Cabel
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Post by Cabel on Aug 26, 2016 17:01:33 GMT -6
I've been watching or rather re-watching Band of Brothers, and one of the paratrooper/airborne scenes reminded me that the UNSC Army employs/utilizes Airborne Divisions although granted we've never seen them in the games.
My thoughts, what if the Marines actually ended up helping an Army Airborne Company or vice versa? We've only really had missions where the Marines and ODSTs have dropped into a combat-zone, but rarely...at least as far as I know, had any other UNSC forces dropping nearby or simultaneously or prior to the Marine/ODST landings. I think it might make things a bit more interesting, not only from a thematic viewpoint, but from an RP standpoint with the marines or ODSTs having to assist an Army Airborne Unit or even that the Covenant might think the Marine/ODST waves are larger than anticipated.
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Wax™
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Post by Wax™ on Aug 26, 2016 20:40:56 GMT -6
I had an idea similar to this a couple years ago but the argument against was that the UNSC Army is solely a defensive force and not offensive.
They guard and protect planets rather than mobilise in force against the Covenant like the navy and marines and airforce.
Also if they are already stationed on a planet beine attacked the only reason I can see them paradropping in is of they were mobilizing from the opposite side of the planet. Even then if they used conventional parachutes and dropped from shuttles similar to that of an AC 130 they would be absolute sitting ducks against a Covenant attack force.
To be honest. The only way I can see it being affective is if they were loaded into shuttles similar in design to the AC 130 and that ship from AVATAR. That has been modified to launch HEV's from its base.
All that being said. I still think paratroopers would be rad.
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Cabel
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Post by Cabel on Aug 26, 2016 20:53:45 GMT -6
Thanks, Wax. I thought the notion of the UNSC Army utilizing their Airborne Units, on Esperanza II or in some other mission might make sense considering while the UNSC Army is mainly used for garrison and defensive details their Airborne units wouldn't be dropping in on a foreign planet. While the Airborne Troops/drops could be considered taking the offensive, the UNSC Army would still be defending their own ground...just in expanding their perimeter or having the Airborne as a vanguard.
Either way, given the Marines/ODSTs method of maneuverability and fire that from a story-view it would be rather interesting if ODST/Marines and UNSC Army Airborne troops encountered each other on the same field or nearly so. I don't blame anyone for this, mind you. I'm only saying that the way the encounters or missions are described, at least as far as the landings and the drops are concerned is less hectic sometimes than it needs to be. Again, it may just be me.
From a logistics standpoint, the addition of the paratroopers would both increase the length of the perimeters of the marines and ODSTs along with increasing resources and ammunition. It's a thought, at least. It would also grant those players that currently have UNSC Army profiles in the waiting or would like to create a UNSC Army Trooper to be able to mix-it-up.
As for vehicles, I think the UNSC Army has a few that would be up to the task or as you mentioned they could utilize a shuttle as large as the C-130 or even a "future equivalent" of it.
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Post by Guardian Cat of Yappa's on Aug 26, 2016 21:58:31 GMT -6
Remember thou guys that airbourne units in Halo are more like the frogmen (i forget their actual name) we saw in Halo reach with the jet packs strapped to their backs, not really parachutes (unless someone has a source that would say otherwise but I haven't seen any sources saying otherwise) so I think the UNSC army would be able to deploy paratroopers somewhat effectively.
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Cabel
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Post by Cabel on Aug 26, 2016 22:45:38 GMT -6
I think the term you were looking for was Bullfrog. The Bullfrogs, an ODST Unit, was featured in Halo: Reach. Jump-Packs are fine, but as the Halopedia does state the UNSC Army does utilize Airborne Divisions (which at this time haven't been seen) and we do know according to the Equipment Inventory List on this site that certain air-foils are used. Now, while Jet-Packs might be used for "bouncing" or softening up a landing I do think a combination of airfoils and parachutes (even if back-ups) could still be utilized.
For a while, I always thought of the Bullfrogs from Reach as being an Army Unit yet the Halopedia categorized them as an ODST Unit from the Marine Corps. Strange.
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Faclan
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Post by Faclan on Aug 27, 2016 2:36:56 GMT -6
I could see this being a post war or early war thing. During the times when either the Covenant didn't really see Hoomans as a threat or didn't have all the tech they have. I can imagine a nightime HALO drop (hurhurhur) would be really effective against Covenant forces who would likely be super surprised that Humans are just falling from the skies like flies. Hopefully not actually dropping though for the Human players.
