UNSC starship: Difference between revisions

{{Status|Canon}}

[[File:HM Infinity.jpg|thumb|300px|Several types of UNSC starships in orbit.]]

'''UNSC starships'''{{Ref/Generic|[[Halo Legendary Crate]]|[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops#Series 2|Crate 12]]}}{{Ref/Novel|Env|Chapter=28}} were [[Human starship]]s operated by the [[United Nations Space Command|United Nations Space Command (UNSC)]] and its various branches and forces.

In the UNSC, ships can also be operated by different departments and branches. Warships like the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} were often operated by the [[UNSC Navy]].{{Ref/Book|Id=warfleetpg3637|HWF|Page=36-37}} UNSC Navy ships were deployed by [[UNSC Fleet Command]].{{Ref/Book|Id=encycpg64|Enc11|Page=64}} In the case of the {{UNSCShip|Swift Justice}}, it was operated by the [[Incident Response and Investigation]] division of the UNSC.{{Ref/Novel|Novel=Halo: Retribution|Chapter=2}} The [[UNSC Department of Commercial Shipping]] also operated a number of [[Freighter]]s.

These orginizations as well have ways of identifying their ships. There was the [[Hull classification symbol]], which gives each ship a letter classification and a number.{{Ref/Book|OSFM|Page=14-15}}{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=42-43}} There was also the [[ship emblem]], which was a unique image that crew wore on their uniforms.{{Ref/Reuse|h2cairo}}{{Ref/Reuse|cepoa}} Some warships also used the [[UNSC REG system]], which was also a special serial number.{{Ref/Level|H4|Dawn}} There was also the UNc system.{{Ref/Level|Id=h2acairo|H2A|Cairo Station}}

The UNSC Department of Commercial Shipping operated its own identification codes for freighters that were primarily used in [[COM]] transmissions.{{Ref/Novel|HCH|Chapter=1}}

[[File:HFB ParisFrigate Shield.png|thumb|150px|''Paris''-class frigates in "Shield" formation.]]

[[Ensign]]s often did not pilot [[capital ship]]s.{{Ref/Novel|TFoR|Chapter=21}}

The [[commanding officer]] of a UNSC starship, like other human starships, is referred to as a Captain regardless of actual rank.{{Ref/Book|Id=warfleetpg9092|HWF|Page=90-92}} The actual military rank of the leader is dependent on the size of the ship. Those of the rank [[Lieutenant]] often are in charge of small support vessels, [[Commander]]s are in charge of small warships, and [[Captain]]s are in charge of line warships.{{Ref/Book|OSFM|Page=140-141}} The commanding officer in radio communications is referred to as the ships name followed by "Actual".{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}{{Ref/Level|H4|Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue}}

Children were sometimes born on board UNSC ships as well, with children being born on the {{UNSCShip|Savannah}} and the {{UNSCShip|Grafton}}.{{Ref/Level|HR|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn|Detail=Marine dialogue}}

Navy personnel UNSC ships often follow old naval tradition. Boarding a UNSC warship is considered a ceremony, not a formality. When boarding a ship, the boarder requests permission from the officer on deck. The officer on deck will reply with a curt "Very well".{{Ref/Book|Id=osfmwelcomeaboard|OSFM|Page=10)}}

A number of corporations seemingly based in numerous places, helped construct UNSC ships including [[Sinoviet Heavy Machinery]], [[Aerofabrique SA]],{{Ref/Reuse|warfleetpg3839}} [[TanSec AB]],{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=19}} [[Reyes-McLees Shipyards]],{{Ref/Novel|TFoR|Chapter=25}} [[Kuushan Shipyards]],{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=129}} and [[Martian Metals Shipyards]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=125}}

Design guidelines for ships emphasize that the command crew should have visibility of the surrounding exterior area of the ship. This is usually achieved through windows on the [[bridge]].{{Ref/Book|Id=hwf3233|HWF|Page=32-33}}

