, as can their reliability. During the [[Battle of Installation 04]], some of these Bumblebees landed without any injuries to their passengers, while others suffered catastrophic failures while in mid-air, resulting in the deaths of most or all aboard upon impact.{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}
+Like [[Pelican]] and other [[dropship]]s, each has a call sign, usually consisting of three letters from the [[phonetic alphabet]], followed by a two-digit number.{{Ref/Novel|Id=tf2|TF|Chapter=2}} SKT-9 Bumblebees are equipped with beacons,{{Ref/Reuse|halo}} and possess limited visual and audio capture capabilities.{{Ref/Novel|TF|Detail=[[Halo: The Flood#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]}}
-SKT-9 Bumblebees feature thrusters and air-brakes to slow down during descent.{{Ref/Reuse|library}} Although it has a pilot control station,{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=fictionfriday|Halo|1195356027878699008|Halo|Quote=The SKT-9 Bumblebee is a heavy lifeboat that can hold up to eight passengers and has a pilot control station, though by default it uses a simple escape-and-evasion autopilot routine after boosting away from its host vessel. #FictionFriday}} the Bumblebee has little in the way of maneuverability, as it is not intended for extended atmospheric use, nor are its thrusters powerful enough to escape a planet's atmosphere;{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} Jacob Keyes noted that a Bumblebee lifeboat "flew like a rock".{{Ref/Reuse|tf2}} Instead, the lifeboat using a simple escape-and-evasion autopilot routine after boosting away from its host vessel.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|fictionfriday}} Once it enters atmosphere, the Bumblebee makes a controlled crash landing with aerobraking panels and drogue chutes.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} Thus, after a landing, the lifeboat can never be used again, as the air brakes disengage upon descent; the lifeboat would have likely suffered a great amount of damage as well.{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}}
+The SKT-9 can hold up to nine people (including the pilot), and it has enough supplies to support 126-person-days of life support.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} It has one pilot seat as well as eight side-facing crash seats. The seats have harnesses to keep passengers from injury when crash-landing.{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} Though they are noted as being one of the safer methods of UNSC ship evacuation,{{Ref/Reuse|library}} the effectiveness of the safety features on this Bumblebee vary greatly, as can their reliability. During the [[Battle of Installation 04]], some of these Bumblebees landed without any injuries to their passengers, while others suffered catastrophic failures while in mid-air, resulting in the deaths of most, if not all, aboard upon impact.{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}
-There may be some animosity between Bumblebee pilots and [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] pilots; during the Battle of Installation 04, [[Carol Rawley]] noted she would rather die piloting her own Pelican than trust her fate to "some lifeboat jockey".{{Ref/Reuse|tf1}}
+SKT-9 Bumblebees employ thrusters and air-brakes to slow down during descent.{{Ref/Reuse|library}} Although it has a pilot control station,{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=fictionfriday|Halo|1195356027878699008|Halo|Quote=The SKT-9 Bumblebee is a heavy lifeboat that can hold up to eight passengers and has a pilot control station, though by default it uses a simple escape-and-evasion autopilot routine after boosting away from its host vessel. #FictionFriday}} the Bumblebee has little in the way of maneuverability, as it is not intended for extended atmospheric use, nor are its thrusters powerful enough to escape a planet's atmosphere;{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} Jacob Keyes noted that a Bumblebee lifeboat "flew like a rock".{{Ref/Reuse|tf2}} Instead, the lifeboat using a simple escape-and-evasion autopilot routine after boosting away from its host vessel.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|fictionfriday}} Once it enters atmosphere, the Bumblebee makes a controlled crash landing with aerobraking panels and drogue chutes.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22}} Thus, after a landing, the lifeboat can never be used again, as the air brakes disengage upon descent; the lifeboat would have likely suffered a great amount of damage as well.{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}}
-==Operational History==
+There may be some animosity between Bumblebee pilots and Pelican pilots; during the Battle of Installation 04, [[Carol Rawley]] noted she would rather die piloting her own Pelican than trust her fate to "some lifeboat jockey".{{Ref/Reuse|tf1}}
-The {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} carried eighteen of these Bumblebees. Most of them were used to evacuate the vessel when it was shot down during the Battle of Installation 04 on [[2552#September|September 19, 2552]].{{Ref/Level|Id=halo|HCE|[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]}} At least one was destroyed by the Covenant when it was ejected from the vessel,{{Ref/Level|Id=poa|HCE|[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]}} while at least six made landfall on the ring.{{Ref/Reuse|tf2}}{{Ref/Reuse|halo}} In the final stages of the conflict, [[John-117]] originally intended to take one of the remaining lifeboats on the ''Autumn'' to escape from the ring's destruction.{{Ref/Level|HCE|The Maw}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=tf12|TF|Chapter=12}}
 ==Known SKT-9 Bumblebees==
-*[[Lima Foxtrot Alpha 19]]
+*''[[Lima Foxtrot Alpha 19]]''
-*[[Lima Foxtrot Alpha 43]]
+*''[[Lima Foxtrot Alpha 43]]''
-*[[Kilo Tango Victor 17]]
+*''[[Kilo Tango Victor 17]]''
+==Operational History==
+The {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}} {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} carried eighteen of these Bumblebees. Most of them were used to evacuate the vessel when it was shot down during the [[Battle over Installation 04]] on [[2552#September|September 19, 2552]].{{Ref/Level|Id=halo|HCE|Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo}} At least one was destroyed by the Covenant when it was ejected from the vessel,{{Ref/Level|Id=poa|HCE|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn}} while at least six [[Landing on Installation 04|made landfall]] on the ring.{{Ref/Reuse|tf2}}{{Ref/Reuse|halo}} In the final stages of the conflict, [[John-117]] originally intended to take one of the remaining lifeboats on the ''Autumn'' to escape from the ring's destruction.{{Ref/Level|HCE|The Maw}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=tf12|TF|Chapter=12}}
 ==Production notes==
 *When the [[John-117|Master Chief]]'s lifeboat launches in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', its rear hatch remains open. This was rectified in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
 *In ''[[Halo: Custom Edition]]'', Bumblebees can be [[Modding|modded]] into maps. They have closed rear hatches until a player pilots them, at which point the hatch opens. As Bungie only designed these for cutscenes, it is likely to allow for the doors opening or closing during the final cutscene on ''The Pillar Of Autumn''.