Even during the war of the MArines for example knocked out some Covenant equipment and caused general havoc with some shortsword flybys a dropping of drops would probably be a good move to mop up the remainder.
My thoughts at least. I think it could work as long as it was planned well.
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Wax™
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Post by Wax™ on Aug 27, 2016 2:58:53 GMT -6
I do like the idea of players being able to utilise UNSC Army characters. I was going to make one but the idea turned me away cause I cant possible have them assigned to every planet that gets attacked can I?
Also, the only reason I am a bit sceptical about the Airborne in Halo is because surely due to the Covenants advance weaponry and technology. A mass para-drop would surely cause a gigantic amount of casualties. But I do like Fac's of nighttime HALO or even para-drops. That could indeed work.
I was thinking of drafting up a mission just for lols and handing it to the staff so I might add the Army Airborne Rangers into the plot line and see how it works out.
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MrKill
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Post by MrKill on Aug 27, 2016 3:21:18 GMT -6
Army characters are playable, but since they are a defensive force (but they can go on the offensive on their assigned planets) rather than a mobile unit it's hard for a army character to be on one planet and another a few months later.
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John
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Post by John on Aug 27, 2016 8:51:18 GMT -6
I would like to note that we wouldn't necessarily have to go up against Covenant forces. Remember that the Innies are still out there, albeit in a somewhat lesser form perhaps than before the Human-Covenant war.
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tento125
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Post by tento125 on Aug 27, 2016 11:02:20 GMT -6
Don't worry mates.... I have it all figured out......
(no seriously I do. It'll take place in post war but you can think of it as a kind of test to swe if this would work out. Just wait a few months for me to be 100% active.....)
*Quickly returns to studying*
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SPARTAN-A120
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Post by SPARTAN-A120 on Aug 31, 2016 21:17:00 GMT -6
If the 82nd and 101st Airborne can survive WWII and not get disbanded, I'm pretty sure there are similar units in the Haloverse that have the prestige that they have as Airborne Parachutists and Air Assault qualified grunts. Would add more to this, but my time is constrained.
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edtosivaree
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Post by edtosivaree on Aug 31, 2016 23:09:01 GMT -6
Uhm... No offense but aren't the ODST's essentially Paratroopers? They kinda do the /exact/ same thing, only the ODST are on a wholly more badass scale in terms of deployment methods
Honestly, they could easily train ODST's to use those wing packs from Ghost of Onyx. They meet the same mission objective, only ODST's are both more, and less likely to die when deployed, where traditional paratroopers are SOL once the chute opens.
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Cabel
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Post by Cabel on Sept 1, 2016 0:29:32 GMT -6
There is a bit of a difference between ODSTS and Paratroopers, but it's a good point you made Edto. While both can effectively do the same thing, minus the orbital insertion pods the ODSTS use and their vacuum suits, the Paratroopers are lighter armed (often enough with carbine variants of the standard Assault Rifle used by the UNSC), are lightly equipped (since they're more about maneuvering than a hold-out) and are utilized (At least in modern times) by the Army.
It's a good point though. In terms of similar methods of operations and training, the ODSTs and Paratroopers are very close. In their mission outlines/deployments, they're also similar. Though, when it comes to modes of deployment that's where they differ as well. Paratroopers are more about high altitude, but not orbital deployment...at least in today's military anyways.
It would be an interesting situation if a Paratrooper Company landed near the drop-zone of an ODST company.
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Faclan
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Post by Faclan on Sept 1, 2016 5:41:07 GMT -6
I would imagine the ODST's would scoff at that 'old world trash' that the paratroopers have and have a mighty pissing match with them. Till they get into combat and have to work together against innies or aliens.
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edtosivaree
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Post by edtosivaree on Sept 1, 2016 10:30:11 GMT -6
I really don't think they would do much. I can almost promise ODST's are trained in the usage of Parachutes. There isn't a damn chance they are not trained in parachutes. They may commonly be deployed via drop pods, but if they don't get trained in Parachutes, like the parachutes from Ghosts of Onyx that had the wings.
Yeah, the commoderie would be entertaining to deal with, but that is a one-time method given planets usually die when the Covenant want them.
