Covenant army

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The Sangheili were originally the commanders of the Covenant Army.

The Covenant Army is a branch of the Covenant Military responsible for land-based operations. It is the primary invasion force, and houses the numerous Special Operations units. [1]

Function

The Covenant Army comprises of the majority of the Covenant's ground-based infantry and units, and is asked with engaging the enemies of the Covenant in ground and air combat, using a diversity of equipment and weaponry. Primarily led by the Brutes, and formerly by the Elites, including former Arbiters, the Army is comprised of most of the military-service races who act as infantry or, in the case of Hunters, as demolitions experts and shock troops.

Because Prophets do not hold military ranks, no Prophet is truly a "member" of the Army. Instead, they command its Brute leaders as either religious or militaristic tactician, who follow their orders and accomplish their objectives. Engineers, as primarily non-combatants, are also exempt from the Army.

Species In The Covenant Army

Pre Civil War

Post and During Civil War

Covenant Civil War

During the Covenant Civil War, or "Great Schism," the Covenant military was violently divided between the Covenant Loyalists, who continued to believe in the Prophet's wisdom, and the Covenant Separatists, who followed the Arbiter against them. The Covenant Separatists crushed the Covenant Loyalists at the Battle of Installation 00 with their human allies.

Known Units

Equipment

Infantry Weapons

Introduced During Great Schism (to Loyalist forces)

Vehicles

Ranks

Brute Military Hierarchy

The Brute species is arranged in a pack society, based on a hierarchy determined by viciousness and number of war kills. In Halo 2, Brute ranks were mostly determined by red flags on their backs, the amount of armor they wore and the color of their fur(sometimes even their weapons). Ranks in Halo 3 are differentiated physically by armor, equipment and weaponry:

Rank Image Description
Brute Heroes
War Chieftain - Armor File:H3 Brute Chieftain Armor.gif These Brute Chieftains rely upon powerful weapons like Portable Plasma Cannons and Fuel Rod Cannons to crush their foes, while often throwing or possessing Power Drainers. Their armor cannot be stuck by Plasma or Spike Grenades or Needler needles. However, they can be stuck by Incendiary Grenades. Identification: Golden armor.
Brute Chieftain - Weapon File:H3 Brute Chieftain Weapon.gif These Brute Chieftains are clad in crimson/black armor and wield close-ranged Melee weapons such as Gravity Hammers and Energy Swords(vidoc "Etu Brute?" only). They use Invincibility or a Flare and their Power Armor cannot be stuck by Plasma or Spike grenades or Needler needles. However, they can be stuck by Incendiary Grenades. Identification: Black and red armor.
Brute Leaders
Brute Captain Ultra File:H3 Brute Captain Ultra.gif The Brute Captain Ultras are the highest captain rank and use heavier weapons, such as Brute Shots and Fuel Rod Canons. Identification: Cyan armor.
Brute Captain Major File:H3 Brute Captain Major.gif The Brute Captain Majors are even more experienced than their younger comrades and lead larger packs into battle. Also usually wield brute shots. Identification: Golden Armor
Brute Captain File:H3 Brute Captain Minor.gif The Brute Captains are experienced Brutes who now lead their comrades and the lesser races into battle. Identification: Purple/Red armor.
Brute Specialists
Brute Bodyguard File:H3 Bodyguard.gif Brute Bodyguards are some of the Chieftain's most reliable warriors and not only protect their chieftain but enforce his tribal law. They seem to be the Brute counterparts of the Honor Guard Elite Unit. Identification: light blue armor.
Brute Jumppack File:H3 Brute Jumppack.gif These veteran Brutes utilize jumppacks to launch aerial attacks from afar, and use their enhanced mobility for guerrilla battle tactics. They seem to be the Brute counterparts of the Ranger Elite Unit. Identification: Jump pack, Blue armor.
Brute Stalker File:H3 Brute Stalker.gif Brute Stalkers are the secret police of the Brutes and specialize in stealth techniques with their Active Camouflage generators. They seem to be the Brute counterparts of the Stealth Elite unit.
Brute Infantry
Brute Ultra File:H3 Brute Ultra.gif Brute Ultras are now armed with violet armor, they are comprised of the best of the regular infantrymen, showing tact, cunning skill and strength. Identification: purple-blue armor.
Brute Major File:H3 Brute Major.gif Brute Majors are clad in dark blue armor and are promoted in a similar fashion to the Elites. They are promoted on the casualties they inflict. Identification: blue armor.
Brute Minor File:H3 Brute Minor.gif Brute Minors are the lowest rank of the Brute race, clad in turquoise armor and typically armed with the Type-25 Carbine. Not only do they compete for their posting but also for their equipment. Identification: teal armor, unarmored in Halo 2.

