M41 SPNKr
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The M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon[1] formally known as the Medium Anti-Vehicle / Assault Weapon, Bore 102mm, M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Launcher, is a heavy ordnance weapon of the UNSC arsenal used in Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach.[2] It is different from the M19 SSM Rocket Launcher used in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2.
Design Details
The M41 SSR fires 102mm HEAT shaped charge rockets. The launcher sports a 2x scope and can fire rockets over long distances with devastating accuracy, although its altitude decreases over longer distances. This model is not to be confused with the M19 SSM Rocket Launcher. The M41 is, however, markedly similar to the M19 rocket launcher. When reloaded, the barrels are removed and two preloaded barrels are then inserted into the unit. With this mechanism, a Marine can greatly reduce the weight he carries without throwing the weapon away like some contemporary disposable rocket launchers.
Advantages
The rocket launcher spreads a huge amount of damage over a large area. It is capable of taking out entire groups of infantry at any range and can kill both the passengers and crew of nearly any vehicle with the exception of the M808B Main Battle Tank and the Type-25 Assault Gun Carriage, which can sustain two to three hits from the weapon. Its ability to fire two shots in rapid succession is also a major advantage.
Disadvantages
Several things counterbalance the M41's sheer power. The M41 SSR, though powerful, is implemented in-game as an anti-vehicle weapon, not designed for engaging infantry. Thus, its reload time is quite slow, as it takes about three to five seconds for the M41 to be fully reloaded. The rockets leave a trail of smoke in their wake, giving away the operator's position and necessitating a fire-and-displace strategy of engagement. Ammunition is often limited or unavailable, and the operator can carry only six extra rockets at once, for a total of 8 rounds. The speed of the rocket itself is slow. A skilled operator can be effective against a moving target at medium to long range. The biggest disadvantage to the operator is the blast range of a rocket; if fired too close the splash damage can severely injure or kill its operator if fired carelessly into surrounding terrain or at an enemy. 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.
Influences
The M41 SSR is essentially a Halo universe copy of the SPNKR-X17/18 SSM Launcher (Lazyboy) from Bungie's Marathon trilogy. The word "SPNKR" is an abbreviation of the word Spanker and serves as an inside joke for both fans and Bungie staff of the older series.
Changes from M19 SSM Rocket Launcher in Halo 2
- The M41 HEAT rocket travels faster than its M19 counterpart.
- The tubing has a metallic silver color rather than a synthetic black.
- It does not have the homing feature featured in the Halo 2's rocket launcher, thus making it more similar to Halo: Combat Evolveds model.
- It has a different firing sound effect.
- The weapon reloads more quickly.
- Melee attacks can be executed more quickly.
- Ammunition is indicated in the sight when zoomed in.
- The HUD ammo indicator has a different appearance.
Changes from Halo 3 to Halo: Reach
- The grips of the weapon are enclosed into a thumbhole design.
- It can now lock on to aircraft, but not other types of vehicles.
- It has slightly different firing and rocket detonation sounds.
- Rockets travel slightly faster.
- Splash damage is increased.
Tactics
Campaign
- It is best to save the rocket launcher for the final encounter on The Storm, as two shots will destroy the Anti-Aircraft Battery and finish the mission quickly. Combined with the sniper rifle found near the end (soon after witnessing a Longsword crash in the distance), one can easily end the level without engaging the large group of Covenant on the hill. Using the scope on the sniper rifle, one can zoom in on the AA gun's power core, line up a shot, then, with proper timing, simply fire two rockets and destroy the gun, ending the level quickly and with little effort.
- Saving several rockets for the final encounter on The Ark can save the player a lengthy encounter with a Brute chieftain at the end; this is even more useful when engaging them on higher difficulties. These can be found by the downed Pelican just after the first Hunter encounter.
Multiplayer
- When attacking a Banshee or Ghost with the rocket launcher, wait until the vehicle approaches. Get a slight lead on it before pulling the trigger. You don't need that much of a lead: about the size of the targeting reticule will suffice, depending on how far away the target is.
- The rockets take a while to reload, make sure you find a safe place before filling the launcher. If you are compromised, pull out your secondary weapon to fend off any opponents.
- Be careful using the rocket launcher against infantry wielding a Gravity Hammer as the hammer can deflect the incoming rocket.
- Rockets are more for counter vehicle purposes, but are still quite valuable for their instant kill against infantry in a large splash damage radius.
- Often during the start of the match there is often a rush for rockets. Try to stay back and cover your teammates by picking off single enemies and grenading groups, making the rockets ripe for claiming by one of your team.
- In a game of Rockets, players often jump while firing. Timing to fire where the player lands is critical. If done right you can send many to their inevitable deaths.
Trivia
- 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. The SMG, however, will not work. There is a slight delay between when the shot hits the rocket and when the rocket explodes, however, which should be taken into consideration.
- The M41's rockets can be deflected by a gravity hammer if timed precisely.
- On the last level of Halo 3: ODST there are four rocket launchers with 1000 rockets each for use in Vidmaster Challenge: Deja Vu. These only appear on Legendary when the Iron Skull is activated. If any player boards a Warthog, these rocket launchers will not spawn.
- A game disc holder modeled after the M41 SSR's ammunition case was sold by EB Games and GameStop to coincide with the release of Halo 3.[citation needed]
- In the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, the rocket launcher could lock on to aircraft but not ground vehicles. The lock-on time is about twice as long as it was in Halo 2, but the process now starts automatically once the launcher is aimed at an enemy vehicle.
Gallery
- Rocket launcher2 Halo 3.jpg
The M41 in Halo 3.
The Rocket Launcher's targeting reticle as it appears when scoped in to 2x magnification in the Beta.
- 1204275093 Spnkr mssile.jpg
A HEAT Rocket seen from Halo 3.
- Reach HEAT Rocket.jpg
A HEAT rocket seen fired from a Rocket Launcher in the Halo Reach multiplayer beta.
- Reach Rocket Launcher.png
The Rocket Launcher as seen in Halo: Reach.
A Spartan using a Rocket Launcher to take down a Phantom.
