Editing Zurdo-pattern Wraith

{{Title|''Zurdo''-pattern Wraith}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Center|Type-26 Wraith redirects here. For other types of Wraith, see [[Wraith]].}}
{{Vehicle infobox
|image={{tabcontainer|title1=Zurdo-pattern|content1=[[File:H3-T26WraithAGC.png|250px]]|title2=Alt. Chassis|content2=[[File:HReach-T26WraithAGC.png|250px]]}}
|name=''Zurdo''-pattern Mortar Tank
|manufacturer=*[[Assembly Forges]] (pre-Great Schism)
*[[Lodam Armory]] (post-Human-Covenant War) {{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}}
|line=
|model=''Zurdo''-pattern
|cost=
|length={{Convert|8.8|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|width={{Convert|9.2|m|ft}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|height={{Convert|3.7|m|ft}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|mass={{Convert|47|MT}}<ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', page 247</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|max speed= 82 km/h (51 mph)<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/VEHICLES/WRAITH '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo Universe: Wraith'']</ref>
|engine=[[Boosted gravity propulsion drive]]<ref>''[[Halo 2: Special Collector's Edition Manual]]'', page 17</ref>
|hull=Nearly 2 ft polymer plating (61 cm){{Ref/Reuse|ENC}}
|sensor=
|target=
|armament=*[[plasma mortar#Type-26 35cm Directed-Energy Mortar|Type-26 Directed-Energy Mortar]] (1) <ref name="H4EVG">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', page 117</ref>
*{{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}} (1) (post-2549)<ref name="GroundCommand">[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207094532738110&set=p.10207094532738110&type=3&theater '''Halo: Ground Command''']</ref>
|crew=*1 driver
*1 gunner 
|complement=
|consumables=
|othersystems=
|role=Light assault gun carriage
*Armoured infantry support
*Mobile Anti-vehicle / anti-armor battery
*Mobile artillery / siege warfare
|firstuse-title=In service
|firstuse=*[[Human-Covenant War]]
*[[Great Schism]]
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
**[[Blooding Years]] 
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]]<br>
*[[Covenant separatists]]
*[[Covenant remnants]]
**[[Swords of Sanghelios]]
**[[Servants of Abiding Truth]]
**[[Merg Vol's Covenant]]
**[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]
**[[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant]]
}}
The '''Zurdo-pattern Mortar Tank'''{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=275}} {{Type|26|Assault Gun Carriage|AGC}},{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} more commonly known as the '''Wraith''', is the [[Covenant]]'s main armoured infantry support/assault gun vehicle for ground engagements. 

==Overview==
===Design details===
[[File:Wraith.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Blueprint of the Wraith.]]
The Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage is the primary armored ground vehicle used by the Covenant.<ref>'''[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=ordnance&cid=25444 Bungie.net Halo: Reach Ordnance Page]'''</ref> The Covenant deploys Wraiths in tactical ground engagements, where they serve in both anti-infantry and anti-armor roles. The Wraith's firepower also makes it ideal for destroying structures<ref name="H2spec">'''[[Halo 2: Special Collector's Edition Manual]]''', ''page 17''</ref> in the way of ground forces attempting to advance in an area.

Like all Covenant ground vehicles, the Wraith is sleek, bulbous and more reminiscent of an aircraft than a traditional ground vehicle. The Wraith is divided into four main sections: chassis, fins, rudders, and plasma mortar. The chassis houses the cockpit, which includes movement, targeting and firing controls. Holographic control surfaces and displays show the pilot a 360-degree view outside the Wraith.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''' ''page 113''</ref> Underneath the cockpit is a [[boosted gravity propulsion drive]],<ref name="h2manual">'''Halo 2 Manual''' ''page 19''</ref> which propels the Wraith and keeps it suspended a short distance above the ground. The Wraith's engine vents excess heat and plasma through an exhaust port at the rear of the vehicle; this port is one of the more vulnerable spots on the Wraith. The wide, sweeping fins at the front of the vehicle stabilize the vehicle on uneven terrain, as well as provide extra thrust during a boost.{{Ref/Reuse|h2manual}} At the rear of the Wraith are two rudders, which control the turning of the vehicle using independent propulsion drives. The fourth major component is the Wraith's main weapon, a heavy plasma mortar, which rests above and behind the cockpit and can be retracted within the main body. The entirety of the Wraith is covered by nearly two feet of armor plating, which is composed of a polymer that is still poorly understood by human physicists.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} 

