BaconShelf/Sandbox2

This article is about the M12 Warthog. For the weapon, see M12.

"The Warthog is as much a part of the UNSC as boots, guns, and tasteless coffee."

— Halo Encyclopedia

The Warthog Force Application Vehicle, more commonly known as the Warthog or simply the Hog, is the name for a series of vehicles serving as the United Nations Space Command Armed Forces' primary joint light tactical ground vehicle.;^[1]^[2] its variants are capable of performing armament carrier, utility, command and control (shelter), ambulance, reconnaissance and a variety of other tactical and logistic support roles. It is a highly mobile, all-wheel-drive, all-wheel-steering, hydrogen-injected ICE-powered vehicle equipped with a manual transmission.^[2]

The most ubiquitous model are the M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle variants, which is equipped with advanced surveillance and a turret-mounted machine gun for a basic defensive capability. The M12 has been a part of the UNSC's mechanized infantry divisions and armored vehicle divisions since 2319,^[3] and is the most publicly recognizable vehicle in their arsenal.

Development history

An M12 Warthog LRV runs over a Jiralhanae Warlord during the Second Ark Conflict in Know Your Enemy.

AMG Transport Dynamics designed the first Warthog prototype in 2319, dubbed the "Z-12". The Z-12 prototype vehicles quickly proved to be popular due to a well-crafted advertising campaign and adept engineering team which demonstrated the prototype's impressive feature set and unparalleled functionality in the unpopulated remote territories of both Luna and Mars. AMG claimed that the vehicle that could "go anywhere and do anything". Within the first eight months of the Z-12 prototype's existence, AMG received over three dozen exclusivity contracts. Most of these contracts came from the Colonial Military Administration. By 2321, AMG Transport Dynamics worked with the CMA and established a deal to cover all of their land-based transportation needs. Around the time of this deal, the Z-12 became integrated into the M12 Force Application Vehicle. In addition, a pneumatically-powered swivel mount and armored body panels were added to the vehicle.^[3]

By 2329, the M12 FAV had become the most common all-terrain vehicle in service with the military—closely followed by the Mongoose and Civet vehicle lines that were also produced by AMG. CMA personnel began to refer to the M12 as the "Warthog", first establishing the vehicle's nickname. Eventually, the Warthog was adopted by the United Nations Space Command. More than a dozen iterative changes were added to the Warthog, and over two centuries later, after its original creation and design, the M12 Warthog remained the standard utility vehicle in UNSC service. Due to how commonplace the Warthog is, all UNSC personnel are required to know how to operate and maintain an M12 Warthog, regardless of military speciality or branch of service.^[3]

Design details

The Warthog is a four-wheel drive, all-terrain utility vehicle^[4] capable of going over any obstacle without difficulty. Under the hood the M12's power is generated by a forward-housed low-profile liquid-cooled hydrogen-injected ICE I/C plant, coupled with an automatic infinitely variable transmission (IVT).^[5] The hydrogen fuel is burned at a very high temperature with a synthetic carbon/silicon catalyst to achieve even better fuel consumption. This hydrogen engine is the standard among all UNSC ground (and most air) based vehicles, replacing fossil fuel-based engines some 400 years ago. The Warthog features a Graf/Hauptman solar/saline actuator, which is capable of converting up to twelve liters of fresh, brackish or salt water into hydrogen on the fly. Detritus from the process is compacted on board and disposed of manually by the crew. This allows the Warthog to travel 790 kilometers (490 miles) before it needs to be refueled, a range that can be easily extended by the addition of any container capable of holding liquid. Older models boast a fully independent swing-arm suspension system and four in-hub wheel motors.^[6]

The Warthog is a huge, unwieldy, difficult to steer vehicle — until a user learns how to drive it properly. With proper application of the hand, or "e-brake" the M12 can actually turn on a dime. Massive disc brakes and its automatic braking systems allow the vehicle to come to a near immediate, but controlled stop should the driver be ejected, or choose to leave the vehicle. The Warthog's tires have moved away from previous inert-gas pocket inflation with far more resilient and superior burst-proof single unit nanotube skeletons. They provide the buoyancy and ride of gas-pocket tires, but are almost indestructible, allowing the M12 to easily roll through situations that would leave other vehicles disabled and vulnerable. The relatively massive tires are a joint project between Michelin-Vance and AMG.^[6]

