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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ship Class Infobox
{{Ship class infobox
|image=[[File:HaloWars-DeploymentPod.png|300px]]
|image=[[File:HaloWars-DeploymentPod.png|300px]]
|name=D20 Heron
|name=D20 Heavy Lift Vehicle
|manufacturer=[[UNSC]]
|manufacturer=[[Conklin AeroDynamix]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|line=
|line=
|model=
|model=
|class=Heavy lift vehicle
|class=Heavy lift vehicle
|length=62 meters (approx.)<ref group="note">In [[:File:SoF profile.png|this image]] of the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'', the Pod occupies 110 pixels out of a 4,459 pixel-long image. From a known length of the ''Spirit of Fire'' of 2,500 metres, we can deduce a length of the Pod.</ref>
|length={{Convert|418.8|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|width=
|width={{Convert|295|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|height=
|height={{Convert|97.2|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|mass=
|mass={{Convert|4334|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|max accel=
|max accel=
|max speed space=
|max speed space=
|max speed air=
|max speed air=
|engine=Tilt rocket engines
|engine=
*4 tilt-lift engines{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*[[Nuclear fusion|Fusion thrusters]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|slipspace drive=
|slipspace drive=
|slipspace speed=
|slipspace speed=
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|countermeasures=
|countermeasures=
|armament=None
|armament=None
|complement=*Buildings
|complement=
*Marines
*1 [[Colony starter unit]] or [[Firebase]] module{{Ref/Reuse|HW}}
|crew=Several
|crew=
*1 [[pilot]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*1 co-pilot{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*1 cargo chief{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*1 flight engineer{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|skeleton=
|skeleton=
|passengers=
|passengers=
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|firstuse=
|firstuse=
|role=Transport and supply
|role=Transport and supply
|era=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|era=*[[Domus Diaspora]]{{Ref/Reuse|OD}}
|affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
*[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|HW}}
|affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
}}
}}
The '''D20 Heron''', also known as the '''Pod''',<ref name = "Gamereactor">[http://www.gamereactor.no/grtv/?id=3396&sid=5bb9748a525446234980eb00694fb89a '''Gamereactor Norge''': ''Video: TGS08: Halo Wars Gameplay Presentation'']</ref> is a [[United Nations Space Command]] atmospheric and space heavy-lift dropship.<ref name="Mythos">'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 70''</ref>
The '''D20 Heavy Lift Vehicle''',{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=151}} colloquially known as the '''Heron''', is a [[United Nations Space Command]] atmospheric and space heavy-lift superheavy [[dropship]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos|HM|Page=70}}


==Specifications==
==Overview==
===Design details===
===Design details===
D20 Herons are massive in size, being big enough to carry half a UNSC [[firebase]]. They are roughly square in shape, featuring a protruded area at the front of the ship which most likely serves as the bridge.
The D20 Heron is very large and roughly square in shape, featuring a protruding area at the front of the ship which most likely serves as the bridge. The Heron features four tilt engines, two mounted on opposite sides of the ship, and four conventional, rear-mounted engines. The configuration allows for easy maneuverability in space, such as among debris fields. The Heron was originally intended to deploy the infrastructure required to begin and sustain humanity's colonization efforts{{Ref/Reuse|OD}} such as the [[colony starter unit]]. The necessities of the [[Human-Covenant War]] forced the UNSC to re-purpose the craft for a logistical support role.


The Heron features four tilt engines, two mounted on opposite sides of the ship, and four conventional, rear-mounted engines. The configuration allows for easy maneuverability in space, especially amongst debris fields.
===Usage===
The D20 is capable of transporting and placing a prefabricated [[firebase]] "pod" - the military use variants of the civilian colony starter units - on a suitable landing zone designated by friendly ground forces. When deploying a firebase pod, a circular structure amidships spins clockwise, possibly unscrewing to detach the payload. The vessel is capable of operating in both atmosphere and vacuum. Up to ten Herons can be docked on the exterior of a [[Phoenix-class colony ship|''Phoenix''-class support vessel]], with five being berthed on either side.{{Ref/Level|HW|Alpha Base (Halo Wars level)|Alpha Base}} The craft's unstreamlined nature has earned it the nickname '''"big brick"''' among UNSC personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


