Editing Planetary warfare

{{Status|Canon}}
{{References}}
[[File:Annivesary, conflict.jpg|300px|thumb|Human, Covenant and Flood forces engage each other on the surface of [[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]].]]
'''Planetary warfare''' is conflict conducted between armed belligerents on the surface of a planet, using land, air and sea-based forces for invading, defending and controlling important strategic areas. Ground warfare varies widely in scale and type, ranging from small skirmishes, to asymmetric combat against non-conventional forces, to large-scale engagements between two or more large forces.

==Theaters of combat==
===Land===
[[File:HSS-ODSTs.png|thumb|left|250px|[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] are deployed directly to the surface of planets in specially designed insertion pods.]]
While air power is important strategically, and orbital superiority is ultimately the crux upon which battles between space-faring powers are won or lost, land warfare has been, and continues in the 26th century to be, the most prominent aspect of warfare. 

Infantry are an integral part of any army, no matter how technologically sophisticated. During the [[Forerunner]]s' [[Human-Forerunner wars|wars]] with [[Ancient humanity|humanity]], both sides continued to use soldiers equipped with a range of handheld armaments and protective armor.{{Ref/Game|Id=H4Terminals|H4|H4:Terminals|Terminals}} Initially, Forerunner ground forces consisted of [[Warrior-Servant|infantry wearing combat skins]] and operating [[war sphinx]]es,{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Chapter=2}} supplemented by [[artificial intelligence]]-operated [[Sentinels]]{{Ref/Level|CE|CE:343 Guilty Spark|343 Guilty Spark}} and [[armigers]],<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''pages 222-226 (Google Play edition)''</ref> though as the [[Forerunner-Flood war|war]] with the [[Flood]] wore on the Forerunners increasingly relied on automated forces to sterilize or destroy Flood forces, eventually producing the [[Prometheans]] from composed Warrior-Servants and unwilling humans.{{Ref/Reuse|H4Terminals}} In the modern era, both the [[Covenant]] and the [[United Nations Space Command]], as well as other human military and paramilitary groups, also use infantry, equipped with a range of weapons designed to occupy different niches. Both sides primarily use infantry to take and hold strategically and tactically important areas, particularly military bases and population centers. Infantry are also useful during counter-insurgency operations, which the UNSC conducted during the Insurrection, to sweep populated areas and clear out buildings of hostile occupants. Infantry are also much easier to transport and supply than larger and heavier vehicles, which can be awkward to operate in narrow urban environments and can cause significant collateral damage. the UNSC primarily relied on [[UNSC Army|Army troopers]] and [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], though the [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]] and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] also maintained infantry units for garrison and security duties. 

[[File:Halo 5 Ghost v Warthog Dawn of Light Vehicles.jpg|thumb|250px|A Spartan in a Ghost attacks a Warthog in a War Games simulation.]]
The UNSC and Covenant use a range of light transports and scout craft - the [[M12 Warthog]] and the {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}} are ubiquitous in the UNSC Armed Forces and the Covenant respectively, used primarily for force reconnaissance and engaging light enemy forces. The Warthog is a versatile UNSC light vehicle, and comes in a number of variants for different niches - the standard model is equipped with a [[M41 Vulcan|crew-served light machinegun]], though this can be replaced with [[M12R Rocket Warthog|missile pods]], a [[M12A Rocket Warthog|tri-barrelled rocket launcher]], a [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog|gauss turret]], or replaced with [[M831 Troop Transport Warthog|a troop compartment]]. The UNSC also uses variants of the [[M274R Mongoose|Mongoose]] [[M290 Mongoose|ULATV]], usually operated by a single operator for message or materiel delivery on a battlefield where communications uplinks are compromised or where airborne or slower ground transports are impractical. The Covenant Ghost is a fairly standard vehicle, lightly armed and armored but extremely fast and agile, though several post-war variants of the {{Pattern|Karo'wark|Ghost}} have been used by both the Covenant and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]. The Covenant have at times supplemented the Ghost with the {{Pattern|Wuzum|Spectre}}, though it was not adopted in large numbers, and the {{Pattern|Rizvum|Revenant}}. When the Jiralhanae assumed command of the Covenant, they supplemented their Ghosts with [[Barukaza Workshop Chopper]]s and [[Qavardu Workshop Prowler]]s. For improved ground mobility, both sides also used a number of armored fighting vehicles. The UNSC used the M831 Warthog for troop transport, while the Covenant used the larger, more heavily armored {{Pattern|Ruwaa|Shadow}} for transport in urban environments, though both sides tend to use dropship airlift more frequently. Transport was less of a concern to the Forerunners, who used sophisticated [[Slipspace translocation|battlefield translocation]] to move across the battlefield, a technique continued into the 26th century by Promethean forces.

