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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Title|''Zo'op''-pattern Weevil}}
<center>''Were you looking for the Covenant [[Type-27 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|Type-27 "Mantis"]] or [[Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|Type-38 "Tyrant"]] AA cannons or [[Covenant Air Artillery]]''?</center>
{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:Covenant artillery.png|thumb|250px|right|The Covenant artillery piece.]]
{{disambig header|the artillery piece encountered in [[Halo 2]]|the artillery weapon in [[Spartan Ops]]|Ra'aam-pattern burst cannon}}
The '''Covenant artillery''' is a ground-based [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] field artillery piece. It fires bolts of [[plasma]] in indirect parabolic trajectories, and is essentially a larger version of the [[plasma mortar]] mounted on [[Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage|Wraiths]]. It is remarkably similar to the Covenant [[Mega Turret]], albeit smaller.<ref name="e3">'''[[Halo 2 E3 Demo]]'''</ref>
{{Vehicle infobox
|name=''Zo'op''-pattern Sky Striker
|image=[[File:H2A-T48WeevilArtillery.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Assembly Forges]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=305}}
|line=
|model=
|cost=
|length={{Convert|62.4|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|width=
|height=
|mass={{Convert|40.5|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|max speed=
|engine=
|hull=
|armament=1 [[Plasma mortar#Ultra-heavy plasma mortar|ultra-heavy plasma mortar]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|crew=1 operator or remote-link{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|complement=
|consumables=
|othersystems=
|firstuse=
|service=
|role=
Indirect-fire artillery<br>
[[Sky striker]]
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]
}}
{{Quote|This is heavy artillery, [[Dokab]]. It must be prepared and loaded, and the crews must be assembled and supplied. The transit itself will be the quickest part of the deployment.|[[Dhas Bhasvod]] discussing a Weevil deployment with [[Castor]].{{Ref/Reuse|DW9}}}}
The '''''Zo'op''-pattern Sky Striker'''{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} {{Type|48|Artillery Platform|AP}}, colloquially nicknamed the '''Weevil''',{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=51|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=Catalog Interaction|D=13|M=04|Y=2016|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014#Post_.2313}} is a [[Covenant]] artillery piece. The Weevil was the most common mortar artillery used by the Covenant during their [[Human-Covenant War|war]] against [[human]]ity.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


==Appearances==
==Overview==
===Halo 2 E3 Demo===
===Design details===
{{Main|Halo 2 E3 Demo}}
The Weevil is a heavy [[sky striker]] commonly employed by the Covenant's military. The piece consists of a tripodal base mounting a single ultra-heavy [[plasma mortar]] weapon. The mortar is capable of providing long-ranged fires for Covenant ground forces, striking deep into enemy territory. They are generally deployed via [[dropship]] and guarded by a light security contingent, and can be crewed by a single operator directly via tethered console from afar via remote-link. When remote-linked with the [[Proselytization network|Covenant battle network]], a Weevil is capable of being controlled from a remote base or [[Covenant starship|spacecraft]] and can be coordinated with other sky striker platforms in the region.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
The Covenant artillery gun was first seen in the ''Halo 2 E3 Demo'', where one such emplacement was placed on top of a building in [[New Mombasa]], used by the Covenant to demolish buildings in the city. Early in the demo, the artillery piece is encountered by [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN]] [[John-117]] and a group of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], and [[Sergeant]] [[Banks|Marcus Banks]] calls in an air strike to destroy it. The artillery battery is much larger in the demo than its retail version counterpart.<ref name="e3"/>


===Halo 2===
While in the field, Weevils are generally surrounded by light fortifications constructed by their support crews such as [[Covenant watchtower]]s, [[Plasma battery|plasma batteries]], and [[Covenant defense barrier|Guardian Triptych]] barriers.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
The roles of the artillery guns as an active part of the Covenant assault were greatly downgraded in the retail version of ''Halo 2'', as the levels featuring the guns were completely redesigned. Several artillery pieces are deployed on the beaches of [[Old Mombasa]] in the level ''[[Outskirts]]'', but none of them are seen being fired during gameplay.