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SPARTAN-A120
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Post by SPARTAN-A120 on Sept 1, 2016 17:36:18 GMT -6
Any Airbone/Air Assault qualified trooper must pass training and obtain the "Parachutist" qualification before proceeding to advanced air assault techniques like High Altitude Low Opening, High Altitude High Opening, Fast Rope or rappelling from a rotary winged aircraft, etc... I would assume ODSTs would go through the same process and meet prerequisites before qualifying for HEVs/Drop pods.
The advancement and innovations might have been able to develop parachutes that are more mobile and enable the parachutist to fire their weapon while descending. Sort of like the MJOLNIR MKVI suit test when a SPARTAN conducted an orbital insertion and utilized a SRS99 while descending with the winged parachute pack that you described being in Ghosts of Onyx.
Even if the Marines in Halo appear to have expanded bigger than the Army and have a greater purpose (irl, Army out numbers the USMC by a big margin), do not forget that the Army is a valuable asset in defending, holding the line, and even pushing the line with shock and awe. They are already groundside when SHTF and do their best to protect the civilians of whatever planet they may be garrisoned on. Remember when Spartan Tanaka (SIV) was a Sergeant in the Army and she kicked some ass as a pre-augmentation human?
Even if each branch might have bad blood between each other, when it comes down to business, everyone fighting alongside you is your brother and sister in arms. Now let me ask this: Would you fight for those behind you and alongside you, knowing that the warriors to your left and right are willing to do the same?
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Faclan
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Post by Faclan on Sept 2, 2016 7:42:18 GMT -6
Well said SPARTAN-A120I'm sure when it came time to do business it would happen without much fuss besides the occasional quip during combat of 'lookat where your fancy pods got you right next to me hahahahah' and the like. If we wanted like a small thread about this I would suggest a ODST group (no idea how large) deployed to help train some outer colony group to do parachuting. Somewhat what Johnson did in Contact Harvest, Maybe have some anti UNSC undertones running through the training before the 'issue' comes up that they all have to work together to try and fix.
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Jakob
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Post by Jakob on Sept 4, 2016 8:16:14 GMT -6
If the 82nd and 101st Airborne can survive WWII and not get disbanded, I'm pretty sure there are similar units in the Haloverse that have the prestige that they have as Airborne Parachutists and Air Assault qualified grunts. Would add more to this, but my time is constrained. 1. They're still around but they've changed completely. They were only able to do what they did in WW2 / Korea / Vietnam because technology hadn't made a real method to stop them, at least not anything that our enemies had the capability to use. The same situation is around today, they're used frequently because insurgents don't have a real answer to a plane dropping off men. Even then, instead of everyone running out of a plane and parachuting, we use HALO jumps. By the time Halo comes around they'd probably just be ODSTs. 2. The UNSC also isn't really a direct continuation of any Earth military. Like they're pretty clearly ripped from the US Marines but as far as I'm aware (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, been a long time since I caught up on lore) the UNSC's military is independent of national ones. There wouldn't be a continued decorated regiment from the US, or any from the army really. Probably some that fought in the Rainforest Wars and in the insurgency, but nothing like in our world. Which leads to: 3. The UNSC Army isn't really the army as we see it. It'd probably be best compared to the US National Guard or the British Home Guard. We don't really know too much about them, chances are some of them probably get moved around and see combat, and they probably have plenty of men who have seen combat on a few worlds and got moved to a new one when it got glassed, but from what we know they're wholly defense forces. The Marines fall under the Navy (SC of UNSC) because of the ship's move them around, but does the Army even belong to the UNSC? Or are they just a part of the UN and in some sort of other branch? With that said, I'm not really against the idea, and I'm certainly not around enough to decide how anyone else RPs. It could be fun roleplay and really that's all that matters. Those are just my thoughts. If it is implemented it'd be fun, but then again, you could probably just get the exact same experience RPing an ODST or even a Marine who does a hot drop in a Pelican. Maybe a better suggestion would be for the next mission to have Marines doing a HALO jump from Pelicans? We know the vehicles come in from orbit, hell some characters have jumped out of the back of them at various points (certainly not always on purpose.) Might be a fun start to a mission.
