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{{Ratings}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|FOR|TF|H2|FS|GOO|H3|CH}}  
{{Weapon infobox
 
| image=[[File:FoR - Archer missile.jpg|250px]]
{{Weapon
| name=Archer missile
| image=[[Image:13101574-Medium.jpg|300px]]
| manufacturer=
| name=Archer Missile Pod
| model=
| manufacturer=UNSC
| type=[[Missile delivery system|Anti-ship missile]]
| model=Unknown
| type=Missile
| cost=
| cost=
| affiliation=United Nations Space Command
| length=
| size=
| weight=
| damage per hit=Very High/Lethal
| ammotype=Varies{{Ref/Reuse|WF36}}
| fire=Tube Fired
| operation=Tube-fired
| ammotype=Explosive
| rate=
| operation=
| range=Long{{Ref/Reuse|WF26}}
| rate of fire=
| service=*[[Insurrection]]
| accuracy=Computer Guided
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
| range=
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
| era=Human-Covenant War
| affiliation=*[[UNSC Navy]]
| counterpart=Covenant [[Plasma Turret]]
*[[Insurrectionist]]s
| counterwep=Covenant Point Defense Laser
| affiliation= [[United Nations Space Command]]
}}
}}


'''Archer missiles''' are fired from [[UNSC]] capital ships. They can fire at very high rates and are armed with varying payload yields. They are found on almost all ships and the round shape of the Archer missile pod is very distinct. They have tracking systems, which are very effective to coordinate attacks with MAC rounds. They aren't very effective against single ships, which is why most capital ships are armed with varying sizes of rotary cannons.
The '''Archer missile''' is an anti-ship [[missile delivery system]] used by the [[CMA Navy]] and [[UNSC Navy]].
 
==Overview==
Archers are relatively cheap anti-ship missiles, and considered highly-adaptable and long-ranged. They are used as generalist missiles for all purposes, and continued to see use as extremely capable armaments throughout the [[Insurrection]], [[Human-Covenant War]] and [[Post-Covenant War conflicts]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-encyclopedia-extravaganza|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Encyclopedia Extravaganza|D=01|M=06|Y=2022}} They are capable of being fitted with a number of warhead options.{{Ref/Reuse|WF36}}
 
Warships usually carry large numbers of Archer missiles to complement their [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]s. While individual Archers are vulnerable to point-defense weapons and have limited destructive potential, their sheer numbers make up for their lack of individual effectiveness. [[Covenant]] [[Energy shielding|shield technology]] can withstand large numbers of Archers, though unprotected ships can be destroyed by Archer missile strikes to the hull and superstructure.
 
==Models==
The pre-refit {{Class|Able|heavy destroyer}} is equipped with Archer missiles of an unknown model. An unidentified [[Unidentified UNSC carrier class| UNSC carrier class]] is also equipped with three hundred Archer missiles of an unspecified model.{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=259}}
===M42 Archer===
The M42 Archer was employed as early as the mid-25th century, and was employed on vessels of the [[CMA Navy]] alongside the [[Ares missile]]s. Several CMA warships of the era including the gargantuan {{Class|Punic|supercarrier}}, {{Class|Mako|corvette}} and the UNSC's [[S-14 Baselard]] strike fighter equipped the M42 Archer, with the CMA predominantly stocking them alongside the [[Ares missile]] series for its warships.
 
The dawn of the 26th century brought more usage for the M42, with the {{Class|Point Blank|prowler}} employing it. Following the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|end of]] the [[Human-Covenant War]], the M42 gained prominence in the fleets of the rebuilding [[UNSC Navy]]. The {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} and {{Class|Poseidon|light carrier}} are both armed with two M42 pods each. However, its most notable postwar usage would come in the form of a mass stocking on the ''Punic''{{'}}s spiritual successor, the {{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}}.
 