Herons were originally intended to deploy the infrastructure required to begin and sustain humanity's colonization efforts. The necessities of the [[Human-Covenant War]] forced the UNSC to re-purpose the craft for more of a combat support role.
==Operational history==
 
Following the departure of the {{CAAShip|First Reverie}} and a hundred other colony ships in [[2362]], D20 Herons would be used by many colony ships during the period later referred to as the [[Domus Diaspora]] to establish functional infrastructure and an active presence on a new world.{{Ref/Site|Id=OD|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/outpost-discoveries|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Outpost Discoveries|D=30|M=06|Y=2021}}
The D20 is capable of transporting and placing a firebase on a suitable landing zone designated by friendly ground forces.<ref>[http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/19938 '''1Up''': ''Halo Wars 'Ice Level' gameplay HD'']</ref> Similar in design to the [[Albatross]], D20s are launched from the {{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}}<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level ''[[Alpha Base (level)|Alpha Base]]''</ref> and are capable of flight in both vacuum and atmosphere.
 
This maneuverability allows the Pod to risk entering contested [[landing zone]]s to deploy its cargo; integral weaponry was deemed unnecessary, since the Pod is not intended to linger in a combat zone.


==Operational history==
The converted {{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}} {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} embarked ten D20 Herons [[2531#Febuary|Febuary 2531]]. These dropships were used extensively to construct firebases on [[Harvest]], [[Arcadia]], and [[Trove]] in [[2531#February|February 2531]].{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HW|HW|Heron in-game model}} During the [[Battle of Trove]], a collision between ''Spirit of Fire'' and the [[Sinaris-pattern heavy destroyer|Covenant destroyer]] ''[[Proclamation's Tithe]]'' resulted in the destruction of all five of the human vessel's portside Herons. By the time ''Spirit of Fire'' arrived at [[Installation 00]] in [[2559#March|March 2559]], the lost Herons had been replaced.{{Ref/Generic|[[Halo Legendary Crate]]|[[:File:LC 004 systems.jpg|Data Drop #4]]}} However, the ship's crew primarily used [[D81-LRT Condor]]s in place of the Herons for building firebases during the [[Second Ark Conflict]]; the Herons were instead used exclusively for mass deployment of cargo and troops in secured rear areas.{{Ref/Game|Id=PL|HW2|[[Phoenix Logs#UNSC Buildings|Phoenix Logs]] - Firebase}}
Ten D20 Herons could be stored aboard the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} and were extensively used to construct firebases on [[Harvest]], [[Arcadia]], and [[Shield World 0459]] in [[2531#February|February 2531]].<ref name="Mythos"/><ref name="HW">'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref> By [[2559]] the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' used [[D81-LRT Condor]]s in place of Herons for building firebases on [[Installation 00]].<ref name="HW2">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]'''</ref>


==Trivia==
{{Clear}}
*The Heron has a slight resemblance to the Troop Carriers used to transport troops in the film ''[[Wikipedia:Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]''.
*There is an unknown number of pods attached to the ''[[Spirit of Fire]]'', but some can be seen in the opening cinematic of ''Halo Wars'', when 6 pods are visible on the ''Spirit''.
*Although they only build buildings in game, they are seen transporting troops in the opening.
*The Heron can potentially host a substantially large number of troops, given the multiple decks seen on the vessels in the opening sequence.
*The circle in the middle of the top of the D20 can be seen rotating when it is landed, probably unscrewing the firebase.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:SCN02 AlphaBaseOnlinel.jpg|A D20 Heron delivering a section of a [[UNSC]] firebase.
File:SCN02 AlphaBaseOnlinel.jpg|A D20 Heron delivering a section of a [[UNSC]] firebase.
File:HW - 5YW.jpg|Pods seen launching from the ''Spirit of Fire''.
File:HW - 5YW.jpg|Heron seen launching from UNSC ''Spirit of Fire''.
File:HWAjax6.jpg|A Heron launching off of a UNSC firebase's landing pad.
File:HWAjax6.jpg|A Heron lifting off from a firebase's landing pad.
File:HW23.png|The ''Spirit of Fire''{{'}}s five portside Herons, moments before they are destroyed by the incoming ''[[Proclamation's Tithe]]''.
File:HW2-SoF.jpg|Looking closely, five of the ''Spirit''{{'}}s Herons can be seen docked under the vessel's starboard "wing."
File:HTV S2 Halo Structures Concept 1.jpg|''[[Halo: The Television Series Season Two]]'' concept art depicting what appears to be a {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}} deploying Herons and Pelicans onto a [[Halo Array|Halo]].
</gallery>
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''