===Armaments===
The main weapon of the Wraith is its 35&nbsp;cm [[plasma mortar]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach Manual''', ''page 9''</ref> The Wraith's mortar is attached to a fixed mounting, meaning that a Wraith must be facing its target in order to hit it.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} The plasma mortar works by creating a magnetically encapsulated blob of superheated plasma and firing it at a relatively low velocity. Once fired, the bolt is magnetically guided in a ballistic trajectory until it strikes the ground or target. When the bolt hits, the magnetic bubble collapses and the plasma rapidly expands from its compressed state, creating a superheated explosion that will vaporize everything within twenty meters of impact.<ref name="strike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 112''</ref> Titanium battleplate, concrete, or flesh is instantly obliterated by the blast. Anything just outside of the kill zone is at risk of injury or death — after the initial impact, the plasma begins to cool and thermal expansion takes over, creating a wave of fire traveling outward that can travel away from the initial blast zone. Infantry within range can sustain burns and heat trauma. The explosion also generates a large amount of concussive force, which can splinter bones and destroy vital organs.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[Palace Hotel]]", ''page 351''</ref> Flammable materials are especially at risk of igniting due to the intense heat release and can cause further damage. Once the heat from the explosion dissipates, the blast zone will have been converted into a glass-smooth surface - much like the swaths of vitrified soil created by "[[glassing]]".

The Wraith is also equipped with an anti-infantry [[Pek-pattern plasma cannon|Type-52 DESW]] ring mount.<ref>'''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo: Reach Stats''</ref> This turret is able to burn through armor and flesh, with predictably gruesome results. Against infantry, the cannon's plasma causes severe fourth-degree burns.

===Advantages===
With the exception of the [[Scarab]], the Wraith is the Covenant's most destructive mobile armor. Its huge bulk is well shielded from small arms fire, and it is resistant to medium explosive weapons. Its ability to be deployed with the aid of dropships makes insertions into the battlefield fairly easy. Its plasma mortar can easily decimate infantry and vehicles alike, and its destructive powers are so well known to UNSC forces that the mere sight of one on the battlefield can induce psychological effects.{{Ref/Reuse|strike}} One of the benefits is the mortar function due to the trajectory that can suppress any incoming enemy from behind the wall, or those who are stationed at the rooftop that can't be reached by a Scorpion Tank's trajectory. While it's not suitable for head to head battle, it is most suitable to conduct a suppression fire mainly against enemy infantry.

===Disadvantages===
The Wraith's main disadvantage is its slow speed, due to the vehicle's massive weight. While the boost drive can propel the vehicle to moderately high speeds, the maneuverability of the vehicle is compromised —  turning becomes difficult during a boost, and the momentum that is built from it makes it possible for the vehicle to inadvertently plow through friendly forces, crash into and get lodged between stationary objects, or overshoot its mark and skate off of a cliff or into a body of water. The Wraith is also poorly suited for scaling inclines. 

Like most tanks, the Wraith has a "dead area", a zone in which the plasma mortar cannot fire without risking damage to itself.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''' ''page 184''</ref> The slow speed and cumbersome nature of the Wraith makes it prone to boarding action — while the front of the tank is harder to board because of the plasma turret(s), the rear is highly susceptible to boarding. A small rotating cylinder exhaust port in the back is a vulnerable spot that, if hit with a medium explosive device or anti-materiél weapons fire, can damage the tank severely. The exposed gunner operating the Type-52 DESW is also an easy target for marksman and sniper fire.

Since its weaponry is designed to be used against non-mobile or low-mobility targets, and its weight and wide profile prevent it from maneuvering with any deal of speed and accuracy, the Wraith is a very soft target for high mobility vehicles, such as a [[Warthog]] or a [[Ghost]], and is at a high risk of destruction against a vehicle with a much more accurate heavy weapon (such as the [[Scorpion]] with its direct-firing 90mm cannon).

The Plasma Mortar is also ill-suited for long range combat, as it moves so slowly that even units with low mobility-such as the Scorpion tank-can dodge it.