UNSC ships have an internal deck naming structure. On most ships, the Hangar deck is considered Zero Deck. Decks below that are "belowdeck" and are numbered in descending order starting at First Deck. Everything above the hangar deck is a "level", starting at Level One and going in an ascending order.{{Ref/Novel|HSS|Chapter=4}}

Facilities to create simulated [[War Games]] training sessions could be found on several ships. Though they were mostly on post-war vessels and most prominently on the UNSC ''Infinity''.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-needle-me-this|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Needle Me This|D=01|M=6|Y=2020}}

From the ''Phoenix''-class carrier {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}{{Ref/Level|HW|Dome of Light}}{{Ref/Level|HW2|A New Enemy}} to the {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} {{UNSCShip|Say My Name}},{{Ref/Level|ODST|Prepare To Drop}} numerous ships featured [[Holotank|holotables]] for battlefield situational displays.

[[Cryo chamber]]s were an important feature that allowed the crews to travel large distances without aging as much. Cryo facilities were often large and individual chambers displayed crew member names.{{Ref/Level|HW|Escape (Halo Wars level)|Escape}}

UNSC starships also featured [[mess hall]]s,{{Ref/Book|Id=cepoa|HCE|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn}}{{Ref/Film|HLeg|Story=The Babysitter}} [[hangar bay]]s,{{Ref/Reuse|cepoa}}{{Ref/Level|H5G|Blue Team (level)|Blue Team}} and [[Armory|armories]].{{Ref/Level|HCE|The Maw}}{{Ref/Anthology|Evo|Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian}}

Crew quarters on UNSC navy ships vary by ship type. {{Class|Halberd|light destroyer}}s crew quarters were cramped{{Ref/Book|HM|Page=82-83}} with members being allocated a single sleeping pod that would sometimes need to be shared when the ship has additional crew.{{Ref/Reuse|hwf3233}}

UNSC ships had docking capabilities, though the exact details are dependent on what the ship is docking with. {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}s were capable of docking with {{Class|Moncton|orbital weapon platform}}s.{{Ref/Reuse|h2cairo}} [[Class-L flash-dock]]s routinely held frigates and corvettes, though the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} was able to use one.{{Ref/Level|Id=hrpoa|HR|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn}}

[[File:HW - MII Light coil 56A2D4 MAC2.png|thumb|200px|The MAC of a ''Stalwart''-class frigate.]]

As an example, frigate based MACs are capable of firing their slugs at roughly 30,000 meters per second.{{Ref/Reuse|htforchapter12}} UNSC ''Infinity'' has [[Mark 2551 Onager|miniature MAC guns]] along its hull, to compliment its built in, larger MAC guns.{{Ref/Level|H4|Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity}}

[[File:Reach 3003793 Full.jpg|200px|thumb|The {{UNSCShip|Savannah}} firing its M910 Rampart guns.{{Ref/Level|Id=lnos|HR|Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace}}]]

[[File:D77H-TCI Pelican Gunship.jpg|thumb|150px|D77H-TCI, a model of the ever present Pelican Dropship.]]

Attached to various UNSC vessels are a number of small craft. Some were operated by other branches of the UNSC. The [[F-41 Exoatmospheric Multirole Strike Fighter]], for example, was most often operated by the [[UNSC Air Force]].{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Section=Vehicles|Page=114}} The ubiquitous [[Pelican]] was operated by several branches including the [[UNSC Marine Corps]].{{Ref/Reuse|h2cairo}}  

Some starships, like the UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'', had lifeboats for the crew. The most known ones were the [[Bumblebee]] series.{{Ref/Level|HCE|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn}}

The time of the [[Insurrection]] saw a number of class additions and developments to the UNSC's fleet. In [[2493]], the {{Class|Valiant|super-heavy cruiser}} entered service. Though serious cost problems over five years cast doubt in the class' future.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-bulkhead-banter|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Bulkhead Banter}} At some point in the Insurrection, a new carrier, the {{Class|Orion|assault carrier}}, was built to help with [[Planetary warfare|ground operations]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-armory-amore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Armory Amore|D=01|M=6|Y=2020}} One of the last known class additions during the Insurrection was the {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}. In [[2510]], the class first entered service.<ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets]]'', p. 60</ref>

===Human-Covenant War===

[[File:Punic orbit.jpg|thumb|200px|A few UNSC starship classes during the Human-Covenant War.]]