The Warthog shares parts – and handling characteristics – with the Spade and its sibling frontier trucks, which means that many recruits are already proficient with basic vehicle maintenance and off-road driving skills before they ever arrive at UNSC boot camp.^[7] However, the vehicle is so ubiquitous that all UNSC personnel are required to know how to operate and maintain the M12 FAV, regardless of military specialty or branch of service.^[3]

Variants

Due to its long service history and extremely versatile nature, the Warthog has seen considerable alteration and variation, with variants displaying varying levels of armor protection, armament, passenger capacity and other features. Major variants of the Warthog are denoted by their year of production.^[3]

Its description as a "force application vehicle" is spectacularly accurate; the Warthog has both offensive and defensive capabilities, as well as intel gathering and supply transport and practically any other task that can be accomplished by a wheeled vehicle. The Warthog can be configured to become a troop carrier, armament carrier, ambulance, reconnaissance vehicle, or communications vehicle. All M12-based vehicles are designed to travel both on and off-road, in all weather conditions.^[2] Removing the Warthog's turret and replacing it is a fairly simple process^[8], meaning that vehicles can be reconfigured to serve in roles ranging from light reconnaissance to troop/ cargo transport to anti-armor in a relative short period of time. As such, Warthog variants are typically classed according to their armament. These are;

M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle - The most common variant of Warthog, variants equipped with a mounted chaingun including the M41, M46 and M343A2 chaingun.
M12A1 Light Anti-Armor Vehicle - Warthog variant equipped with a mounted M39 rocket turret. Colloquially known as the Rocket Warthog.
M12G1 Light Anti-Armor Vehicle - Warthog variants equipped with a mounted M68 or M555 Gauss cannon. Colloquially known as the Gauss Warthog.
M12R Light Anti-Aircraft Vehicle - Warthog variants equipped with a mounted M79 or M80 missile launcher. Colloquially known as the Rocket Warthog.
Flame Warthog - Warthog variants employed with a mounted flamethrower.
Veteran Flame Warthog - Warthog variant employed with a mounted incendiary grenade launcher.
M831 Troop Transport - Warthog variant with a seating area and roll cage instead of a mounted turret, designed for troop transport.

However, not all Warthogs are deployed for combat. Some vehicles deployed for recon and transportation or in the case of resource shortages may have their turret removed^[9], and are given the name of Scout Warthog. In essence, the Scout Warthog is the "purest" form of the Warthog chassis, and many variants of Warthog are classified based on the base chassis rather than the weapon they carry. The two primary chassis variants of the Warthog are the M12 Warthog and M12B Warthog.

M12 Warthog

Various iterations of the M12 Warthog LRV.

Main article: M12 Warthog

The M12 Warthog was the predominant Warthog employed by UNSC forces between the 24th and 26th centuries, and saw use in the Insurrection and Human-Covenant War. It is descended for the Z-12 prototype vehicles designed in 2319. M12 Warthog models have been seen in the following variants;

Fireball Warthog - A modified Warthog employed by the UNSC Spirit of Fire.^[10]
M862 Arctic Warthog - Extreme-environment variant featuring enclosed cockpit and quad treads.
M864 Arctic Warthog - Cold-weather variant without as extreme modifications as the M862.
M868 Tropic Warthog - Tropical-environment Warthog with anti-corrosion coatings and rugged suspension.
M914 Recovery Vehicle - Warthog designed for recovery and repair of other Warthog vehicles.
Red Team's Warthog - A unique Warthog vehicle employed by Red Team.

M12B Warthog

Schematics of the M12B Warthog model.

Main article: M12B Warthog

By late 2552, however, the vehicle chassis known as the M12B Warthog^[11] had begun circulation^[12]^[13]^[14], seeing deployment in the last battles of the war and coming to prominence in the Post-War period.^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18] It incorporated side compartments into the body, features a more angular body style, utility bars over the hood and around the bed, and several other largely cosmetic changes, while keeping a similar design to the first chassis. This design typically carries several Jerrycans filled with water to be rendered into hydrogen for the engine. It has a lighting system of 24 LED brake light and ULED headlights. This chassis has a programmable nano-prismatic paint to refract color at any chromacity, depending on the vehicle's destination. A security bit was designed to prevent marines from tinkering with the finish, based on early and embarrassing experiences of the tech's deployment.^[19] Unlike most models used throughout the Human-Covenant War, this chassis uses a swing-axle system, a redesigned transmission and drive shafts, and constant-velocity joints. The M12B also features adjustable, non-pneumatic "smartwheels".^[11]

