UNSC Army airborne
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Template:Infobox Military Unit The Airborne is an elite light infantry corps of the UNSC Army [1][2]. It consists of both parachute infantry and air assault elements, as well as other airborne-qualified elements such as cavalry (armored reconnaissance-type), field artillery, and engineering units. While they're delivered in a far different fashion, the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers of the UNSC Marine Corps are considered as a sister unit to the Airborne forces.
Overview
The UNSC Army Airborne is likely descended from the following units given the largely western-following nature of the UNSC Defense Forces:
- U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
- U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
- U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
- U.S. 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
- U.K. Parachute Regiment
Like their forebears, the Airborne engage in aerial assault operations in advance of their regular infantry counterparts. 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 American and British predecessors, the Airborne is 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.
Pathfinders
The Airborne fields specialized Pathfinder units.[3] The Pathfinders are deployed in advance of their comrades in order to mark drop zones, thus increasing the accuracy and precision of deployments. After the main body of the Airborne forces are deployed, the Pathfinders join the regular Airborne infantry in combat.
Equipment
Airborne personnel are equipped with Ushuaia Armory's Air Assault helmet, which was developed as an improvement on the helmet worn by the UNSC Marine Corps' Orbital Drop Shock Troopers; Pathfinders prefer the FC-I variant of the helmet.[3][2][note 1] The Airborne presumably use some form of the Army Battle Dress Uniform. It is also likely that they utilize components of the MJOLNIR hard-point series, which is designed for use in parachute and parafoil operations, and the compatible G-25 airfoil carapace.
The Airborne probably utilize much of the equipment used by their regular Army counterparts, though, given the nature of the operations they undertake, the Airborne typically operate with lighter armament and less, if any, vehicular support. Airborne personnel are likely armed with most standard-issue weapons, such as the MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System and the M392 Designated Marksman Rifle, and specialist weapons such as they SRS99 sniper rifle and the M41 rocket launcher. Given their need for compact loads during deployment, the Airborne likely make extensive use of the M6J/C Carbine. Utilizing vehicles would generally not be practical until a reliable airhead had been secured; even so, the Airborne would probably make use of only light vehicles such as the M12 Force Application Vehicle and the M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle. Given their need to carry little matériel during deployment, the Airborne probably make very extensive use of resupply canisters.
While the Airborne probably make extensive use of parafoils and possibly Falcon Wing aerial descent units, it is likely that most deployments are carried out via dropships such as the D77-TC Pelican and D96-TCE Albatross. This would follow the precedent of the US Army Airborne, which was converted into an air assault force in the decades following World War II, ceasing large-scale parachute deployments. If this is so, the Airborne likely also utilizes the UH-144 Falcon for air mobility and the D82-EST Darter for delivering supplies to secured airheads.
List of appearances
Notes
- ^ According to Halo: Reach's Armory, the AA helmet was developed as an improvement of the ODST helmet. According to Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, the former helmet's design was influenced by Ushuaia's extensive work on the Marine Corps BDU, and it is implied that the AA helmet was not modified from the ODST helmet's design. Given the context of these apparently conflicting statements, it is possible that the AA helmet was not derived from the ODST helmet per se, but was instead developed "from scratch", with the ODST helmet serving as inspiration; it was designed to possess similar features and functionality, resulting in a similar overall appearance.
Sources
- ^ Halo: Reach, Armory - MJOLNIR/AA variant description: "Entered service in 2535; the MJOLNIR/AA variant is exclusive to Army airborne units."
- ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide
- ^ a b Halo: Reach, Armory - MJOLNIR/AA, FC-I variant description: "FC-I Command network module-Improved; external hardned uplink. A favorite of Pathfinder units."
