Canon

M121 Jackrabbit

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M121 Jackrabbit
HW2 Jackrabbit.png
Production information

Manufacturer:

Misriah Armory[1]

Technical specifications

Length:

5.5 meters (18 ft)[1]

Width:

2.7 meters (8.8 ft)[1]

Height:

2.3 meters (7.5 ft)[1]

Mass:

816.5 kilograms (1,800 lb)[1]

Maximum speed:

110 miles per hour (180 km/h)[1]

Armament:

Varies:

  • 1 weapons hard point (loadout optional)[1]
    • Rapid-fire automatic grenade launcher[1]
or
or

Crew:

1 driver[1]

Usage

Role(s):

Scout vehicle

Affiliation:

United Nations Space Command[4]
Surakan Militia Volunteers[3]

 

"Hunting and gathering."
— A Jackrabbit pilot.[4]

The M121 "Jackrabbit" Light Strike Vehicle is a light scouting vehicle manufactured by Misriah Armory and employed by the United Nations Space Command.[1][5]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The Jackrabbit is a fast and manoeuvrable scouting vehicle that resembles a bike in normal operations, with a semi-enclosed cockpit in the middle to seat a single driver. When decelerating, however, the front vehicle can split into two, turning the vehicle into a tripod for increased stability. When needing to accelerate, the wheels once again combine into one, allowing the vehicle bursts of speed up to a maximum of 110 miles per hour (180 km/h) on open terrain.[1][5]

Armaments[edit]

The rear of the Jackrabbit contains a single swivel-mount capable of equipping a variety of munitions. This is most commonly equipped with an automatic rapid-fire grenade launcher firing dual-purpose fragmentation grenades, though is also compatible with other weapons such as machine guns,[2] the M68 Gauss cannon[3] - and presumably other weaponry commonly mounted on Warthogs.

Variants[edit]

Usage[edit]

The Jackrabbit is generally used as a scouting and raiding vehicle. They are often coupled with a support drone such as an MQ-96 Support Drone, allowing it to assess enemy defenses for vulnerabilities even when removed from the UNSC battle network. With the reconnaissance data gathered, a Jackrabbit pilot can use the vehicle to make rapid strikes against enemy materiel or coordinate with a larger force to engage in hit-and-run or diversionary tactics.[1] They may sometimes be used by commanders for exploration or capturing regional control points.[5]

Operational history[edit]

On December 12, 2553, the Spartan-IIs Frederic-104 and Kelly-087 drove a pair of Jackrabbits through the front window of Trattoria Georgi, a restaurant in New Tyne, Venezia, that catered to those involved in black market purchases and smuggling during Operation: RETRIBUTION.[7]

Jackrabbits were used by the Surakan Militia Volunteers during the Carrow Conflict in September 2558. When plotting an attack on Hekabe in the Sharquoi hive, Michael-120 of Gray Team suggested that a Jackrabbit would be the best choice of vehicle to carry an improvised EMP cannon. The new governor of Suraka reluctantly agreed to part with a single Jackrabbit while the rest were used as part of the city's evacuation. Along with the makeshift attack force that was formed, the Jackrabbit was dropped from a Pelican dropship and was driven by Mike. By hanging on to the vehicle, Governor Ellis Gass, Jai-006, Adriana-111 and Rojka 'Kasaan were able to ride a distance into the hive before a Sharquoi attack directed by Hekabe stopped them. As everyone struggled to hold off the Sharquoi, the Jackrabbit was used to move the weapon closer until a Sharquoi fell on it from above and crushed the front end of the vehicle. The cannon survived and Jai at first physically carried the Jackrabbit before removing the cannon in favor of carrying that alone. The wrecked Jackrabbit was vaporized when Ellis detonated a HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon to destroy the Sharquoi and their hive.[3]

Prior to the defense of Onyx in October 2558, Spartan-IIIs Tom-B292 and Lucy-B091 used Jackrabbits armed with machine guns to destroy a group of Sentinels.[2]