[[File:ODST Campaign Kizingo01.jpg|thumb|left|250px|An [[M808C Scorpion]] assists UNSC Marines against Covenant troops, a Phantom dropship, and a Wraith.]]
For heavier firepower, both the UNSC and Covenant utilize a number of heavy weapons platforms, including tanks, artillery and anti-air units. The [[M808 Scorpion]] was the UNSC's main battle tank of choice, particularly among the Marine Corps, due to its ability to be airlifted across the battlefield by dropship, and small crew size. It was replaced in 2557 by the [[M820 Scorpion]], which featured similar design elements but featured a heavier main cannon and lighter chassis. Many UNSC Army and Marine Corps also operated the [[M850 Grizzly]] tank, which featured better armor and two 120mm cannons, as well as co-axial and pintle-mounted machine guns, but was considered expensive to maintain and difficult to transport. The Covenant filled the same niche with their own tank, the {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}} mortar tank, later replaced by the {{Pattern|Kemu|Wraith}} which had similar capabilities but was smaller and lighter.

[[File:Anti-Air Fire.jpg|thumb|250px|A Covenant anti-air Wraith fires at a UNSC Hornet.]]
In support of both infantry and armored units, both sides also deployed a number of artillery units. Though the Wraith could be, and frequently was, used as a main battle tank, it excelled as long-range artillery, bombarding positions with plasma mortars. It was supplemented in the role by the {{Pattern|Shua'ee|Locust}}, which used a powerful directed energy weapon to destroy stationary targets but was vulnerable to enemy armor. The UNSC employed a number of artillery vehicles, such as the [[SP42 Cobra]] and the experimental [[M145D Rhino]], though the role was usually filled by aerial or orbital missile or [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] support. The [[M9 Wolverine]] served as a dedicated anti-air missile launcher, but was able to use its missiles as a volley to hit ground targets, particularly useful against structures. The Covenant used [[Ogab'd-pattern anti-aircraft Wraith|a dedicated Wraith variant]] for anti-air defense, equipping them with powerful fuel rod cannons that served as effective flak.

For theaters that offer the most difficult and violent of ground combat, both the UNSC and the Covenant utilize extremely powerful, 'line breaker' assets to overwhelm and punch through heavily fortified defenses. The UNSC is known to utilize the [[M510 Mammoth]] as both a mobile command center, a siege breaker and a formidable anti-air/anti-ship areal denial weapon, whilst the smaller [[M313 Elephant]] acts as an important support and recovery vehicle as well as another mode of mobile command and control. The Covenant use civilian mining vehicles such as the [[Scarab]]s as a dual-use asset that can both excavate Forerunner artefacts and drill through the most heavily fortified walls. Moreover, the Covenant is also known to utilize absurdly large ground vehicles - akin to warships on land - for campaigns so large and well defended that not even the Covenant armada could pacify conventionally. Landcrafts such as the [[Zashk-pattern Draugr]] and [[Shuul'se-pattern Kraken]] behave like mobile fortresses and command centers meant to punch through the most violent battles, whilst the [[Za'zayara-pattern Harvester]] can excavate the most stubborn of earth or armour with ease.

