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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{ratings}}
{{Battle infobox
{{battle
|name=Battle of the Great Bear
|name       = Battle of Groombridge 1830
|prev=
|image      = [[Image:Battle of the Great Bear.jpg|300px]]
|conc=[[Harvest campaign]]<ref name="Genesis">''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''</ref>
|prev        = [[Battle of Eridanus II]]
|next=
|conc        = [[Harvest Campaign]]
|image=[[File:HWG BattleOfGreatBear.png|300px]]
|next       = [[Battle of Arcadia]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|conflict   = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=[[2530|December 24, 2530]]{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|date       = [[2530|December 24, 2530]]
|place=[[Groombridge 1830 system]]{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|place       = [[Groombridge 1830 System]]
|result=Decisive [[UNSC]] victory<ref name="journal">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref>
|result     = Pyrrhic UNSC victory
*[[Covenant]] forces twice repelled{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}
|side1       = UNSC
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|side2       = Covenant
|side2=[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|commanders1 = Admiral Preston Cole
|commanders1=[[Preston Cole]]{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|commanders2 = Unknown
|commanders2=Unknown
|forces1     = Seventeen UNSC warships
|forces1=*Seventeen [[warship]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|forces2     = Three warships
**{{UNSCShip|Everest}}<ref name="adjunct">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''Adjunct'': "[[ONI Directorate Memorandum Interrogation Findings]]" (2010)</ref>
|casual1     = Eleven destroyers
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]<ref name="lootcrate2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>
|casual2     = *Two vessels
|forces2=Three warships{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
*One vessel crash-landed
|casual1=Eleven [[destroyer]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|casual2=All warships{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}
|civilian=
}}
}}
{{Quote|Seventeen of our ships against three of theirs. Eleven destroyers lost. Two enemy vessels killed. One crash landed.|Admiral Preston Cole{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}}}


The '''Battle of the Great Bear''', also known as the '''Battle of [[Groombridge 1830|Groombridge 1830 System]]''', was a major battle in the early years of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. It ended in a pyrrhic victory for the [[United Nations Space Command|USNC]] fleet, which was commanded by [[Admiral]] [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Preston Cole]].<ref name="Genesis">'''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'''</ref><ref name="Evolutions">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''</ref>
The '''Battle of the Great Bear''',{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}} designated as '''GB-5546''',{{Ref/Reuse|adjunct}} was an engagement between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]], taking place on [[2530|December 24, 2530]]. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the UNSC [[fleet]],{{Ref/Reuse|journal}} which was commanded by [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]]. The battle also resulted in the capture and interrogation of a [[Sangheili]] [[Subject 386|prisoner]], expanding the UNSC's knowledge on the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}


==Background==
==The battle==
[[Image:ColesInterrogationAtGreatBear.png|thumb|200px|left|Admiral Cole interrogates a Sangheili prisoner.]]
{{Quote|no=two|q1=I seem to remember us destroying your ships yesterday. Did you think we were going to let you just waltz right in?|Admiral Preston Cole|q2=Yesterday? Three ships, human? You boast about [unintelligible] three of our vessels when you had five times that many, and lost almost all?|Subject 386|Admiral Preston Cole and Subject 386{{Ref/Reuse|adjunct}}}}
On [[2530|December 24, 2530]], a total of three [[Covenant]] [[warship]]s,{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}} including a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}},{{Ref/Reuse|adjunct}} engaged forces of the [[United Nations Space Command]] led by [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] in the [[Groombridge 1830 system]]. Cole's fleet, consisting of seventeen ships, battled the invading Covenant warships, destroying the enemy force but losing eleven [[destroyer]]s in the process. Two of the Covenant ships were destroyed directly in combat,{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}} while the assault carrier attempted to flee to the surface of the nearby [[Groombridge-1830]], a [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]]. However, the assault carrier was disabled by pursuing UNSC forces, and the ship crash-landed on the planet's surface.{{Ref/Reuse|adjunct}}


Cole's fleet, consisting of seventeen ships, engaged three Covenant warships, destroying the enemy force but losing eleven destroyers in the process. Two of the Covenant ships were destroyed directly in combat, while the third crash-landed on the surface of a nearby planet.  
During the battle, the Covenant deployed two waves of forces to assault Groombridge. However, both forces were defeated and repelled from the system by Cole's fleet, earning the UNSC a rare decisive victory at a high cost.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}} Personnel of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] also participated in the engagement, including [[Edward Buck]], who demonstrated exemplary service during the battle.{{Ref/Reuse|lootcrate2}}