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Wax™
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Post by Wax™ on Sept 4, 2016 11:54:25 GMT -6
If the 82nd and 101st Airborne can survive WWII and not get disbanded, I'm pretty sure there are similar units in the Haloverse that have the prestige that they have as Airborne Parachutists and Air Assault qualified grunts. Would add more to this, but my time is constrained. 1. They're still around but they've changed completely. They were only able to do what they did in WW2 / Korea / Vietnam because technology hadn't made a real method to stop them, at least not anything that our enemies had the capability to use. The same situation is around today, they're used frequently because insurgents don't have a real answer to a plane dropping off men. Even then, instead of everyone running out of a plane and parachuting, we use HALO jumps. By the time Halo comes around they'd probably just be ODSTs. 2. The UNSC also isn't really a direct continuation of any Earth military. Like they're pretty clearly ripped from the US Marines but as far as I'm aware (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, been a long time since I caught up on lore) the UNSC's military is independent of national ones. There wouldn't be a continued decorated regiment from the US, or any from the army really. Probably some that fought in the Rainforest Wars and in the insurgency, but nothing like in our world. Which leads to: 3. The UNSC Army isn't really the army as we see it. It'd probably be best compared to the US National Guard or the British Home Guard. We don't really know too much about them, chances are some of them probably get moved around and see combat, and they probably have plenty of men who have seen combat on a few worlds and got moved to a new one when it got glassed, but from what we know they're wholly defense forces. The Marines fall under the Navy (SC of UNSC) because of the ship's move them around, but does the Army even belong to the UNSC? Or are they just a part of the UN and in some sort of other branch? With that said, I'm not really against the idea, and I'm certainly not around enough to decide how anyone else RPs. It could be fun roleplay and really that's all that matters. Those are just my thoughts. If it is implemented it'd be fun, but then again, you could probably just get the exact same experience RPing an ODST or even a Marine who does a hot drop in a Pelican. Maybe a better suggestion would be for the next mission to have Marines doing a HALO jump from Pelicans? We know the vehicles come in from orbit, hell some characters have jumped out of the back of them at various points (certainly not always on purpose.) Might be a fun start to a mission. 2. The UNSC is entirely independent from any kind of National Military. Like every other organised military that we see in the world today. The UNSC is formed by a government. And the governing body of the Human's in the Halo universe is the UEG. It is unknown if there is any other type of government/nation within the Halo universe on separate planets or even continents on planets. Though due to the above paragraph that is highly unlikely. 3. The Army does fall under the UNSC/UN. Also this is an entirely separate point but here are the intros (via Halo Nation) to both of the UNSC branches; Army/Marines. The UNSC Army is primarily responsible for land-based military operations. (Like the UNSC Marines?) Although they 'frequently' patrol colony planets. It does not state anywhere that the Army is solely a 'defensive' force. In fact it does state that the UNSC Army was utilised outside of a UEG Colony on at least one occasion. "In 2558, Army units participated in the Second Battle of Requiem." Which brings me to a question: Why don't we remove the current site restrictions on the UNSC Army and allow them the same freedom as the UNSC Marines. Mix it up a little? I'm sure they'd be quite effective in an offensive. I'm not sure what it's like for the US Military. But don't the marines hit first before being reinforced by the army? Anyway, that's enough for now, it's late. Hope this make sense.
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Jakob
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Post by Jakob on Sept 4, 2016 15:39:32 GMT -6
Alright yeah, then I was remembering (mostly) correctly. Though I'm surprised they're part of the UNSC since the UNSC is just the space portion. Does that mean the Army isn't present on Earth? Be neat if Earth had its very own defense force, or national governments under the UEG (if they exist) get to maintain their own force. Marines working with poorly supplied army troopers from various nations in the Battle of Earth would be very cool.
Anyway, I think it'd be neat but the problem that I see at least is that the RP would then have to facilitate the Army and then it'd be a bit of a cluster. There's not really enough Marines to fill out most missions, and then you drop in the Army and things get even more crowded. Sorta the same reason for Heretics not ever really lasting long. Why make the effort to add them when they can just be done with the existing factions? We already have Marines AND ODSTs AND ONI, which is pretty rounded for Humans.
But that's just my two cents.
And the Marines are generally supposed to be the ones who clear an area and fight there and then the Army takes over. In theory at least. Most of the time their roles are rather exchangeable and they often fill similar positions. Marines are still generally more for active combat areas while the Army tends to take over areas where they need more policing and hearts and minds and such. Which is why Marines generally took over Afghanistan and handled spots of Iraq like Fallujah, and the Army did policing duty in Iraq.
I've never been deployed though so I can't really give 100% on that, that's just the impression. But in Halo I don't think that matters too much since the UNSC Army appears to be a completely different organization in concept and scope than what we're used to.
