M41 SPNKr
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The M41 SSR MAV/AW is a heavy ordnance weapon of the UNSC arsenal used in Halo 3. It is different from the M19 SSM Rocket Launcher used in Halo. Both previous launchers had the words "M41 SSR MAV/AW" printed on them, but the game manuals, HUD dialogue, and novels refer to them as "M19 SSM Rocket Launchers".
Design details
The M41 SSR, alternatively called a "Spanker" (On the Halo 2 Rocket launcher it prints in paint: SPNKr), is a heavy ordnance weapon of the UNSC arsenal, used in Halo 3. It fires HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rockets. The launcher sports a 2x scope, and, in Halo 2, lock-on capabilities. It can fire rockets over long distances with devastating accuracy. This rocket launcher's damage has been increased over the Halo version. Some also believe it to be aesthetically superior.
When reloaded, the barrels are removed. Two preloaded barrels are then inserted back into the launcher. With this mechanism, a Marine can greatly reduce the weight he carries without throwing the weapon away like some contemporary disposable rocket launchers. This setup is very similar to that of the Javelin Anti-Tank System currently used by the U.S. military.
This is not the same rocket launcher as the M19 SSM Rocket Launcher used in Halo: Combat Evolved. The M41 is, however, directly derived from the M19 SSM models, and is indeed nearly identical to the first variant of the M19 as seen in Halo.
Advantages
The rocket launcher spreads a huge amount of damage over a large area, capable of taking out entire groups of targets at any range and can kill all the riders of nearly any vehicle (with the exception of the Scorpion Tank or Wraith) with one direct hit. It's very useful for killing Hunters with one shot, which are often the most difficult enemies to kill. It also has moderate rate of fire, as it is able to fire a second rocket almost two seconds after the first, making it useful for an outnumbered player to defeat or frighten multiple enemies. It is also very effective on Choppers, as they can't turn sharp corners very fast. Plus if you practice, you can learn to bend rocket trajectories around corners with grenades thrown before hand.
Disadvantages
Several things counterbalance the rocket launcher's sheer power:
- It reloads slowly.
- Additional ammunition is often limited or entirely unavailable, and the player can carry only 6 extra rockets at once, for a total of 8 rounds.
- Operators can easily kill or injure themselves if the weapon is fired carelessly into surrounding terrain or when they are extremely close to the targeted hostile. Additionally, the explosion from the rocket can accidentally kill friendly units near the target.
- The lock-on feature from Halo 2 has been disabled in Halo 3 to balance the weapon, though the rockets apparently still track targets automatically in certain cases.
- In Halo 3, an explosion near a rocket in flight will cause it to deflect. Deflected rockets tumble end over end, and will explode if they strike an object. However, the damage they do is reduced significantly; a deflected rocket will not kill a player with full shields.
- In Halo 2, you can lose a missile lock if you are in a banshee by pointing the nose as high as you can, getting out then back in quickly by pressing the X button rapidly.
- An explosion or a well-placed bullet can and will destroy a fired rocket.
- The rockets travel at slow speeds, allowing the would-be victim to dodge (given that nothing is blocking their escape). This wastes a rocket, which are usually scarce. This escape requires decent timing because the rocket travels faster in Halo 3 than in previous Halo games. To counter this, the Rocket Launcher operator should aim at structures or the environment around the target, so that the hostile is instead caught in the rocket's blast radius.
Halo 2
In Halo 2, the Rocket Launcher is much weaker than the one from Halo:Combat Evolved, although it still can destroy a small sized vehicle with one shot. Despite how many rockets it takes to take out a vehicle, the Halo 2 rocket launcher has a lock on system that tracks an enemy vehicle and nearly always hits its mark, destroying it. It can also shoot much faster.
Changes From M19 SSM Rocket Launcher
- The M41 HEAT rocket travels faster than its M19 counterpart.
- The tubing is also a metallic silver color rather then a synthetic black.
- It does not have the homing feature offered in the Halo 2's M41 model, and is more similar to Halo: Combat Evolved's M19 Model.
- Maximum ammo 8 rockets instead of 10.
- Different firing sound effect.
- Faster reload.
- Faster melee.
- Locks onto vehicles (Halo 2 only)
- Ammunition indicated in scope when zoomed in.
- HUD ammo indicator illustration changed.
- Less firepower & splash damage.
Influences
The M41 SSR MAV/AW was inspired by the SPNKr rocket launcher from the Marathon series. The launcher itself is also nicknamed SPNKr (pronounced "spanker") due to the labeling on rockets and rectangular ammunition cases.
Multiplayer Role
Acquiring the rocket launcher in a multiplayer game may prove difficult, since by default (on most maps) it spawns in a central, highly-contested area (players who know the level know where the Rocket Launcher is and thus clashes with the enemy for the weapon are quite common, usually when the match first starts). However, once acquired, this weapon can become very effective for all the reasons mentioned above - it can take out a large group of enemies in one shot, and can easily eliminate vehicles. Since direct impacts with the rocket are difficult to achieve, especially in open areas, it is prudent to aim at the ground in front of the enemy or the wall to their side. Though the shot may miss, the blast will often kill or seriously injure the opponent. Bear in mind, there is a short delay of around .25-.5 of a second between the player pulling the trigger and the rocket actually leaving the barrel. It may not sound like much, but it is actually a very important consideration for accurate shooting, particularly when deflection shooting.
In Halo 2, the Rocket Launcher was often considered to be a "noobish" weapon due to its high power and low talent curve. Furthermore, the weapon would not respawn when it had been picked up, even if it was out of ammo; many players would keep an empty Rocket Launcher just to deny anyone else access it.
With Halo 3's revamped weapon spawn system, this aspect of the weapon is no longer effective, and the Rocket Launcher has, as a rule, taken more skill to use. However, many veteran Halo 3 players still consider it to be a noob weapon because of its destructive power and the fact that it can very easily end a player's killing streak. This is possibly, however, merely a reaction coming from players that feel cheated after being hit by a lucky rocket. Due to the large blast radius, many players tend to use this over other weapon types when they attempt to get the multi-kill medals.
Character Compatibility
Trivia
- Rockets was recently made into a Double EXP weekend playlist, which included Splockets (Spartans lasers and Rockets), and also Snockets (Snipers and Rockets). Additionally, the Rocket Launcher is the main weapon used in the retired playlist Rocket Race, which is now a Double Exp Weekend playlist.
- The Rocket Launcher has a considerable recoil, although the very nature of it's design requires it to be recoilless. When the rocket is fired, the gases generated by its launch is shunted through the back of the barrel. When a rocket is fired in real life, the only sensation is an impulse and a forward shift in the weapon's center of gravity as the projectile leaves the weapon.
- In Halo 3, it is possible to shoot down the rockets fired from this weapon with a Battle Rifle or a Covenant Carbine as well as a Sniper Rifle or a Particle Beam Rifle. This is probably possible with other head-shot enabled weapons. The SMG, however, will not work. This was tested thoroughly in Theater Mode. There is a slight delay between when the shot hits the rocket and when the rocket explodes, however, which should be taken into consideration.
- Though it carries much less ammo, it is often preferred over the Fuel Rod Gun due to the rocket being stronger, faster, more accurate, possessing larger splash damage, and can't deflect off the terrain like the Fuel Rod Gun can.