;Carriers
*{{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}} - 350x M42 Archer pods (24 missiles per-pod; 8400 Archers total){{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Carriers|Enc22|Page=126-127}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2012/10/10/The-Halo-Bulletin-101012-.aspx|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The Halo Bulletin: 10.10.12|D=10|M=10|Y=2012}}
*{{Class|Punic|supercarrier}} - 100x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}
*{{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}} - N/A
**{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} refit - 24x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=48-49}}
*{{Class|Poseidon|light carrier}} - 2x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}
 
;Frigates
*{{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} - 2x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Frigates}}
 
;Corvettes
*{{Class|Mako|corvette}} - 2x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Corvettes|Enc22|Page=128-129}}
 
;Prowlers
*{{Class|Point Blank|prowler}} - 80x M42 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Corvettes}}
 
;Strikecraft
*[[S-14 Baselard]] - Two M42 Archer missiles{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=159}}
 
===M58 Archer===
M58 Archers are considered long-ranged anti-ship missiles{{Ref/Book|Id=WF26|HWF|Page=26-27}}, and can be fitted with various warhead options{{Ref/Book|Id=WF36|HWF|Page=36-37}}. As a mainstay munition in the fleet, the M58 is mounted on the majority of warships designed for UNSC usage, starting in the late 25th century.
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;Battleships
*{{Class|Vindication|light battleship}} - 50x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=125}}
 
;Carriers
*{{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}} - 80x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}
*{{Class|Orion|assault carrier}} - 70x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}
 
;Cruisers
*{{Class|Valiant|super-heavy cruiser}} - 50x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Cruisers|Enc22|Page=118-119}}
*{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} - 70x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Cruisers}}
*{{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}} - 32x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Cruisers}}
*{{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}} - 20x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Cruisers}}
**{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} refit - 32x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=25}}
{{Col-2}}
;Destroyers
*{{Class|Able|heavy destroyer}} (2525 refit) - 20x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Site|Id=CFDigsite|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-digsite-dissection|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Digsite Dissection|D=28|M=07|Y=2023}}
*{{Class|Halberd|light destroyer}} - 26x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=124}}
 
;Frigates
*{{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} - 26x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Frigates|Enc22|Page=120-123}}
*{{Class|Mulsanne|light frigate}} - 20x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Frigates}}
*{{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}} - 16x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Frigates}}
*{{Class|Charon|light frigate}} - 10x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Note|While ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' and the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'' both use the ''[[Halo 4]]''-derived stats for the ''Charon''-class frigate of having 50 M58 Archer missile pods, the canon model for the ship as seen in ''[[Halo 3]]'' only has 10. See [[Charon-class light frigate#Production notes]] for further details.}}
 
;Corvettes
*{{Class|Gladius|heavy corvette}} - 2x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Corvettes}}
*{{Class|Scholte|missile corvette}} - 2x M58 Archer pods{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFoundations|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-foundations|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Foundations|D=12|M=01|Y=2022}}
{{Col-end}}
 
The number of individual devices per pod varies: the refit ''Halcyon''-class light cruiser ''Pillar of Autumn'' was armed with twenty-four M58 Archers per each of its thirty-two pods as part of its refit for [[Operation: RED FLAG]], a notable increase from the standard ''Halcyon'' loadout of twenty.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/ONI/577839090903298928/DDR-A340024-1115-08-27-52.pdf|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Data Drop 5|LocalArchive=Data Drop|D=27|M=10|Y=2011}} while the ''Paris''-class heavy frigate {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}, mounted thirty missiles in each pod instead.{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR}}
 
