Fuel rod gun

This article is about the shoulder-mounted infantry weapon. For the vehicle-mounted weapon, see Fuel rod cannon.

A Sangheili Warrior wielding the Gespu-pattern fuel rod gun, the latest model engineered by various multi-species workshops on the colony world of Venezia.

"Those things are scary as hell. Ya hear that weird “whump” sound and even if ya see it comin' you're transfixed, these big green blobs flying at you throwin’ off sparks!"

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

The fuel rod gun is a shoulder-fired explosives launcher, formerly used by the Covenant military as a support weapon, and continued to be in service with its splinter factions. It is also sometimes called the flak cannon or fuel rod cannon, though the latter term is usually reserved for vehicle-mounted weapons based on the same technology. Other nicknames for the fuel rod gun includes Farg, the Thud Gun, and the Shine Box.

Overview

Design details

A green flash is emitted from a Chieftain's Korva-pattern fuel rod gun when the weapon is fired.

"They’re pretty tricky to handle—first off you gotta get over the fact that there is this glowing, green explosive whatever right next to your head; and it’s not like you can requisition any more ammo for the damn thing—but you can lay down a whole lotta hurt in a very short amount of time I’ll tell you that."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

The shoulder-mounted fuel rod gun is a self-loading and recoil-operated weapon that fires 38mm explosive fuel rods. The ammunition is loaded on the top aft section of the fuel rod gun, and can hold up to five ballistic projectiles before needing to be reloaded. Its ammunition is placed one on top of the other to form a clip and then is loaded into the weapon; it is unknown what exactly holds the rods together. When the trigger is pulled, the weapon ejects the projectile with a large flash.

The fuel rod gun is extremely powerful; as such, the Covenant went to great lengths to ensure it does not fall into enemy hands. For much of the Human-Covenant War, the prevalent model of the fuel rod gun—the Zasqi-pattern—was equipped with a set of crucial security interlocks that act as a fail-safe that activates under certain conditions, either by the user dropping the weapon without first engaging a safety, or if the weapon runs out of ammunition and is not reloaded after a certain amount of time. When the fail-safe activates, any remaining ammunitions within the chamber are detonated by the weapon's breach-pin. By late 2552, models without the failsafe became more commonplace, preventing the weapon from being self-destroyed.

The weapon's energetic component has been the subject of nearly three decades of intense human study. The Merchants of Qikost, the fuel rod gun's manufacturer in the post-war period, were only able to replicate its manufacture using prehistoric Forerunner machinery that occasionally requires Huragok maintenance and has proved nearly impossible to study. Both Misriah Armory and Materials Group have acquired the aforementioned Forerunner machinery, but are reluctant to produce potentially dangerous feedstock isotopes.

The design of the fuel rod gun is uniquely ornamental; it is typically covered by thick gold plates that make up the body of the weapon.

Ammunition

A Class-2 fuel rod projectile in mid-flight.

Main article: Fuel rod

"It’s so weird. I don’t know who first called it a fuel rod gun, but it’s kinda funny. I suppose the projectile is reminiscent of how you might expect to see a nuclear fuel rod depicted in a GA cartoon—all glowing green and throwing off sparks."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

The weapon fires radioactive projectiles colloquially termed as "fuel rods", specifically those of the Class-2 designation. Due to the devastating effects these projectiles have on their targets, the name was initially only given to communicate the weapon's stunning effects, but was later formalized. The Class-2 caseless projectiles are compressed canisters of incendiary gel approximately 38mm in diameter, which move in a parabolic arc and explode upon impact.

When the weapon is fired, the radioactive chemical in fuel rods is ignited and launched from its containment shell, exploding on impact or after the projectile's cycles have expelled sufficient gas to achieve environmental equilibrium. Depending on the quality and instability of the fuel rods being used, the weapon's effective range and blast raius varies widely. Regardless, their impact triggers a violent detonation capable of punching holes into enemy armor and fortifications, while turning enemy infantry into a smoldering crater.

History

"I catch a glimpse of green out of the corner of my eye and then there’s this huge "whoomf" and the 'Hog goes end over end burning with Gaz still at the wheel. I was riding shotty with the M41 so I just unlatched and pushed off when we started going up into the air and there went the 'Hog and Gaz and all our gear cart-wheeling into the ravine."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

A War Chieftain with a Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun, alongside a Ogab'd-pattern anti-aircraft Wraith armed with heavy fuel rod cannons.

The fuel rod gun's design lineage originated from ancient Sangheili flak cannons used during the War of Beginnings. In the earliest years of the Covenant, the fuel rod gun was a fixture of Covenant infantry. The fuel rod gun was first encountered by UNSC personnel in 2531, and classified as a major threat by the UNSC, with its power almost enough to make any marine ignore the weapon's operator and solely focus on the weapon instead. UNSC personnel were also warned that fuel rods are both radioactive and extremely toxic; as such, Spartan were advised to handle fuel rod components only when wearing the Mjolnir armor. Due to its success, it was integrated to various vehicles in the form of the similarly named fuel rod cannon. Itself being a variant of the assault cannon commonly fused to the arms of Mgalekgolo units, the fuel rod cannon fired Class-3 fuel rods instead, though it applied the same machine architecture and power systems.