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Cabel
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Post by Cabel on Sept 5, 2016 1:11:33 GMT -6
Alright yeah, then I was remembering (mostly) correctly. Though I'm surprised they're part of the UNSC since the UNSC is just the space portion. Does that mean the Army isn't present on Earth? Be neat if Earth had its very own defense force, or national governments under the UEG (if they exist) get to maintain their own force. Marines working with poorly supplied army troopers from various nations in the Battle of Earth would be very cool. Anyway, I think it'd be neat but the problem that I see at least is that the RP would then have to facilitate the Army and then it'd be a bit of a cluster. There's not really enough Marines to fill out most missions, and then you drop in the Army and things get even more crowded. Sorta the same reason for Heretics not ever really lasting long. Why make the effort to add them when they can just be done with the existing factions? We already have Marines AND ODSTs AND ONI, which is pretty rounded for Humans. But that's just my two cents. And the Marines are generally supposed to be the ones who clear an area and fight there and then the Army takes over. In theory at least. Most of the time their roles are rather exchangeable and they often fill similar positions. Marines are still generally more for active combat areas while the Army tends to take over areas where they need more policing and hearts and minds and such. Which is why Marines generally took over Afghanistan and handled spots of Iraq like Fallujah, and the Army did policing duty in Iraq. I've never been deployed though so I can't really give 100% on that, that's just the impression. But in Halo I don't think that matters too much since the UNSC Army appears to be a completely different organization in concept and scope than what we're used to. Jakob, you're right about the fact that the US Army tends to police and "win the hearts and minds" of the locals. That's true. It's why the US Army, and probably the Marines and without a doubt the Navy and Air Force have MP's of their own. Now, that said and I'm not discrediting anything you said or what Wax has said or anyone else in this thread discussion. The UNSC Army is an active branch in the UNSCDF and they do have their own capabilities of traveling to different colony worlds or being ferried over similar to the Marines, the Air Force and Navy. The majority of the UNSC Army's operations and assignments do tend to be more land-oriented, but that's more from how their logistics work. While in a general way the UNSC Army can be defined as a "defensive force" due to most of their heavy equipment and actions taking place in holding the line against either the Insurrectionists or the Covenant or even local pirates or bandits, they aren't simply a defensive force. They have a rigorous training regimen, follow the same method and utilize virtually the same resources to accomplish their mission or to neutralize a threat. The UNSC Marine Corps does provide a long-arm-reach, in that entire Marine Expeditionary Forces can be mobilized in short order (either hours, or days) and do utilize the Naval assets if they do go off world. The same can be said about the UNSC Army, in that each planet...or rather each Colony World does have an assigned garrison or in the case of glassed colony worlds an assigned garrison. This garrison can vary in size, and in fact the definition of garrison duty at least in the ancient definition meant to be stationed in a town or city that housed a base or some other installation the garrison could use. The UNSC Army is also present on Earth. I say this under the reasoning that as Earth is the Ancestral Homeland of the human species, and is the capital of the UEG and second stronghold of the UNSC this would require quite a few garrisoned assets in the form of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and ONI. Considering that Reach had a size-able garrison of the aforementioned branches, Earth would have also been afforded the same. Reach had a rather massive garrison force, divided of course, while Earth would I'd imagine have a larger Army Garrison in comparison due to the High Command wanting to reinforce Earth and to harden it. That isn't to say that there wouldn't be a Marine Corps, Naval, Air Force or ONI presence. Quite the opposite. It's why as Johnson described in Contact Harvest that while Reach had the existing net of SuperMac Orbital Platforms that Earth's had been on the drawing board when he'd last visited, and it's safe to say that as we've seen evidenced in Halo 2 that Earth had far more time and resources invested into its defense. This, of course, isn't to say that Reach suffered from lack of funding or cut funding either as both were fortified. I meant to add this earlier in reference to your bit about the UNSC Army being a different organization than what we're used to, but I happened to forget about that until now. When I first created and had my character Mark Sorelson first approved, the UNSC Army branch had been a playable branch and I'd created the character to be a Staff Sergeant of the UNSC Army before I switched the character to being a Marine when the Army Branch became unplayable. The rank system, and organization of the UNSC Army takes from both the US Army and the UK Army at least as far to my knowledge. Though, as with anything we take part in we write about what we know, and the characters are no different. As Wax pointed out earlier, the UN during the Solar System Wars...the Jovian Moons, and so on, absorbed the various military forces of the individual countries and combined them under one flag...one command. Each military, I'd imagine, would continue to either practice or adhere to their own different customs. Over time, this adherence of military units adhering to or practicing the customs of their own countries or histories of said units, those customs and mythologies and legends would have been passed on or mingled with the rest of the UN's forces. This would ultimately lead to those customs, quirks and so on being carried over into the UNSC.