The Flood deploy a range of ground forces, though initially the bulk of them are infected and repurposed corpses that are turned into [[Combat Form]]s, able to use its enemies' weapons against them. Corpses that are unsuited to becoming Combat Forms are turned into [[Carrier Form]]s, which gestate and release [[Infection Forms]] which continue the cycle. As the Flood spreads, and accumulated biomass, it constructs [[Proto-Gravemind]]s which can coordinate large numbers of Flood forms to act in concert, and begins sculpting biomass as [[Pure Form]]s, which are tougher and use organic weapons.

===Air===
[[File:SparrowHawk.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Gunships are specifically designed to support ground forces with airborne ordnance.]]
Most military forces deploy a range of aerial combat units to establish aerial supremacy and close air support. Establishing aerial supremacy can be critical to winning a battle, defending land and sea-based forces from aerial attack, improving one's own ability to attack enemy land and sea-based forces, and even repelling orbital attacks - the UNSC Air Force was able to hold off Covenant invasion for three years when the Covenant [[Battle of Meridian|attacked Meridian]], before the colony finally fell. UNSC military branches deploy a number of different craft for the role - the [[SkyHawk]] jump-jet, the [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] and the [[F-41 Broadsword|F41 Broadsword]]. The Covenant rely on the small, fast and nimble [[Type-26 Banshee|Type-26]] and post-war {{Pattern|D'nomlhe|Banshee}} flyer, supported by smaller numbers of the larger, more powerful and better protected [[Type-31 Seraph]], as well as {{Pattern|Bkowe'nei|Vampire}} craft for anti-air capability. Forerunner forces established air superiority through the use of small [[weapon-ship]]s, such as the [[Phaeton]], with a single operator able to control at least a million craft remotely, or directly operated by onboard pilots. Even the Flood deployed aerial forces to deter enemy air units and attack ground-based units - [[Flood swarm]]s were able to attack both air and ground units, and although were individually weak, were deployed in large numbers.

[[File:HaloReach - InvasionLongswords.jpg|thumb|250px|Air Force Longsword fighters flying in formation]]
Close air support is another important aspect of air combat. Ordnance can be delivered by fighters and bombers, but their speed and method of flight gives them small loiter times before they leave the area and need to refuel. To this end, the UNSC and Covenant utilize a range of craft for the purpose. The key strategic advantage of the Banshee is that it is able to operate at sub-sonic speeds and even hover, allowing them to attack enemy ground forces with plasma cannons and fuel rod guns. Spirit and Phantom dropships are also equipped with plasma cannons to cover the deployment of their troops and provide air support for them once they have been deployed. The original Covenant used the {{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}}, which was replaced after the war by the {{Pattern|Nuro'k Xur|Spirit}}, while the Phantom has seen a number of variants including the [[Ru'swum-pattern Phantom|Type-44]] and [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Type-52]], which were replaced in the post-war period by the [[Mikpramu-pattern Phantom|Type-57]]. The UNSC prefer to separate those roles into dedicated transports, usually with at least rudimentary armament, and dedicated gunship variants with more firepower. Both the [[D77 Pelican|D77]] and [[D79H Pelican|D79 Pelicans]] had a number of variants, but most were equipped with a chin-mounted cannon, a troop-bay mounted machine gun, and some variants equipped with wing-mounted missile or rocket pods. The [[G79H Pelican|G79H Pelican]] gunship was a Pelican airframe equipped with a diverse range of armaments, including an M8 [[Spartan Laser]], side-mounted machine gun turrets, and chin-mounted autocannons, but also featured limited troop transport and resupply capabilities. The [[AV-22 Sparrowhawk]] was dedicated to the role, and featured wing-mounted autocannons and a nose-mounted M6 Spartan Laser, and lacked the troop transport abilities of the Pelican, but was lighter, faster and more agile. The UNSC also utilized the smaller [[AV-14 Hornet]], a tiltjet which used missile pods and wing-mounted machine guns to attack ground units and transport up to two passengers.