{{Main|Human-Covenant War}}

====Course of the war====

In [[2525]], the UNSC would strip away the CMA's naval resources and give them to [[UNSC Naval Command|NAVCOM]].{{Ref/Game|HW|Detail=[[Halo Wars Timeline Events]]}} As well, the UNSC would begin to take over the Colonial Administration Authority in the midst of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. With these additions, the UNSC received several different types of ships. This included the CAA's {{Class|Springhill|mining ship}}{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Section=Locations|Page=208}}{{Ref/Map|H4|Adrift}} and the {{Class|Diligence|destroyer|}} from the CMA.<ref name="canonfodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-clarity-grace ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Clarity & Grace]</ref> Both of which would be brought back to service or continued service such as with the {{UNSCShip|Kronstadt}} and the {{CAAShip|Heavy Burden}}.

 

The war saw combat losses far outstripped shipyards' abilities to build replacements for both military and commercial ships. Trade restrictions were also put in place to limit the risk that slipspace travel represented to remaining colonies.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22pg38|Enc22|Page=38-39}} Over the course of the war, the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] destroyed 120 ships{{Ref/Game|Id=h2at3|H2A|[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 3]]}} and 185 UNSC capital ships were destroyed by [[Writh Kul]]'s ''[[Dagger of Mercy]]''.{{Ref/Game|Id=Target12|HINF|[[High Value Target]] dossier, Writh Kul}}

{{Main|Siege of the Inner Colonies}}

[[File:HM SigmaOctanus.jpg|thumb|The {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} and a [[Paris-class heavy frigate|frigate]] staring down the [[Second Fleet of Solemn Accord]] over [[Sigma Octanus IV]].]]

By the [[2552|final year]] of the war, a majority of the UNSC's ground forces had been consolidated at Reach and at Earth. For many colonies, it was only the ships of the navy that were reminders of the UNSC and gave aid to those cut-off. Though in many instances, the Navy couldn't afford the loss of ships and personnel, often leaving these colonies to their own devices including destruction by the Covenant. No appreciable differences could be seen in expeditionary and defensive fleets as the UNSC lost the ability to conduct offensive naval operations. Navy AIs by this point were still assigning ships to squadrons, though at that point they were administrative groupings that had lost meaning over the course of the war. As well, numerous fleets only existed on [[Dead fleet|paper]], having been destroyed in lost sectors years prior.{{Ref/Book|Id=corerulebook|Halo: Fleet Battles core rulebook|Page=9}}

With over 152 ships present at the [[Fall of Reach|Battle of Reach]],{{Ref/Novel|TFoR|Chapter=33}} a large number of these ships were destroyed. This included many capital ships such as the {{UNSCShip|Trafalgar}}, the flagship of the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] and pride of the Navy.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 168</ref>

Starting [[2552#September|September 5, 2552]] all remaining UNSC starships and their fleets were consolidated under a single command grouping under the [[UNSC Home Fleet]].<ref>''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]'', [[:File:LC 002 Doc 3.jpg|Naval Records Archives]]</ref> Numerous ships arrived at Earth on October 20, 2552.{{Ref/Level|H2|The Armory}} The ships above Earth would then go onto [[Battle for Earth|engage]] [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|Covenant forces]] when they arrived the same day with a very large contingent of UNSC vessels and fleets that was later destroyed by [[Truth's fleet|overwhelming Covenant reinforcements]] on November 17, 2552.{{Ref/Level|Id=h2cairo|H2|Cairo Station}}{{Ref/Level|Id=h3crowsnest|H3|Crow's Nest}} By the end of the war, the plethora of UNSC starships had been reduced to only a few hundred.{{Ref/Reuse|mythospg132}}

