B-65 Shortsword

Template:Vehicle Infobox The B-65 Suborbital Long-Range Bomber,^[1] more commonly known as the Shortsword, is a UNSC atmospheric bomber.

Design details

The Shortsword shares a similar design to the GA-TL1 Longsword interceptor, though it is less angular than the latter. It features elongated primary wings as well as smaller wings attached to a large boom apparatus at the rear of the fuselage. A large air intake is mounted on the dorsal surface of each wing; pronged structures, possibly ailerons, are located at the rear tip of each wing. Though the B-65 is designed to provide suborbital air support, it is capable of at least rudimentary space flight; Shortswords are often deployed from parent vessels in low orbit.

The Shortsword is typically armed with conventional bombs for performing carpet bombing runs. When releasing its payload, the Shortsword "punches" its munitions into the ground; the munitions then explode a short time later. As the bombs detonate in the order in which they are dropped, carpet bombing runs carried out by the Shortsword resemble twentieth-century napalm strikes. Bombers equipped with the M/RODAS delivery system can carry less conventional payloads such as the XGBU-302 disruption bomb or the GBU-1105 "cryo" bomb.

Gameplay

The Shortsword is only ever seen during gameplay briefly, where it can be seen flying over the battlefield dropping ordnance wherever the player chooses. The use of the Shortsword differs depending on which leader character the player uses. Professor Ellen Anders uses it to drop cryo bombs, a simple point-and-click power which can be used to effectively freeze a large area of the battlefield, as well as the units or buildings in it. Sergeant John Forge uses it to perform carpet bombing runs, where the beginning of the bombing run must be selected, an arrow appears and can be rotated around the start point, setting the angle of the bombing run. Carpet bombing runs are useful for hitting a number of enemies in different formations. All UNSC leaders can call on a Shortsword to deliver disruption bombs which can be used to block enemy leader powers.

The Shortsword cannot be attacked, or destroyed, in-game.

Trivia

A Shortsword is a reference to a number of weapons intermediate between the sword and the dagger, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming exoatmospheric vehicles like the Longsword and the Sabre after bladed weapons.
The Shortsword is similar in appearance to the United States Air Force's B2 "Spirit" stealth bomber, with the notable exception of the Shortsword's large boom apparatus. Both aircraft fill a similar role, acting as bombers, although it is unknown if the Shortsword has any stealth capabilities, or if conventional stealth capabilities would have any impact on Covenant tracking technology.
During the development of Halo Wars, the Shortsword was originally to be a usable unit, docked at the airpad. In the concept art, its tail is retracted and its wings are angled up to make it more compact and allow docking.

Gallery

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Concept art of the Shortswords for Halo Wars.
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An early concept art image for the UNSC airpad. Note the Falcons on the runway and one in the hangar, and a Shortsword docked with its wings retracted.
An early concept art image of the B-65 SOLR Shortsword bomber for Halo Wars.
An underside view of the Shortsword.
An overview the Shortsword.
In-game screenshot of a Shortsword on a bombing run.