==Gallery==
==Operational history==
The Weevil was the most often-used form of mortar artillery deployed by the Covenant during their [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against [[human]]ity.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} During the opening stages of the [[Battle for Earth]] on [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]], Covenant forces stationed several Weevil emplacements along the beaches of [[Old Mombasa]], protecting them with ground forces including [[Sangheili]]-piloted [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghosts]], [[Kig-Yar]] [[Kig-Yar Sniper|snipers]] in [[Covenant watchtower|watchtowers]] and groups of infantry. During their push towards the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'s'' [[landing zone]] in [[New Mombasa]], [[Spartan-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and several [[UNSC]] [[UNSC Marine Corps|marines]] encountered these defences, and after a struggle, managed to eliminate all of the Covenant forces on the beaches, preventing the Weevil emplacements from being used.{{Ref/Level|Id=Outskirts|H2|Outskirts}}
 
Weevils were later carried aboard [[Truth's fleet]] to [[Installation 00]] during the [[Battle of Installation 00|final battle]] of the war. These units would survive the battle and ultimately be kept among the forces of the [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|loyalist contingent]] led by [[Dhas Bhasvod]] - ultimately seeing service against the [[Banished]] and {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} in the [[Second Ark Conflict]] in [[2559]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW9|HDW|Chapter=9}}
 
==Production notes==
The Weevil was first seen (albeit unidentified) in the [[Halo 2 E3 demo|''Halo 2'' E3 demo]], in which it is much larger than the version in the final game. In the demo, a Weevil emplaced on top of a building in [[New Mombasa#Halo 2 E3 demo|New Mombasa]] is used against UNSC forces in the city. The weapon fires orbs of plasma that travel in a parabolic arc, much like the Wraith's [[plasma mortar]]. Early in the demo, the artillery piece is encountered by the Master Chief and a group of marines. [[Banks#Trivia|Sergeant Banks]] calls in an air strike to destroy the weapon shortly after its introduction. Contrary to its significant role in the demo, the scaled-down version of the weapon that appears in the retail version of the game is never seen in use.{{Ref/Reuse|Outskirts}}
 
A Weevil cannon was intended to be included in the [[Cut Halo 2 levels|now-cut]] campaign level "[[alphamoon]]". In the level, the cannon would have been featured as a defensive installment deployed by [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|the heretics]], with the player tasked with destroying the guns so reinforcements could land. In the version of the mission restored by the [[Digsite]] project, the player can destroy the guns by attacking them with a [[Wraith]] tank, or by manually attacking and blowing up a vulnerable weak spot underneath the gun. This second, infantry-based, method of attack was replicated in the level [[The Storm]] in ''[[Halo 3]]'', as the method by which the player destroys the [[Skar'wa-pattern Mantis|Mantis AA gun]] at the end of the mission. In alphamoon, the guns will track and fire at the player, requiring the player to dodge their plasma mortar shots.
 
The Weevil is featured in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'' and its [[Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition)|2011 reprint]]. However, this factor only extends to an image of the weapon; the associated text box details instead refer to the {{Pattern|Shuku|sentry turret}} featured in ''[[Halo 3]]''.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc09|Enc09|Page=330-331}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=345}}
 