===Postwar===

{{Quote|And if we do that, we lose a massive deposit of resources that our fleets need to rebuild. We’ve barely managed to get the Home Fleet back up to a few dozen ships while the Brass is demanding whole battle groups be assembled...|[[Captain]] [[Pedro Alvarez]] to [[Lycaon]] during the [[Outbreak at Site 22]].{{Ref/Reuse|saturn}}}}

 

Following the Human-Covenant War, the surviving UNSC starships were brought back to Sol to be repaired, refitted, and counted.{{Ref/Book|Id=mythospg132|HM|Page=132}}

 

In the wake of this, the UNSC sought to rebuild the ships they had lost.{{Ref/Novel|Id=saturn|Halo: Saturn Devouring His Son}} As such, postwar shipbuilding mainly focused on rebuilding UNSC naval vessels, which combined with limited shipbuilding capacity to begin with, affected the production of merchant ships.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg38}} To help facilitate all of this, the UNSC placed great importance on partnerships between corporations such as those between [[BXR Mining Corporation]] and [[Imbrium Machine Complex]].{{Ref/Reuse|saturn}}

As part of ongoing offences, UNSC ''Strident''-class frigates and {{Class|Anlace|light frigate}}s were being deployed to the [[Outer Colonies]] to route out [[Covenant remnants|Covenant remnant]] occupiers.{{Ref/Book|Id=warfleetpg3839|HWF|Page=38-39}}

====Created uprising====

{{Main|Created uprising}}

During the [[Created]]'s [[The Reclamation|Reclamation]], many UNSC starships were disabled by [[Guardian Custode]]s.{{Ref/Level|Id=guardians|H5G|Guardians}} Some ships, were ripped out of [[Slipstream Space]] with the activation of the Guardians, like the {{UNSCShip|Nereid}}.{{Ref/Anthology|TfS|Undefeated}} Shipboard AIs from numerous starships also defected to the Created.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}}

Several ships survived The Reclamation. At least five {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s and two {{Class|Anlace|light frigate}}s were able to see combat in [[Operation: WOLFE]].{{Ref/Novel|HSoR|Chapter=13}} At least six {{Class|Mulsanne|light frigate}}s were able to see combat during the [[Battle for Installation 07]]. However during that battle over Installation 07, the UNSC ''Infinity'' and those frigates were destroyed.{{Ref/Game|HINF}}

==Classes==

===Colony ships===

 

Several types of support ships that were used include the stealthy [[UNSC prowler|Prowler]] and its subtypes. Other stealth ship classes existed including the {{Class|Chiroptera|subprowler}}. There was also the incredibly small [[sloop]]. Another type of ship that was used by the UNSC was the {{Class|Calypso|exfiltration craft}}. Following the UNSC's take over of the CAA, the {{Class|Springhill|mining ship}} helped build materiel for UNSC forces.

 

===Warships===

The UNSC employs a number of warships including [[UNSC frigate|frigates]], [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]], [[UNSC cruiser|cruisers]], and [[UNSC corvette|corvettes]]. The {{Class|Vindication|light battleship|}} was unique as it was a [[Battleship]], an uncommon warship in UNSC ship design and classification.

