M41 SPNKr

The M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle / Assault Weapon (M41 SSR MAV/AW), 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 (pronounced "spanker"), is a heavy ordnance weapon used by the UNSC and Insurrectionists. It is manufactured by Misriah Armory. Nicknames for the M41 SPNKr include Pain, Launcher, Breath of God, and Can Opener.

Design details
The M41 SPNKr is characterized by its two main components: firstly, a reusable launcher that opens and closes with a hinge mechanism, which encircles most of the magazine; secondly, a disposable magazine containing two rockets. The launcher is shoulder-fired, and the wielder stabilizes the weapon by holding a foregrip extending from the trigger guard. 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 disposable unit with two tubes, 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 opens the launcher, removes the twin-tube unit to insert another, and then closes the mechanism around the unit. As such, the M41 is considerably portable, allowing the operator to quickly reload while in combat and greatly reduces the weight he carries without throwing the weapon away. A self-test button on the weapon rotates the twin-tubes to ensure the mechanism will rotate as intended.

The M41 accepts a variety of ammunition types, with the most common being the unguided M19 102mm surface-to-surface missile. Other ammunitions include the M21 antipersonnel rocket, guided missiles, and hunter-killer loitering munitions.

Many M41s are equipped with a smart-linked fire control module and target tracking systems; these systems allow the operator to track a target, which often guarantees that the target will be struck, even if it attempts evasive maneuvers. While the M41 rocket launcher is optimized for ground targets, engineers at Misriah Armory have developed tweaks, integrating an enhanced tracking system on certain models of the M41. Subsequently, some launchers are capable of tracking both ground-based and airborne targets, while others are capable of tracking only aircrafts. Some M41s lack any form of tracking technology, requiring the operator to "dumb fire" the weapon without targeting assistance.

Multiple variants of the M41 have been observed, with functional and aesthetic differences. Although the M41D SPNKr has no magnification optics attached, it possesses a smart-linked fire control module. The M41D features a trigger guard, and an ergonomic thumbhole stock, adding the impression of greater bulk. However, the M41B model lack these design features, possessing only a pistol grip and no trigger guard, resulting in a more skeletal overall appearance.

The model used in October 2558, and the M41D variants used during the Battle for Zeta Halo, has a serial number of "00051405".



History
Though there have been various shoulder-launched rocket launchers in service with the UNSC Armed Forces 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 UNSC for decades since 2481, predating even the Insurrection, during which it was used by the UNSC and the Insurrectionists. Over time, the M41's role shifted from an anti-vehicular weapon to an all-purpose heavy weapon, even used in demolition purposes. While it was obsolete before the Human-Covenant War began, it was not replaced by the M57 Pilum until the Created conflict to counter Promethean Knights. However, even after it was replaced, it still saw use in War Games matches aboard the.

Variants

 * M41 SPNKr EM: Improved variant with four rockets per magazine and the ability to lock onto ground and air vehicles.
 * M41 SPNKr EX: Advanced variant that fires laser-guided cluster warhead rockets that detonate in proximity to enemies, releasing an effect similar to the fields of splinter grenades, albeit without the disintegration effect. It also produces a large red glare if used with Smart-Link.
 * M41 SPNKr Prime: Mythic variant that fires fast, powerful rockets. Spartans that use the SPNKr Prime in War Games also get boosts to movement speed, shield strength, and jump height.
 * M41B SPNKr: A variant with a pistol grip and no trigger guard, but features 2× magnification.
 * M41D SPNKr: A variant with no magnification optics. Used during the Battle for Zeta Halo.
 * M41D SPNKr Tracker: An improved version of the M41 that can track targets. Notably used by Zeretus during the Battle for Zeta Halo.

Gameplay
The M41 SPNKr and its variants are featured as a usable weapon in most of the Halo games, starting with Halo: Combat Evolved and continuing through to Infinite. In most of these, it is known as the "Rocket Launcher", though Halo 5: Guardians calls it the "SPNKr Rocket Launcher" as the name "Rocket Launcher" was given to the M57 Pilum instead. It is a power weapon, which fires slow-moving rockets that deal an incredible amount of damage upon detonation, with a wide area of effect. The Rocket Launcher is one of the most powerful weapons in the game, and to compensate, it has a small magazine size, slow reload speed and ammo is generally very rare.

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 2022 edition of the Halo Encyclopedia further expanded on the designation, giving the M41B designation to the variant first introduced in Halo: Combat Evolved, while the M41D designation was given to the Halo Infinite variant.
 * The M41 SPNKr, especially in its appearances starting from Halo: Reach, 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.
 * In Destiny 2's Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack, the rocket launcher Gjallarhorn, which debuted in the original Destiny, makes an appearance. Its new alternate appearance is "GJNKR", referencing both the original Marathon weapon and the Halo weapon. However, the appearance of GJNKR looks more like the pre-release SPNKr 108 SAM than anything from Marathon.
 * 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.
 * In Halo 2: Anniversary, while the in-game model reuses the one from Halo: Reach, the design of the M41 SPNKr depicted in Blur Studio's pre-rendered cutscenes is based on a piece of Halo: Reach concept art, featuring minor differences including a different foregrip design and blue (instead of yellow) decals on the twin-tube unit.

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: Ground Command
 * Halo Mythos
 * Halo Wars 2
 * Halo: Retribution
 * Halo: Collateral Damage
 * Halo: Fireteam Raven
 * Halo: Silent Storm
 * Halo: Oblivion
 * Halo: Shadows of Reach
 * Halo: Divine Wind
 * Halo Infinite
 * Halo: The Rubicon Protocol