Type-33 needler

Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (T-33 GML), also known as the Type-33 Needler, is the United Nations Space Command's type classification for four distinct patterns of the Needler, a Covenant needle-based infantry automatic weapon that launch Subanese crystalline shards capable of homing-in on targets. Although the four distinct patterns of the Needlers possessed aesthetic and functional differences, their shared UNSC type designation suggests that they were all catalogued and classified in 2533.

Nahle'hax-pattern needle launcher
The Nahle'hax-pattern needle launcher is designated as T-33 GML. This variant was commonly employed by the Covenant and its remnants.

Fleet of Particular Justice variant
This pattern designated as Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher was manufactured by the Sacred Promissory.

Design details
This Needler pattern is characterized by an additional handguard around the grip between the cowlings. It also possesses a longer handguard extending from the lower cowling, though, unlike other Needlers with this attribute, the handguard is angled downwards rather than curving upwards.

Usage
This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed during the Battle of Installation 04 by the forces deployed from the Fleet of Particular Justice. It was particularly popular among Special Operations Unggoy combating the Flood.

Fleet of Sacred Consecration variant
This pattern designated as Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher was manufactured by the Sacred Promissory.

Design details
This Needler pattern is characterized by upper and lower cowlings of congruent lengths.

Usage
This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed by the forces deployed from the Fleet of Sacred Consecration during the Battle of Mombasa and Battle of Installation 05. Members of Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction, especially the Unggoy, favored this Needler pattern as well.

Truth's fleet pattern
This pattern designated as Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher was manufactured by the Sacred Promissory.

Design details
This Needler pattern is characterized by upper and lower cowlings of congruent lengths. In addition, there are purple light fixtures around the barrel and its adjoining channel braces.

Usage
This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed by the forces deployed from the Prophet of Truth's fleet during the Battle of Voi and the Battle of Installation 00

Trivia

 * On the Halo 2 level Quarantine Zone, there is a lone Sentinel that fires Needler rounds and drops a Needler when it is destroyed.
 * In Halo 3, regardless of how many needles are loaded in the weapon, none will appear in the Needler's shadow.
 * Bungie.net's Halo 3 statistics page claims that the Needler has thirty needles per magazine instead of the actual nineteen.
 * In Halo: Combat Evolved level 343 Guilty Spark and the Halo 2 Vista map Uplift are the only levels to feature Needler ammunition outside the Needler.
 * When using Anniversary mode in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, dropped Needlers are always depicted as either being fully loaded or completely depleted. However, when playing Classic mode, the number of needles can be seen indicating how many remained in the magazine prior to the weapon being picked up.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo 2
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Believe
 * Enemy Weapon
 * Halo 3
 * Halo: The Cole Protocol
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo: Helljumper
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo Legends
 * Homecoming
 * Halo: Blood Line
 * Halo: Reach


 * Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
 * Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Broken Circle
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Hunt the Truth
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo: Last Light
 * Halo Mythos
 * Halo: Collateral Damage
 * Halo: Fireteam Raven
 * Halo: Battle Born
 * Halo: Renegades
 * Halo: Outpost Discovery
 * Halo: The Television Series
 * Homecoming
 * Reckoning
 * Transcendence