Orbital Drop Shock Troopers: Difference between revisions

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*ODST's are often forgotten because most people just use them as suicide grunts.
*ODST's are often forgotten because most people just use them as suicide grunts.
*In Halo 3, when an ODST is given a heavy weapon, such as a [[M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher]], they can fire it at a greater distance than a standard Marine. This might be because many players claim that the ODSTs were horrible using the rocket launcher in Halo 2, frequently missing targets, commiting suicide, and killing the player. Because they now have a greater sight radius, they can fire their rocket launcher before the enemy gets close enough for them to accidentally blow themselves up.also in Halo 3 they can be given spartan lazers and fuel rod guns.they are a poor shot when it comes to hitting fast-moving targets like bannsees and sometimes kill the player and other marines on actsadent but are very helpfull when it comes to fighting on the ground and lazering enemies in vehical side seats.
*ODST's are better known as "Helljumpers" because of their mantra: "Jump feet first into hell."
*In Halo 3, when an ODST is given a heavy weapon, such as a [[M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher]], they can fire it at a greater distance than a standard Marine. This might be because many players claim that the ODSTs were horrible using the rocket launcher in Halo 2, frequently missing targets, committing suicide, and killing the player. Because they now have a greater sight radius, they can fire their rocket launcher before the enemy gets close enough for them to accidentally blow themselves up.also in Halo 3 they can be given spartan lasers and fuel rod guns.they are a poor shot when it comes to hitting fast-moving targets like bannsees and sometimes kill the player and other marines on accident but are very helpful when it comes to fighting on the ground and lazering enemies in vehical side seats.
*On the right side of an ODST's body armor is a Chinese character which when translated, means roughly complete Bad Ass, a reference to the ODST's hardcore attitude. Next to the character is a picture of the moon.
*On the right side of an ODST's body armor is a Chinese character which when translated, means roughly complete Bad Ass, a reference to the ODST's hardcore attitude. Next to the character is a picture of the moon.
*The colored shoulder pauldrons are somewhat similar to the pauldron's on Imperial Stormtroopers in the Star Wars universe such as red/orange indicating leader while white indicates a private.
*The colored shoulder pauldrons are somewhat similar to the pauldron's on Imperial Stormtroopers in the Star Wars universe such as red/orange indicating leader while white indicates a private.

Revision as of 21:44, March 3, 2008

Template:Infobox Military Unit Template:Article Quote The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are a UNSC Marine Corps Special Operations unit. They are more commonly known by the acronym ODSTs or the nickname Helljumpers.

History

Origins

The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers origins most likely have their roots in the Martian Campaign of 2163 where extra-terrestrial Marine shock infantry was first used against the Neo-Communist Koslovics. The UN Marines were dropped from space and attacked ground locations on Mars, much like the 26th century ODST's.[1]

Human-Covenant War

ODSTs were operating as early as 2525.[2] The first division of ODST's was the 105th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Division, which quickly gained a reputation as a brutal but effective fighting force.

Barring the personnel of the SPARTAN programs, ODSTs are one of the most effective forms of troops available to the UNSC, and the expectations on ODST units made them all-volunteer outfits, with some outsiders regarding such volunteers as 'crazy'.[3] By 2552 their strength had swelled to a larger number of divisions in an attempt to fill the demands of the Human-Covenant War.

Some actively participated in training the SPARTAN-IIs, but the efficiency of that program was demonstrated when a single SPARTAN-II killed three ODSTs during an exercise, that Spartan being the eventual Master Chief John-117. These fatalities resulted something of a rivalry between the two groups of super soldiers. Friction was heightened by the stunning success of the SPARTAN-II program, whose members proceeded to accumulate more confirmed kills than "any three divisions of ODSTs."

Operations

Three ODSTs engage in combat on the Ark.

When assaulting a planetary target from orbit, ODSTs were trained to employ 'unorthodox' means of insertion. Those requiring stealth could be accomplished by 'jumping' from an orbiting ship and using a parachute once within the atmosphere. However, their hallmark method was in the form of Human Entry Vehicles,or HEV's, a particularly hazardous means of reentry. The HEVs are used rather than pelicans because one fully loaded pelican that is shot down would result the deaths of a dozen ODSTs. However, if an HEV is destroyed on entry, only one soldier dies. ODST methods of entry into battle also consist with a command pod being the first to touch down because "...officers should lead rather than follow." This goes along with most Airborne units today whose officers are always one of the first to enter the battle to set an example and understand the situation.

Similar to regular marines, the ODSTs maintain units of varying strength aboard many UNSC vessels and installations. ODST units were present aboard the UNSC Atlas, the UNSC In Amber Clad, the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, and Cairo Station[4].

File:ODST.png
ODST shoulder patch

While they are human, they are, overall, different from marines in the sense that they take the most dangerous, crazy, and suicidal missions. They have no physical differences between the Marines, but they are always ready to "Jump feet first into hell" as their motto goes (this motto comes from the intense heat inside the HEV drop pods. The heat inside these pods is what coined the nickname 'Hell Jumpers'[5].), and dive into fights they may not return from, which shows an outstanding level of courage, honor, valor and sometimes insanity.

ODST helmets as depicted in the Halo 3 "Arms Race" trailer.

