Editing M19 SSM Rocket Launcher

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{{Era|FOR|H1|TF|H2|GOO}}
{{Weapon
| image=[[Image:Rocketlauncher.jpg|M19 Rocket Launcher|300px]]
| name=M19 SSM Rocket Launcher
| manufacturer=
| model=M19 SSM Rocket Launcher
| type=Rocket Launcher
| cost=
| size=Shoulder-mounted
*length: 134.9 centimeters
| damage per hit=Very High
| magazine=2 rockets
| maxammo=Halo 1:10 rockets or 5 magazines
*Halo 2:8 rockets or 4 magazines
| ammotype=[[102mm High-Explosive Anti-Tank]] (Shaped Charge)
| operation=
| rate of fire=Moderate
| accuracy= In Games:
*Halo 1: High, no homing
*Halo 2: Very High. Perfect when homing to vehicles
*Halo 3: High, no homing
| range=Medium to Long Range
| era=Battle of Installation 04 to the battle of High Charity (See [[Rocket Launcher (disambiguation)]] for era details)

| counterpart=[[Fuel Rod Gun]]/[[Fuel Rod Cannon]]
| counterwep=[[Sniper Rifle]],[[Brute Shot]],[[Shotgun]]
| affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
}}

The '''M19 SSM Rocket Launcher'''<ref>In the Halo PC manual</ref> is a heavy ordnance [[weapon]] used by [[UNSC]] forces in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] and [[Halo 2]]<ref>http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo2/gamemanual.htm</ref> to combat armored and non-armored vehicles. It features a 2x scope, and, in [[Halo 2]], lock-on capabilities. It is designed so that it can be used by all [[Marines|UNSCDF]] personnel. 

==Summary==
The M19, alternatively called the '''SPNKr''' or the '''Jackhammer''', is a heavy ordnance weapon of the [[UNSC]] arsenal used in Halo 1 and Halo 2. It fires H.E.A.T. (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rockets. The launcher sports a 2x scope and can fire rockets over long distances with devastating accuracy, although in Halo Combat Evolved it falls in altitude if shot from a long distance.

The weapon consists of two disposable barrels and the weapon unit, allowing two consecutive shots. When reloading, the spent barrels are discarded and a new pair inserted. With this mechanism, a [[Marine]] can greatly reduce the weight he carries without throwing the weapon away like with modern day disposable rocket launchers, and reduced production costs as only the barrels are thrown away. A [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN]] wielding one is also very effective, since their augmentations have given them the ability to wield both a Rocket Launcher and a small sidearm at the same time, though this is only seen in a cinematic in [[Delta Halo(level)|Halo 2]]. Still, it is a heavy ordnance and is very effective at killing both the enemy, and if fired at a target that is too close, the splash damage will kill the user.

==Advantages==
The rocket launcher spreads a huge amount of damage over a large area. It is capable of taking out entire groups of targets at any range and can kill both the passengers and crew of nearly any vehicle (with the exception of the [[Scorpion Tank]] or [[Wraith]]) with one direct hit. It is very useful for killing [[Hunters]], which are often the most difficult enemies to kill. For an anti-tank weapon it has a high rate of fire and can quickly launch two consecutive shots so it is effective in close range assaults against tanks. It also has a strong [[melee]] attack. In Halo: Combat Evolved, it was originally possible to kill someone with a single running or jumping version of the Rocket Launcher's melee attack. This has since been corrected. Also in Halo 2 and 3 it has a nice propulsion alternative for the "grenade jump" if done correctly. With the Rocket Launcher you do not have to have perfect aim, the blast's splash damage will be enough to kill them. The lock-on feature in Halo 2 makes aiming much easier, and killing vehicles almost a guarantee. They took away this feature in Halo 3 because they have the Missile Pod which locks on with the same kill ratio as the Rocket Launcher.

==Disadvantages==
[[Image:Rocket2.jpg|left|thumb|250px| The [[Master Chief]] in Mk. V armor fires a [[HEAT|rocket]] at a Covenant [[Wraith]].]]
Several things counterbalance the rocket launcher's sheer power:

#Its reload time is slow(aprox. 5 seconds).
#The rockets leave a trail of black smoke in their wake, giving away your position if you are hidden.
#Ammunition is often unavailable, and the player can carry only 10 rockets in Halo 1, and 8 in Halo 2 and Halo 3.
#The splash damage of a rocket can severely injure or kill its operator if fired carelessly into surrounding terrain or an enemy at extremely short range.
#The rocket travels slowly enough to be dodged, and trying to hit moving vehicles from long range will require very precise timing and predictable driving by the opponent. In Halo 2, this is not an issue due to the homing rockets.

