Space warfare: Difference between revisions

==History==

Space warfare evolved from engagements on a world's surface or in its atmosphere. With the invention of [[human]] space travel in the 20th century, many organizations and nations began to consider or invest in possible military operations conducted in space. In the late 21st century, humanity had become an interplanetary-faring species with colonies established in their [[Sol system|home system]]. The new outlet of travel and exploration would eventually lead to conflict.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 266'' (2011 edition)</ref> The dawn of the [[Interplanetary War]] and its associated engagements saw the formation of the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] following the [[Mars Campaign]]. The campaign marked a turning-point in space warfare through dedicated utilizations of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] forces in ground assaults and ship-[[boarding]] operations that would follow during the war.<ref name="xbox">'''[[Xbox.com/Halo]]'''</ref>

===Defenses===

UNSC warships use various forms of [[Titanium-A armor]] (an enhanced form of [[titanium]]) as their exterior battleplate.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 315''</ref> Covenant vessels are covered in [[nanolaminate hull plating]], which is significantly stronger and more resilient.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'']</ref> Most Covenant ships are further protected by [[energy shielding]], which has seen limited adoption among UNSC Navy warships—including the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} and the {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s—in the post-war era.<ref name="evg strident"/> Both sides also make use of point defense weapons, designed to target and destroy singleships and missiles. UNSC ships use a number of different magnetic-accelerator [[Point-defense gun|point defense systems]], while Covenant point defense is usually performed by more advanced [[pulse laser turret]]s.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 315 (2011)''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 127''</ref> UNSC point defense, among other tasks, is usually handled by onboard ship [[Artificial intelligence|AIs]], capable of performing threat assessment and target designation faster than humans can react. The Covenant have been slower to adopt AIs, due to the example of [[Mendicant Bias]]'s role in the defeat of the Forerunners by the Flood.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 188''</ref> Despite this, the Covenant had installed their own versions aboard [[Truth and Reconciliation's AI|some]] [[Ascendant Justice's AI|warships]] and the space station [[Unyielding Hierophant]] by 2552, though they were of inferior quality to both Forerunner or UNSC AI constructs.<ref>''Halo: 'Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''Terminal 3''</ref><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 76''</ref><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 196''</ref>

===Ship classes===

====[[Warships]]====

Most space warfare is conducted by warships, supported by resupply ships, fighters and dropships, and space stations that serve as static defences around planetary orbit. The UNSC Navy designate their ships along similar lines to planetary-based navies. [[UNSC corvette]]s are generally the fastest warship classification<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 63-64''</ref>, too small to carry craft larger than an [[SKT-13 Shuttlecraft]], used by the UNSC Navy and colonial system defence forces.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 60''</ref> [[UNSC frigate|Frigate]]s and [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]]s are larger combat warships equipped with heavier armaments, used for fleet escort and recon, and tend to make up the bulk of the UNSC fleets because they are cheaper to build, faster to replace, and can cover a greater volume of space than larger ships. Frigates tend to be faster and more evasive,<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''campaign level [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> while destroyers feature thicker armor and heavier armaments.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 139''</ref> Larger [[capital ship]]s are build for dedicated ship-to-ship combat. [[Cruiser]]s tend to form the cores of UNSC fleets, serving as fleet command and control ships in the absence of larger carriers.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/unsc-cruiser '''Halo Waypoint''': ''UNSC Cruiser'']</ref> [[UNSC carrier|Carriers]] are large but lightly armed warships that transport and deploy large numbers of fighters and dropships in support of both space combat and planetary assaults.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 249 (2009)''</ref> After the Human-Covenant War the UNSC operated at least one [[battleship]] class.<ref>'''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 5.14.14''</ref>

===Modern era===

Space battles between the major factions in the modern era are fought almost exclusively within the context of normal space-time, although precision slipspace jumps and faster velocities within the slipstream offer increased tactical maneuvering options as well as considerable strategic benefits. The vessels involved are typically directed by individuals with baseline reflexes delivering tactical commands verbally, placing certain upper limits on the speeds at which ships and fleets can respond to threats and changing tactical situations; under the control of an AI, a warship becomes far more combat-effective due to the constructs' significantly faster reactions and information processing capabilities.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=6 '''Bungie.net''': ''Jason Jones Interviewed By You'' (12/18/2001)]</ref>

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 {{Class|CSO|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>

<!--Stuff to be added: importance of slipspace precision and speeds both tactically and strategically, fleet positioning, counter-boarder tactics like depressurization, slipspace-launched nukes, troop deployment, fighter support...-->

*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''

*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''

{{col-end}}