==Service history==
Prior to the [[Human-Covenant War]], the UNSC found the missiles to be effective against [[Insurrectionist]] combatant ships. with a single Archer missile considered capable of crippling all but the largest of UNSC ships.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest'''</ref> Against the Covenant, however, they realized that the defensive measures employed by the enemy ships such as energy shields and [[pulse laser turret|point defense lasers]] suddenly rendered Archer missiles near-obsolete - lasers were able to pick off up to half of the missiles launched, and those that hit were rarely enough to penetrate the shields.<ref name="TFoR">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach'''</ref><ref>'''Halo Wars: Genesis'''</ref> At least one Covenant ship class, the {{Pattern|Makar|light corvette}}, possesses [[Electronic countermeasures|jamming measures]] that interfere with the guidance systems. Tactics were developed to counter this, using the more devastating but slower-firing Magnetic Accelerator Cannons to break through the shields, rendering the hulls vulnerable, but on the whole Archers proved to be ineffective weapons against the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR}} Archers may be used in support of ground forces, launched from orbit to strike a ground-based target.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''level ???''</ref>
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:FoR - Archer missiles.jpg|The {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} firing Archer missiles during the [[Battle of Chi Ceti]].
File:H3 Archer pods.jpg|Archer missile pods on a {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}.
File:HW2-Archer.jpg|Archer missiles are ready for launch from the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.
File:HW2-SOF-Archer.jpg|The ''Spirit of Fire'' launches Archer missiles.
File:HINF Mulsanne M58Archer.png|Archer missile pods on a {{Class|Mulsanne|light frigate}}.
</gallery>
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}


Unfortunately, [[Covenant]] point defense technology can eliminate up to half of the missiles before they reach a target. There are only two known instances in which the [[Covenant]] disabled Archer missiles: the first occurred during the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus]], when a [[Covenant]] spy ship that was orbiting [[Sigma Octanus]] eliminated the Archer Missiles so Captain Jacob Keyes rammed the spy ship; and the second occurred during the [[Battle of Onyx]], when the [[UNSC]] fired their first salvo and the [[Covenant]] used pinpoint lasers to disable them. Even those missiles that do manage to impact the shields or hull of a [[Covenant]] ship generally fail to do any significant damage. It takes many hundreds of missiles, and usually an existing hull breach created by a [[MAC]] round to make these missiles truly effective.
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{C|Pods only}}
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{C|Pods only}}
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''


Vessels such as the [[frigate]] ''[[UNSC Commonwealth]]'' employ racks of 180 Archer missiles, while the [[destroyer]] ''[[Iroquois|UNSC Iroquois]]'' and the cruiser ''[[Pillar of Autumn|UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]'' use oversized Archer missile pods which can launch up to a thousand missiles.
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}


{{Explosives List}}
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}


[[Category:Human Weapons]]
{{UNSC ordnance}}
[[Category:UNSC]]
[[Category:Missiles]]
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:UNSC naval weapons]]

Latest revision as of 00:44, June 26, 2024

Archer missile
FoR - Archer missile.jpg
Production overview

Type:

Anti-ship missile

Specifications

Ammunition type:

Varies[1]

Operation:

Tube-fired

Effective range:

Long[2]

Service history

In service:

 

The Archer missile is an anti-ship missile delivery system used by the CMA Navy and UNSC Navy.

Overview[edit]

Archers are relatively cheap anti-ship missiles, and considered highly-adaptable and long-ranged. They are used as generalist missiles for all purposes, and continued to see use as extremely capable armaments throughout the Insurrection, Human-Covenant War and Post-Covenant War conflicts.[3] They are capable of being fitted with a number of warhead options.[1]

Warships usually carry large numbers of Archer missiles to complement their Magnetic Accelerator Cannons. While individual Archers are vulnerable to point-defense weapons and have limited destructive potential, their sheer numbers make up for their lack of individual effectiveness. Covenant shield technology can withstand large numbers of Archers, though unprotected ships can be destroyed by Archer missile strikes to the hull and superstructure.

Models[edit]

The pre-refit Able-class heavy destroyer is equipped with Archer missiles of an unknown model. An unidentified UNSC carrier class is also equipped with three hundred Archer missiles of an unspecified model.[4]

M42 Archer[edit]

The M42 Archer was employed as early as the mid-25th century, and was employed on vessels of the CMA Navy alongside the Ares missiles. Several CMA warships of the era including the gargantuan Punic-class supercarrier, Mako-class corvette and the UNSC's S-14 Baselard strike fighter equipped the M42 Archer, with the CMA predominantly stocking them alongside the Ares missile series for its warships.