[[File:H5G-Battle of Sunaion 4.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Swords of Sanghelios Phantoms and Liches transport troops during the [[Battle of Sunaion|assault on Sunaion]], escorted by Banshee fighters.]]
The air is also important to control because it enables fast tactical and strategic deployments. The UNSC maintains a range of air cavalry units, operating a mixture of Pelican dropships, and planetary-based [[UH-144 Falcon]] utility helicopters, to rapidly transport infantry and vehicles across the battlefield, which is one reason why the UNSC Marine Corps favor lighter Warthogs and Scorpions over heavier, better-armed and armored vehicles. Many of these craft, particularly Pelicans and the larger [[D96 Albatross]], are rated for space operations, allowing them to transport personnel and material to and from orbit. The Covenant generally rely on the slow, cumbersome Spirit dropship, which features a light armament and awkward deployment bppms, but has superior armor to its smaller, faster and better armed companion, the Phantom, which features a nose-mounted plasma cannon and side-mounted plasma turrets that cover troop deployment.

===Sea===
[[File:H5G Mako Render 1.png|thumb|250px|[[MAKO-class Mjolnir]] designed for Spartan combat divers. The helmet was adopted by the UNSC Army for its own combat divers.]]
While ocean combat has been eclipsed by air and space assets, it has not fallen out of use entirely. The UNSC Navy maintains planetary-based naval forces, particularly {{Class|Crassus|supercarrier}}s, to support land forces. The Covenant attempted to excavate the seabed off the Yucatan peninsula during the Battle of Earth, but their efforts were halted by [[Blue Team]]. The UNSC maintains a range of equipment for Army combat divers, and has introduced several MJOLNIR variants specifically designed to allow Spartans to operate underwater, such as the [[OCEANIC-class Mjolnir|OCEANIC]] and [[MAKO-class Mjolnir]].

===Orbital support===
[[File:Corvette destroyed.png|thumb|left|250px|A Covenant corvette is destroyed by orbital fire support.]]
Given the importance of orbital supremacy, there are a number of ways orbital forces can support planetary campaigns. Spacecraft often serve as troop transports and staging points for assaults - UNSC and Covenant carriers carry large numbers of fighter craft, able to operate in both space and in atmosphere, to escort atmosphere-capable dropships to deploy troops and vehicles to ground-based combat theaters. Spacecraft are also able to directly engage in planetary combat, delivering ordnance from high or low orbit - UNSC ships used a range of nuclear and conventional missiles with varying warhead yields and the standard Magnetic Accelerator Cannon to strike targets from orbit, and the Covenant frequently bombard population centres with devastating plasma torpedoes or energy projectors.  In addition, both UNSC and Covenant space warships are capable of operating as air-based artillery - the UNSC uses [[UNSC frigate|frigates]] in this role, while the Covenant can deploy virtually any warship in a planet's airspace.

[[File:HR CovenantDropPod Attacked.jpg|thumb|230px|A UNSC Air Force [[FSS-1000 Sabre]] fighter attacking orbital troop deployments during the Fall of Reach.]]
The battle of an entire planet can be waged across its surface, but it is more often than not won or lost in orbit by whoever can establish [[Space warfare|orbital superiority]]. During the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC had enormous difficulty overcoming the Covenant's sheer technological advantage in orbit, but were able to win several key battles to support ground troops: the Harvest campaign was waged for five years because the UNSC space forces outnumbered the Covenant occupiers by a significant margin; UNSC air power on Meridian held off Covenant invasion for three years before it finally fell; [[Operation: UPPER CUT|a joint Army, Air Force and Navy operation]] brought down the {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' using Saber fighters; and while the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' blew past Earth's orbital defense grid, the rest of the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] was destroyed by the UNSC Home Fleet in the early hours of the Battle of Earth, forcing the [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier]] to make an emergency slipspace jump over [[New Mombasa]] to retreat.