They also drop into areas that are under heavy assault, or are heavily guarded by enemy troops. This is because these areas are too dangerous for Pelican drop ships to land or drop reinforcements. They are also assigned to tasks such as landing and clearing a landing zone for reinforcements. An example of this is on Delta Halo, during the events of Halo 2. The ODSTs, accompanied by the Master Chief, must clear a landing zone so that Pelicans could drop off a Warthog.

Equipment

File:ODST Trooper.PNG
An ODST with typical equipment.

In addition to using standard marine equipment, ODSTs were issued with a special issue combat dress. This combat dress is completely black, with a helmet and visor and having more supplies/ammunitions than typical marine forces. They also were each assigned an HEV and carry around a Combat Knife on their back.

During the Battle of the Ark, the ODST's appear to have colors on their shoulder armor which may denote ranking. There were 3-4 "whites" along with one "red," possibly meaning a red patch stands for Squad Leader, while white would be more akin to a Squad Member, this is very likely due to the fact that he is far more aggressive than the other ODST's and that he also often leads his teammates into combat. A red patch may also symbolize a squad medic. (It also bears noticing that in cut scenes showing ODSTs, their shoulder armor does not show any color and just appear black. This is, however, due to how the cinematics were designed for the game.)

Notable Actions

ODSTs were on board the Pillar of Autumn upon the discovery of Alpha Halo. An ODST group led by Major Antonio Silva was later instrumental in frustrating Covenant attempts to purge the ring-world of the Pillar of Autumn's survivors [6]

Members of the 7th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Battalion would later drop from In Amber Clad onto Delta Halo. They then cleared a landing zone so that a Warthog could be deployed for John-117. Later, they were dropped from the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn to assist John-117 again, during the Battle of Installation 00 near the Ark and the Citadel [7].

List of known ODSTs

File:ODSTStacker helmetless.jpg
Gunnery Sergeant Pete Stacker
File:Odstsinpelican.jpg
A squad of ODSTs in a Pelican.

Sorted by rank, then alphabetically if rank is unknown.

Known ODST Units

Trivia

  • ODST's are often forgotten because most people just use them as suicide grunts.
  • ODST's are better known as "Helljumpers" because of their mantra: "Jump feet first into hell."
  • In Halo 3, when an ODST is given a heavy weapon, such as a M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher, they can fire it at a greater distance than a standard Marine. This might be because many players claim that the ODSTs were horrible using the rocket launcher in Halo 2, frequently missing targets, committing suicide, and killing the player. Because they now have a greater sight radius, they can fire their rocket launcher before the enemy gets close enough for them to accidentally blow themselves up.also in Halo 3 they can be given spartan lasers and fuel rod guns.they are a poor shot when it comes to hitting fast-moving targets like bannsees and sometimes kill the player and other marines on accident but are very helpful when it comes to fighting on the ground and lazering enemies in vehical side seats.
  • On the right side of an ODST's body armor is a Chinese character which when translated, means roughly complete Bad Ass, a reference to the ODST's hardcore attitude. Next to the character is a picture of the moon.
  • The colored shoulder pauldrons are somewhat similar to the pauldron's on Imperial Stormtroopers in the Star Wars universe such as red/orange indicating leader while white indicates a private.
The logo on the ODST
  • You always fight with members from the 7th battalion in the games.
  • Onboard the UNSC Carrier Atlas, Spartan-117 had a confrontational moment with four ODSTs in the ship's gym. John had removed a pin from the weights at the bench press, and forgot to put it back. The ODSTs walked into the gym and went straight to the bench press. The weights fell and almost crushed one of the soldier's foot. A fight ensued and John killed two of the ODSTs and severely injured the others. Ever since then, relations between the Spartans and the ODSTs have been uneasy.

Related Articles

Images

  • ODST-Battle-Rifle.jpg

    An ODST with a Battle Rifle.

  • ODSTbattlerifle.JPG

    A pair of ODSTs attack on Delta Halo.

  • MC and ODSTs.jpg

    Two ODSTs and the Master Chief ready for battle.

  • Odst2.png

    An ODST with a Battle Rifle kneeling.

  • Halo3ODST.JPG

    ODST Concept Art for Halo 3.

  • Scale of ODST and Human Entry Vehicle.

    Scale of ODST and Human Entry Vehicle.

  • ODSTs in their Human Entry Vehicles

    ODSTs in their Human Entry Vehicles

  • ODSTonArk.jpg

    An ODST standing in the sand on the Ark

  • ODSTsinPelican.jpg

    Two ODSTs next to a Marine on their way down to the Ark in a Pelican

  • Halo 3 ODST.jpg

    An ODST and his Battle Rifle

  • Two ODSTs in a fight against a Brute

    Two ODSTs in a fight against a Brute

  • An ODST--along with two Marines--and the Arbiter.

    An ODST--along with two Marines--and the Arbiter.

Sources

  1. ^ http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm
  2. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach
  3. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 35
  4. ^ Halo 2. Four dead ODSTs can be seen in the first level.
  5. ^ Halo: The Flood. In Halo: The Flood, on pg. 35, near the bottom, it describes the intense heat in the pod and how that is why the ODSTs are nicknamed Helljumpers.
  6. ^ Halo: The Flood. The ODSTs are never referred to in Halo: Combat Evolved, although it is possible that they were wearing standard marine uniforms in the game.
  7. ^ Halo 3, level The Ark and The Covenant (Level)
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