==Variants==
===Honor Guard Wraith===
The [[Honor Guard Wraith]] is a variant of the Type-26 Wraith, but has Honor Guard-colored armor.
<gallery>
File:HW honor guard wraith.png|Honor Guard Wraith.
</gallery>

==Turret configurations==
The Type-26 Wraith has numerous turret configurations.

===Single turret configuration===
The Type-26 Wraith has a configuration with one turret.
<gallery>
File:HWunit-Wraith.png|A Type-26 Wraith with this configuration.
</gallery>

===Type-52 DESW configuration===
All Type-26 Wraiths made after 2549 had [[Pek-pattern plasma cannon|Type-52 DESW]] ring mount.
<gallery>
File:H3-T26WraithAGC.png|The Type-26 Wraith with the ring mount.
File:HReach-T26WraithAGC.png|Alternate chassis with the ring mount.
</gallery>

==Operational history==
===Human-Covenant War===
The Wraith has been in service to the Covenant for centuries,<ref>'''[[Halo Legends]]''' '''[[The Duel]]'''</ref> and has served in countless [[Battle|engagements]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. After [[Second Battle of Harvest|the retaking]] of [[Harvest]] in [[2526]] by [[Admiral]] [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Cole]], the Covenant, attempting to scout and recover [[Relic (location)|an artifact]], deployed multiple Wraiths during [[Harvest Campaign|the assault]] on Harvest. 

Throughout the war the Covenant deployed Wraiths during ground campaigns against [[civilian]] and military targets. Wraiths would commonly target civilian evacuation transports still on the ground and platforms and structures leading to them, or would fire and kill large groups of civilians crowded together. In [[2531]] during the [[Battle of Arcadia|first assault]] on the colony world [[Arcadia]], multiple Wraiths were used in this situation to kill panicking civilians attempting to flee the Covenant invasion. The tanks assisted in destroying structures and platforms holding civilians waiting for evacuation. In addition, the tanks were used against UNSC military forces attempting to assist with evacuation efforts. During the [[Battle of Trove]] Wraiths were used by Covenant forces against not only the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} but also the [[Flood]] and Sentinels as well.<ref name="HW">'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref>

As the war dragged on, ground campaigns conducted by the Covenant continued to employ the Wraith as their main heavy armored vehicle. During the [[Algolis Invasion|assault]] on [[Algolis]] the Wraiths were called in to weaken military forces attempting to protect and destroy valuable data. The UNSC was able to hold off the Covenant just long enough and all ground forces were eventually destroyed with the detonation of a nuclear weapon attached to a [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark I Prototype Armor Defense System|prototype armor suit]].<ref name="Prototype">'''[[Halo Legends]]''': ''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''</ref>

====Final battles of the war====
As the war with [[human]]ity was reaching its apex, the Covenant began updating and building up their military campaign against humanity. A new model of the Wraith was introduced to help address some issues with older models. During [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|the invasion]] of [[Sigma Octanus IV]] in [[2552#July|July 2552]] the Covenant deployed numerous tanks to take out strategic areas on the planet including [[military base]]s and civilian structures.<ref name="HTFOR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'''</ref> No sooner had that battle finished the Covenant launched [[Fall of Reach|a surprise assault]] on [[Reach]], humanity's heavily fortified epicenter of military and economic power outside of Earth. Multiple divisions of Wraith tanks were employed to inflict mass casualties on civilian and military forces alike. Their campaign was successful destroying major military and civilian transports, structures and killing countless in the process.<ref name="HR">'''[[Halo: Reach]]'''</ref>

When the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} escaped, [[Fleet of Particular Justice|many Covenant ships]] followed it to a [[Installation 04|Halo installation]]. With its discovery, the Covenant rushed to destroy the [[Halcyon-class light cruiser|human ship]] as fast as possible, but when the Autumn crash landed, the Covenant was forced to land on the ring and hunt down the humans. During the [[Battle of Installation 04|campaign]] on Halo the Covenant deployed Wraiths to protect structures and destroy human encampments. Their campaign ultimately failed when the Halo was destroyed by [[John-117]].<ref name="HCE">'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'''</ref>

