Orbital defense platform: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Macstationcairolarge1ki.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Cairo'', a typical Orbital Defense Platform.]]
[[Image:Macstationcairolarge1ki.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Cairo'', a typical Orbital Defense Platform.]]
An '''Orbital Defense Platform''' is a large [[UNSC]] space station used to defend locations of great importance. Stations are placed in a [[wikipedia:Geosynchronous orbit|geosynchronous orbit]] over planets in a cluster of 2-5 Platforms. Primary armament is a Mk. V "Super" [[MAC]] gun, capable of causing severe damage to even a shielded [[Covenant]] warship with a single hit<ref>Halo 2, [[The Armory (Level)]], cutscene</ref>.
An '''Orbital Defense Platform''' was a large [[UNSC]] space station used to defend locations of great importance, typically planets. Stations were frequently deployed in groups, or ''clusters'', of 2 to 5.


They are also used as command facilities, the [[Cairo Station]] is one such platform, with [[Lord Hood|Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood]] using it as his headquarters.  
The well-equipped and large bridge of an ODP was suitable for directing large-scale engagements.  Such was the case when [[Lord Hood|Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood]] directed UNSC forces from a ODP during the [[First Battle of Earth|First]] and [[Second Battle of Earth]].


==Facilities==
==Facilities==
{{Cairo Locations}}
Internally, the stations were remarkably spacious, complete with high ceilinged common areas and a monorail system to move personnel and equipment. In addition to numerous small craft bays there were two docks for larger ships, such as freighters or even [[UNSC Frigate|frigates]]. The design incorporated many features against potential hostile boarding action, including security stations and small arms racks situated at strategic locations<ref>Halo 2, [[The Armory (Level)]], cutscene</ref>.
===Armament===
The primary armament was a Mk. V "Super" [[MAC]] gun, capable of causing severe damage to even a shielded [[Covenant]] warship with a single hit<ref>Halo 2, [[The Armory (Level)]], cutscene</ref>.  As with starship-mounted MACs, a platform's cannon was commonly controlled by an [[AI]].
:''Curiously no sources indicate the presence of additional weapons, such as point defense cannon commonly commonly mounted on UNSC warships.  However, the possibility cannot be ruled out,


Internally, the stations were remarkably spacious, complete with high ceilinged common areas and a monorail system to move personnel and equipment. In addition to numerous small craft bays there were two docks for larger ships, such as freighters or even [[UNSC Frigate|frigates]]. The design incorporated many features against potential hostile boarding action, including security stations and small arms racks situated at strategic locations<ref>Halo 2, [[The Armory (Level)]], cutscene</ref>.
===Powerplant===
{{Cairo Locations}}
ODPs did not mount the power generation equipment necessary to fire their main armament. Instead, they received power from [[Orbital Defense Generator|ground-based generators]]. A possible strategy to neutralize the formidable ODPs would be to disable the generators via ground assault.


==Deployment==
==Deployment==
===Reach===
===Reach===
 
By August [[2552]], [[Reach]] was protected by twenty ODPs. During the [[Battle of Reach]], marines and [[SPARTAN-II|Spartans]] were deployed to protect the orbital platforms' planetside power generators but were ultimately unable to do so against determined enemy assaults. The disabling of the defense platforms was a major factor on the battles outcome<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page reference needed</ref>.
By August [[2552]], [[Reach]] was protected by twenty Super MAC platforms powered by [[Orbital Defense Generator| planetside generators]]. During the [[Battle of Reach]], marines and [[SPARTAN-II|Spartans]] were deployed to protect these powerplants but were ultimately unable to do so against determined enemy assaults. The disabling of the defense platforms was a major factor on the battles outcome<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page reference needed</ref>.


===Earth===
===Earth===

Revision as of 11:57, August 7, 2007

Cairo, a typical Orbital Defense Platform.

An Orbital Defense Platform was a large UNSC space station used to defend locations of great importance, typically planets. Stations were frequently deployed in groups, or clusters, of 2 to 5.

The well-equipped and large bridge of an ODP was suitable for directing large-scale engagements. Such was the case when Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood directed UNSC forces from a ODP during the First and Second Battle of Earth.

Facilities

Template:Cairo Locations Internally, the stations were remarkably spacious, complete with high ceilinged common areas and a monorail system to move personnel and equipment. In addition to numerous small craft bays there were two docks for larger ships, such as freighters or even frigates. The design incorporated many features against potential hostile boarding action, including security stations and small arms racks situated at strategic locations[1].

Armament

The primary armament was a Mk. V "Super" MAC gun, capable of causing severe damage to even a shielded Covenant warship with a single hit[2]. As with starship-mounted MACs, a platform's cannon was commonly controlled by an AI.

Curiously no sources indicate the presence of additional weapons, such as point defense cannon commonly commonly mounted on UNSC warships. However, the possibility cannot be ruled out,

Powerplant

ODPs did not mount the power generation equipment necessary to fire their main armament. Instead, they received power from ground-based generators. A possible strategy to neutralize the formidable ODPs would be to disable the generators via ground assault.

Deployment

Reach

By August 2552, Reach was protected by twenty ODPs. During the Battle of Reach, marines and Spartans were deployed to protect the orbital platforms' planetside power generators but were ultimately unable to do so against determined enemy assaults. The disabling of the defense platforms was a major factor on the battles outcome[3].

Earth

File:DSC00212.JPG
The destruction of Malta

The outbreak of the Human-Covenant War prompted a massive expansion of Earth's defenses. Even as late as the Battle of Reach preparations had not yet been completed[4]. By October 2552, some 300 ODPs were operational[5]. Many of Earth's ODPs were named after points of interest that they roughly kept station over.

A portion of the 300 platforms saw action at the First Battle of Earth. Athens Station and Malta Station were each destroyed by an Covenant Bomb placed by Covenant boarding parties, with Cairo Station narrowly avoiding the same fate[6].

The ODPs were also used in the Second Battle of Earth, but the Covenant might have already destroyed numerous stations when Truth led a second fleet to Earth [7].

Known ODPs

Sources

  1. ^ Halo 2, The Armory (Level), cutscene
  2. ^ Halo 2, The Armory (Level), cutscene
  3. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page reference needed
  4. ^ Source needed. Where does Ackerson deny permission to send a search and rescue group to Epsilon Eridani citing that every ship is needed at Earth?
  5. ^ Halo 2, The Armory (Level), cutscene
  6. ^ Halo 2, Cairo Station (Level)
  7. ^ Halo 2, The Great Journey (Level), cutscene
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