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John
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Post by John on Sept 5, 2016 4:02:48 GMT -6
Just a tiny, and quick note: The UNSC, during the war, is NOT just the Space part. The UNSC took the governing role from the UEG when the war started, and handed it back around war's end in 2553.
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Cabel
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Post by Cabel on Sept 5, 2016 5:26:28 GMT -6
Agreed. The UNSC did hand over authority back to the UEG, since the War had mainly been over at that point...mostly. One could even argue that the reason why the UNSC wasn't fully prepared against the Ur-Didact (or is it the Iso-Didact?)'s forces in the late 2550's. The UEG funneled the funding, mostly, away from the UNSC. At least, that's my opinion anyways. I mean, the UNSC did beat back two Covenant assaults on Earth in late 2552.
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Jakob
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Post by Jakob on Sept 5, 2016 12:10:43 GMT -6
Jakob, you're right about the fact that the US Army tends to police and "win the hearts and minds" of the locals. That's true. It's why the US Army, and probably the Marines and without a doubt the Navy and Air Force have MP's of their own. Now, that said and I'm not discrediting anything you said or what Wax has said or anyone else in this thread discussion. The UNSC Army is an active branch in the UNSCDF and they do have their own capabilities of traveling to different colony worlds or being ferried over similar to the Marines, the Air Force and Navy. The majority of the UNSC Army's operations and assignments do tend to be more land-oriented, but that's more from how their logistics work. While in a general way the UNSC Army can be defined as a "defensive force" due to most of their heavy equipment and actions taking place in holding the line against either the Insurrectionists or the Covenant or even local pirates or bandits, they aren't simply a defensive force. They have a rigorous training regimen, follow the same method and utilize virtually the same resources to accomplish their mission or to neutralize a threat. The UNSC Marine Corps does provide a long-arm-reach, in that entire Marine Expeditionary Forces can be mobilized in short order (either hours, or days) and do utilize the Naval assets if they do go off world. The same can be said about the UNSC Army, in that each planet...or rather each Colony World does have an assigned garrison or in the case of glassed colony worlds an assigned garrison. This garrison can vary in size, and in fact the definition of garrison duty at least in the ancient definition meant to be stationed in a town or city that housed a base or some other installation the garrison could use. The UNSC Army is also present on Earth. I say this under the reasoning that as Earth is the Ancestral Homeland of the human species, and is the capital of the UEG and second stronghold of the UNSC this would require quite a few garrisoned assets in the form of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and ONI. Considering that Reach had a size-able garrison of the aforementioned branches, Earth would have also been afforded the same. Reach had a rather massive garrison force, divided of course, while Earth would I'd imagine have a larger Army Garrison in comparison due to the High Command wanting to reinforce Earth and to harden it. That isn't to say that there wouldn't be a Marine Corps, Naval, Air Force or ONI presence. Quite the opposite. It's why as Johnson described in Contact Harvest that while Reach had the existing net of SuperMac Orbital Platforms that Earth's had been on the drawing board when he'd last visited, and it's safe to say that as we've seen evidenced in Halo 2 that Earth had far more time and resources invested into its defense. This, of course, isn't to say that Reach suffered from lack of funding or cut funding either as both were fortified. I meant to add this earlier in reference to your bit about the UNSC Army being a different organization than what we're used to, but I happened to forget about that until now. When I first created and had my character Mark Sorelson first approved, the UNSC Army branch had been a playable branch and I'd created the character to be a Staff Sergeant of the UNSC Army before I switched the character to being a Marine when the Army Branch became unplayable. The rank system, and organization of the UNSC Army takes from both the US Army and the UK Army at least as far to my knowledge. Though, as with anything we take part in we write about what we know, and the characters are no different. As Wax pointed out earlier, the UN during the Solar System Wars...the Jovian Moons, and so on, absorbed the various military forces of the individual countries and combined them under one flag...one command. Each military, I'd imagine, would continue to either practice or adhere to their own different customs. Over time, this adherence of military units adhering to or practicing the customs of their own countries or histories of said units, those customs and mythologies and legends would have been passed on or mingled with the rest of the UN's forces. This would ultimately lead to those customs, quirks and so on being carried over into the UNSC. Alright fair enough. As UNSC guru you're more well versed in the Halo lore than I am, I bow to your judgement. The only negative I see to this then is the aformentioned redundancy and such that I mentioned in my last post.
