GA-TL1 Longsword

Longsword Interceptor The C709 Longsword-class Interceptor is the main UNSC single-ship, filling a variety of roles simultaneously.

Role
Though primarily a Space Interceptor, meant to destroy enemy fighters and attack capitol ships, the Longsword seems to have been forced into a much wider variety of roles. It has been seen as a space superiority fighter (theoretically a different function altogether) and as a fighter-bomber in-atmosphere, and the fact that it has the capacity for passengers suggests it can be used as a transport.

Structure
In Halo: Combat Evolved, the inside of the ship presents a small corridor leading to the rear, a stair, and a higher corridor to the cockpit. In the two corridors, there are several equipment lockers, along with two auxiliary crew stations. The cockpit consists of two pilot chairs and two more auxiliary crew stations. With an assumed total crew complement of six, along with the equipment lockers, and possible cryo-chamber compatibility, the ship presents itself as less of a fighter-bomber and more of a gunship or dedicated bomber, much like the B-17 Flying Fortress of World War II.

If one were to construct a life size, 1:1 scale longsword, its wingspan would be 5 meters longer than a Boeing 747, while it's fuselage would be 6 meters shorter, making Longswords considerably larger than contemporary fighter craft.

Propulsion
There are four main engines visible on a Longsword fighter. Their exact nature is not known, but they are able to function in space and they are strong enough to reach Earth's and Installation 04's escape velocity. There are also multiple RCS points for maneuvering. Longswords can be equipped with optional Cryo-chambers, suggesting that Longswords are rarely fitted with Slipspace drives or that they can be sent on long distance deep space voyages.

While escaping from Alpha Halo, the Master Chief's Longsword displayed a vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) capability, accelerating extremely quickly to atmospheric escape velocity.

Weapons
The Longsword's main weapons are 110mm rotary cannons, as well as 120mm ventral guns, for dogfighting in space. This versatile fighter can be armed with an assortment of secondary weapons including ASGM-10 Missiles, bombs, Moray Space Mines, and even a single Shiva nuclear Warhead. The Longsword is usually deployed against Seraph fighters. It can also be used to escort Pelicans as they head for the surface of a planet. They can also be rigged as unmanned kamikazes, carrying at least one Shiva nuclear warhead, destroying the enemy ship and itself as well when the opportunity arises.

Trivia

 * The external features of the Longsword greatly resemble a stingray.
 * Using saved films in Halo 3, Halo fans can get pictures of the Longsword in the levels "The Ark" (when the Longsword flies by when the Chief finds the crashed Pelican and some marines) and in the level "The Storm" (when the Longsword is shot down by the Covenant AA gun).

Known Longswords

 * 7-89
 * Knife 26

Related links

 * Seraph - The Covenant equivalent of the Longsword
 * SkyHawk - the UNSC's dedicated atmospheric strike fighter.
 * Tarasque-class heavy fighter - presumably a similar Covenant fighter