Both sides also utilize insertion pods that can deploy individual troops or small squads from orbit to the surface, with both the UNSC and the Covenant using a range of [[drop pod]]s of their own. Insertion pods present smaller targets than a dropship, are more maneuverable, and carry a smaller number of occupants if hit, ensuring a higher number of troops make it to the landing zone at the expense of individual safety. Even the Flood had their own version, the [[dispersal pod]]. which it used to scatter its combat forms across the Ark and Installation 08 to prevent the Halo Array from being fired.

==Battle doctrines==
===Forerunners===
[[File:H5G-WarzonePrometheans.png|left|thumb|250px|A number of Promethean units.]]
The Forerunners primarily fought their wars using powerful starships, but did deploy forces in planetary environments when they had to, consisting of infantry who used [[Combat Skin]]s of various tiers.{{Ref/Level|CE|CE:The Library|The Library}} They were equipped with a variety of handheld firearms, automated support in the form of [[Sentinel]]s and [[armiger]]s, and powerful and agile air support provided by [[weapon-ship]]s controlled by remote operators. Forerunner forces were at least on par with ancient human forces, and were able to engage them on a roughly equal footing,{{Ref/Reuse|H4Terminals}} but had considerably more trouble facing the Flood since their own troops would fill its ranks, using their own technology and equipment against them. The Forerunners responded by creating the [[Promethean]]s that were immune to organic infection, using composed Warrior-Servants and unwilling humans to provide them with sophisticated artificial intelligence.

Forerunner weapons used by Promethean units tend to use various forms of [[hard light]], solid-phased photons, in both offensive and defensive roles. Hard light can form [[Z-90 hardlight shield|protective shields]],{{Ref/Game|Id=Halo 4|H4}} is part of the structure of most Promethean bodies,{{Ref/Reuse|Halo 4}} and are emitted by Forerunner firearms, including the [[Z-110 Boltshot]], [[Z-130 Suppressor]] and the [[Z-250 lightrifle]].{{Ref/Reuse|Halo 4}} The [[Z-180 Scattershot]], [[Z-390 incineration cannon]] and [[Z-750 binary rifle]] use exotic matter, and were specifically designed to fight the Flood, destroying all organic matter on contact.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo 4}} While Warrior-Servants preferred to use armigers for security, Builder Security used Sentinels which use more conventional [[laser]]s.
{{Clear}}
===Flood===
[[File:H3 FloodCombatForm Trio.jpg|thumb|250px|The Flood converts its foes into combat forms, adding their strength to its own.]]
The Flood is primarily dependent on the capabilities of its enemies to supplement its own. Any living combatant it infects provides with intel and whatever equipment and expertise it possessed when it was assimilated, which is then shared by the Flood hivemind. The physical remnants of its victims become combat forms, serving as basic infantry, until the infection process allows the Flood to begin crafting them into more specialized forms. Infection forms are the primary agent of infection, though in later stages the Flood begins converting local atmosphere to be more hospitable, and releases [[Flood spore|spores]] into the air. More advanced forms, such as [[Proto-Gravemind]]s, are capable of using sophisticated technology and directing Flood forces with more precision and control, with massive numbers moving in concert, united in purpose. The largest forms, Key Minds, are capable of directing Flood-infected forces across vast areas of space in real time, and directed powerful and arcane [[Precursor]] technology against the Forerunners toward the end of their war.

===Covenant===
[[File:HTMCC-H2A_—_Rtas_rallying_troops.png|left|thumb|250px|Though composed of many species, the Covenant depended on the leadership of the Sangheili for much of its history.]]
The Covenant have a very simply policy when it comes to ground warfare: total victory, at any cost. While they possess superior numbers and technology to the UNSC, Covenant commanders tend to be wasteful of their troops. Unggoy infantry are particularly considered expendable, and often sent against suicidal odds to overwhelm human defenders, or at the least distract them from Sangheili flanking. Kig-Yar mercenaries are employed, often serving as scouts equipped with wrist-mounted shields, or as sharpshooters. While Yanme'e were only introduced into combat roles late into the war, and were lightly armed and rarely armored, they provided effective air support for allies, harassing human forces from the air while dodging incoming fire. While technically considered infantry, Mgalekgolo are equipped with devastating fuel rod cannons, deployed in pairs to support infantry in areas where larger vehicles would be impractical.