 

[[UNSC carrier]]s were among the largest, most heavily armed ships the UNSC possesed. Two carrier classes were so large that frigates could dock with them; the {{Class|Punic|supercarrier}} and the {{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}}.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-infinity-beyond|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Infinity & Beyond|D=01|M=6|Y=2020}}

 

 

==Known vessels==

<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Carriers</div>

<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Corvettes</div>

|rowspan="2"|{{Class|Gladius|corvette}}

|{{UNSCShip|Gladius}}

|{{UNSCShip|Sagan Blue}}

|{{UNSCShip|Glamorgan}}

|

<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Prowler</div>

|rowspan="8"|{{Class|Razor|prowler}}

|rowspan="6"|{{Class|Sahara|heavy prowler}}

|rowspan="5"|{{Class|Winter|prowler}}

|rowspan="3"|{{Class|Point Blank|prowler}}

|Unknown heavy prowler class

|rowspan="13"|Unknown

|{{UNSCShip|Down Out and Go}}

|{{UNSCShip|Edge of Umbra}}

<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Colony ships</div>

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|{{Class|Banta|transport}} || {{UNSCShip|Dartmouth}} ||

|rowspan="3"|{{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}} || {{UNSCShip|Phoenix}} ||

|{{UNSCShip|Skidbladnir}} || Scrapped in colonization of [[Harvest]]

|{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} || Modified into Warship prior to [[Human-Covenant War]]

<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Cargo/Transportation</div>

|rowspan="1"|{{Class|Springhill|mining ship}}

|{{CAAShip|Heavy Burden}}

|Repurposed by the UNSC as an ordnance transport during the [[Human-Covenant War]]

|rowspan="1"|{{Class|Vancouver|courier}}

|''[[Han]]''

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|{{Class|Vindication|light battleship}} || {{UNSCShip|Vindication}} ||

|{{Class|Minotaur|patrol vessel}} || {{UNSCShip|Ariadne}} ||

|rowspan="36"|Unknown

==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==

===Silver Timeline===

[[File:HTVS2 - SpaceBattle.png|thumb|right|250px|Numerous UNSC ships [[Battle of Installation 04/Silver|battling]] the Covenant at Halo.]]

Numerous ships exist in the Silver Timeline, battling the Covenant during the [[Human-Covenant War/Silver|Human-Covenant War]].

|{{UNSCShip|Gladius}}

|[[Skirmish on Gladius|Attacked]] by [[Makee]]

|Destroyed in the [[Battle of Eridanus II/Silver|Battle of Eridanus II]]

|-

|[[Hospital ship]]

===Depictions in canon===

In ''Halo 4'', the ''Charon''-class {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} is depicted as a modified ''Strident''-class. This depiction is non-canon.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Have S'moa]</ref> The ''Strident''-class itself is also [[Strident-class heavy frigate#Production notes|depicted differently]] across multiple media.

 

 

[[File:HW3 Space Concept 5.jpg|thumb|175px|Concept work for the "UNSC ''Frontend''".]]

A few UNSC craft have been concepted for various titles. The {{UNSCShip|Andraste}} was a ship that appeared in a [[:File:UNSC Andraste.png|piece of concept art]] for ''[[Halo 3]]''.{{Ref/Book|[[The Art of Halo 3]]}} The UNSC ''Frontend'', an ''M''-class carrier was the center piece of a [[Halo Wars 3 (rejected pitch)|cancelled idea for ''Halo Wars 3'']]. The UNSC ''Olympus''{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:HINF Concept UnknownShip.jpg|HINF Olympus Concept]]}} and the UNSC ''Sword of Ascalaphus'' was concepted for ''Halo Infinite''.{{Ref/Book|AoHI|Page=50}}

File:HW3 SpaceBattle Concept.jpg|Concept art of a space combat mode for a ''[[Halo Wars 3 (rejected pitch)|Halo Wars 3]]'', featuring several UNSC starships.

File:Reach-Concept-ToTS-Supercarrier.jpg|Concept art of UNSC frigates underneath a {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}.

File:HINF ParisII Concept.png|Unused ''Halo Infinite'' concept art for the ''Sword of Ascalaphus''.

File:HWG BattlegroupX-Ray.png|[[Battle Group X-Ray]] fighting ''[[Heaven's Brilliant Bier]]'' over Harvest.

File:Enc22 Earthrise.jpg|UNSC ships in orbit of [[Luna]].

{{Human civilian ships}}

[[Category:Human ships| ]]

[[Category:UNSC vehicles| ]]