Space fighter
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
A space fighter,[1] strike fighter,[2][3] or simply fighter,[2][3][4] known by the Covenant as Strikecraft[5][6] and to the UNSC as an interceptor,[7][3] are small, versatile, and maneuverable spacecraft, primarily used for exoatmospheric interception, interdiction, or space-supremacy operations.
Summary
These ships are unable to enter slipspace by themselves, and need to be launched from planetary bases, orbiting space stations, or capital ships to conduct strike-operations against enemy warships, intercept fighters, and provide escort for warships and dropships.[8][9] Their size varies from a few meters to well over 50 meters. Most known space fighters are spaceplanes, capable of operating in both atmospheric/exoatmospheric (A/X) and suborbital/orbital (S/O) environments. The Forerunner Warrior-Servants often used space fighters in combat. Some space fighters, called weapon-ships, could be remotely-controlled at a ratio of up to a million ships per warrior.[10]
Warships primarily designed to transport and maintain fighter-squadrons are commonly known as carriers.[11] In the UNSC Navy, starfighters were deployed from all warships larger than a corvette, as corvettes were too small to carry anything larger than a shuttle.[12] Marathon-class heavy cruisers are capable of reconfiguring themselves as light carriers by sacrificing weapons installations and cargo bays for increased fighter capacity.[13] UNSC doctrine typically dictates the launching of a fighter assault against an enemy fleet employing wolf-pack tactics before it can swarm a capital ship.[14]
During the Battle of Biko, Nizat 'Kvarosee deployed his fighters in a tight "shell" around their motherships, ensuring that any attempt to board his vessels would be met with failure, considered an unusual deployment tactic by the UNSC.[14] This differed from usual Covenant deployment tactics, which would see fighters deploy straight to attack the enemy, leaving their capital ships relatively undefended.[15]
Types
Covenant
- Type-27 Banshee - An exoatmospheric variant of the Type-26 Banshee,[16] it was the standard interceptor support craft of the Covenant fleet.[17]
The Type-27 Space Banshee.
- Seraph - Seraph is the name of several different space fighters.[18] Two design patterns of that fall under it are the Morsam-pattern (known as the Type-31 Seraph) and the Kai-pattern.
The Morsam-pattern.
The Kai-pattern.
- Tarasque heavy fighter - The Tarasque heavy fighter was an older space fighter.[19]
The Tarasque.
- Gigas fighter-bomber - The Gigas fighter-bomber was an older craft.[19] Though it still saw deployment as late as 2526 from the Fleet of Swift Justice.[20]
Human
- GA-TL1 Longsword - The primary fighter of the UNSC fleet.[21] Two known variants of the Longsword exist including the C709 Longsword and the C712 Longsword.
The C709 Longsword.
The C712 Longsword.
- YSS-1000 Sabre - The Sabre is a swift, versatile, and utterly lethal interceptor. Only several hundred were manufactured before the war ended.[7] It could launch from the surface of a planet via a single-stage-to-orbit system.[16]
The YSS-1000 Sabre.
- F-41 Broadsword - The Broadsword was a type of UNSC interceptor manufactured in the thousands primarily in the Outer Colonies during the Covenant war.[3]
The F-41 Broadsword.
- OF92 Booster Frame - The OF92 Booster Frame is a type of open frame space fighter designed for Spartan operatives.[1]
The OF92 Booster Frame.
- S-14 Baselard - The Baselard was a two-seater fighter craft in use by the UNSC as early as 2526.[22]
- Nandao fighter - The Nandao fighter was a type of fighter used by the UNSC as early as 2526.[23]
Forerunner
- Despair-class fighter - The Despair-class fighter was a Forerunner fighter that was buildable from a ship-seed.[4]
The Despair-class fighter.
Gameplay
Halo: Reach
During the level Long Night of Solace, the player has the opportunity to fly the YSS-1000 Sabre over Reach. Through the Pilotable Seraph glitch, players are able to fly the Morsam-pattern Seraph as well.
Halo 4
In the final level Midnight, the player is given the opportunity to fly the F-41 Broadsword through the Forerunner ship Mantle's Approach.
Sources
- ^ a b Halo: Warfleet, Frigates, p. 38
- ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, p. 114
- ^ a b c d Halo: Warfleet, Fighters, p. 28-29
- ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs, Forerunner ship
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, Glossary, p. 92
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, Strikecraft, p. 58-59
- ^ a b Halo: Warfleet, Carriers, p. 40
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia, p. 266
- ^ Halo: First Strike, p. 6
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, p. 174
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia, p. 259
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, p. 64
- ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Core Rulebook - p.125
- ^ a b Halo: Silent Storm, Chapter 17
- ^ Halo: Silent Storm, Chapter 21
- ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level, Long Night of Solace
- ^ Halo: Reach, game stats
- ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, p. 169
- ^ a b Halo 3 - Appearance - Armor - Armor Classification: Elite - Head - Flight description
- ^ Halo: Oblivion, Chapter 21
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe, p. 261
- ^ Halo: Silent Storm, Chapter 19
- ^ Halo: Oblivion, Chapter 12
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