ODST armor
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The ODST battle dress uniform (BDU)[1] is a suit of combat armor produced by Misriah Armory[2] for the eponymous Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, special forces of the UNSC Marine Corps. With multiple models having seen production, the suit can be configured for a variety of combat roles and can even be used in conjunction with MJOLNIR powered armor.
Overview[edit]
Design details[edit]
The ODST body armor is a signature piece of equipment used by the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. The suit is vacuum-rated and is capable of extra-vehicular activity for fifteen minutes.[3][4] The armor provides numerous advantages in the field, including ballistic protection, temperature control, as well as thermal insulation against extreme temperatures experienced during atmospheric entry and thermal protection from Covenant energy weapons.
ODST armor also contains a suite of sensors which constantly collect usage data from the wearer, linked to an artificial intelligence used to analyse it. These metrics were used to assess ODSTs for entry into the SPARTAN-IV program.[5]
Development history[edit]
The ODST armor has gone through several design changes since the start of the Human-Covenant War. The current version incorporates technology initially developed for the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor, most notably the helmet.[6] This also includes ceramic-titanium composites for armor plating to give the user added protection. It features a heads-up display and communications systems, notably the Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance, to give more situational awareness to the wearer.[7]
The ODST BDU has been in use since the Insurrection, if not earlier, and remains unmatched in its ability to protect its wearer over other BDUs during the toughest operations. The BDU excels at providing more protection against small arms fire than other infantry body armor, and also excels at allowing a trooper to conduct Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) with little chance of being detected in dark locations. The BDU's stealth capability is partly thanks to its black and gray camouflage patterns on the legs, boots, gloves, chest, helmet and undersuit - these urban camouflage patterns are optional; without the camouflage panels, the BDU is black. On the left shoulder pad of every ODST is a UNSC MED REF patch.[8][9][10] This patch contains basic medical information about the trooper, and allows a certified medic to gain a quick medical reference to an ODST wounded in the field. Despite the armor's obvious advantage over standard infantry armor, it is still vulnerable to Covenant energy weapons, armor-piercing rounds, and large explosive devices.
By 2558, some adaptive design features of the SOLDIER-class Mjolnir system were integrated to some newer models of ODST armor.[11]
Usage[edit]
In 2558, Michael Crespo wore an older suit of ODST armor from the early Human-Covenant War, which apparently had an exoskeleton installed in it. It was noted to be significantly less capable than MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.[12]
Variants[edit]
Standard infantry[edit]
While the standard ODST BDU is fully capable for any role, there are specialized variants of the BDU - these suits are specifically issued to a specialist of a certain field to provide them certain advantages during an operation. As such, specialized gear is only available by Mission Conditional Requisition (MCR). Depending on mission requirements, an ODST operative may request either additional, or variant equipment that ranges from helmet attachments, gloves, battery, equipment or communication rucksack.[citation needed]
- ECH-09 helmet - the ECH-09, or "Echo Nine", helmet is a new variant introduced in late 2552.[13]
- ODST/UA Personal Protective Equipment (ODST/UA PPE) - issued to personnel whose specialization requires extra armor, such as demolition experts. This version of the battle armor is specifically designed to aid an ODST in CQB-type combat conditions. The standard left pauldron is replaced with a longer two-piece ballistic plate, which aids in protecting the trooper's upper body while in a firing stance, and also to reduce severe injury from plasma-based weaponry. The helmet is also issued with an optics device that aids the user in relaying images and video to teammates or command.[14]
- Sharpshooter - the sharpshooter BDU is issued to sniper experts in the field. This BDU is designed to give an ODST sharpshooter more freedom in combat - the standard right pauldron is removed, allowing the sniper to aim better and move their arm more freely with a sniper rifle, while the standard left pauldron is replaced with a larger plate to protect the sniper's arm from counterattacks. The sharpshooter variant is also issued with an O/I[15] (ocular/integration)[16] optics device attached to the helmet, while the Oracle scope on the SRS99 series rifles can be smart-linked to the user's HUD.
- UA/Bullfrog - a BDU used by the Bullfrogs.[17] This variant makes use of GUNGNIR kneepads, rather than the standard-issue kneepads seen on other ODST armor.
- S-1/ONI Reconnaissance Personal Protective Equipment/Battle Dress Uniform - also known as the S-1 ONI Recon BDU, the S-1/ONI Reconnaissance PPE/BDU is a specialized Office of Naval Intelligence variant of the ODST armor. The armor is only issued to ONI reconnaissance agents for high risk operations. The undersuit of the armor, which is superficially similar to the standard ODST armor, is designated as the S1/ONI field fatigues.[18] However, the chest plate is replaced with a specialized one, to provide stealth capabilities with little or no loss of endurance, specifically by reducing its IR signature and reflective surfaces. The torso part of the armor also varies from the standard version, instead, it is equipped with a WILLOWKEY TSCS module. There are no shoulder pauldrons issued with this variant, which allows more freedom of arm movement. This variant also uses a version of the Recon helmet.
- Space-assault - The space-assault variant of ODST armor is vacuum-sealed for use in extra-vehicluar operations in space, such as boarding actions. It is also used for operations in environments with thin atmospheres.[19] The armor is shielded against the effects of electromagnetic pulses, such as those produced by nuclear weapons.[20] This armor variant was notably used by the 21st Space Assault Battalion, a battalion of veteran ODSTs specially trained for combat in zero-gravity environments.[21]
- ODST/COMM - variant issued for communication and calling in artillery support.
- ODST/DEMO - variant issued for combat engi