Armored Warthog - A Warthog variant designed by the AI Isabel for production aboard the Spirit of Fire.
Corp Warthog - Private corporations such as Liang-Dortmund Corporation have been authorised to purchase M12B Warthog variants for the defense of their corporate holdings in the colonies.^[20]
ONI Warthog - The Office of Naval Intelligence maintains its own fleet of Warthogs which are only superficially similar to standard models.^[21] They typically demonstrate unique and experimental weaponry.^[22]^[23]^[24]
Trooper Warthog - An up-armored Warthog variant employed by the Spirit of Fire.^[25]
Sword Warthog - Experimental Warthog variant created by UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios technicians with improved armor, energy shields and a modified chaingun firing Subanese crystal.
Tundra Warthog - Up-armored Warthog variant designed for operations in arctic terrain.
Woodland Warthog - Up-armored Warthog variant designed for operations in forested regions.
Urban Warthog - Up-armored Warthog variant designed for operations in urban environments.
Vespin Warthog - Up-armored Warthog designed for patrolling badlands on Sanghelios.

Other usage

Insurrectionist Warthogs

Aside from its military application by the CMA and UNSC, the Warthog has seen widespread popularity among civilian populaces and Insurrectionists. During the Insurrection, Insurrectionist forces under Howard Graves would utilise modified Warthogs at their base Camp New Hope, in which the vehicles would have a middle section welded between the front and back, creating armoured Warthog APCs.^[26]

Civilian Warthogs

Civilians also employ the Warthog for everyday transportation and racing. The most common variant of civilian Warthog is the 'Hog, a vehicle with variants on both the M12 and M12B chassis'. However, several Warthog variants have also been produced, designed for racing including the M12 GT, M12S Warthog CST and 550 Scuderia StarSpeed M-12R. The latter variant, colloquially referred to as the Rally Warthog, is designed by AMG's competition division for racing on New Carthage, and has seen many victories. The rally races it is involved in often involve dangerous fauna and other competitors, meaning some Rally Warthogs are equipped as Warthog LRVs.

Corporate Warthogs

Private corporate entities such as the Liang-Dortmund Corporation have been authorised employ military Warthogs, among other military hardware.

Other usage

By 2553, some Sangheili had brought Warthogs back to Sanghelios as personal war trophies.^[27]

Advantages

The M12 is the workhorse of light infantry ground vehicles, is adaptable to almost any situation, and is arguably the most customizable vehicle in the military's fleet similar to jeeps used in the 20th century. It is able to reach top speeds of 125 km/h (78 MPH) and, more importantly, swings around rapidly to allow the gunner a better angle on a prospective target. The mounted M41 chain gun can cut down heavily armored infantry within seconds, as well as shielded infantry. With enough controlled fire from the 12.7×99mm armor-piercing rounds, the M41 can easily rip through the armor of a Covenant Ghost and destroy it. The Warthog's titanium armor, though light, is tough enough to take at least one fragmentation grenade and can withstand small amounts of energy weapon fire. It also makes for a formidable scout and transportation vehicle, able to make a smooth getaway or rapid infiltration if needed.

Disadvantages

Due in part to its speed, the M12 is prone to roll over. It is vital that the driver can get in and out of dangerous situations without flipping the hard-to-right vehicle. The open nature of the Warthog always puts its driver and passengers at risk as a good marksman can easily take down the driver or passengers of the M12. A well thrown frag grenade can flip a Warthog, which will knock the driver and passenger out of the vehicle. Although the armor of the M12 is tough, a couple of direct hits from frag grenades, rounds from a sniper rifle, a well placed rocket or a lucky plasma grenade stick will destroy it immediately. Covenant heavy energy weapons are the biggest threat to the Warthog; a short burst from a Banshee's light plasma cannons is deadly, able to melt and punch through the armor with ease and kill the occupants. The Warthog is also vulnerable to the Banshee's Fuel Rod Gun which can reduce the vehicle to twisted charred metal with one strike. Infantry plasma weapons can inflict moderate damage, and, like all vehicles, can be rendered temporarily or permanently inoperable by a hit from an overcharged Plasma Pistol. In Halo: Reach and Halo 4, the M41 and M46 (respectively) LAAGs are prone to overheating, which requires the person operating the weapon to use it in short bursts. Failing to operate the weapon carefully will leave the operator vulnerable as they wait for the machine gun to cool down.^[28] Ice has also proven to be a major disadvantage, since the Warthog cannot be steered properly driving on ice due to poor tire traction.