== Gallery ==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
===Development images===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:P1a5ma_m0r7ar.jpg|A Covenant artillery piece from ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:H2 CovenantShip V2 Storyboard Intro 6.jpg|A Weevil being used as a [[Point-defense gun|point-defence weapon]] in an [[Halo 2 storyboards|early storyboard]] for the level [[covenantship]].
File:H2E3Demo_CovenantArtillery.png|A Covenant artillery gun firing in the ''Halo 2'' E3 Demo.
File:H2 EarthArk Storyboard Intro 1.jpg|A battery of Weevils firing in an early storyboard for the level [[Earth Ark]].
File:H2E3Demo_CovenantArtillery.png|An artillery gun firing in the ''Halo 2'' E3 Demo.
File:H2 alphamoon Menu.png|A Weevil cannon in an early build of the alphamoon level.
File:H2A_Type48Weevil_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art of the ''Zo'op''-pattern in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A_Type48Weevil_Concept_2.jpg|Alternate concept piece of the Weevil for ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Sources==
=== Screenshots ===
<references/>
<gallery>
{{Covenant Weapons}}
File:H2-CovenantArtilleryTurret.png|The Weevil.
File:H2-CovenantArtillery.png|The Weevil artillery piece as viewed from the side.
File:HTMCC H2 Weevil Screenshot 1.png|The first Weevil on the beach in ''Halo 2''.
File:HTMCC H2 Weevil Screenshot 2.png|The second Weevil on the beach in ''Halo 2''.
File:HTMCC H2 Weevil Screenshot 3.png|The Weevil's mortar component in ''Halo 2''.
File:HTMCC H2 Weevil Screenshot 4.png|The Weevil's underside in ''Halo 2''; note the energy barrier.
File:HTMCC H2A Weevil Screenshot 1.png|The second Weevil on the beach in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:HTMCC H2A Weevil Screenshot 2.png|The Weevil's mortar component in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:HTMCC H2 Digsite E3 Weevil 1.png|The Weevil charging its mortar in Digsite's ''Halo 2'' E3 demo.
File:HTMCC H2 Digsite E3 Weevil 2.png|The Weevil firing its mortar in Digsite's ''Halo 2'' E3 demo.
File:HTMCC H2 Digsite E3 Weevil 3.png|The Weevil's plasma mortar bolt in Digsite's ''Halo 2'' E3 demo.
File:HTMCC H2 Digsite E3 Weevil 4.png|The impact of the Weevil's plasma mortar in Digsite's ''Halo 2'' E3 demo.
</gallery>
 
== List of appearances ==
* ''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
* ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
* ''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]'' {{Mo}}
 
== Sources ==
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
{{Covenant heavy weapons}}
[[Category:Artillery]]
[[Category:Artillery]]
[[Category:Covenant Weapons]]
[[Category:Covenant weapons]]
[[Category:Plasma weapons]]
[[Category:Plasma weapons]]

Latest revision as of 19:30, December 21, 2024

This article is about the artillery piece encountered in Halo 2. For the artillery weapon in Spartan Ops, see Ra'aam-pattern burst cannon.
Zo'op-pattern Sky Striker
A Zo'op-pattern Weevil artillery piece from Halo 2: Anniversary cropped onto a transparent background.
Production information

Manufacturer:

Assembly Forges[1]

Technical specifications

Length:

19.0 meters (62.4 ft)[1]

Mass:

40.5 metric tons (39.9 LT; 44.6 ST)[1]

Armament:

1 ultra-heavy plasma mortar[1]

Crew:

1 operator or remote-link[1]

Usage

Role(s):

Indirect-fire artillery
Sky striker

Affiliation:

Covenant

 

"This is heavy artillery, Dokab. It must be prepared and loaded, and the crews must be assembled and supplied. The transit itself will be the quickest part of the deployment."
— Dhas Bhasvod discussing a Weevil deployment with Castor.[2]

The Zo'op-pattern Sky Striker[1] (UNSC Type classification: Type-48 Artillery Platform, T-48 AP), colloquially nicknamed the Weevil,[3] is a Covenant artillery piece. The Weevil was the most common mortar artillery used by the Covenant during their war against humanity.[1]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The Weevil is a heavy sky striker commonly employed by the Covenant's military. The piece consists of a tripodal base mounting a single ultra-heavy plasma mortar weapon. The mortar is capable of providing long-ranged fires for Covenant ground forces, striking deep into enemy territory. They are generally deployed via dropship and guarded by a light security contingent, and can be crewed by a single operator directly via tethered console from afar via remote-link. When remote-linked with the Covenant battle network, a Weevil is capable of being controlled from a remote base or spacecraft and can be coordinated with other sky striker platforms in the region.[1]

While in the field, Weevils are generally surrounded by light fortifications constructed by their support crews such as Covenant watchtowers, plasma batteries, and Guardian Triptych barriers.[1]

Operational history[edit]

