D79-TC Pelican

Template:Ship Class Infobox The D79-TC Pelican, formally known as the Dropship 79 Heavy - Troop Carrier, is a UNSC dropship designed by Misriah Armory. In service as early as 2526, it had become the UNSC's standard dropship by 2557, replacing the D77-TC and D77H-TCI models.

Overview

Unlike the D77 and its H variant, the D79 features a twin-bubble canopy akin to that of the 21st century Mi-24 Hind gunship/attack helicopter. It has a sleeker, more rounded fuselage which presumably improves its aerodynamics. A tall air intake is located immediately adjacent to the fuselage on either winglet, while a shorter but wider intake is mounted in front of and beneath each forward thruster; two smaller intakes are located above these. Two small maneuvering thrusters are mounted on either side of the fuselage. The Pelican is armed with a pair of GAU/53 70mm MBHRC cannons mounted on a gimbal.

Gunship variant

In addition to the standard dropship model, a more heavily armed gunship model is also used. This version has only one nose-mounted autocannon, with the second being replaced by an M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Cannon, a larger version of the infantry-issued "Spartan Laser". Its dorsal surface features a large turret-mounted cannon similar to that of a bomber. A seemingly manned grenade launcher or machine gun is mounted on each side of the fuselage.

Gallery

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  The gunship variant of the D79-TC Pelican.

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  A D79 dropship flying over Requiem.

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  A Pelican dropship on Requiem.

Trivia

In Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, Spartan Blue Team's D79 Pelican incorrectly sports the post-war version of the UNSC emblem, despite the series taking place in 2526.

List of appearances

• The Commissioning (First appearance)
• Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
• Halo 4