Fuel rod
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Fuel rods (Sangheili: Ket-lambdatha) are a colloquial nickname given by human personnel for a form of explosive munition used in several Covenant weapon systems.[2][3] ContentsOverview[edit]The ket-lambathda gained their human-given nicknames from their appearance, visually resembling popular culture depictions of nuclear fuel rods.[1] Despite this, the technology has very little in common with nuclear technology. Fuel rods consist of caseless, transparent projectiles[3] containing incendiary gel - a radioactive substance composed of energetic meta-materials and strained-bond lattices—an imperfect form of Forerunner infusion gel.[4][2] When the fuel rod weapon is fired, the radioactive chemical inside the fuel rod is ignited and launched from its containment shell, exploding on impact with a surface or once enough gas has been expelled from the projectile to reach environmental equilibrium.[2] Usage[edit]Fuel rods are primarily employed by the Covenant in anti-armor and anti-air roles, fired by their fuel rod guns and fuel rod cannons. The visibility of the fuel rod projectiles in flight give them a distinct psychological effect on enemy soldiers, which helps in their intimidation value.[1] Fuel rods fired by vehicle-mounted cannons can be guided by remote lock-on, while those fired from infantry-mounted weapons typically fire with a pronounced arc allowing them to be used as an indirect-fire mortar. The XM4600 Zeus plasma munition howitzer developed by the United Nations Space Command during the Human-Covenant War utilises fuel rods encased in a custom 320mm shell.[5] Variants[edit]At least two variants of fuel rod munition have been catalogued by the UNSC; Class-2[edit]Class-2 fuel rod projectiles are unguided and 38 millimeters (1.5 in) in diameter.[3][1] They are the primary projectile fired by infantry-portable fuel rod guns including the Gespu-pattern, Korva-pattern, Pez'tk-pattern and Zasqi-pattern fuel rod guns, alongside some variants of assault cannon.[2] Class-3[edit]The fuel rod cannons mounted on the Ogab'd-pattern and Muv'te-pattern anti-aircraft Wraiths, alongside those of the Banshee use the heavier Class-3 fuel rods, which have a greater range and a capability to track heat signatures.[6] The Morsam-pattern Seraph is additionally equipped with four fuel rod cannons, which are capable of locking onto air targets.[7] Etymology[edit]Though widely used among UNSC personnel, "fuel rod" is actually an informal term supposedly originating from common popular culture depictions of nuclear fuel rods.[1][2] Rumors surround fuel rods, with many UNSC Marines under the apparent belief that even carrying a weapon that uses them for ammunition can cause Boren's Syndrome.[8] Gallery[edit]List of appearances[edit]
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