-*There is an Easter egg underneath the pilot's seat with text that reads ''"put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye"''.{{Citation needed}}
+*There is an Easter egg underneath the pilot's seat with text that reads ''"put your head 'teen your legs & kiss your ass good bye!"''.{{Ref/Game|CE|[[:File:HCE Bumblebee interior texture.png|Bumblebee interior texture]]}}
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 76: / Line 79: @@
 File:BumbleeLifeboat.png|Views of the Bumblebee without its air brakes and with air brakes deployed.
 File:Lp-cutaway1.jpg|SKT-9 Bumblebee cutaway.
+File:HCE_Bumblebee_interior_texture.png|The texture for the interior of the Bumblebee, with the Easter egg.
 File:HCE-BumblebeeLifeboat-Views.png|Views of the Bumblebee.
 File:HTMCC-HCE BumblebeeMarines.png|Marines onboard a Bumblebee.
 File:HTMCC-HCE BumblebeeAtmosphere.png|A Bumblebee entering the atmosphere of [[Installation 04]].
-File:HCE SKT-9 Bumblebee Air Brakes.jpg|A Bumblebee deploying its air brakes and forward thrusters during atmospheric descent.
+File:HCE SKT-9 Bumblebee Air Brakes.jpg|A Bumblebee deploying its air brakes and forward thrusters during its descent.
 File:HTMCC-HCE BumblebeeLFA43.png|A Bumblebee on the surface of Installation 04.
 File:HTMCC-HCE BumblebeeInterior.png|The interior of a Bumblebee.
-File:Halo final alt1 th.jpg|Two Bumblebees flying overhead.
+File:Lifeboatcrash.JPG|A crashed Bumblebee and the sliding trench it left on impact.
-File:Lifeboatcrash.JPG|A crashed Bumblebee, its reverse thrusters smoking from recent discharge. The lifeboat cut a sliding trench into the ground on impact.
 File:Lp-pilot1.jpg|A Bumblebee pilot at the control station.
 </gallery>
@@ Line 90: / Line 93: @@
 File:HCEA-Bumblebee-EscapePod-Views.jpg|Concept art of the Bumblebee.
 File:HCEA-dmitry-popov-bumblebee.png|Extracted concept art of the Bumblebee.
-File:AutumnDamagedCEA.png|Bumblebee ''[[Lima Foxtrot Alpha 43]]'' escapes the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} at the onset of the [[Battle of Installation 04]].
+File:HTMCC-HCEA BumblebeeEjecting.png|Ä Bumblebee ejecting from an airlock on {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}.
+File:AutumnDamagedCEA.png|Bumblebee ''[[Lima Foxtrot Alpha 43|LFA-43]]'' escapes the ''Autumn'' at the onset of the [[Battle of Installation 04]].
 File:BumblebeeAnniversary.png|A Bumblebee entering the atmosphere of Installation 04.
-File:1207190798 Lp-airbrakes1.jpg|A Bumblebee deploying its air brakes and forward thrusters during atmospheric descent.
+File:HTMCC-HCEA BumblebeeOrbit.png|A Bumblebee approaching the orbit of Installation 04.
+File:1207190798 Lp-airbrakes1.jpg|A Bumblebee deploying its air brakes and forward thrusters during its descent.
 File:HTMCC-HCEA BumblebeeLFA43.png|A Bumblebee on the surface of Installation 04.
 File:HTMCC-HCEA BumblebeeInterior.png|The interior of a Bumblebee.