Originally mass-produced in many and diverse patterns by the Assembly Forges on High Charity and Enduring Service, the traditional fuel rod gun was adopted by the Merchants of Qikost after the Human-Covenant War, granting their weapon architects access to a litany of older forms that surfaced during the war and the ages which preceded it. The weapon has seen remarkable superficial changes and design modifications, though very little has changed functionally between pattern types, which is proof of the weapon's steadfast performance in the field. After the Human-Covenant War, the conflict on Sanghelios has led to unprecedented advances in fuel rod technology; it notably led to the creation of the Light of Urs, which fires faster-moving projectiles that do more damage. Dominant in current arms circulation, the Gepsu-pattern is the most eccentric of all fuel rod gun designs, engineered by cross-species workshops on the human outlaw colony of Venezia. The pattern's main utility is its remarkably compact size and shape, allowing it to be used by a diversity of species. The Banished created the Fuel Rod SPNKr, which is a heavily modified variant of the standard M41D SPNKr that fires Venezian-repackaged fuel rod munitions; as such, it is functionally a fuel rod gun despite retaining the SPNKr's chassis and firing mechanism.

Usage

"No sooner had I put the Grunt down than Fisk has got a hold of that bad boy and dumps the whole clip into the column—stickies and everything just cooking off—secondaries like mad! Fisk was a crazy bastard he was—wish he was still with us."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

While designed for anti-armor and anti-matériel purposes, the fuel rod gun was commonly employed in both anti-personnel and anti-vehicle roles. While typically employed by heavy wepaon specialists, the fuel rod gun was also used by multiple species in the Covenant and its remnants. The Unggoy were commonly seen wielding fuel rod guns due to the weapon's stability, with the Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun being designed specfically for Unggoy operators. In some rare instances, fuel rod guns were also used by high-ranking Sangheili and Jiralhanae.

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  A Sangheili Field Marshal with a Korva-pattern fuel rod gun.

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  Multiple Special Operations Unggoy with Zasqi-pattern fuel rod guns.

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  An Unggoy Major with a Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun supported by a Heavy's plasma cannon.

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  A Jiralhanae Captain Ultra with a Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun.

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  A Sangheili Warrior with a Korva-pattern fuel rod gun.

Variants

Nizat 'Kvarosee with a purple Korva-pattern fuel rod gun.

"The Type-33s have more in common with the ballistic weapon on the Banshee than it does with the weapon that the Hunters carry around—well, not carry around, but you know what I mean."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

The fuel rod gun has a number of variants and offshoots.

• Gespu-pattern fuel rod gun: A variant engineered by cross-species workshops on Venezia, reflected in its remarkably compact size and shape, allowing it to be used by a diversity of species.
  • Light of Urs: An advanced model of Gespu, created thanks to the technological advances necessiatated by the Blooding Years. Light of Urs has a higher muzzle velocity for its projectiles, and can lock onto ground and air vehicles.
  • Pool of Radiance: A once-forbidden, unstable model of fuel rod gun that leaves incendiary gel residue in the area of impact.
• Korva-pattern fuel rod gun: A variant featuring a thermal optics display to dynamically track heat signatures, characterized by its angular and resillient chassis that became the most unified housing of any fuel rod gun patterns.
• Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun: A variant developed to accommodate Unggoy operators and engineered by San'Shyuum munitions-cyphers to evoke their own species' aesthetic preferences rather than raw performance.
• Zasqi-pattern fuel rod gun: One of the oldest patterns still in use; it is often incorporated with a self-destruct failsafe to avoid it falling into enemy hands.

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  Gespu-pattern fuel rod gun

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  Korva-pattern fuel rod gun

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  Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun

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  Zasqi-pattern fuel rod gun

Other similar weapons include:

• Assault cannon: The assault cannon applies the same machine architecture and power systems, as well as utilizing a variant of the same ammunition, though it is cateogorically distinct from the fuel rod gun. Many assault cannons launched fuel rod projectiles identical to the shoulder-mounted gun, while others employed focused magnetic fields to create a sustained blast, brutally scorching the target with incendiary gas.
• Fuel rod cannon: A variant of the assault cannon typically mounted on vehicles, though it fires Class-3 fuel rods, which have a greater range and a capability to track heat signatures.
• Fuel Rod SPNKr: A modified M41D SPNKr that fires fuel rod ammunitions, thus functions similarly to a fuel rod gun despite its different chassis and firing mechanism.

