Zurdo-pattern Wraith: Difference between revisions

*[[Lodam Armory]] (post-Human-Covenant War) <ref name="H4EVG"/>

|hull=Nearly 2 ft polymer plating<ref name="ENC"/>

The '''Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage''' ('''T-26 AGC'''),<ref name="ENC"/> nicknamed the '''Wraith''' by the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]], is the [[Covenant]]'s main armoured infantry support/assault gun vehicle for ground engagements.  

Like all Covenant ground vehicles, the Wraith is sleek, bulbous and more reminiscent of an aircraft than a traditional ground vehicle. The Wraith is divided into four main sections: chassis, fins, rudders, and plasma mortar. The chassis houses the cockpit, which includes movement, targeting and firing controls. Holographic control surfaces and displays show the pilot a 360-degree view outside the Wraith.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''' ''page 113''</ref> Underneath the cockpit is a [[boosted gravity propulsion drive]],<ref name="h2manual">'''Halo 2 Manual''' ''page 19''</ref> which propels the Wraith and keeps it suspended a short distance above the ground. The Wraith's engine vents excess heat and plasma through an exhaust port at the rear of the vehicle; this port is one of the more vulnerable spots on the Wraith. The wide, sweeping fins at the front of the vehicle stabilize the vehicle on uneven terrain, as well as provide extra thrust during a boost.<ref name="h2manual"/> At the rear of the Wraith are two rudders, which control the turning of the vehicle using independent propulsion drives. The fourth major component is the Wraith's main weapon, a heavy plasma mortar, which rests above and behind the cockpit and can be retracted within the main body. The entirety of the Wraith is covered by nearly two feet of armor plating, which is composed of a polymer that is still poorly understood by human physicists.<ref name="ENC"/>

The main weapon of the Wraith is its 35&nbsp;cm [[plasma mortar]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach Manual''', ''page 9''</ref> The Wraith's mortar is attached to a fixed mounting, meaning that a Wraith must be facing its target in order to hit it.<ref name="ENC"/> The plasma mortar works by creating a magnetically encapsulated blob of superheated plasma and firing it at a relatively low velocity. Once fired, the bolt is magnetically guided in a ballistic trajectory until it strikes the ground or target. When the bolt hits, the magnetic bubble collapses and the plasma rapidly expands from its compressed state, creating a superheated explosion that will vaporize everything within twenty meters of impact.<ref name="strike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 112''</ref> Titanium battleplate, concrete, or flesh is instantly obliterated by the blast. Anything just outside of the kill zone is at risk of injury or death — after the initial impact, the plasma begins to cool and thermal expansion takes over, creating a wave of fire traveling outward that can travel away from the initial blast zone. Infantry within range can sustain burns and heat trauma. The explosion also generates a large amount of concussive force, which can splinter bones and destroy vital organs.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[Palace Hotel]]", ''page 351''</ref> Flammable materials are especially at risk of igniting due to the intense heat release and can cause further damage. Once the heat from the explosion dissipates, the blast zone will have been converted into a glass-smooth surface - much like the swaths of vitrified soil created by "[[glassing]]".

The Wraith is also equipped with an anti-infantry plasma turret. All Wraiths in service up to 2549 were equipped with two automated plasma cannons, while later models swapped these for extra-passenger space and a [[Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon|Type-52 DESW]] ring mount.<ref name="H2spec"/><ref>'''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo: Reach Stats''</ref> Both varieties of turret are able to burn through armor and flesh, with predictably gruesome results. Against infantry, the cannon's plasma causes severe fourth-degree burns.

With the exception of the [[Scarab]], the Wraith is the Covenant's most destructive mobile armor. Its huge bulk is well shielded from small arms fire, and it is resistant to medium explosive weapons. Its ability to be deployed with the aid of dropships makes insertions into the battlefield fairly easy. Its plasma mortar can easily decimate infantry and vehicles alike, and its destructive powers are so well known to UNSC forces that the mere sight of one on the battlefield can induce psychological effects.<ref name="strike"/> One of the benefits is the mortar function due to the trajectory that can suppress any incoming enemy from behind the wall, or those who are stationed at the rooftop that can't be reached by a Scorpion Tank's trajectory. While it's not suitable for head to head battle, it is most suitable to conduct a suppression fire mainly against enemy infantry.

During the opening of the [[Battle of Earth]], the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' managed to reach the city of [[Mombasa]]. In the short but bloody campaign, the Covenant was able to land armor and troops into the city. Wraiths quickly moved in to cut off civilian evacuation by the city's rail system. With civilians cut off, the Covenant began systematically destroying anything they could before the Prophet of Regret's ship jumped out of New Mombasa, destroying parts the city. In the aftermath of Regret's retreat the full-scale invasion of Earth began, the Covenant laid waste to many parts of the planet and Wraiths were on the forefront of the ground assault.<ref name="H2">'''[[Halo 2]]'''</ref><ref name="ODST">'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'''</ref><ref name="HSS"/>

As the Battle for Earth raged on, SPARTAN-117 with the full support of the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} launched a [[Battle of Installation 05|counter-strike]] against Regret, who had jumped to [[Installation 05]]. Wraiths were deployed in the same manner as they were on Installation 04, but with the threat of the UNSC, the Covenant relied on more aggressive tactics with their Wraiths to do anything possible to stop the advance of SPARTAN-117. The subsequent outbreak of the [[Flood]] and [[Great Schism|internal conflict]] that consumed the Covenant, however, left all involved to fend for themselves, after the conclusion of the battle for Installation 05 the Covenant reorganized and made a final push offensive on Earth.<ref name="H2"/>