UNSC Iroquois

The UNSC Iroquois is a UNSC Destroyer. It was constructed sometime in April of 2552. Three months after leaving drydock, on July 17 of 2552, it was the first ship to respond to the Covenant attack on Sigma Octanus IV. It was subsequently involved in the ensuing battle, which lasted until July 18.

Specs
The ship was outfitted with 2 MAC cannons, 26 oversized Archer Missile pods, and 3 Shiva nuclear-tipped missiles. Covered with 2 meters of Titanium-A battleplating and Vanadium Steel alloy, as well as restricted red war stripes painted on each side. The ship also features a circular shaped bridge.

History
The ship was commanded by Commander Jacob Keyes. He happened to be near Sigma Octanus IV when the Covenant were detected there. The Iroquois fought with four Covenant vessels: one carrier, one destroyer, and two frigates. Commander Keyes destroyed the Covenant destroyer and both Covenant frigates using a maneuver later called the Keyes Loop and a Shiva-class Nuclear Missile. During this encounter the ship came into physical contact with the Covenant Destroyer, and managed to scrape off most of the 2-Meter Titanium-A armor on the underside of the ship ,causing the plasma torpedoes launched by the frigates to hit the destroyer. The carrier escaped, deploying Dropships onto the surface of Sigma Octanus IV

After this first engagement, although the Covenant hadn't landed a serious shot, the "Iroquois" was severely damaged. Apart from replacing the armor on the underside, it needed a full engine overhaul, replacement of 15% of the electronic systems, 5 new superconducting magnets, as well as a replenished store of Archer missiles, MAC rounds and a Shiva nuclear-tipped missile.. It was estimated that Cradle, a refit station, could repair the ship in 30 hours but this process was interrupted when a new Covenant fleet appeared.

Prior to the battle, Keyes received a promotion to Captain. The encounter began when twenty Covenant ships dropped out of Slipspace and prepared to attack. The Iroquois , which had been severely damaged during the Keyes Loop, broke formation after the opening salvo and rammed a Covenant stealth corvette which was in the process of receiving a secure transmission from their ground troops at Côte d' Azur. This transmission was partially intercepted by Keyes before the Spartan Blue Team disabled the Hunter pair sending the message and stopped the transmission.

Shortly after the battle, the Iroquois  was tagged by a Covenant Spy Probe and subsequently led the Covenant to the planet of Reach. Though it is possible the Covenant managed to glean the information from the transmission as did Doctor Halsey in First Strike in Castle base.

Its subsequent fate is unknown, although it is probable it was destroyed in the Battle of Reach, given the fact that the Pillar of Autumn is the only known UNSC vessel to have survived, all other being presumed to have been destroyed.

Commanding Officer

 * Commander Jacob Keyes (promoted to Captain after Sigma Octanus 4)

Bridge Crew

 * Lieutenant Akita Hikowa - Weapons
 * Lieutenant Hall - Operations
 * Lieutenant Jaggers - Navigation (replaced with Ensign William Lovell after instance of subordination)
 * Lieutenant Dominique - Communications

Historical Reference

 * The Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee, also known as the League of Peace and Power, Five Nations, or Six Nations) is a group of First Nations/Native Americans. It was originally made up of five tribes: The Mohawk, the Oneida, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, and the Seneca. A sixth tribe, the Tuscarora, joined after the original five nations were formed. They are also sometimes called the People of the Long House. They are often referred to as Iroquois, a term that some members of the group consider derogatory.
 * It was the first ship to preform the Keyes Loop.