MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/C variant

The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/C variant, also known as the Close Quarters Battle Armor, or CQB, is a variant of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V and MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI.

Development history
When evaluating different opportunities to improve MJOLNIR across an assortment of engagement types, German-based Mobile Armament Systems proposed two distinctive variants CQC and CQB using data gathered from the UNSC's campaign on Jericho VII in 2535. Both variants were developed with one focus, that is to further improve the survivability in close quarter engagements. Field-tested at the Special Warfare Center in Essen, Deutschland, and integrating feedback gathered from SWC Seongnam, Korea, the CQB was used successfully throughout 2552 and its advances were eventually incorporated into the Mark VI series.

Design
Launched as part of the Mark V generation of MJOLNIR, the CQB variant specializes in the dispersal of kinetic energy, by looking at alternate methods to disperse the kinetic energy versus momentum transferred by a Spartan during combat. In addition the CQB's armor components are designed to optimize joint mobility in close quarters, coupled with integrated protection plating the CQB variant improves combat survivability in MOUT conditions.

The CQB helmet offers several unique advantages, the first is its improved field of view thanks to its oval T shaped visor and the second is its close quarters centered software-sensor integration. Although the CQB helmet surpasses the CQC in overall software-sensor integration the variant's ability to allow ad hoc modifications is limited as such modular upgrades are limited.

Helmet
Unlock (Halo: Reach): Waypoint Career Milestone 20 and Folks Need Heroes... achievement.

Unlock (Halo 3): Starter.

The CQB helmet features a roughly oval "T" shaped visor with two large cheek guards. The top of the helmet is reinforced by a black alloy that forms a protective brace on top. Two upgrades are available for the helmet, the first adds a Hardened Uplink/Remote Sensor Package on the left side with a Command Network Module-Improved on the right side HU/RS/CNM-I, and the second adds an Up-Armor plate with a Hardened Uplink Module on the left side (UA/HUL).

Shoulder pauldron
Unlock: Starter.

The shoulder pauldrons are worn significantly lower than those of the standard Mark VI armor. They consist of a rectangular, slightly curved metal plate that is attached approximately where the deltoids, biceps brachii, and brachialis muscles converge. In actual combat, this would greatly improve the ease at which a SPARTAN-II moves the arms for close quarters combat, but increase the shoulder and upper arm's exposure to damage.

Chest
Unlock: Starter.

Like in most other MJOLNIR variants, the chest plate seems to be a plate of alloy attached to the already existing Mark VI armor underneath. It consists of an additional set of four plates fused together in the body, and a tubular object at the bottom part of the chest plate which could either be a handle or some sort of canister due to its shape. There is an unusable Combat knife on the plate as well in a built-in sheath. In early development, the outer part of the chest piece was part of the secondary color group. Why this was changed is unknown.

Trivia

 * According to a survey taken by Bungie, the CQB chest is one of the most used Spartan chest plates on Xbox Live.
 * In the Halo Legends episode Homecoming, Daisy-023 is seen wearing what appears to be this variant of MJOLNIR armor during the Harvest Campaign. However, as the predecessor to the CQB did not enter service until 2548 this is not possible. The armor worn by Daisy-023 in Homecoming is actually an artistic license that enabled the studio to employ visual variety, while containing a minor element of canon; the color of the armor, which is meant to be an element of camouflage for the reddish desert environment she was operating in.
 * The CQB helmet very closely resembles the main character from the videogame Timeshift's helmet. Whether this resemblance was intentional by Bungie, Saber Interactive or neither is unknown.
 * The Mark IV Grenadier shoulder pieces bear a striking resemblance to the CQB shoulders from Halo 3.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo: Reach