UNSC starship
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UNSC starships[1][2] are Human starships operated by the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) and its various branches and forces.
Overview[edit]
Organization[edit]
In the UNSC, ships can also be operated by different departments and branches. Warships like the UNSC In Amber Clad were often operated by the UNSC Navy.[3] UNSC Navy ships were deployed by UNSC Fleet Command.[4] In the case of the UNSC Swift Justice, it was operated by the Incident Response and Investigation division of the UNSC.[5] The UNSC Department of Commercial Shipping also operated a number of Freighters.
These organizations as well have ways of identifying their ships. There was the Hull classification symbol, which gives each ship a letter classification and a number.[6][7] There was also the ship emblem, which was a unique image that crew wore on their uniforms.[8][9] Some warships also used the UNSC REG system, which was also a special serial number.[10] There was also the UNc system.[11]
The UNSC Department of Commercial Shipping operated its own identification codes for freighters that were primarily used in COM transmissions.[12]
Tactical Groupings[edit]
- Main article: UNSC Navy tactical formations
UNSC ships were organized into fleets; specifically numbered expeditionary fleets and named defensive fleets. Further down, ships were arranged into battle groups.[13] As well, squadrons were a type of tactical grouping for support ships early in the Covenant War,[14] but by the end of the war were relegated to a type of administrative grouping.[13]
Often, naval groupings had a flagship from which commanding officers lead their groupings from.
Personnel and operations[edit]
It is expected of all navy ship personnel to participate in working parties. The working parties help with routine maintenance and replenishment.[15]
Ensigns often did not pilot capital ships.[16]
The commanding officer of a UNSC starship, like other human starships, is referred to as a Captain regardless of actual rank.[17] The actual military rank of the leader is dependent on the size of the ship. Those of the rank Lieutenant often are in charge of small support vessels, Commanders are in charge of small warships, and Captains are in charge of line warships.[18] The commanding officer in radio communications is referred to as the ships name followed by "Actual".[19][20]
UNSC Starships were often given a Ship Director, an AI who could manage much of the ship's tasks with the Captain's authority. Generally, these AI were "Smart".[17] Various shipboard electronic systems fell into the purview of the UNSC Data Administration.[21][22]
Children were sometimes born on board UNSC ships as well, with children being born on the UNSC Savannah and the UNSC Grafton.[23]
Procedures, traditions and culture[edit]
Several procedures affected the operations of UNSC ships as well. Prior to crash landings, active cryo pods were to be ejected into space.[24] The Cole Protocol also affected the possible destinations of ships.
Navy personnel UNSC ships often follow old naval tradition. Boarding a UNSC warship is considered a ceremony, not a formality. When boarding a ship, the boarder requests permission from the officer on deck. The officer on deck will reply with a curt "Very well".[15]
"Dead fleets" or "paper fleets" are maintained as tradition and to honor those who died while serving. Inadvertently, some starships will be attached to these fleets by bureaucratic error. Many crewmen regarded this as a bad omen.[13]
Design and specifications[edit]
Most ships of the Human-Covenant War era were strictly utilitarian in design.[26]
Construction, decommissioning and repairs[edit]
A number of corporations seemingly based in numerous places, helped construct UNSC ships including Sinoviet Heavy Machinery, Aerofabrique SA,[27] TanSec AB,[28]