GBU-1105 bomb

GBU-1105 bomb
Production overview
Type:	Air-dropped bomb
Specifications
Operation:	Cryonic
Service history
In service:	Human-Covenant War

The Guided Bomb Unit-1105, nicknamed the "cryo bomb", is an air-dropped weapon in service with the United Nations Space Command armed forces. It makes use of an unconventional payload that when released is capable of freezing a small area and doing great damage to personnel and equipment in its blast radius. It is typically dropped by a B-65 Shortsword bomber.

Overview

The cryo bomb originated as part of Professor Ellen Anders' research into vacuum energy extraction, which allows a given generator to "siphon" thermal energy out of a target area, freezing it for a given period of time. The bomb is generally delivered by an aircraft such as the B-65 Shortsword bomber. When detonated, the bomb freezes the target region, rendering personnel and machinery slowed or immobile and even causing aircraft to drop out of the sky.

While Anders' research was seemingly-limited to just the cryo bomb, it was later used as inspiration by Serina for further research into cryonic weaponry. This resulted in a variety of new and theoretical creations by the smart AI during her long period of downtime aboard UNSC Spirit of Fire while adrift between 2531 and 2559, including the Ice Barrier, ZAV-48 Frostraven, M88 "Cryo" Bison, and "Cryo Troopers".

In-game information

Halo Wars

The cryo bomb is a leader power available for Professor Anders in Halo Wars, costing 600 and requiring 1 to use. It serves as Anders' replacement for Cutter's MAC Blast and Sergeant Forge's Carpet Bomb. Of the three, the cryo bomb is the most complex, requiring the player to call it in via Shortsword bombing run (similar to the Carpet Bomb and Disruption Bomb). Once called in, a single bomb is dropped, freezing the area around it but not dealing any direct damage. Units caught in the bomb's blast are slowed or outright frozen in place depending on the upgrade tier of the bomb and the unit's strength, while affected aircraft are either slowed or, if frozen, outright drop out of the sky to its destruction. If a production building like a Barracks or Supply Pad is caught within the cryo bomb's range, the building will pause production for the period of time, or in the Supply Pad's case, incoming supplies will stop.

The cryo bomb is best used when a player wants to freeze their opponent's aircraft and Uber units. This leader power must be backed up with troops because unless the units are heavily damaged, the attack will not kill them. In campaign mode, along with working well against Covenant air units, it is highly effective against the Flood's swarm and bomber forms too. While a cryo bomb won't kill them, it freezes the Flood in place, opening them up to a brief unimpeded attack before they unfreeze.

In the campaign, the cryo bomb is available to use on the missions Shield World and Escape.

The cryo bomb can be enhanced three times from the Field Armory to make its effect last longer and to increase the number of air units capable of being destroyed. At its hightest tier, the cryo bomb is capable of freezing Uber units like the Vulture and Scarab. Title Update #2 increased the resource cost by 50%.

Name	Type	Cost			Description
		Population	Tech	Resources
Medium Cryo Bomb	Upgrade	N/A	2	525	Increases the duration of the freeze effect and instantly kills more units.
Large Cryo Bomb	Upgrade	N/A	3	750	Increases the duration of the freeze effect and instantly kills more units.
Super Cryo Bomb	Upgrade	N/A	4	1050	Increases the duration of the freeze effect and instantly kills more units.

Halo Wars 2

In Halo Wars 2, the cryo bomb is a leader power exclusive to Serina, serving as a core part of what is now a vastly expanded roster of cryo weapons and abilities. Like its Halo Wars counterpart, the cryo bomb has three upgrades and does not kill units, though it does cause some damage to them. However, it no longer causes aircraft to shatter. Instead, players must cause extra damage before the enemy unit will shatter.

The cryo bomb can be upgraded multiple times using leader points in the leader power menu, increasing its effectiveness at the cost of making it more expensive to call in. At all stages of upgrade the cryo bomb has a cooldown time of 228 seconds.

Name	Type	Cost			Description
		Population	Supplies	Power
Cryo Bomb I	Upgrade	N/A	200	200	Activate to freeze units and buildings in the area, stopping all movement and actions.
Cryo Bomb II	Upgrade	N/A	300	300	Increases area that gets frozen
Cryo Bomb III	Upgrade	N/A	400	400	Further increases area that gets frozen

Gallery

• 

  A cryo bomb in Halo Wars, freezing several AV-22 Sparrowhawks.

• 

  A cryo bomb causing an AC-220 Vulture to fall from the sky.

• 

  The cryo Bomb Blitz card in Halo Wars 2.

List of appearances

• Halo Wars (First appearance)
• Halo Wars 2