M9 Wolverine

M9 Main Anti-Aircraft Tank
Production information
Manufacturer:	Ushuaia Armory
Technical specifications
Length:	7.9 meters (25.9 ft)
Width:	4.4 meters (14.5 ft)
Height:	4.5 meters (14.9 ft)
Mass:	11.3 metric tons (11.1 LT; 12.5 ST)
Armament:	2 70mm M260 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems 1 60mm XM511 Heavy Grenade Launcher
Crew:	1 driver 2 gunners
Usage
In service:	Insurrection - present
Role(s):	Tactical anti-air
Affiliation:	United Nations Space Command

The M9 Main Anti-Aircraft Tank (MAAT), commonly referred to as the Wolverine, is a half-track anti-air vehicle developed by Ushuaia Armory. It is employed by the United Nations Space Command for air-defense and as makeshift, close-ranged missile artillery against static targets.

While classified as a "tank", the Wolverine is not designed and does not operate in a manner akin to more conventional main battle tanks (MBTs) such as the Scorpion. Its classification as a tank is instead rooted in historical development within the UNSC. The Wolverine (in particular, its general architecture and framework) was designed alongside more conventional MBTs, leading to the vestigial classification being applied despite not being representative of its true role.

Overview

Design details

The M9 Wolverine is a half-track vehicle designed primarily for air-defence roles. The chassis features a centrally-located operator cabin with a large viewscreen capable of seating the vehicle's three crew, with two wheels in the front for steering and a tread system in the back for movement power. The aft half of the vehicle contains the vehicle's primary armament - the M260 Multiple Launch Rocket System, a 70mm missile launcher capable of firing a variety of munitions and a development of the General Support Rocket Systems that have served alongside main battle tanks since the mid-twentieth century. The Argent V missiles are the predominant munitions loaded in these launchers, and serve as a potent short-ranged anti-air missile system effective against Insurrectionist and Covenant light aircraft. While not intended for the role, the M260 MLRS can be used in a limited role as close-ranged missile artillery - something typically ordered against static structures or as a last resort by desperate commanders. The missile pods can be field-configured in a variety of mountings, and can be reloaded via a mechanical system on the vehicle itself - with a small stockpile of missiles stored aboard.

To the right side of the cabin is mounted a 60mm XM511 Heavy Grenade Launcher - a belt-fed weapon capable of targeting infantry and armour for the vehicle's defence in the event that it has no easily-available friendly support.

In the field, Wolverines can be constructed at the vehicle depot and garage deployable structures that can be constructed at a Firebase.

Variants

The Wolverine has a number of variants, with the launcher turret systems being field-configurable in a number of different mountings. The vehicle would be updated and upgraded a number of times throughout the Human-Covenant War, leading to early-war and Insurrection-era Wolverines being classed as "fairly unsophisticated" compared to more contemporary models.

The stock variant of the Wolverine is armed only with a single missile launcher, with seven Argent V missile silos arranged horizontally. An advanced upgrade of this replaces the single launcher with two duel M260 MLRS units, each bearing heavy resemblance to the Anaconda SAM upgrades available on the M5 Talos turret. The precise relation between these weapons is unclear.

• Vanguard Wolverine - This Wolverine variant is capable of detecting cloaked enemies, and are driven by more experienced crews.
• Arctic Wolverine - The arctic variant of the Wolverine is equipped with a modified drive-train system to allow for better maneuverability in harsh arctic regions, as well as additional insulation and region-specific camouflage for sub-zero ambush tactics unknown to Covenant forces.
• Covert Ops Wolverine - The Covert Ops Wolverine is a highly manoeuvrable anti-air vehicle that combines the M260 Multiple Launch Rocket System with infrared signature reduction and limited active camouflage technology.

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  A stock Wolverine bearing only one M260 MLRS.

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  An upgraded Wolverine bearing dual M260 MLRS'.

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  A number of the Wolverine's various field configurations.

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  Blitz card of Vanguard Wolverines.

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  Arctic Wolverine.

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  Covert Ops Wolverine.

Operational history

Wolverines were introduced relatively late into the Insurrection conflict, and proved effective in countering Insurrectionist light aircraft. When the Human-Covenant War started in 2525, Wolverines were pressed into combat against the Covenant and proved extremely adept at countering the hegemony's Banshee and Seraph aircraft. They served instrumental roles in a number of campaigns throughout the war including the battles for Harvest, Arcadia, Trove, Dwarka, Miridem, Troy, Jericho VII, and Concord.

During the defensive actions on Concord, Wolverines were deployed in the province of Caravelle alongside the Concordian militia and UNSC Army Rangers, though two were ultimately lost to Banshee fire. Later on in the campaign, Wolverines operated in conjunction with a number of S-14 Baselards, with the Baselard fighters sacrificing themselves to draw Covenant aircraft into the Hinterlands region of Concord into the range of Wolverine emplacements.

