UNSC Army
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Template:Infobox Military Unit The UNSC Army is a branch of the UNSC Defense Force that is primarily responsible for land-based military operations. They typically serve as a garrison force on UNSC-controlled colony worlds.[1]
Overview
Template:Expand-Section Unlike the UNSC Marine Corps, which is frequently used in expeditionary operations across the galaxy in conjunction with the Navy, the Army is primarily implemented in ground combat operations and garrison duties. The Army shares many matériel assets with the Marine Corps, though some of their weapons differ;[2] for example, the Army is the only branch of the UNSCDF that uses the M6J/C Carbine[3][4][5] and the M319 Individual Grenade Launcher.
The Army fields the MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System instead of the MA5B and MA5C assault rifles, as well as the M392 Designated Marksman Rifle, which has been supplanted in the other branches of service by the BR55 Battle Rifle. Soldiers of the UNSC Army wear the UNSC Army Battle Dress Uniform, which incorporates many modular components shared by other branches of the UNSC Defense Forces, including the CH252 combat helmet.
Special forces
The Army operates its own special forces branch, the Special Warfare Command (SPECWARCOM). Some Spartans are known to serve under the authority of this branch. For example, Noble Team served under Special Warfare Group Three.[6][7][8]
Airborne
The UNSC Army maintains an Airborne infantry formation.[9][10] The Airborne are deployed on aerial assault operations in advance of the regular infantry. Such operations include being deployed behind enemy lines, such as to disrupt enemy supply chains and to sabotage other operations; spearheading assaults, sometimes to establish an airhead; and performing reconnaissance deep within enemy-occupied territory. As with their US Army predecessors, the Airborne are likely an all-volunteer force that is considerably smaller than other combat elements, though they are presumably given more intensive training than the regular infantry.
Known operations
In May 2545, the Army's 53rd Armored Division, commanded by Colonel Akono Menteith, defended the human colony of Actium during the Covenant's invasion of the planet. At the end of the campaign, 12,000 soldiers of the 53rd took part in a massive assault on a trio of Covenant staging grounds. Though these attacks succeeded, the 53rd was ultimately annihilated and Actium was subsequently glassed.[11]
On April 22, 2552, UNSC Army personnel supported SPARTAN Noble Team in Battle of Fumirole against Covenant forces.[12]
Between July 23 and August 30, 2552, thousands of Army personnel defended the fortess world Reach during the Covenant's invasion of the planet.[6] Trooper fireteams dispatched by Colonel Urban Holland initiated first contact with the Covenant at the UNSC communications relay at Visegrád on the night of July 23.[13][14][15] Only July 14, Army troopers stationed near the Office of Naval Intelligence's Sword Base, with crucial assistance from SPARTAN Noble Team, defended against Covenant attackers.[16] Following these early engagements, Army personnel continued to combat the Covenant's advance invasion force for several weeks. On August 12, three Army brigades served as part of a large joint UNSC force during the battle for the Viery Territory. Part of this force was used to eliminate a series of Covenant teleportation spires during the Battle at Szurdok Ridge.[17] Two days later, a much larger Covenant fleet arrived at Reach.[18] By August 23, Army forces had attempted to break the Covenant's siege of New Alexandria for some time. With the assistance of SPARTAN-B312, they were able to evacuate most of the civilians and military personnel from the city, though some stragglers remained.[19][20] On August 29 and 30, the few Army personnel remaining on the Eposz continent attempted to rally at the area's ship-breaking facilities, which served as the only evacuation area left on the continent. There, they engaged in a large-scale battle against the Covenant, who had arrived on Reach in force and had begun glassing the area. Most of the convoys on the way to the evacuation zone were destroyed by the Covenant.[21]
Contemporary with the Fall of Reach, Army forces participated in the Battle of Tribute. In September 2552, the Army fought in the Battle of New Jerusalem.[22]
During the Battle of Earth on October 20, 2552, an Army convoy was sent to New Mombasa to aid the Marines and civilians stationed there; the unit was destroyed in the attempt.[23] Later, during the Battle of Mare Erythraeum on Mars, Colonel James Ackerson led Army personnel against Covenant forces led by the Jiralhanae commander Lepidus.[24][notes 1]
Ranks
The rank structure of the UNSC Army is based around that of the United States Army.
Template:UNSC Enlisted Ranks Template:UNSC Officer Ranks
Trivia
Template:Quotes Link Template:Gameplay link
- The UNSC Army makes its in-game debut in Halo: Reach, in which UNSC Army troopers, Marines, and ODSTs have their own service tags showing their name and rank as part of the fireteam gameplay mechanic. Most of them are named after Bungie and Rooster Teeth employees.[25]
- Bungie concept artist Isaac Hannaford was largely responsible for designing the look of the UNSC Army troopers in Halo: Reach. When first starting to design the troopers, he drew them as all-female, as he was looking to do something different after drawing John-117 for three years during the development of Halo 3.[26]
- All male Army troopers have an emblem with a hexagon divided by a diagonal line on their shoulders. Curiously, female troopers lack this symbol.
Gallery
Most Army trooper armor variants in Halo: Reach.
Two Army soldiers engaging a Sangheili during the Fall of Reach.
Three Army soldiers and SPARTAN-B312 engaging a Sangheili during the Battle at Szurdok ridge.
A female UNSC Army soldier.
A UNSC Army Sergeant orders his troops forward.
Army Troopers aboard a D77-TC Pelican.
- ReachConcept SoldierVariant.png
Concept art of an Army trooper (left) and a military policeman (right) in Halo: Reach.
- Army compilation 1.png
Concept art of UNSC Army trooper BDUs.
- Army compilation 2.png
More Army trooper concepts.
- Armysoldiers.jpg
Concept art of UNSC Army soldiers with Catherine-B320.
- Army Pilot.png
Concept art of an Army pilot.
Notes
- ^ Considering that Ackerson was an Army colonel, the UNSC most likely used Army forces during the Battle of Mare Erythraeum.
List of appearances
- Halo: Reach
- Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
- Halo: First Strike
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx (First identified as UNSC Army)
- Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
- Halo: Uprising
- Birth of a Spartan
- Patrol
- Deliver Hope
Sources
- ^ Halo.bungie.org: Interview with Frank O'Connor and Robert McLees
- ^ Letter - Re:UNSC Army
- ^ Halo Waypoint: Magnum
- ^ Bungie.net: M6C/SOCOM
- ^ Bungie.net: Halo 3 pistol
- ^ a b Halo: Reach
- ^ halo.bungie.org: Re: Just checked out the Essential Visual Guide
- ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, pages 29, 62, 101, 103-105, 130, 139, 165
- ^ Halo: Reach, Armory - MJOLNIR/AA variant description: "Entered service in 2535; the MJOLNIR/AA variant is exclusive to Army airborne units."
- ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Hero - Courage
- ^ Deliver Hope
- ^ Patrol
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Noble Actual
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Winter Contingency
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level ONI: Sword Base
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Long Night of Solace
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Exodus
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level New Alexandria
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn
- ^ Halo Waypoint, DMR
- ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "Palace Hotel", page 356
- ^ Halo: Uprising, Issue One
- ^ Bungie.net: Bungie Weekly Update: 07.02.10
- ^ Isaac Hannaford: Halo Reach Army trooper development
Related pages