In-game information

Main article: Fuel Rod Gun (gameplay)

Advantages

The fuel rod gun is an extremely devastating weapon in the hands of a skilled infantry unit. The destructive power of the fuel rod gun is so effective that human forces often focus all of their attention on infantry wielding the fuel rod gun. Unsurprisingly, one strike from a fuel rod will instantly kill any light organic target, even one that is heavily armored. Infantry outside of the initial blast zone will be affected by the concussive force of the impact, which is strong enough to send them flying, and the radiation the rods release. Against light-armored vehicles the fuel rod gun is extremely effective as well, with the ability to flip small vehicles in only a few hits if it doesn't destroy them outright. The gun also takes less time to reload than the rocket launcher, can hold more ammo in both the magazine and reserve, has a very slight tracking ability, and a faster rate of fire. In the context of the Halo games, the fuel rods' strength and lethality are compensated for both the sake of gameplay and ratings.

Disadvantages

Rods from the fuel rod gun have a smaller explosive radius than the M41 rocket launcher. In addition, the fuel rods will arc once in flight and lose their accuracy over long distances. The large size of the weapon obscures the wielder's peripheral vision, and it reduces the speed of weaker infantry holding it, because of its significant weight, unless it is a Spartan carrying the weapon, due to their superior strength. The bright color of the weapon makes the wielder easy to spot, even when the weapon is backpacked; the green flash that occurs when the weapon is fired, can also give away the users position. The fuel rods are also extremely slow in flight. As a result, Fuel Rods are particularly weak against most reconnaissance vehicles (Ghosts, Warthogs, Banshees, Brute Choppers, Mongooses) at long range. This is because the intended target will easily dodge the fuel rod. It also lacks the lock-on and destructive capabilities of the Halo 2 rocket launcher or Halo 3 missile pod. Also, in Halo 3, the fuel rods usually bounce off the ground, missing their intended targets, unless it is a direct hit or you are directly facing the surface, such as walls and even the Scarab's exterior, although very rarely would it ricochet off vehicles and infantry.

Production notes

• The design of the Zasqi-pattern and the Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod guns were derived from two distinct weapons in Pre-Xbox Halo: the fuel rod gun and the flak cannon, respectively. Both weapons were originally planned for inclusion alongside each other. The fuel rod gun was to fire explosive bolts on a direct path, while the flak cannon was to be a magazine-fed weapon that fires explosive projectiles on a projectile arc.
• In Halo 2, Halo 4, Halo 2: Anniversary, and Halo 5: Guardians, fuel rod guns are erroneously called fuel rod cannons. Similarly, the Phoenix Log entry for Heavy Grunt in Halo Wars 2 also mistakes the Korva-pattern fuel rod gun for a fuel rod cannon. The inconsistency persisted in supplementary media like the Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide and the Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual; the Halo Waypoint article for the fuel rod gun also incorrectly identified the weapon as the fuel rod cannon,, though the article on Wraiths correctly stated that the anti-air Wraith employs fuel rod cannons. The distinction between the two fuel rod weapons was deliberately clarified in Halo: The Essential Visual Guide and the Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition).
• In Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST, in a similar case to the fuel rod cannon, fuel rods fired from an NPC's fuel rod gun have an enhanced lock-on ability, which players are unable to access.

Gallery

	See our gameplay information related to Fuel rod gun on its gameplay page.
	Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Concept art and illustrations

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  Concept art for the Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo Legends' Prototype.

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  Concept art for the Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo Legends' Homecoming.

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  Concept art for Halo: Reach's depiction of the Korva-pattern fuel rod gun.

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  Concept art of the fuel rod gun for Halo 5: Guardians by Glenn Israel.

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  Blitz card art of Unggoy Heavy with Korva-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo Wars 2.

Screenshots

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  A Special Operations Unggoy with a Zasqi-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo: Combat Evolved.

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  A Spartan holding a Zasqi-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo: Combat Evolved.

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  A Sangheili Zealot holding a Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo 2.

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  Marines carrying Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod guns on an M831 TT Warthog in Halo 3.

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  Unggoy Heavy carrying Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod guns in Halo 3.

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  A Sangheili firing a Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun at Yanme'e in Halo 3.

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  An Unggoy Heavy wielding a Korva-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo: Reach.

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  A Jiralhanae Chieftain wielding a Korva-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo: Reach.

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  An Unggoy Heavy wielding a Korva-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo 4.

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  A Heretic Unggoy wielding a Korva-pattern fuel rod gun in Halo 2: Anniversary campaign.

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  Olympia Vale wielding a Gespu-pattern fuel rod gun during the Battle of Nuusra in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Fred-104 with a Gespu-pattern fuel rod gun on Genesis in Halo 5: Guardians.

List of appearances

Halo: First Strike (First appearance) Halo 2 Halo: Ghosts of Onyx Halo: Uprising Halo 3 Halo: Helljumper Halo 3: ODST Halo Legends Homecoming Prototype Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Halo: Blood Line

Halo: Reach Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Halo 4 Spartan Ops Halo 2: Anniversary Terminals Halo: New Blood Halo: Ground Command Halo Wars 2 Halo: Rise of Atriox Halo: Collateral Damage Halo: Campaign Evolved