The dawn of the 26th century brought more usage for the M42, with the Point Blank-class prowler employing it. Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, the M42 gained prominence in the fleets of the rebuilding UNSC Navy. The Strident-class heavy frigate and Poseidon-class light carrier are both armed with two M42 pods each. However, its most notable postwar usage would come in the form of a mass stocking on the Punic's spiritual successor, the Infinity-class supercarrier.

Carriers
Frigates
Corvettes
Prowlers
Strikecraft

M58 Archer[edit]

M58 Archers are considered long-ranged anti-ship missiles[2], and can be fitted with various warhead options[1]. As a mainstay munition in the fleet, the M58 is mounted on the majority of warships designed for UNSC usage, starting in the late 25th century.

Battleships
Carriers
Cruisers
Destroyers
Frigates
Corvettes

The number of individual devices per pod varies: the refit Halcyon-class light cruiser Pillar of Autumn was armed with twenty-four M58 Archers per each of its thirty-two pods as part of its refit for Operation: RED FLAG, a notable increase from the standard Halcyon loadout of twenty.[17] while the Paris-class heavy frigate UNSC Commonwealth, mounted thirty missiles in each pod instead.[18]

Service history[edit]

Prior to the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC found the missiles to be effective against Insurrectionist combatant ships. with a single Archer missile considered capable of crippling all but the largest of UNSC ships.[19] Against the Covenant, however, they realized that the defensive measures employed by the enemy ships such as energy shields and point defense lasers suddenly rendered Archer missiles near-obsolete - lasers were able to pick off up to half of the missiles launched, and those that hit were rarely enough to penetrate the shields.[18][20] At least one Covenant ship class, the Makar-pattern light corvette, possesses jamming measures that interfere with the guidance systems. Tactics were developed to counter this, using the more devastating but slower-firing Magnetic Accelerator Cannons to break through the shields, rendering the hulls vulnerable, but on the whole Archers proved to be ineffective weapons against the Covenant.[18] Archers may be used in support of ground forces, launched from orbit to strike a ground-based target.[21]

Gallery[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ While Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide and the Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition) both use the Halo 4-derived stats for the Charon-class frigate of having 50 M58 Archer missile pods, the canon model for the ship as seen in Halo 3 only has 10. See Charon-class light frigate#Production notes for further details.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo: Warfleet, page 36-37
  2. ^ a b Halo: Warfleet, page 26-27
  3. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Encyclopedia Extravaganza (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2022) [archive]
  4. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 259
  5. ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 126-127
  6. ^ Halo Waypoint, The Halo Bulletin: 10.10.12 (Retrieved on Oct 10, 2012) [archive]
  7. ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 48-49
  8. ^ a b c d Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 120-123
  9. ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 128-129
  10. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 159
  11. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 125
  12. ^ a b c d Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 118-119
  13. ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 25
  14. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Digsite Dissection (Retrieved on Jul 28, 2023) [archive]
  15. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 124
  16. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Foundations (Retrieved on Jan 12, 2022) [archive]
  17. ^ Halo Waypoint, Data Drop 5 (Retrieved on Oct 27, 2011) [local archive] [external archive]
  18. ^ a b c Halo: The Fall of Reach
  19. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest
  20. ^ Halo Wars: Genesis
  21. ^ Halo Wars 2, level ???

v • d • e
 
Ordnance in UNSC service
Ground-launched Anaconda SAM • Argent V • ASRGAM-10X • Lancet • ASGM-7 • M5100 LTM
Air-launched AAM-50XR • AGM-79C • Anvil ASM (ANVIL-II • ANVIL-IV) • Argent V • ASGM-4 • ASGM-10 • ASGM-15 • MITV Pod • Phoenix missile • Scorpion missile • ST/Medusa missile
Ship-launched Archer • Ares • Bident • Fusion rocket • Harpoon • Howler • Hyperion • Longbow • Shrieker • Rapier • Rudra • Shiva (VE-3) • Streak
Launch systems
Explosives
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