After the Human-Covenant War, the Wolverine was used in the Battle of Draetheus V against Merg Vol's Covenant forces. They continued to serve in UNSC armouries even into the Created conflict, with a number being used during the Battle for Zeta Halo to reinforce the air defences at the crash site of UNSC Mortal Reverie on Installation 07. Outdated early war-era Wolverines in the inventory of UNSC Spirit of Fire were also used during the Second Ark Conflict of 2559, with Isabel working to update their outdated hardware to accommodate more up-to-date UNSC targeting software.

Gameplay

Halo Wars

Wolverines can be built at the vehicle depot after reaching tech level 3 at a price of 300 resources and 2 slots per unit. It also has two upgrades:

• Volley: Wolverines can launch a barrage attack that engages both air and ground targets. This upgrade requires 400 and a tech level of 3.
• Dual Launchers: Increases the number of missile launchers for more damage. This upgrade costs 900 and requires a tech level of 4.

Halo Wars 2

• Info: Anti-Air, Detects cloaked units, Mid-range missiles, Light armor
• Tier: 2
• Cost: 4, 150, 180

Unlike its Halo Wars counterpart, the Wolverine has no upgrades, instead having the dual launchers by default. The Wolverine can be built at a garage for every UNSC leader. While effective against aircraft, they do poorly against infantry, vehicles, and structures. In Blitz Wolverines cost 40, while Vanguard Wolverines cost 70.

Phoenix Log

Phoenix Log - Wolverine

Specialized anti-aircraft vehicle. The Wolverine is a tactical air defense vehicle. fitted with an advanced Multiple Launch Rocket System [MLRS]. A secondary grenade launcher is fitted to engage ground targets, but it is recommended that the Wolverine avoid engaging armored vehicles. The Wolverine was reintroduced in the latter years of the insurrection, but it also proved highly effective in countering the Covenant's Banshee and Seraph fighters. Wolverines aboard the Spirit of Fire are relatively unsophisticated compared to contemporary variants, but Isabel is making great strides in adapting modern UNSC targeting software to the older hardware.

Trivia

Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

• A wolverine is a carnivorous mammal, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming vehicles after real animals.
• In Halo Wars, the Wolverine bears a swivel mount for the XM511 grenade launcher even before the weapon is installed. The grenade launcher is absent in Halo: Spartan Assault, making the vehicle defenseless against ground attacks in the level Reinforcement of the Perch.
• The Wolverine also bears a striking resemblance to the G.I. Joe missile tank of the same name, having a similar role and design.
• In an interview with Gamespot, Halo Wars lead writer Graeme Devine claimed that the Martian factory responsible for producing the Wolverine was bombed by Insurrectionists in 2535, halting further production of the vehicle. However, Halo: The Essential Visual Guide establishes Reach-based Ushuaia Armory as the Wolverine's manufacturer and makes no mention of the insurgent attack. Even if one of Ushuaia's factories on Mars were indeed destroyed, the company would still have access to their facilities on Reach and likely other planets, negating Devine's suspect explanation.
• The Wolverine's background, as originally listed on Halo Waypoint, lifts much of the vehicle's development history from the real-world M270 MLRS - an obvious influence on the vehicle's M260 MLRS armament naming.
• The Wolverine shares its name with the Wolverine APC, a cut vehicle designed for inclusion in Halo: Reach. The vehicle was alternately named in development as the Kodiak, likely due to Halo Wars' release in 2009 to feature the Wolverine AA vehicle.

Gallery

Development images

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  Early concept art of the Wolverine.

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  A high-poly render of an early model of the Wolverine. The vehicle in this screenshot has a generally flatter appearance than the final vehicle and features a small viewport for the driver, rather than a large cockpit.

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  Another high-poly render for the early model.

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  A wireframe view of the Wolverine's early design.

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  The early version of the Wolverine in Halo Wars.

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  Later concept art of the Wolverine, featuring explorations for the vehicle's armament and a redesigned, bulkier chassis.

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  Relatively finalised concept art of the Wolverine. The missile launcher here was changed for the final game released, though was retained in the MEGA Brands Halo Toys Wolverine set released alongside the game.

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  Another view of the model and design featured in the previous image, showcasing the final vehicle design and proportions though an alternate, unused missile launcher.

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  An early concept piece depicting this earlier Wolverine launcher firing missiles.

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  The Wolverine's final model, with the missile launchers used in the final game. The bottom-right of the model sheet here showcases a look at a slightly earlier Wolverine iteration, in which the cockpit was placed at the front of the vehicle rather than in the middle.

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  Halo Wars 2 concept art.

Screenshots

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  Wolverine in Halo Wars.

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  A Wolverine outfitted with an XM511 grenade launcher.

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  Renders of the Wolverine.

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  An M9 Wolverine on Harvest.

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  A Wolverine with dual launchers.

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  A group of SP42 Cobras with a group of M9 Wolverines.

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  Spartan Edward Davis escorting a pair of Wolverines in Halo: Spartan Assault.

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  A stock M9 Wolverine.

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  An M9 Wolverine in the Halo Wars 2 Open Beta.

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  A Blitz card of a Wolverine in Halo Wars 2.

List of appearances

• Halo Wars (First appearance)
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Halo: Ground Command
• Halo Wars 2
• Halo: The Rubicon Protocol
• Halo: Winter Contention (Mentioned only)