UNSC personnel remarks

"It's [the M12] sort of a bear to wheel around, but that's something you gotta expect – the thing is twice the size of my granddad's car – but it's something you get used to pretty damned quick."
"On the battlefield speed is life and the M12 has that in spades – having a great big damn gun don’t hurt, either."
"One word: handbrake."
"I have yet to come up against an obstacle that the Warthog couldn't go right over."
"The Sarge hates it when we ram stuff, says the 'Hog ain't indestructible. But it sure feels like it when you're plowing through a crowd of startled Grunts, though."
"The seats are unreal! I was thinking of pulling a set out of a parts vehicle and shipping them home...but the wife shut it down – says everyone would be able to tell where they came from."
"Look at these legs – pretty nice, huh? It’s totally from getting in and out'a the 'Hog's thirty-six inch damn step height."

Trivia

Production notes

The Warthog was originally going to be a Humvee-like vehicle in the early stages of development of Halo: Combat Evolved.^[29]
WETA Workshop, based in New Zealand, built a two-third-scale, operating Warthog. It has several numbers on it, some possibly pertaining to that specific model or maybe even that specific Warthog, including, but not limited to, 5c8611, N/AAV-20 (a label similar to the M/AAV-20 that can be seen on the Halo Reach-era Warthog), and others. WETA's Warthog is almost accurate in every function, including a "working" minigun, four-wheel steering, digital displays, air bags, and the ability to "crab crawl". Stamps portraying the number and type of Covenant troops killed can be seen on the dash. This Warthog is featured in the Halo: Landfall live-action film series.^[30]
- Some Bungie employees were given the chance to drive WETA Workshop's Warthog. Three members of the Bungie team were driving the Warthog around a parking lot when they scraped the side of it on a small wooden structure built onto the side of a wall.^[31]
During Halo 2's development, Bungie considered creating more specialized Warthog variants including arctic, transport, and jungle models. The first two models were later featured in Halo 3 as the M864 Arctic and the M831 Troop Transport, respectively, while the latter model was named in the Halo Encyclopedia and later on Halo Waypoint as the M868 Tropic.

Miscellaneous

A warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in Africa, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming ground-based vehicles after real animals, with the exceptions of the Cyclops and Gremlin, which are named after mythical creatures.
A remote-controlled toy Warthog was one of the first Xbox 360 Avatar accessories available after the August 11, 2009 dashboard update that introduced Avatar accessories. It is available from the Xbox Live Avatar shop for 320 Microsoft Points, under Halo 3: ODST-themed accessories.
In Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach, the Warthog's tires are printed with the word PUMA. This is a reference to an episode of Red vs Blue's in which Simmons and Grif argue with Sarge about whether to call the vehicle a Puma or Warthog.
The Halo 4 Warthog is featured in Forza Motorsport 4.^[32] It is not drivable in game, though it appears in the Autovista mode where players can examine various details of the cars. The Warthog descriptions feature narration by Cortana. It is unlocked by unlocking all other non-DLC cars in Autovista.^[33] The developers considered adding the Warthog as a drivable vehicle, but due to Forza's focus on technical accuracy, the Warthog would have been difficult to implement due to its large size, unusual 4-wheel drive mechanics, unusual tires, and the various fictional technologies employed.^[34]
The scout Warthog can be more useful in combat if one player stands on the back of the Warthog with a turret. This can provide for a makeshift Warthog with more powerful turrets.

Although similar in both name and design, it is not related to the real life HDT Global Storm Search and Rescue Tactical Vehicle (SRTV-6) 'Warthog'.

Gallery

A render of a Warthog in Halo: Combat Evolved.
The Warthog's dashboard in Halo: Combat Evolved.
A render of a Warthog in Halo 2.
A render of the Warthog in Halo 3.
The Warthog's dashboard in Halo 3.
"Puma" written along the rim of a Warthog's tire.
A formation of Warthogs leading an assault against Covenant forces during the Fall of Reach.
The Warthog's dashboard in Halo: Reach.
The Halo 4 Warthog as it appears in Forza Motorsport 4.
The Warthog's dashboard in Forza 4.
View of the Warthog's tusk-like tow cable in Forza 4.
The Warthog's liquid-cooled hydrogen-injected ICE engine Forza 4.
Concept art of John-117 sliding over a Warthog's canopy in Halo 4.
The Warthog's dashboard in Halo 4.
The M12B in Halo 4.
Warthogs in Halo 2: Anniversary.
A Warthog in Halo 2: Anniversary.
A Warthog without a turret in Halo: Spartan Strike.
Warthogs on an assembly line in A Hero Falls.
The M12B Warthog in Halo 5: Guardians.