A Battle is a specific instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties or army's wherein each group will seek to defeat the others in different forms of combat. Battles are most often fought during wars or military campaigns and can usually be well defined in time, space and action. Wars and military campaigns are guided by strategy whereas battles are the stage on which tactics are employed. German strategist Carl von Clausewitz stated that "the employment of battles to gain the end of war" was the essence of strategy.
There are many battles in and related to the Halo universe.
Battles
Assaults
An assault is a special type of battle involving an attack by one party, usually with the element of surprise. This can denote either a Halo universe action or a Multiplayer action, comparable to one another in definitions.
Campaigns
A military campaign is a term applied to large scale, long duration, significant military strategy plan incorporating a series of inter-related military operations or battles forming a distinct part of a larger conflict often called a war.
Insurrections
An insurrection is a rebellion conducted by a group of combatants, usually against a superior force.
Massacres
A massacre, in military terms, is a battle where one party is routed and suffers complete or near-complete losses compared to the other party.
Operations
- Main article: Operation
An operation is a planned military offensive, generally against a specific enemy objective or group of objectives. Operations can be large scale battles or small, covert insertions. Operations receive unique code words to distinguish themselves from other actions without giving away sensitive information should discussion of them be intercepted by enemy forces.
- Operation: BLIND FAITH
- Operation: BLOWBACK
- Operation: BRAVADO
- Operation: BREADCRUMB
- Operation: CARTWHEEL
- Operation: CHARLEMAGNE
- Operation: CLEAN SWEEP
- Operation: DAYBREAK
- Operation: FIRESIDE
- Operation: FIRST STRIKE
- Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE
- Operation: HYPODERMIC
- Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE
- Operation: PROMETHEUS
- Operation: RED FLAG
- Operation: TANGLEWOOD
- Operation: TENDRIL
- Operation: TORPEDO
- Operation: TREBUCHET
- Operation: UPPER CUT
- Operation: WHISPER AMONG STARS
- Operation: WHITE GLOVE
Raids
A raid is a sudden attack behind an enemy's lines without the intention of holding ground.
Sieges
A siege is a military blockade of an enemy fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition and/or assault. Sieges involve surrounding the target and blocking the reinforcement or escape of troops or provision of supplies.
Skirmishes
A skirmish is a brief battle between small groups, usually part of a longer or larger battle or war.