Crimson Team was one of the SPARTAN-II Class-I Special Warfare Teams, dedicated to small scale combat against hostile forces and counter terrorism. The Team often acted separately of other SPARTAN Teams, or acted as the van guard of their eventual arrival. The team roster had changed over the years, being reduced to only one member for a short period during 2552, before being brought back to full strength during the efforts to liberate Earth. By the end of the war, and the dissolution of the SPARTAN-II teams, Crimson Team had become the third most decorated SPARTAN-II unit, with a total of three Colonial Crosses (Behind Red Team's 4 and Blue teams total of five, three of them alone being rewarded to SPARTAN-117).