==Notes==
==Sources==
<references group="note"/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


==Sources==
{{Human aircraft}}
<references/>
{{UNSCDF Aircraft}}
{{UNSC Ships}}

Latest revision as of 16:41, May 9, 2024

D20 Heavy Lift Vehicle
HaloWars-DeploymentPod.png
Production information

Manufacturer:

Conklin AeroDynamix[1]

Class:

Heavy lift vehicle

Role:

Transport and supply

Technical specifications

Length:

127.7 meters (418.8 ft)[1]

Width:

90 meters (295 ft)[1]

Height:

29.6 meters (97.2 ft)[1]

Mass:

4,334 metric tons (4,266 LT; 4,777 ST)[1]

Engine(s):

Armament:

None

Complement:

Crew:

Chronological and affiliation

Era:

Affiliation:

United Nations Space Command[1]

 

The D20 Heavy Lift Vehicle,[1] colloquially known as the Heron, is a United Nations Space Command atmospheric and space heavy-lift superheavy dropship.[4]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The D20 Heron is very large and roughly square in shape, featuring a protruding area at the front of the ship which most likely serves as the bridge. The Heron features four tilt engines, two mounted on opposite sides of the ship, and four conventional, rear-mounted engines. The configuration allows for easy maneuverability in space, such as among debris fields. The Heron was originally intended to deploy the infrastructure required to begin and sustain humanity's colonization efforts[3] such as the colony starter unit. The necessities of the Human-Covenant War forced the UNSC to re-purpose the craft for a logistical support role.

Usage[edit]

The D20 is capable of transporting and placing a prefabricated firebase "pod" - the military use variants of the civilian colony starter units - on a suitable landing zone designated by friendly ground forces. When deploying a firebase pod, a circular structure amidships spins clockwise, possibly unscrewing to detach the payload. The vessel is capable of operating in both atmosphere and vacuum. Up to ten Herons can be docked on the exterior of a Phoenix-class support vessel, with five being berthed on either side.[5] The craft's unstreamlined nature has earned it the nickname "big brick" among UNSC personnel.[1]

Operational history[edit]

Following the departure of the CAA First Reverie and a hundred other colony ships in 2362, D20 Herons would be used by many colony ships during the period later referred to as the Domus Diaspora to establish functional infrastructure and an active presence on a new world.[3]

The converted Phoenix-class colony ship UNSC Spirit of Fire embarked ten D20 Herons Febuary 2531. These dropships were used extensively to construct firebases on Harvest, Arcadia, and Trove in February 2531.[4][2] During the Battle of Trove, a collision between Spirit of Fire and the Covenant destroyer Proclamation's Tithe resulted in the destruction of all five of the human vessel's portside Herons. By the time Spirit of Fire arrived at Installation 00 in March 2559, the lost Herons had been replaced.[6] However, the ship's crew primarily used D81-LRT Condors in place of the Herons for building firebases during the Second Ark Conflict; the Herons were instead used exclusively for mass deployment of cargo and troops in secured rear areas.[7]

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 151
  2. ^ a b c Halo Wars, Heron in-game model
  3. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Outpost Discoveries (Retrieved on Jun 30, 2021) [archive]
  4. ^ a b Halo Mythos, page 70
  5. ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Alpha Base
  6. ^ Halo Legendary Crate, Data Drop #4
  7. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Firebase