XM4600 Zeus plasma munition howitzer

The XM4600 Zeus plasma munition howitzer is a human mortar weapon capable of focusing and directing plasma as a projectile like most Covenant weapons.

Design details
On the M145D Rhino the Zeus cannon is mounted to a large turret, the weapon is capable of traversing upward at a roughly forty-five degree angle. The Zeus 320mm plasma cannon has a range of 100 kilometers, and as with all plasma-based weapons, the Zeus is potent against energy shielding. The weapon operates via use of reverse-engineered fuel rods placed inside a modified artillery shell, fired from a custom-built howitzer.

The Zeus has a bore of 320mm.

Development history
During the Harvest campaign the Office of Naval Intelligence procured numerous specimens of Covenant fuel rods, and made quick work beginning to reverse engineer it. One project resulted in the M145D Rhino, a basis for the Zeus 320mm plasma cannon, a cannon which could make use and direct plasma energy.

Usage
By February 2531, the Rhinos and their plasma cannons were being field-tested and the carried some prototypes on board.

During the Battle for Arcadia, the cannons of five Rhinos in conjunction were used to take down a portion of a giant energy shield, allowing the to take down the Covenant shield generators and air defenses below, exposing the Covenant operation on Arcadia.

List of appearances

 * Halo Wars