Other Brute Ranks

Chieftain of the Jiralhanae - The Leader of the entire Jiralhanae race.

Brute Ship Master/Alpha Jiralhanae - Commanders of ships. They may be equivalent to Chieftains of the Jiralhanae.

Grunt Ranks

Grunts have five classes, which are easily identifiable by the color of their armor:

Rank Image Description
Grunt Leaders
Grunt Ultra 150-px These Grunts appear to be field commanders for other Grunts, and wear distinctive pearlescent white armor reminiscent of the Ultra Elites. While they appear to have some authority over lesser-ranked Grunts (besides Special Operations Grunts, who are of a different jurisdiction), although they have no control whatsoever over the other Covenant races. Grunt Ultras are also stronger opponents than their subordinates, and are more accurate with firearms, throw Plasma Grenades often, and have heavier armor, making them able to sustain more damage than most other Grunts. They very rarely run, and when present, other Grunts do not run either. Grunt Ultras mostly sided with the Covenant Separatists. There are two on Halo 3 that can be seen wielding Brute Spikers.
Grunt Specialists
Special Operations Grunt File:Spec-Ops grunt.gif Experienced and specially-chosen Grunts that wear distinctive jet-black armor and are commanded by Special Operations Elites. They are part of the Covenant Special Operations division of the Covenant Separatists Special Warfare Group. They also have an Active Camouflage. Special Operations Grunts are extremely skilled in warfare compared to the Grunt species, and don't panic too often in combat situations, if they do at all. They are sometimes seen wielding Fuel Rod Cannons, and they throw Plasma Grenades more often than lesser Grunt ranks, as well as throwing them more accurately. Almost all, if not all of the Special Operations Grunts sided with the Arbiter and Covenant Separatists during the Covenant Civil War, although some were seen during the Battle of Installation 00. These Grunts will not flee when their commander is killed, but rather seek revenge, often utilizing excessive use of grenades.
Grunt Heavy File:Heavy grunt.gif Specialized Grunts wearing green armor often deployed in defensive actions[2] whose primary purposes are to deploy Plasma Cannons and man them, but occasionally wield Fuel Rod Cannons as well. Additionally, they also have been seen operating/driving Ghost vehicles and Shades. They can also rarely be seen wielding a Brute Spiker, such as on the Ark above the tunnel where the human vehicles come out from just before the Scarab fight.
Grunt Infantry
Grunt Major File:Major grunt.gif Veteran Grunts that wear crimson armor. They sometimes command several Grunt Minors and are slightly more skilled in combat and courageous than Grunt Minors, though this difference is not always substantial. In Halo:CE they take two sniper shots in the chest to die (on legendary), which means that they have similar base health than Elite minors who also require two chest shots, when their shields are fully charged to be killed.
Grunt Minor File:Minor grunt.gif The lowest-ranked Grunts, these wear orange armor. They are often the least dangerous and most cowardly, and are often inaccurate marksmen. When their commanding Elite or Brute is killed, they almost always break formation and flee, but sometimes they come back and start firing at you again. It is to be noted that Grunts under the command of Brutes are substantially more aggressive.

