UNSC Marine Corps: Difference between revisions

|formed=c. [[2163]] – present

The '''UNSC Marine Corps''' is a branch of the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[UNSC Armed Forces|Armed Forces]] responsible for conducting land-based expeditionary amphibious and airborne combat operations, using the mobility provided by the [[UNSC Navy]] to rapidly deliver forces. '''Marines''' are also charged with the defense of Navy vessels and installations from hostile forces. While structured under the [[Unified Ground Command]],<ref name="enc54">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 54'' (2011)</ref> the UNSC Marine Corps operates closely with the [[UNSC Naval Command]] and has some authority within the office.<ref name="fb">'''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''', ''Core Rulebook - page 6''</ref> The Marine Corps is one of the five uniformed services branches of the UNSC Armed Forces.<ref name="waypoint unsc">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/unsc '''Halo Waypoint''': ''UNSC'']</ref>

The [[Wikipedia:United States Marine Corps|United States Marine Corps]] is the precursor to the UNSC Marine Corps.<ref name="enc31">'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 31'' (2011)</ref> As the [[Interplanetary War]] began in the [[2160]]s, the [[national government]]s of the [[Sol system]] strengthened and deployed their militaries for conflict. However, the distributed nature of their forces led to disorder among the ranks of these militaries. In response, the [[United Nations]] organized the [[United Nations Space Command]] from Earth's disparate national military forces in [[2163]];<ref name="enc42">'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 42'' (2011)</ref> the UNSC Marine Corps was created as one of the UNSC's branches with most of the UNSC consisting of Marine assets, as well as assets of the [[UNSC Navy]].{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint unsc}} Shortly following the [[Rainforest Wars]], triggered by [[Koslovic]] attacks at the [[Argyre Planitia]] shipbuilding plants on [[Mars]], the United Nations began the [[Mars Campaign]] in [[2163|December 2163]]. This campaign marked the first extraterrestrial deployment of the UNSC Marine Corps, as the UNSC launched a series of lightning strikes against Koslovic forces near the Argyre Planitia.{{Ref/Reuse|enc42}}

The decisive success of this campaign had a major impact on future military doctrine, resulting in UNSC Navy [[warship]]s carrying large Marine contingents for ground assaults and [[boarding]] actions. Following the success of the UNSC Marine Corps at Mars, recruitment drives and [[propaganda]] tactics strongly bolstered UNSC forces and the Koslovics and [[Frieden]]s were defeated on [[Earth]] in [[2170]].<ref>''Xbox.com'': The Halo Timeline (defunct, [[Archive:Xbox.com/Halo/Timeline|Archived]])</ref>{{clear}}

The UNSC Marine Corps is one of the five branches of the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[UNSC Armed Forces|Armed Forces]].{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint unsc}} The Marine Corps is subordinate to the [[UNSC High Command]] and the branch has a seat on the [[UNSC Security Council]], currently represented by [[General]] [[Hogan]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE1}} The Marine Corps is largely under the authority of the UNSC's [[Unified Ground Command]] (UniCom), responsible for managing ground-based operations of the Marine Corps, the [[UNSC Air Force]], and the [[UNSC Army]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc54}} However, due to the Marines' expeditionary nature, the branch has some with the [[UNSC Naval Command]], particularly in the Navy-dominated [[UNSC Fleet Command]] where the Marines have only a token representation.{{Ref/Reuse|fb}} The branch also maintains its own [[UNSC Marine Corps of Engineers]] command.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]", ''page 82''</ref> As well as possessing infantry, armored, and air units, the UNSC Marine Corps is based around [[Marine Expeditionary Force]]s, which contain at least one [[division]]-sized unit of Marines.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 111''</ref> Because of its role as an "amphibious", space-deployed force, the Marine Corps enjoys a close relationship with the [[UNSC Navy]], with Marine complements being deployed on most warships.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'''</ref><ref name="Halo 2">'''[[Halo 2]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'''</ref> The Marine Corps, along with the Navy, was headquartered at the [[Fleet Command Headquarters]] on [[Reach]], until the facility's destruction and the planet's [[Fall of Reach|fall]] in [[2552]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 47''</ref>