UNSC Special Forces: Difference between revisions

{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

The '''Special Forces''' comprise the special operations units of the [[United Nations Space Command]].<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3shotgun '''Bungie.net''': ''M90A Close Assault Weapon System'']</ref> By [[2555|March 2555]], the UNSC Special Forces is headed by Captain [[Annabelle Richards]], who reports directly to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence|Commander-in-Chief]], Admiral [[Serin Osman]].<ref name="preview 2">[http://books.simonandschuster.com/Hunters-in-the-Dark/Peter-David/HALO/9781476795874/browse_inside '''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''Preview'']</ref>

[[File:Blueteam.jpg|thumb|250px|SPARTAN-II Blue Team in combat with the Covenant]]

'''Naval Special Warfare Command''' ('''NAVSPECWAR''') is a major special forces division under the oversight of [[UNSC Naval Command]]. The branch includes the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]], operatives of the now defunct [[ORION Project]], and most of the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]]. The [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] also served under NAVSPECWAR until early [[2553]], when they were folded into the independent [[Spartan Operations|Spartan branch]]. NAVSPECWAR specializes in covert operations, assassinations, and conducting high-priority, high-risk operations against enemy forces.

NAVSPECWAR also includes '''Naval Special Weapons''' ('''NAVSPECWEP'''), under which the ODSTs<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo 3: ODST Field Guide'']</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/odst '''Halo Waypoint''': ''ODST'']</ref> and the SPARTAN-IIs serve.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 175'' (2003)</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 121''</ref> Some NAVSPECWEP units fall under the operational supervision of [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Three|Section Three]] within the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 224'' (2003)</ref> The group has a large amount of operational and command flexibility. Although this office is technically subordinate to both the UNSC Naval Command and the [[Unified Ground Command]], UNICOM primarily has oversight of NAVSPECWEP special forces.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 65'' (2011 edition)</ref>

[[SPARTAN programs|Spartans]] are the most skilled and disciplined soldiers in service to the UNSC. SPARTAN-II and SPARTAN-III personnel took part in intense training from childhood; most saw combat by their early teens. The SPARTAN-IIs wear performance-enhancing [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]], whereas most SPARTAN-IIIs wore [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor]]. After the Spartan branch's establishment, NAVSPECWAR still maintains operational command over Blue Team.<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2963582_-Spoilers--John-117-is-no-longer-blue-leader.aspx#post2963582 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''John-117 is no longer blue leader (Catalog's answer)'']</ref>

'''Unified Special Warfare Command''' ('''USW''')<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''game manual''</ref> often simplified as '''Special Warfare Command''' ('''SPECWARCOM'''), is a special forces branch under the authority of [[Unified Ground Command]].<ref group="note">Most sources refer to the organization solely as "Special Warfare Command". The "Unified" part of the name is extrapolated from various sources but it has never been used directly in official material. The introduction to the ''Halo: Reach'' game manual refers to [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]]'s group as "USW". In several pre-release materials for ''Halo: Reach'' (including the [[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta|multiplayer beta]] and the pre-order bonus card for the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant|Recon]] helmet), Special Warfare Group Three is indicated to be under UNICOM's operational authority. Based on this information, "USW" can be inferred to mean "Unified Special Warfare". The wiki uses this title for the sake of consistency with the naming of Naval Special Warfare as well as to more clearly differentiate the two organizations.</ref> It maintains oversight of special operations carried out by the [[UNSC Army]].<ref name="voc">[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1085710 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Re: Just checked out the Essential Visual Guide'']</ref> Given UNICOM's authority over the UNSC Marine Corps on the whole,<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''pages 54-55'' (2011)</ref> it is possible that USW also oversees Marine special force units apart from the ODST, who fall under NAVSPECWAR's authority.

"Force Recon" has been mentioned in various Halo sources. Little details are known and it's unclear if these units fall under USW or NAVSPECWAR. It can be assumed that these units are modeled off of Force Recon companies from the [[Wikipedia:United States Marine Corps]].

**''[[The Package]]''

**''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''

**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''

**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''

**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|Limited Edition]]'' {{Mo}}

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