Episode 18

[HELLFIRE]

688(I)-class SSN
- aka. Los Angeles-class, Flight 3 (SSN 751-773)
- largest class of SSNs ever constructed (62 units)
- major differences from previous Flight 1 and 2 are bow-mounted diving
planes, new combat system (BSY-1), improved quieting, and under-ice capability.

HALO jump aka High Altitude, Low Opening

The conventional way of dropping airborne troops into a target site
is at low altitude. Parachutes automatically open at ~1,000ft,
with soldiers exposed to enemy fire on the way down. If your plane
comes in at a higher altitude, jumpers will drift too far from the intended
drop zone. HALO solves this by having the plane come in at 20,000ft+
(to avoid enemy radar), with the jumpers using a combination of free-fall
and skydiving techniques to maintain stability and guidance to the proper
drop zone. 'Chutes are typically deployed at a DANGEROUSLY low altitude.

- as Chidori discovers, this is not a particularly pleasant experience, or
to be done without proper training and preparation

AV-8
- refer to ep 1




Regards