B-65 Shortsword
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| B-65 Shortsword | |
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91.2 metric tons (89.8 LT; 100.5 ST)[2] |
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Suborbital long-range strategic bomber |
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UNSC Navy |
The B-65 Suborbital Long-Range Bomber,[1] commonly known as the Shortsword, is an atmospheric strategic bomber produced by Misriah Armory. During the Insurrection, the Shortsword was used for a wide range of operations, including ground support and air interdiction.[2] It is fielded by UNSC Air Force reserve units and was formerly operated by the Navy.[4][5][2]
Overview[edit]
Design details[edit]
The Shortsword is similar in design to Misriah Armory's GA-TL1 Longsword interceptor, though its airframe is less angular. The bomber features elongated primary wings as well as smaller winglets 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. The B-65 is not designed for space combat but rather to provide suborbital air support. Despite this, it is capable of functioning in outer space;[6] Shortswords are often deployed from parent vessels in low orbit.
The AVIATOR-class Mjolnir helmet is recommended for use by Shortsword crew members.[7]
Armaments[edit]
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 resembling the carpet bombing tactics of the mid twentieth century. Bombers equipped with the M/RODAS delivery system can carry less conventional payloads such as nuclear weapons[3], the XGBU-302 disruption bomb or the GBU-1105 "cryo" bomb. Shortswords are additionally equipped with M955 ASW/AC 30mm machine-linked autocannons that fires 30mm projectiles.[1]
Service history[edit]
Human-Covenant War[edit]
The Shortsword was deployed to Harvest in 2531 as part of the UNSC Spirit of Fire's efforts to retake Alpha Base in the planet's northern pole.[8]
Due to Reach's position as an important military world, the UNSC wanted a presence at the 24 Hours of Quezon. As such, in the 2551 event, seven Shortswords would perform a v-formation flyover.[9]
Postwar[edit]
Following the Human-Covenant War the UNSC no longer required every available combat-worthy airframe to be used in service against the Covenant. Instead the remaining Shortswords were either transferred to UNSC Air Force reserve uni