[[File:ScarabNoble.jpg|thumb|250px|Covenant Scarabs are massive, powerful machines originally built to excavate Forerunner artifacts, but more than capable of being used as a weapon.]]
Sangheili officers tend not to be original thinkers, tactically or strategically speaking, but they are rarely stupid. Many commanders are capable of using effective strategy and tactics, although most are raised by traditional military doctrine to observe their own honor codes, which demand Sangheili officers to be present in battle to serve with their troops, needlessly endangering the chain of command. Furthermore, the Covenant denote their ranks using a very clear and observable color-coded system that makes officers highly visible. When the Jiralhanae replaced the Sangheili, they began using more brutal tactics in battle, partially to demoralize human forces and partially to satisfy their own more unrestrained violent nature, including eating captives taken in battle, and continued the use of a color-coded tiered rank system. Both Sangheili and Jiralhanae troops use powered armor that features energy shields, providing limited protection against firearms, and provide leadership for squads of Unggoy and Kig-Yar.

While the Covenant typically rely on massed infantry, they also deploy a range of other military forces, including long-range Wraith mortar tanks, and fast, nimble Banshee fighters to provide air superiority and close air support. Troop transport is provided by well-armed and protected dropships, particularly the Spirit and Phantom models, as well as the large, powerful {{Pattern|Kmiro'sish|Lich}}, or by armored vehicles like the {{Pattern|Ruwaa|Shadow}}, and heavy firepower is provided by a range of massive walkers, ranging from light units like the Locust, to larger units like the infamous Scarab, to rare but extremely large units like the Harvester and Kraken. While these walkers were originally designed for excavation work, using plasma weapons or lasers as drills to uncover Forerunner structures and artifacts, their size, armor and power made them ideal for conversion into powerful engines of destruction during the war with humanity. During planetary conquest, the Covenant often bombard positions with plasma from the air or from orbit, devastating large areas and reducing them to molten [[lechatelierite]] with the extreme heat. This process is extremely difficult, though not impossible, to survive.

===Humanity===
[[File:Helljumper Squad.jpg|thumb|left|250px|UNSC forces value tactical superiority on the battlefield in order to succeed against the enemy.]]
The UNSC features four major military branches, tasked with different duties: the [[UNSC Army|Army]], [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]], [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] and [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]. The Army and Air Force are primarily deployed in defensive roles, garrisoning colonies and holding recaptured territory, while the Marine Corps is the UNSC's primary expeditionary branch, supported by the Navy. Since the end of the Human-Covenant War, these four have been joined by a fifth branch: the [[Spartan Operations|Spartans]], staffed by surgically and cybernetically augmented supersoldiers equipped with powered armor, who have become the UNSC's elite special operations unit.

[[File:H5G-Rad.png|thumb|250px|[[Spartan]]s represent the elite special forces of the UNSC, surgically and cybernetically augmented to use powered armor.]]
While humans use technologically inferior equipment to the Covenant or the Forerunner forces they’ve fought, they have relied on superior tactical and strategic ability to make their forces effective. While the average UNSC Marine or Army trooper is generally better armed and trained than the most common Covenant infantry, Unggoy or Kig-Yar, they are less effective against Mgalekgolo, Sangheili or Jiralhanae unless supported by UNSC special forces, particularly Orbital Drop Shock Troopers and Spartans. While Spartans were rarely seen during the Human-Covenant War, they have become far more common since the creation of the [[SPARTAN-IV Program]], to the point of establishing themselves as their own military branch, on an equal footing with the others.
UNSC forces often utilize integrated air support