M19 SSM Rocket Launcher

The M19 SSM Rocket Launcher is a weapon used by UNSC forces in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 to combat armored vehicles. The launcher has a 2x scope, and lock on capabilities in Halo 2.

Summary

The M19, alternatively called the SPNKr or the Jackhammer, is a heavy ordinance weapon of the UNSC arsenal used in Halo 1, Halo 2 and Halo 3. It fires HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rockets. The launcher sports a 2x scope and can fire rockets over long distances with devastating accuracy.

The weapon has two barrels, allowing consecutive shots. When reloaded, barrels are opened in the back and the "pack" of two rockets is removed and a new one is inserted. With this mechanism, a Marine can greatly reduce the weight he carries without throwing the weapon away like with modern day disposable rocket launchers. A Spartan wielding one is also very effective, since their augmentations have given them the ability to hold any form of weapon still.

Advantages

The rocket launcher spreads a huge amount of damage over a large area. It is capable of taking out entire groups of targets at any range and can kill all the riders of nearly any vehicle (with the exception of the Scorpion Tank or Wraith) with one direct hit. It is very useful for killing Hunters, which are often the most difficult enemies to kill. For an anti-tank weapon it has a high rate of fire and can quickly launch two consecutive shots so it is effective in close range assaults against tanks. It also has a strong melee attack. In Halo: Combat Evolved, it was originally possible to kill someone with a single running or jumping version of the rocket launcher's melee attack. This has since been corrected.

The lock on feature in Halo 2 makes aiming much easier, and killing vehicles almost a guarantee.

Disadvantages

The Master Chief in Mk. V armor fires a rocket at a Covenant Wraith.

Several things counterbalance the rocket launcher's sheer power:

1. Its reload time is very large.
2. The rockets leave a trail of black smoke in their wake, giving away your position if you are hidden.
3. Ammunition is often unavailable, and the player can carry only 8 rockets in Halo 1 and 6 in Halo 2.
4. The splash damage of a rocket can damage or kill its operator if fired carelessly into surrounding terrain or an enemy at extremely short range.
5. The rocket travels slowly enough to be dodged and trying to hit moving vehicles from long range will require very precise timing and predictable driving by the opponent. In Halo 2, this is not an issue due to the homing rockets.

Effective Against

All enemies and vehicles, particularly heavier vehicles such as the Wraith and Scorpion (One accurate shot can kill a Scorpion's driver in Halo 1). Two quick shots to the front or close up on the flank will destroy it. However, against enemy vehicles on their flanks at medium ranges is arguably useless, unless in flat terrain and using extreme leading, it suffers against Ghosts and Warthogs due to their high speed and agility. If fired at an oncoming vehicle at medium range it can usually be avoided. It can also be used to deadly efficiency in some of the indoor multiplayer levels if the player can predict the rockets impact point and where the target will be at that given time. This is easier than it sounds due to the "splash" radius of the rocket.

Ammo

M19 Surface to Surface Missile (x2) 102mm Shaped-Charge High-Explosive. (As shown on Ammo Box in Halo Graphic Novel)

Influences

Apart from its lock-on ability in Halo 2, the M19 SSM is essentially a Halo-universe copy of the SPNKR-X18 SSM Launcher from the Marathon series. The M19 is also nicknamed the "Spanker" due to the "SPNKr" labeling on the launcher and the rectangular cases that contain rocket ammunition.

Trivia

• This version of the Rocket launcher has a TEST button that, when pressed, spins the barrels around. This animation only happens when the player doesn't press any buttons or move a thumb-stick for a while.
• Gamestop released a Halo 3 Rocket Launcher missile case game holder to coincide with the release of Halo 3.
• If the rocket launcher is given to a Grunt in Halo 2, it will actually shrink.
• The Rocket Launcher only has the lock on target feature in Halo 2.
• The Rocket Launcher actually says M41 on the side.
• The letters on the side say "SPNKr" or "Spanker".
• According to the diagram on the side of the Rocket Launcher, everybody using it is holding it on the wrong side.
• It is commonly regarded as a noob weapon purely because it requires almost no skill to kill any sort of enemy, including Spartans. (However, it may take two shots to kill a Hunter if it is not a direct hit.)
• In the novel Halo: The Flood, Hunters can actually deflect rockets (that is, redirect it). This is highly improbable, as the rocket explodes the moment it comes in contact with anything).

See Also

• M19-B SAM Missile Launcher
• M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher

Character Compatibility

• Spartans
• Elites
• Marines
• Flood Combat Form (Human)
• Flood Combat Form (Elite)
• Brutes
• Grunts (Can be given to them in Uprising)

Sources

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