During the opening of the [[Battle for Earth]], the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' managed to jump to the city of [[Mombasa]]. In the short but bloody [[Battle of Mombasa|campaign]], the Covenant was able to land armor and troops into the city. Wraiths quickly moved in to cut off civilian evacuation by the city's rail system. With civilians cut off, the Covenant began systematically destroying anything they could before the Prophet of Regret's ship jumped out of [[New Mombasa]], destroying parts the city. In the aftermath of Regret's retreat the full-scale invasion of Earth began, the Covenant laid waste to many parts of the planet and Wraiths were on the forefront of the ground assault.<ref name="H2">'''[[Halo 2]]'''</ref><ref name="ODST">'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'''</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|HSS}}

As the Battle for Earth raged on, [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II supersoldier]] [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] with the full support of the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} launched a [[Battle of Installation 05|counter-strike]] against Regret, who had jumped to [[Installation 05]]. Wraiths were deployed in the same manner as they were on Installation 04, but with the threat of the UNSC, the Covenant relied on more aggressive tactics with their Wraiths to do anything possible to stop the advance of SPARTAN-117. The subsequent outbreak of the [[Flood]] and [[Great Schism|internal conflict]] that consumed the Covenant, however, left all involved to fend for themselves, after the [[Fall of High Charity|conclusion]] of the battle for Installation 05 the Covenant reorganized and made a final push offensive on Earth.{{Ref/Reuse|H2}}

With the uncovering of [[the Portal]], the Covenant moved all their troops and armor to prevent the UNSC military from getting close to it. They deployed Wraiths to dispatch military forces attempting to break through their formation. After the opening of the portal and the arrival at [[Installation 00]] the Covenant deployed all their assets in a [[Battle of Installation 00|last ditch effort]] to stop humanity and activate the remaining [[halo Array|Halo installations]]. Wraiths were front and center in this operation, although ultimately, they lost to their human enemies.<ref name="H3">'''[[Halo 3]]'''</ref> 

===Post-War===
During the post-war era Wraiths were popular during [[War Games]] matches aboard [[Anvil Station]] and the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. Wraiths were used by [[Merg Vol's Covenant]] during the [[Battle of Draetheus V]] in [[2554]]. Many would be destroyed by both [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartans]] [[Sarah Palmer]] and [[Edward Davis]] with the help of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] and [[UNSC Army]].<ref name="HSA">'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'''</ref> [[2557|Four years]] after the end of the Human-Covenant War, [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] continued to use the Wraith. Multiple Wraiths were used in the [[Battle of Requiem|attack]] on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}'s crash site. Several were later used in defense of the [[Forerunner]] [[particle cannon]]s. Wraiths were also used during the Didact's [[Raid on Ivanoff Station]] in their attempt to secure the [[Composer]].<ref name="H4">'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref> The faction utilized a number of Wraiths during the [[Battle of Installation 03]].<ref name="HSS">'''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]'''</ref> Wraiths were deployed to many sites across the interior of Requiem during the [[Requiem Campaign|combat]] within the planet [[2558|six months later]].<ref name="Spops">'''Halo 4''': ''[[Spartan Ops]]''</ref> 'Mdama's faction would again use Wraiths during the [[Battle of Aktis IV|conflict]] on [[Aktis IV]]. A [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|rebel offshoot]] of 'Mdama's faction led by [[Sali 'Nyon]] also possessed at least one Wraith. During [[Operation: ATHENA]] 'Mdama's forces used multiple T-26 Wraiths in an attempt to stop a team of Spartan-IVs.<ref name="HE">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]'''</ref>

By October 2558, the newer {{Pattern|Kemu|Wraith}} was becoming more commonplace within Jul 'Mdama's Covenant forces and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-designs-of-the-times '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Designs of the Times'']</ref><ref name="H5G">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'''</ref>