==Effective Against==

Regularly ''all'' enemies, vehicles, and even particularly heavier vehicles such as the [[Wraith]] and [[Scorpion]] (One accurate shot can kill a Scorpion's driver in [[Halo 1]]). Two quick shots to the front or close up on the flank will destroy it. A Wraith may take two hits to the front before getting destroyed. Sometimes, it will take three but it will take one hit in the back to destroy it but it will have to be in the right spot. However, against enemy vehicles on their flanks at medium ranges is arguably useless and ineffective over the map, unless in flat terrain and using extreme leading, it suffers against [[Ghost]]s and [[Warthog]]s due to their high speed and agility. If fired at an oncoming vehicle at medium range it can usually be avoided. It can also be used to deadly efficiency in some of the indoor multiplayer levels if the player can predict the rockets impact point and where the target will be at that given time. This is easier than it sounds due to the "splash" radius of the [[HEAT|rocket]].

==Ammo==
M19 Surface to Surface Missile (x2)
[[HEAT|102mm Shaped-Charge High-Explosive]]. (As shown on Ammo Box in ''Halo Graphic Novel'')

==Influences==

Apart from its lock-on ability in Halo 2, the M19 SSM is essentially a Halo-universe copy of the SPNKR-X18 SSM Launcher from the [[Marathon]] series, making the "SPNKr" on the side of the M19 SSM a possible inside joke for fans of [[Bungie]]'s former series. The M19 is also nicknamed the "Spanker" due to the "SPNKr" labeling on the launcher and the rectangular cases that contain rocket ammunition.

==Trivia==
*This version of the Rocket launcher has a TEST button that, when pressed, spins the barrels around. This animation only happens when the player doesn't press any buttons or move a thumb-stick for a while.
*The rocket launcher in [[Marathon]] bore the same name, SPNKr.
*Gamestop released a [[Halo 3]] Rocket Launcher missile case game holder to coincide with the release of [[Halo 3]].
*If the rocket launcher is given to a Grunt in Halo 2, it will actually shrink.
*The Rocket Launcher only has the lock on target feature in Halo 2.
*The Rocket Launcher actually says M41 on the side.
*The letters on the side say "SPNKr", which is pronounced "Spanker".
*According to the diagram on the side of the Rocket Launcher, everybody using it is holding it on the wrong side. The only exception is the Master Chief in the Delta Halo cinematic.
*It is commonly regarded as a [[Newb|noob]] weapon purely because it requires almost no skill to kill any sort of enemy, including [[Spartans]]. (However, it may take two shots to kill a [[Hunter]] if it is an indirect hit and it is actually to miss if the target is in the air.)
*In the novel [[Halo: The Flood]], [[Hunters]] can actually deflect rockets (that is, redirect it). This is highly improbable, as the rocket explodes the moment it comes in contact with anything, unless it is hit at its side. So a possible explanation is that the Hunters mentioned timed it perfectly and gave it a swift hit at the rocket's side. John 117 performed a similar feat with the help of Cortana during a test on Reach.
*In [[Halo 2]], if a player drives a vehicle to the top of the hill in a given map, and another player stands a certain distance away, locks on, drags the aiming reticule away to a certain point, and releases, the rocket will actually fly around the vehicle in a perfect circle until something gets in the way or the hill player moves. Furthermore, if the player in the vehicle gets out, the rocket will stop homing on to the vehicle and fly off at a random circular trajectory.
*In [[Halo 3]], if someone fires a rocket at someone with a Gravity Hammer, and the Gravity Hammer is struck at the right moment, the gravity concussion will send the rocket flying in any direction. This can be seen in the Halo machinima series ''Marlin the Elite. ''(''Tryouts'' episode)
*In Halo: CE, Halo 2, and Halo: PC, it is often referred to as the rocket "lawnchair".
*In [[Halo 1|Halo: CE]], you can hold 10 rockets, instead of [[Halo 2]] and [[3]] which you can only hold 8 rockets.
*In [[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], the Rocket Launcher is called the [[Jackhammer]].
*The first level in the Halo trilogy the rocket launcher is featured in is in [[The Silent Cartographer]], in Halo: CE.
*Jumping up and away can be a useful tactic to kill an enemy without suffering splash damage.
*In Halo:Landfall films it is used to kill the Brute Chieften by an ODST.
*In Halo CE, a zealot can survive a direct hit of a Rocket Launcher.

==Character Compatibility==
*[[Spartans]]
*[[Elites]]
*[[Marines]]
*[[Cortana]] (has animation but not used)
*[[Flood]] [[Combat Form]] ([[Human]])
*[[Flood]] [[Combat Form]] (Elite)
*[[Brute]]s
*[[Grunt]]s (Can be given to them in [[Uprising (Level)|Uprising]])

==See Also==

*[[M19-B SAM Missile Launcher]]

*[[M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher]]

==Sources==
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[[Category:Held Weapons]]

[[Category:Human Weapons]]

[[Category:UNSC]]

[[Category:Weapons]]