Battlegroup Madrid

Battlegroup Madrid is a battlegroup in the Third Fleet that specialises in anti-ship warfare. The group is commanded by Captain Zachary Drake from the UNSC Preston and is often deployed on operations that require fast-striking craft that can still deal heavy damage.

Engagements
On January 3rd 2550 the early warning monitoring stations on the borders of the Psi Serpentis system detected unknown slipspace signatures entering UNSC space. Due to the system being off-limits to all non-ONI and authorised UNSC vessels, Captain Drake was tasked with taking Battlegroup Madrid to ensure that the trespassers left the system before ONI automated defence systems opened fire on them.

Once the battlegroup arrived, they were greeted with a Covenant task force comprised of 8 corvettes and a heavy destroyer. The alien ships opened fire on UNSC ships shortly after and both groups suffered heavy casualties, however ONI stealth frigates arrived to assist the UNSC and forced the Covenant to retreat. The overall losses were considered catastrophic for Battlegroup Madrid, prompting UNSC High Command to re-task Battlegroup Sierra Whiskey to the Third Fleet to replace the losses.

Assets
Cruisers Destroyers
 * UNSC Preston, Halcyon-class
 * UNSC Stormfalcon (DD-292), Diligence-class
 * UNSC Pursuer (DD-949), Diligence-class
 * UNSC Typhoon (DD-039), Diligence-class (destroyed)
 * UNSC Tornado (DD-621), Diligence-class (destroyed)
 * UNSC Rosetta (DD-213), Diligence-class (destroyed)
 * UNSC Facade (DD-094), Diligence-class (destroyed)
 * UNSC Inferno (DD-435), Diligence-class
 * UNSC Stockton (DD-124), Hillsborough-class (destroyed)
 * UNSC Chelsea Smile (DD-853), Hillsborough-class (destroyed)
 * UNSC Knuckle Sandwich (DD-942), Hillsborough-class
 * UNSC Gallivanting (DD-349), Hillsborough-class (destroyed)
 * UNSC Bell (DD-393), Hillsborough-class (destroyed)