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Cabel
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Cabel: Um
UNSC Guru
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Post by Cabel on Sept 5, 2016 18:15:10 GMT -6
Please, don't bow to my knowledge. You did raise some interesting points about the UNSC Army, and I thank you.
As for the Redundancy, it can be seen as that in a way. Some in the other branches might even see it that way, but when the crap hits the fan and the line or installations or heavy equipment has to be brought in the Army has it.
Then again, I'd see it as a little odd (though not in a bad sense) if UNSC Army personnel (PC-wise) ended up on the same ship in an evacuation or even a transportation to their next assignment as UNSC Marine Corps personnel (PC-Wise).
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Wax™
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Symmetry is Key
Guardian
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Post by Wax™ on Sept 5, 2016 23:38:45 GMT -6
I think the only time it wouldn't be weird/odd if the UNSC Army and UNSC Marine Corps shared a transport ship. Is if it was a huge carrier with plenty of room or we were leaving a war torn planet to go home.
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MrKill
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The Site dad
Guardian
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Post by MrKill on Sept 6, 2016 1:01:30 GMT -6
I think there is another important thing to realise here.
The UNSC Army is like the Marines from World War 2. They started out the war, and in 2552, were still under-equipped to fight the Covenant. The Marines from 1941, however, were able to get new equipment and materials by the time the war ended in 1945. Some could argue that the UNSC Army, being a local planetary defence force, don't have an extremely high budget. Though they do what they can with it, like arm their troops with new armour and maintain support elements, they are using old guns.
The MA37, for example, is the parent to the MA5 series of rifles. The Marines are currently using the MA5B or MA5C at this point in the war.
The M392 DMR is a pre-war marksmen rifle and in service with the UNSC Army. The UNSC Marines discontinued the rifle for the superior (in the sense of a novel realism) BR55 and follow up design BR55 HBSR.
The M45, an army shotgun, was removed from Marine service for the superior M90 shotgun.
Since the Marines are still using the Navy's budget (there haven't been any canonical entries for the Marines having a separate budget) they have more credits available to them.
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Cabel
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Cabel: Um
UNSC Guru
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Post by Cabel on Sept 7, 2016 0:19:50 GMT -6
I think there is another important thing to realise here. The UNSC Army is like the Marines from World War 2. They started out the war, and in 2552, were still under-equipped to fight the Covenant. The Marines from 1941, however, were able to get new equipment and materials by the time the war ended in 1945. Some could argue that the UNSC Army, being a local planetary defence force, don't have an extremely high budget. Though they do what they can with it, like arm their troops with new armour and maintain support elements, they are using old guns. The MA37, for example, is the parent to the MA5 series of rifles. The Marines are currently using the MA5B or MA5C at this point in the war. The M392 DMR is a pre-war marksmen rifle and in service with the UNSC Army. The UNSC Marines discontinued the rifle for the superior (in the sense of a novel realism) BR55 and follow up design BR55 HBSR. The M45, an army shotgun, was removed from Marine service for the superior M90 shotgun. Since the Marines are still using the Navy's budget (there haven't been any canonical entries for the Marines having a separate budget) they have more credits available to them. That's a great point, Kill. The UNSC Army was under-equipped, with older weaponry especially the standard issued MA37 Rifles and the M45 Shotguns. Their vehicles though tend to run the gambit of older, and even the same model Warthogs as the Marine Corps except when it comes to the Pelicans in which the UNSC Army utilizes models with the chin-mounted guns. I did like the comparison of how the UNSC Army was similar to the US Marine Corps at the outset of World War 2, and how the US Marine Corps due to an increased budget and operations was able to gain better equipment near the War's end. If another comparison can be made, and I know this has also been reached or at least compared to in either The Fall of Reach or in The Flood that Reach was similar to Pearl Harbor. It's an over-done cliche, and comparison if you ask me though. If we are led to believe that the UNSC Army is indeed using older guns, which we do know, but do supply their troops or at least armored divisions with "more recent" models then Reach would most likely be similar to either Pearl Harbor or Midway.
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