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Space warfare: Difference between revisions
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Human fleets have also been forced to rely on innovative use of strategy and tactics to counter Covenant naval doctrine, which has largely remained unchanged throughout the war, resulting in surprising UNSC victories. Admiral [[Preston Cole]] won the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]] by using complex slipspace maneuvers, and unexpected [[UNSC Bellicose|Insurrectionist help]] to cover the retreat of the UNSC fleet and lure a Covenant fleet around the gas giant [[Viperidae]], then launching a hundred Shiva nuclear missiles, triggering stellar fusion and briefly turning Viperidae into a brown dwarf, annihilating more than three hundred Covenant ships to seventy UNSC and 14 Insurrectionist ships and the presumed loss of {{UNSCShip|Everest}} with Admiral Cole aboard her.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"''', ''pages 476-482''</ref> During the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], Captain [[Jacob Keyes]]' use of a complicated and risky maneuver allowed a single [[UNSC destroyer]] to defeat two Covenant frigates and a destroyer, forcing the unsupported [[Covenant carrier|carrier]] to withdraw after deploying ground forces. In the second large-scale engagement, the UNSC massed its fire for a coordinated MAC salvo, using a [[Cradle|repair station]] as cover against the Covenant's plasma torpedoes to buy time for a second, devastating salvo, reducing the Covenant fleet from twenty ships to eight, allowing the forty eight UNSC ships to engage the enemy in a clear advantage, a tactic repeated on a larger scale during the [[Fall of Reach]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 219-223''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 332-333''</ref> During the Battle of Onyx, [[Carl Patterson|Admiral Patterson]]'s [[Patterson's battle group|battlegroup]] used innovative tactics to destroy a disproportionate number of Covenant warships. After using intelligence gathered by the prowler {{UNSCShip|Dusk}} to destroy a destroyer, the battlegroup encountered a much larger force attempting to ambush them.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 292-296''</ref> Faced with a plasma torpedo salvo, the fleet accelerated into it to forestall a second volley, allowing five ships to survive to escape ''through'' the Covenant fleet.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 297''</ref> A number of Covenant ships were destroyed by the self-destruction of the {{UNSCShip|Iwo Jima}}, taking two warships with it and damaging another six.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 298''</ref> While the Covenant fleet was distracted fending off an attack by the native [[Onyx Sentinel]]s, the ''Dusk'' laid a HORNET minefield.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo pages 325-326}} The battlegroup lured the Covenant fleet into the field, destroying all but two before Covenant reinforcements arrived, destroying all UNSC ships except for ''Dusk''.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 328-332''</ref> In all, the UNSC battle group, consisting of one carrier, one Marathon-class cruiser, six destroyers and a prowler managed to destroy a total of twenty Covenant warships, a staggering number. | Human fleets have also been forced to rely on innovative use of strategy and tactics to counter Covenant naval doctrine, which has largely remained unchanged throughout the war, resulting in surprising UNSC victories. Admiral [[Preston Cole]] won the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]] by using complex slipspace maneuvers, and unexpected [[UNSC Bellicose|Insurrectionist help]] to cover the retreat of the UNSC fleet and lure a Covenant fleet around the gas giant [[Viperidae]], then launching a hundred Shiva nuclear missiles, triggering stellar fusion and briefly turning Viperidae into a brown dwarf, annihilating more than three hundred Covenant ships to seventy UNSC and 14 Insurrectionist ships and the presumed loss of {{UNSCShip|Everest}} with Admiral Cole aboard her.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"''', ''pages 476-482''</ref> During the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], Captain [[Jacob Keyes]]' use of a complicated and risky maneuver allowed a single [[UNSC destroyer]] to defeat two Covenant frigates and a destroyer, forcing the unsupported [[Covenant carrier|carrier]] to withdraw after deploying ground forces. In the second large-scale engagement, the UNSC massed its fire for a coordinated MAC salvo, using a [[Cradle|repair station]] as cover against the Covenant's plasma torpedoes to buy time for a second, devastating salvo, reducing the Covenant fleet from twenty ships to eight, allowing the forty eight UNSC ships to engage the enemy in a clear advantage, a tactic repeated on a larger scale during the [[Fall of Reach]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 219-223''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 332-333''</ref> During the Battle of Onyx, [[Carl Patterson|Admiral Patterson]]'s [[Patterson's battle group|battlegroup]] used innovative tactics to destroy a disproportionate number of Covenant warships. After using intelligence gathered by the prowler {{UNSCShip|Dusk}} to destroy a destroyer, the battlegroup encountered a much larger force attempting to ambush them.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 292-296''</ref> Faced with a plasma torpedo salvo, the fleet accelerated into it to forestall a second volley, allowing five ships to survive to escape ''through'' the Covenant fleet.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 297''</ref> A number of Covenant ships were destroyed by the self-destruction of the {{UNSCShip|Iwo Jima}}, taking two warships with it and damaging another six.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 298''</ref> While the Covenant fleet was distracted fending off an attack by the native [[Onyx Sentinel]]s, the ''Dusk'' laid a HORNET minefield.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo pages 325-326}} The battlegroup lured the Covenant fleet into the field, destroying all but two before Covenant reinforcements arrived, destroying all UNSC ships except for ''Dusk''.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 328-332''</ref> In all, the UNSC battle group, consisting of one carrier, one Marathon-class cruiser, six destroyers and a prowler managed to destroy a total of twenty Covenant warships, a staggering number. | ||