Cheap and easy to manufacture, the Jackrabbit's design blueprint was one of the first to be integrated by the UNSC Spirit of Fire after Isabel's rescue on March 28, 2559 for use against the Banished on Installation 00.[4][5]

In-game information[edit]

Halo Wars 2[edit]

Campaign
  • Info: Scout, Very fast moving, Can de-capture
  • Tier: 0
  • Cost: Population 2, Supplies 220, Power 15

Jackrabbit upgrade: Mini-frag launcher

  • Info: Unit Upgrade, Weaponizes Jackrabbit
  • Tier: 1
  • Cost: Supplies 0, Power 200

Jackrabbit upgrade: Support drone

  • Info: Unit Upgrade, Equips drone, Increased Line of Sight, Drone heals Jackrabbit, Detects cloaked units
  • Tier: 2
  • Cost: Supplies 0, Power 400
Multiplayer
  • Info: Scout, Very fast moving, Can de-capture
  • Tier: 0
  • Cost: Population 2, Supplies 350, Power 15

Jackrabbit upgrade: Support drone

  • Info: Unit Upgrade, Equips drone, Increased Line of Sight, Drone heals Jackrabbit, Drone attacks units, Detects cloaked units
  • Tier: 1
  • Cost: Supplies 0, Power 450

The Jackrabbit can be built at the Firebase by all UNSC leaders. As a scout unit, they can gather resources. They perform moderately against infantry and vehicles, but do poorly against aircraft and structures. At the original launch of Halo Wars 2, Jackrabbits in multiplayer worked similarly to their campaign counterparts and spawned with no weapons, requiring an upgrade to get their grenade launcher. This was changed in the Season 4 June 2017 balance patch.[8]

In Blitz, the Jackrabbit costs Blitz Energy 20 energy, while the Wild Jackrabbit costs Blitz Energy 60 energy, and the Veteran Jackrabbit costs Blitz Energy 50 energy. Wild Jackrabbits explode upon being destroyed, destroying enemy units caught in the blast radius.

Phoenix Log[edit]

Phoenix Log - Jackrabbit
Phoenix log artwork

Fast reconnaissance trike.

The Jackrabbit, or M121 Light Strike Vehicle, is a very fast scout vehicle that can detect cloaked enemy units and rapidly gather resources. It can be upgraded with a mini-frag launcher for some offensive punch, but is frequently used for exploration and liberating resource nodes from opponents.

Cheap and easy to manufacture, the Jackrabbit's design blueprint was one of the first to be integrated by the Spirit of Fire after Isabel's rescue. At first glance it looks like a lightly armored bike with a compact cockpit for the rider, but when decelerating the front splits into two separate wheels to form a tripod and retain stability. When bursts of speed are required, the two wheels pinion together automatically.

Production notes[edit]

In the Halo Wars 2 Open Beta when upgraded with the mini-frag launcher, James Cutter called the upgraded Jackrabbit a "Gunrabbit".[9]

Trivia[edit]

Following the UNSC tradition of naming vehicles after animals, the M121 is named after the Jackrabbit.

Gallery[edit]

Development images[edit]

Screenshots[edit]

Merchandise[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 139
  2. ^ a b c Halo: Legacy of Onyx, chapter 13
  3. ^ a b c d Halo: Envoy, chapter 24
  4. ^ a b c Halo Wars 2, Jackrabbit in-game unit
  5. ^ a b c d Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Jackrabbit
  6. ^ MEGA Construx, Arctic Jackrabbit Assault (Retrieved on Jun 15, 2023) [archive]
  7. ^ Halo: Retribution, chapter 1
  8. ^ Halo Waypoint Forums, Balance Update - June 29: (June 29 balance patch notes) (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  9. ^ Halo Wars 2 Open Beta, Jackrabbit upgrade dialogue