Other ranks

Deacon: The only position open to the Grunts in the Ministry of Tranquility. This rank doesn't involve combat or hard manual labor, possibly meaning it is the lowest position on the Covenant hierarchy. But as seen in Halo: Contact Harvest the Deacon ordered around other Unggoy whenever it came to matter of religion.

Curl-Back Grunts: In Halo: Combat Evolved, there was an alternate suit for the Grunt Infantry. It was a slightly larger mask that covered more of the face and a methane tank that curled upwards instead of it sticking out. The reason for this is unknown, as this variation is only seen in Halo: Combat Evolved. It is possible that the curl-back design would denote that the wearer was a Grunt Heavy. This could have been used before an actual rank and suit were made for the heavy grunts. This is supported by the fact that most Turrets in Halo: Combat Evolved are controlled by curl-backs (on higher difficulties), and that there are screenshots depicting them on turrets in Halo Wars. But if the player looks closely, he/she will find that ALL Grunt ranks on Halo: Combat Evolved have this armor design, including Minor Grunts, Major Grunts and SpecOps Grunts. Also some people think that the methane tanks on the "Curl-Back Grunts" could have not been refilled unlike the other grunts methane tanks in the Halo series. Curl-back design could also be a type of out-dated suit that was slowly being removed from the Grunt military. The curl-back design could have been for females, however this is unlikely due to the fact that they can be heard with mostly male voices. The reason for the curl-back methane tank is that it was in fact, a different version, which would contract for easier transportation as it ran out of methane.

File:Gruntybomb.PNG
A Kamikaze Grunt charging his foes.

Jackal Ranks

Rank Description
Command
Shipmaster/mistress An unusual rank for Jackals. The only shipmistress seen was the commander of a small artifact retrieval ship. They are officially sanctioned to prey on human shipping.
Jackal Specialists
Jackal Ranger Jackal Rangers are now a defunct section of the Covenant ranks. They once operated alongside Ranger Elites, but it is speculated they have since been replaced by Drones. In Halo: Combat Evolved there are Jackals with helmets on, who could be related to this class .
Jackal Sniper Jackal Snipers have gray armor and do not carry energy shields, as both their hands are used to operate Beam Rifles or carbines, the Covenant long range sniper weapon. On the Heroic and Legendary difficulties, one shot may be all it takes for a beam rifle to kill the player. However, if sufficient distance is closed, they may drop their Beam Rifle and bring out a Plasma Pistol as they retreat from an advancing opponent. In Halo 2 they can also be identified with having gray clothing under their armor and are easily seen because of their bright crimson/violet eyes that tend to stand out. In Halo 3, the Carbine wielding Jackals are not normally referred to by players as "Sniper Jackals" either being "Marksmen Jackals", "Ranged Jackals", "Rifle Jackals" and "Sniper Turkeys".
Jackal Infantry
Jackal Major In Halo: CE Jackal Majors have slightly redder skin color, why Bungie did this is unknown. They take two sniper shots in the chest to die (on legendary), which means that they have more base health than elite minors, who require two chest shots with their shields fully charged. Jackal Majors are slightly more elevated and are signified by an orange shield and orange armor. Not much is different about their appearance other than their shield color and, in Halo 2, they fire charged plasma pistol shots more often than minors. In Halo 3 these Jackal carry purple Jackal point defense gauntlets.
Jackal Minor Jackal Minors are signified by a blue/cobalt armor and turquoise arm shield and serve as general infantry. In Halo: Combat Evolved some also had very dark green, almost black skin, and a distinct, curved head. In the first Halo game, many had helmets as well. They occasionally attack with a charged plasma pistol shot, depleting the player's shields and making it easier for the player to be killed.

Unknown Rank

In Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, there is seen to be a high-ranking Jackal Official in red armor as mentioned[3] but it is unsure whether these Red Armor-ordained Jackals fit in to the ranking scheme. It is highly likely that they are Jackal Ultras.

Related Articles

Sources

  1. ^ [1] The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3
  2. ^ Halo 2, Gravemind (Level)
  3. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 215
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