A [[Subject 386|Sangheili survivor]] was recovered and interrogated personally by Admiral Cole. Through this interrogation, the UNSC learned that the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] were wiping out [[human]]ity because the humans had been deemed "unclean." More importantly, Cole discovered that the Covenant were largely unaware of the size and whereabouts of humanity's interstellar empire, leading to the formulation of the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]].<ref name="Genesis"/><ref name="Evolutions"/><ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''' 2010 edition, bonus content</ref>
==Aftermath==
{{Quote|You have been judged unclean! A scourge that must be burned away! Every one of your worlds will be reduced to ash.|Subject 386 to Admiral Preston Cole{{Ref/Reuse|adjunct}}}}
Following the assault carrier's crash landing on Groombridge, two heavily armed tactical strike teams recovered a [[Sangheili]] [[Subject 386|survivor]] within an enclosed compartment which survived landfall at [[Waterford]], [[Lemuria (province)|Lemuria]] that day at approximately 1805 hours [[Military Standard Time|MST]]. The following day, the Sangheili was interrogated by Cole and [[First Lieutenant]] [[Richard Barclay]].{{Ref/Reuse|adjunct}} Through this interrogation, the UNSC learned that the Covenant were wiping out humanity because they had been deemed "unclean." More importantly, Cole discovered that the Covenant were largely unaware of the size and whereabouts of human space, leading to the formulation of the [[Cole Protocol]].{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}<ref name="Evolutions">'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]", ''page 470''</ref>


The Battle of the Great Bear was not only one of the few battles in which the UNSC won a decisive victory against the Covenant, but one of the few engagements of the [[Human-Covenant War]] in which the UNSC successfully repelled two Covenant onslaughts on the same world. The UNSC would not earn such a victory again until the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] in [[2552#July|July 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HGenesis-ColesInterrogationAtGreatBear.png|Admiral Cole interrogates the Sangheili prisoner.
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
* ''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' {{Mo}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|Great Bear]]
[[Category:UNSC victories|Great Bear]]

Latest revision as of 18:30, March 27, 2022

Concurrent:

Harvest campaign[1]

Battle of the Great Bear
HWG BattleOfGreatBear.png

Conflict:

Human-Covenant War[1]

Date:

December 24, 2530[1]

Location:

Groombridge 1830 system[1]

Outcome:

Decisive UNSC victory[2]

Details
Belligerents

United Nations Space Command[1]

Covenant[1]

Commanders

Preston Cole[1]

Unknown

Strength

Three warships[1]

Casualties

Eleven destroyers[1]

All warships[1]

 

"Seventeen of our ships against three of theirs. Eleven destroyers lost. Two enemy vessels killed. One crash landed."
— Admiral Preston Cole[1]

The Battle of the Great Bear,[1] designated as GB-5546,[3] was an engagement between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant during the Human-Covenant War, taking place on December 24, 2530. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the UNSC fleet,[2] which was commanded by Admiral Preston Cole. The battle also resulted in the capture and interrogation of a Sangheili prisoner, expanding the UNSC's knowledge on the Covenant.[1]

The battle[edit]

Admiral Preston Cole: "I seem to remember us destroying your ships yesterday. Did you think we were going to let you just waltz right in?"
Subject 386: "Yesterday? Three ships, human? You boast about [unintelligible] three of our vessels when you had five times that many, and lost almost all?"
— Admiral Preston Cole and Subject 386[3]

On December 24, 2530, a total of three Covenant warships,[1] including a CAS-class assault carrier,[3] engaged forces of the United Nations Space Command led by Admiral Preston Cole in the Groombridge 1830 system. Cole's fleet, consisting of seventeen ships, battled the invading Covenant warships, destroying the enemy force but losing eleven destroyers in the process. Two of the Covenant ships were destroyed directly in combat,[1] while the assault carrier attempted to flee to the surface of the nearby Groombridge-1830, a human colony. However, the assault carrier was disabled by pursuing UNSC forces, and the ship crash-landed on the planet's surface.[3]

During the battle, the Covenant deployed two waves of forces to assault Groombridge. However, both forces were defeated and repelled from the system by Cole's fleet, earning the UNSC a rare decisive victory at a high cost.[2] Personnel of the UNSC Marine Corps also participated in the engagement, including Edward Buck, who demonstrated exemplary service during the battle.[4]

Aftermath[edit]

"You have been judged unclean! A scourge that must be burned away! Every one of your worlds will be reduced to ash."
— Subject 386 to Admiral Preston Cole[3]

Following the assault carrier's crash landing on Groombridge, two heavily armed tactical strike teams recovered a Sangheili survivor within an enclosed compartment which survived landfall at Waterford, Lemuria that day at approximately 1805 hours MST. The following day, the Sangheili was interrogated by Cole and First Lieutenant Richard Barclay.[3] Through this interrogation, the UNSC learned that the Covenant were wiping out humanity because they had been deemed "unclean." More importantly, Cole discovered that the Covenant were largely unaware of the size and whereabouts of human space, leading to the formulation of the Cole Protocol.[1][5]

The Battle of the Great Bear was not only one of the few battles in which the UNSC won a decisive victory against the Covenant, but one of the few engagements of the Human-Covenant War in which the UNSC successfully repelled two Covenant onslaughts on the same world. The UNSC would not earn such a victory again until the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552.[2]

Gallery[edit]

  • Admiral Cole interrogates the Sangheili prisoner.

    Admiral Cole interrogates the Sangheili prisoner.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Halo Wars: Genesis
  2. ^ a b c d e Halo: Reach, Dr. Halsey's personal journal
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Halo: The Fall of Reach, Adjunct: "ONI Directorate Memorandum Interrogation Findings" (2010)
  4. ^ a b Halo Legendary Crate, Data Drop #2
  5. ^ Halo: Evolutions, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", page 470

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