==Trivia==
{{Linkbox|gameplay=yes|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Type-26 Wraith}}
*It is wrongly stated in the ''Halo 2'' manual that the player can shoot the Wraith's plasma cannons while driving; these are usable only by NPCs in gameplay. The ''Halo 3'' manual claims that the Wraith features the aforementioned cannons, though they appear only in ''Halo 2''.
*An [[:File:HR Wraith Marathon symbol.png|abstract depiction]] of the ''[[Marathon]]'' logo [[List of Marathon references in the Halo series|is embedded in the Wraith's cockpit]] in ''Halo: Reach''. [[Bungie]] limited their use of ''Marathon'' references in the game due to intellectual property concerns, as opposed to the logo's frequent appearances in the original trilogy.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'', the Wraith's model was carried over from ''Halo: Reach'' with no changes. As such the T-52 plasma cannon is still mounted on top, though it is not usable. Conversely, the Scorpion tank's independently mounted machine gun was removed entirely.
*It is possible, though difficult, to hijack a Wraith by hopping in the mounted turret while an enemy is still inside of it, while not harming the Wraith. In ''Halo Reach'' and ''Halo 4'', in Campaign, [[Firefight]] or [[Spartan Ops]], respectively, if the player is able to get in the turret while an enemy NPC driver is still in, the driver will hop out and usually start shooting at the player, after which the player can dispatch the enemy with the turret and claim the Wraith, possibly with it being undamaged.
*Since ''[[Halo 4]]'', if the player presses the melee button while boosting, the Wraith will perform a super glide, in which the vehicle lifts its nose to pass over obstacles, while also making splatters a little bit easier.
*Zurdo means left-handed in Spanish.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H3-T26WraithAGC.png|An active T-26 Wraith in ''[[Halo 3]]'', with its turret unoccupied.
File:H3-Wraith.png|A Wraith on [[Highground]].
File:H3-WraithHUD.png|HUD of the Wraith in ''Halo 3''.
File:WraithH3.png|The Wraith in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3-WraithturretHUD.png|HUD of the plasma turret on the Wraith in ''Halo 3''.
File:HW-EarlyCovenantVehicleRenders.jpg|An early version of the Wraith (top-left) alongside some other cut vehicles from ''[[Halo Wars]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki> development. Note the "bumper" on the front and the more traditional cannon.
File:HW-EarlyCovenantVehicles.jpg|Fully textured versions of the Wraith from the previous image (bottom-left).
File:HW BruteTanks Early.jpg|Another view of the early Wraith design in ''Halo Wars''.
File:HW Wraith WIP Render.jpg|A work-in-progress render of the Wraith.
File:HW Wraith HiPoly.jpg|A hi-poly render of the Wraith model used in ''Halo Wars''.
File:HWunit-Wraith.png|The T-26 Wraith in ''Halo Wars''.
File:HTMCC-H3ODST-FloodWraith.png|The Flood using a Wraith in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' [[Firefight]].
File:Reach MPBeta Wraith.png|Beta render of an inactive Wraith as it appears in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
File:Reach Wraith Active.png|A view of an active, ready-to-fire T26 Wraith AGC in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Wraith symbols.png|Type-26 Wraith patterns in ''Halo Reach''.
File:HReach-T26WraithAGC.png|An angled view of the Type-26 "Wraith" AGC in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HR-WraithHUD.png|HUD of the Wraith in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Reach T25 TR Inact.jpg|Reference of an inactive Type-26.
File:Reach T25 TR act.jpg|Reference of an active Type-26.
File:Reach T25 eng mor.jpg|Reference of the heavy plasma mortar fired by the Type-26 AGC.
File:H4-T26WraithAGC.png|The Type-26 "Wraith" AGC as it appears in ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:Wraith H4guide.png|An angled view of the T26 Wraith AGC in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-T26WraithAGC-Active.png|A T-26 Wraith in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-Scorpion-Versus-Wraith.jpg|A Wraith battling an [[M808 Scorpion]] in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-MasterChief-Versus-Wraith.jpg|The [[John-117|Master Chief]] wielding a plasma grenade against a Wraith in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-SpOps-LandGrab-Wraith-3rdPerson.jpg|A Type-26 "Wraith" AGC in ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s ''Spartan Ops'' episodic campaign.
File:H4-WraithHUD.png|HUD of the Wraith in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-WraithturretHUD.png|HUD of the plasma turret on the Wraith in ''Halo 4''.
File:HSA-T26WraithAGC.png|A Wraith in ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''.
File:HE22 Dive.jpg|T-26 Wraiths attack Gabriel Thorne during Operation: ATHENA in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:Wraiths Comparison.jpg|The more recent {{Pattern|Kemu|Wraith}} from ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' compared with its T-26 Wraith predecessors from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 3''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Starry Night]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
**''[[Sadie's Story]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Duel]]''
**''[[Prototype]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
*''[[Winter Contention]]''
{{col-end}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Wraiths}}
[[Category:Drivable vehicles]]
[[Category:Wraith variants]]