M41 SPNKr

The M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle / Assault Weapon (M41 SSR MAAW), formally known as the Medium Anti-Vehicle / Assault Weapon, Bore 102mm, M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Launcher, and commonly known as the Jackhammer or the SPNKR, is a heavy ordnance weapon used by the UNSC Defense Force. It is manufactured by Misriah Armory.

Design details
Through the various shoulder-launched rocket launchers used by the UNSC Defense Force since its creation, only the M41 rocket launcher has the tactical importance to be heavily manufactured. The M41 SSR has been in service with the UNSCDF for decades, as early as the Insurrection. It fires M19 102mm high-explosive shaped charge missiles. The weapon uses a unique system for loading and firing: rather than using a traditional magazine or single-shot system, it is fed by a pair of detachable barrels, each of which holds a single rocket. When one of the rockets is fired, the other is cycled into place; when both have been fired, the operator removes the barrel unit and inserts another. This allows the operator to quickly reload while in combat and greatly reduces the weight he carries without throwing the weapon away, as with some disposable rocket launchers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

The launcher has a 2x scope and can fire rockets over long distances with devastating accuracy, although the rockets' altitude decreases over long distances. The weapon possesses great firepower and, in many cases, is able to destroy even a Covenant Wraith tank with a single missile. Infantry armed with M41 rocket launchers can often turn the tide of a battle after other sources of heavy firepower have been destroyed. Many M41s and their M19 rockets are equipped with target tracking systems; these systems allow the operator to "home" on a target, which often guarantees that the target will be struck, even if it attempts evasive maneuvers. Some launchers are capable of tracking both ground-based and airborne targets, while others are capable of tracking only aircraft. Some M41s lack any form of tracking technology, requiring the operator to "dumb fire" the weapon without targeting assistance.

Some M41s feature a smart-linked sight, a trigger guard, and an ergonomic thumbhole stock, adding the impression of greater bulk. However, other versions lack these design features, possessing only a pistol grip and no trigger guard, resulting in a more skeletal overall appearance.

Advantages
The rocket launcher spreads a huge amount of damage over a large area. It is capable of taking out entire groups of infantry at any range and can kill both the passengers and crew of nearly any vehicle like the M808B Main Battle Tank. Its ability to fire two shots in rapid succession is also a major advantage.

Disadvantages
The M41 SSR, though powerful, is implemented in-game as an anti-vehicle weapon, not designed for engaging infantry. Thus, its reload time is quite slow, as it takes about three to five seconds for the M41 to be fully reloaded. The rockets are slow and leave a trail of smoke in their wake, giving away the operator's position. Ammunition is often limited or unavailable, and the operator can carry only six extra rockets at once, for a total of 8 rounds. The biggest disadvantage to the operator is the blast radius of a rocket; if fired too close the splash damage can severely injure or kill its operator if fired carelessly into surrounding terrain or at a close enemy.

Changes from Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 2

 * The weapon has a different firing sound effect.
 * The weapon's melee attack and reload speeds are faster.
 * Holding the right trigger allows the player to home on vehicles, gun turrets, and Sentinel Enforcers in the campaign.
 * Ammunition is indicated in the scope when zoomed in.
 * The HUD ammunition indicator illustration is changed.
 * The weapon's firepower and splash damage are decreased.

Changes from Halo 2 to Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST

 * The weapon's missiles travel faster.
 * The tubing has a metallic silver color rather than a synthetic black finish.
 * It lacks the homing feature from Halo 2.
 * It has a different firing sound effect.
 * The weapon's melee attack and reload speeds are further decreased.
 * The HUD ammunition indicator is again changed.

Changes from Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST to Halo: Reach

 * The grips of the weapon are enclosed in a thumbhole design.
 * It can now lock on to aircraft, but not other types of vehicles.
 * It has slightly different firing and rocket detonation sounds.
 * Rockets travel noticeably faster.
 * Splash damage is increased.
 * Rockets are mildly affected by gravity.

Changes from Halo: Reach to Halo 4

 * Rockets' travel speed increased.
 * The sound of the weapon firing has been, akin to the "tube" sound of a grenade launcher.
 * The weapon no longer has an audible indicator to verify that a lock has been achieved.
 * The rocket now leaves a noticeable vapor trail when fired.

Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians

 * The M41 is now a Legendary weapon.

Trivia

 * The weapon was identified as the M19 SSM rocket launcher in the game manuals of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 as well as in the Art of Halo 3. It was also referred to in Halo: Ghosts of Onyx as the M19 missile launcher. It was established in Halo: The Essential Visual Guide that M19 SSM refers to the rocket ammunition while the launcher itself is designated as the M41.
 * The M41 SSR is aesthetically similar to the SPNKR-XP surface-to-surface missile launcher from Marathon 2 and Marathon Infinity. This weapon is also the source of the M41's "SPNKr" moniker.
 * On the last level of Halo 3: ODST there are four rocket launchers with 1000 rockets each for use in Vidmaster Challenge: Deja Vu. These only appear on the Legendary difficulty when the Iron Skull is activated. If any player boards a Warthog, these rocket launchers will not spawn.
 * If the player uses Emile-A239's voice in Firefight, he will occasionally say "Someone's gonna pay!" when he readies a rocket launcher. This is a reference to the level If I Had a Rocket Launcher, I'd Make Someone Pay from Marathon 2: Durandal, which, in turn, was named after the Bruce Cockburn song If I Had a Rocket Launcher.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo 2
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo: Landfall
 * Halo: Last One Standing
 * Halo: Uprising
 * Halo 3
 * Halo: Helljumper
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo Legends
 * Origins


 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Dirt
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
 * Terminals
 * Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Mortal Dictata
 * Halo 2 Anniversary
 * Terminals
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Hunt the Truth
 * Halo 5: Guardians
 * Halo Online