In general, the Covenant employ straightforward strategy and tactics, standing their ground, even to the death, and accepting no surrender.<ref>'''The Fall of Reach''', ''page 180'', Jacob Keyes: ''"He had never seen the Covenant run. in every battle he had seen or read about, they stayed to slaughter every last survivor...or if they were defeated, they always fought to the last ship."''</ref> More complicated maneuvers are generally unnecessary given the Covenant's overwhelming edge in most engagements. This is not a hard rule, however. The withdrawal of the carrier from Sigma Octanus after deploying ground forces was remarked upon as unusual, a tactic repeated during the main invasion of Reach, and the Covenant used a number of innovative tactics during the Fall of Reach, managing to insert a cloaked {{ | In general, the Covenant employ straightforward strategy and tactics, standing their ground, even to the death, and accepting no surrender.<ref>'''The Fall of Reach''', ''page 180'', Jacob Keyes: ''"He had never seen the Covenant run. in every battle he had seen or read about, they stayed to slaughter every last survivor...or if they were defeated, they always fought to the last ship."''</ref> More complicated maneuvers are generally unnecessary given the Covenant's overwhelming edge in most engagements. This is not a hard rule, however. The withdrawal of the carrier from Sigma Octanus after deploying ground forces was remarked upon as unusual, a tactic repeated during the main invasion of Reach, and the Covenant used a number of innovative tactics during the Fall of Reach, managing to insert a cloaked {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} past Reach's defenses to surreptitiously land ground forces and heavy corvette support in its search for [[Babd Catha Forerunner vessel|Forerunner artifacts]] in advance of the main Covenant fleet.<ref>'''The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 181-182'', Jacob Keyes: ''"It was a curious thing: the aliens dropping their ground forces and then retreating. That was not their usual mode of operation. Commander Keyes suspected this was just an opening move in a game he didn't yet understand"''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 337''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level, ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref> Then-Supreme Commander [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee was considered by the Office of Naval Intelligence as the Covenant's best strategic asset, resulting in the loss of at least seven colonies and more than a billion casualties, and was marked for assassination before the end of the war concluded hostilities.<ref>'''Halo 2: Anniversary''', ''Terminal 3''</ref> | ||
In the post-war galaxy, humanity's adoption of accurate slipspace drives and energy shields have considerably improved their capabilities against warships employed by [[Covenant remnant]] factions. Notably, the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} intervened to support Thel 'Vadam during the [[Blooding Years]], effortlessly destroying a number of ships loyal to the Servants of the Abiding Truth.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page ''</ref> During the [[New Phoenix Incident]], the UNSC fleet engaged the Forerunner warship ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'' and the ''Infinity'' used its MAC weapons to create a hole in the ship's hull large enough for [[John-117|the Master Chief]] to pilot a Broadsword fighter deep into it.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Midnight]]''</ref> During the [[Requiem Campaign]], ''Infinity'' collided with an [[RCS-class armored cruiser]], plowing through it with no hull damage and shields intact.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', S1E1 Departure</ref> It should be noted however that the ''Infinity'' is the UNSC's most advanced current starship, and uses Forerunner technology to power its systems, and is likely not representative of overall UNSC naval capabilities. | In the post-war galaxy, humanity's adoption of accurate slipspace drives and energy shields have considerably improved their capabilities against warships employed by [[Covenant remnant]] factions. Notably, the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} intervened to support Thel 'Vadam during the [[Blooding Years]], effortlessly destroying a number of ships loyal to the Servants of the Abiding Truth.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page ''</ref> During the [[New Phoenix Incident]], the UNSC fleet engaged the Forerunner warship ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'' and the ''Infinity'' used its MAC weapons to create a hole in the ship's hull large enough for [[John-117|the Master Chief]] to pilot a Broadsword fighter deep into it.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Midnight]]''</ref> During the [[Requiem Campaign]], ''Infinity'' collided with an [[RCS-class armored cruiser]], plowing through it with no hull damage and shields intact.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', S1E1 Departure</ref> It should be noted however that the ''Infinity'' is the UNSC's most advanced current starship, and uses Forerunner technology to power its systems, and is likely not representative of overall UNSC naval capabilities. | ||