UNSC Army: Difference between revisions

Between [[2552#July|July 23]] and [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]], thousands of Army personnel defended the fortess world [[Reach]] during the Covenant's [[Fall of Reach|invasion of the planet]].<ref name="reach"/> Trooper fireteams dispatched by [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]] initiated first contact with the Covenant at the UNSC [[Visegrád Relay|communications relay]] at [[Visegrád]] on the night of July 23.<ref>''Patrol''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Noble Actual]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Winter Contingency]]''</ref> On July 26, Army troopers stationed near the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Sword Base]], with ''crucial'' assistance from SPARTAN Noble Team, defended against Covenant attackers.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]''</ref> Following these early engagements, Army personnel continued to combat the Covenant's advance invasion force for several weeks. On August 12, three Army [[brigade]]s served as part of a large [[Order of battle (Viery, Reach)|joint UNSC force]] during the battle for the [[Viery Territory]]. Part of this force was used to eliminate a series of Covenant [[Covenant Spire|teleportation spires]] during the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref> Two days later, UNSC Army [[pilot]]s joined Noble Six in [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], flying [[YSS-1000 Sabre]] fighters to help disable and board the ''[[Ardent Prayer]]''.<ref name="ardent">''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 76-77</ref> Shortly after, a much larger Covenant fleet arrived at Reach.<ref name="lnos">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> By August 23, Army forces had attempted to break the Covenant's [[Siege of New Alexandria|siege of]] [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]] for some time. With the assistance of [[SPARTAN-B312]], they were able to evacuate most of the civilians and military personnel from the city, though some stragglers remained.<ref name="Exodus">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Exodus]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[New Alexandria]]''</ref> On August 29 and 30, the few Army personnel remaining on the [[Eposz]] continent attempted to rally at the area's [[Asźod ship breaking yards|ship-breaking facilities]], which served as the only evacuation area left on the continent. There, they engaged in a [[Battle of Asźod|large-scale battle]] against the Covenant, who had arrived on Reach in force and had begun [[glassing]] the area. Most of the convoys on the way to the evacuation zone were destroyed by the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref>

The personnel of the UNSC Army are described as well-trained, disciplined, and motivated men and women.<ref name="CU"/> Service people hold ranks, which are divided between officers and enlisted. The rank structure of the UNSC Army is based around that of the [[Wikipedia:US Army|United States Army]]. For a list of ranks within the Army, see [[UNSC rank structure]].

UNSC Army personnel wear distinctive uniforms. The [[UNSC Army Dress Uniform|dress uniform]] is worn outside combat,<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''</ref> while [[UNSC Army Battle Dress Uniform|battledress]] is worn in combat.<ref>'''[[Halo Reach]]'''</ref> The  Battle Dress Uniform incorporates many modular components shared by other branches of the [[UNSC Armed Forces]], including the [[CH252 Helmet|CH252 combat helmet]]. UNSC Army pilots employ grey flight suits.<ref name="ardent"/><ref name="lnos"/>

UNSC Army ground forces are led by their commanding officers. Often seasoned and battle-hardened veterans, UNSC officers are trained to maintain a calm demeanor, inspire their men, and deliver a sound tactical perspective while on the battlefield. They also ensure that combined-arms operations are carried out efficiently and safely by controlling the unit's shard of the [[UNSC battle network]].<ref name="CU"/>

The core fighting units of the Army consist of riflemen, who are equipped with a wide variety of small arms. When available, they can also be reinforced with heavy weapon units.<ref name="CU"/>

Army [[Fire Support Team]]s are allocated as part of their battalions offensive or defensive strategies. In defensive operations, they provide overwatching support-by-fire, while on the offense they engage enemy vehicles and heavy infantry, as such, their loadout is usually tailored to their mission, terrain, and expected enemy composition.<ref name="CU"/>

Along with their Marine counterparts, UNSC Army infantry played a pivotal role in humanity's fight against the Covenant hegemony,<ref name="CU"/> engaging the enemy in small arms combat, and often in close proximity.<ref name="Exodus"/> Their tenacity during combat was one of the major factors that decided humanity's continued survival against the overwhelming technological and numerical advantage of the Covenant.<ref name="CU"/>

In addition, the [[M6G Personal Defense Weapon System|M6G pistol]] is the standard sidearm before being superceded by the [[M6H magnum]] by [[2555]],<ref name="O+A">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/ordnance-armor/cbbca9b3-5108-41aa-aa21-9b523de68266 '''Halo 4 Official Site''' ''Ordnance + Armor'']</ref> while the [[M45 Tactical Shotgun]] is used for close-quarters combat. The Army is the only branch of the UNSC to make use of the [[M6J/C Carbine|M6J carbine variant]] of the M6 series.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/tech/gallery/magnum/f4c403d6-269e-499a-ac14-9a696e0a5b27 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Magnum'']</ref><ref>'''[[Bungie.net]]:''' [http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx ''M6C/SOCOM'']</ref><ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3pistol '''Bungie.net:''' ''Halo 3'' pistol]</ref> The [[M247H Heavy Machine Gun]] serves as a heavy suppression weapon.<ref name="reach"/>

Snipers operate the [[SRS99-AM sniper rifle]] for long-range suppression and anti-matériel operations. The [[M319 grenade launcher]] is used for medium-range suppression and anti-fortification duties. The Army also operates the [[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade]]. Anti-armor fire is provided by the [[M41 rocket launcher]] and the [[Model 6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle]] [[directed energy weapon]].<ref name="reach"/> Around [[2558#October|October 2558]], the M41 SPNKR was phased out in favour of the cheaper, lighter [[M57 Pilum]].<ref name="universeM57">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/rocket-launcher '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Rocket Launcher'']</ref>