M7S SMG

"The suppressed M7 -- tears through armor and turns bad guys into chum."

- Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck

The M7S Submachine Gun, sometimes referred to as the Suppressed or Silenced SMG or more colloquially by UNSC personnel as the bullet hose, black box, chum and popcorn, is a personal defense weapon issued to UNSC Armed Forces special operators.

Design details
A variant of the M7 SMG, the M7S is equipped with an external flash and SS/M 49 sound suppressor on the barrel along with an underbarrel flashlight. To assist the user in target acquisition, the weapon is fitted with a SLS/V 5B smart-linked scope. Muzzle flash is significantly reduced, and firing the weapon gives a barely noticeable sound, increasing stealth applications for the M7S Submachine Gun and increasing accuracy from decreased recoil, making the weapon more efficient at medium-long range. It fires 5×23mm M443 Caseless Full Metal Jacket from a reduced 48-round magazine. Some usage of the M7S sees the SMG employed with a laser sight.

History
The M7S was introduced into UNSC service in 2431, and saw use during the Insurrection. The M7S was notably employed by SPARTAN-II Blue Team during Operation: TALON, during which they captured URF leader Robert Watts. The weapon continued to see use throughout the Human-Covenant War, becoming notably iconic in the hands of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. The weapon saw heavy use during the Battle of Mombasa in late 2552, and has since continued to see use by ODST units in the Post-Covenant War conflicts.

Changes from Halo 2 Vista to Halo 3: ODST

 * The weapon lacks an activated laser sight, which is now mitigated to a simple aesthetic on the weapon.
 * The M7S now has a 2× zoom scope, adding more ranged capabilities.

Changes from Halo 3: ODST to Halo 2: Anniversary

 * The magazine size is increased from 48 to 60 and ammo capacity also increased from 192 to 240.
 * The M7S can now be dual wielded, however the player will be unable utilize the guns' scope while dual wielding.
 * The weapon now has visible reticle bloom in place of spread.

Changes from Halo 2: Anniversary to Halo 3

 * Can no longer be dual wielded.
 * Visible reticle bloom is replaced by spread.

Production notes
The suppressed submachine gun is one of several weapons cut during the production of Halo 2. In this iteration, the SMG was simply the regular SMG with a suppressor attached and updated particles and sound effects. The weapon was later introduced in the Halo 2 PC port as a default spawn on the Example map, and for use in modding. The weapon is also found by default on the cut map Beach Battle, similarly-intended for use as a modding tutorial.

The weapon was first canonically mentioned in the Bungie.net article for the SMG in Halo 3, referencing the Halo 2 suppressed SMG, before properly introduced as a staple weapon of Halo 3: ODST, and in the updated multiplayer component of Halo 2: Anniversary.

In Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the release of Halo 2 on PC saw the suppressed SMG added to the game's shared file directory, allowing anyone to use it via modding. The release of Halo 3: ODST on PC later saw the M7S and its pistol counterpart ported into Halo 3, available for use in multiplayer and Forge.

Trivia

 * The M7S is the starting weapon in most Firefight levels in Halo 3: ODST except for Windward, where the player starts with a sniper rifle instead.
 * The Halo 3: ODST manual erroneously states that the M7S is "a sound-suppressed variant of the M7 rifle".
 * In Halo Wars 2, the M7S SMGs wielded by ODSTs are equipped with laser sights.

List of appearances

 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo 2 for Windows Vista
 * Halo 3
 * Halo: Contact Harvest
 * Halo: Helljumper
 * The Life
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo Legends
 * The Babysitter
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Headhunters
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Halo: New Blood
 * Hunt the Truth
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series
 * Halo Wars 2
 * Halo: Retribution