D96-TCE Albatross

D96-TCE Albatross
	File:AlbatrossProfile.png
Production information
Manufacturer:	Ushuaia Armory
Class:	Heavy-lift dropship
Role:	Troop and vehicle transport
Technical specifications
Length:	120.8 feet (36.8 m)
Width:	63.2 feet (19.3 m)
Slipspace drive:	None
Armament:	Typically none
Complement:	M808 Scorpions; M12 Warthogs; 45–50 passengers; 75 children;
Crew:	1 pilot, 1 or 2 other crewmen
Chronological and affiliation
Era:	Human-Covenant War
Affiliation:	United Nations Space Command

The D96-TCE Albatross, formally known as the Dropship 96 - Troop Carrier, Equipment, is a heavy-lift dropship flown by the United Nations Space Command. The Albatross was designed and manufactured by Ushuaia Armory.^[1]

Background

The D96-TCE Albatross has been in service since at least 2517.^[3]^[4] It is a vital part of the UNSC's ship-to-shore logistical capability used in the deployment of large numbers of personnel, vehicles, munitions, material, and supplies in combat and peacetime operations. Although the Albatross typically possesses no armament, their nimble maneuverability and heavily armored cargo bay allows it to operate relatively safely.^[1]

The Albatross' cargo bay is capable of transporting multiple vehicles and other heavy weapons at a time. It can also hold 45 to 50 passengers at the same time, or even 75 children. Once it has landed, it lowers three metal ramps holding the bay, allowing their cargo to be unloaded. The Albatross can also be used as a makeshift base, indicating that it may also serve as a mobile field command post for the UNSC.^[5]

Known Albatross dropships

Unidentified dropship: Used to take the 75 Spartan-II trainees on July 12th, 2519 at 0630 hours to the Military Wilderness Training Preserve.
Unidentified dropship: Commandeered by the 75 Spartan-II trainees on July 12th, 2519 at 2104 hours to get back to the Reach Naval Officers Academy.
03: Attached to the UNSC Aegis Fate, 03 crash-landed near an abandoned Jiralhanae base.
Unidentified dropship: Used by ODST squad Alpha-Nine to bury the Rookie over one of Draco III's oceans.
Unidentified dropship: attached to the UNSC In Amber Clad, crash-landed near a large structure buried under one of Installation 05's islands with members from RECON 127.^[6]

Trivia

An albatross is a seabird, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming most of their atmospheric vehicles after animals.
Some Albatrosses have words inscribed on their hulls by their crews, similar to those pilots painted on the exterior of their bombers in World War II. 03 bears the words "Covenant Killer Mk C" and "Humanity-1 Flood-0".