The Weevil was the most often-used form of mortar artillery deployed by the Covenant during their genocidal campaign against humanity.[1] During the opening stages of the Battle for Earth on October 20, 2552, Covenant forces stationed several Weevil emplacements along the beaches of Old Mombasa, protecting them with ground forces including Sangheili-piloted Ghosts, Kig-Yar snipers in watchtowers and groups of infantry. During their push towards the Solemn Penance's landing zone in New Mombasa, Spartan John-117 and several UNSC marines encountered these defences, and after a struggle, managed to eliminate all of the Covenant forces on the beaches, preventing the Weevil emplacements from being used.[4]

Weevils were later carried aboard Truth's fleet to Installation 00 during the final battle of the war. These units would survive the battle and ultimately be kept among the forces of the loyalist contingent led by Dhas Bhasvod - ultimately seeing service against the Banished and UNSC Spirit of Fire in the Second Ark Conflict in 2559.[2]

Production notes[edit]

The Weevil was first seen (albeit unidentified) in the Halo 2 E3 demo, in which it is much larger than the version in the final game. In the demo, a Weevil emplaced on top of a building in New Mombasa is used against UNSC forces in the city. The weapon fires orbs of plasma that travel in a parabolic arc, much like the Wraith's plasma mortar. Early in the demo, the artillery piece is encountered by the Master Chief and a group of marines. Sergeant Banks calls in an air strike to destroy the weapon shortly after its introduction. Contrary to its significant role in the demo, the scaled-down version of the weapon that appears in the retail version of the game is never seen in use.[4]

A Weevil cannon was intended to be included in the now-cut campaign level "alphamoon". In the level, the cannon would have been featured as a defensive installment deployed by the heretics, with the player tasked with destroying the guns so reinforcements could land. In the version of the mission restored by the Digsite project, the player can destroy the guns by attacking them with a Wraith tank, or by manually attacking and blowing up a vulnerable weak spot underneath the gun. This second, infantry-based, method of attack was replicated in the level The Storm in Halo 3, as the method by which the player destroys the Mantis AA gun at the end of the mission. In alphamoon, the guns will track and fire at the player, requiring the player to dodge their plasma mortar shots.

The Weevil is featured in the Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) and its 2011 reprint. However, this factor only extends to an image of the weapon; the associated text box details instead refer to the Shuku-pattern sentry turret featured in Halo 3.[5][6]

Gallery[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Development images[edit]

  • A Weevil being used as a point-defence weapon in an early storyboard for the level covenantship.

    A Weevil being used as a point-defence weapon in an early storyboard for the level covenantship.

  • A battery of Weevils firing in an early storyboard for the level Earth Ark.

    A battery of Weevils firing in an early storyboard for the level Earth Ark.

  • An artillery gun firing in the Halo 2 E3 Demo.

    An artillery gun firing in the Halo 2 E3 Demo.

  • A Weevil cannon in an early build of the alphamoon level.

    A Weevil cannon in an early build of the alphamoon level.

  • Concept art of the Zo'op-pattern in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    Concept art of the Zo'op-pattern in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • Alternate concept piece of the Weevil for Halo 2: Anniversary.

    Alternate concept piece of the Weevil for Halo 2: Anniversary.

Screenshots[edit]

  • The Weevil.

    The Weevil.

  • The Weevil artillery piece as viewed from the side.

    The Weevil artillery piece as viewed from the side.

  • The first Weevil on the beach in Halo 2.

    The first Weevil on the beach in Halo 2.

  • The second Weevil on the beach in Halo 2.

    The second Weevil on the beach in Halo 2.

  • The Weevil's mortar component in Halo 2.

    The Weevil's mortar component in Halo 2.

  • The Weevil's underside in Halo 2; note the energy barrier.

    The Weevil's underside in Halo 2; note the energy barrier.

  • The second Weevil on the beach in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    The second Weevil on the beach in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • The Weevil's mortar component in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    The Weevil's mortar component in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • The Weevil charging its mortar in Digsite's Halo 2 E3 demo.

    The Weevil charging its mortar in Digsite's Halo 2 E3 demo.

  • The Weevil firing its mortar in Digsite's Halo 2 E3 demo.

    The Weevil firing its mortar in Digsite's Halo 2 E3 demo.

  • The Weevil's plasma mortar bolt in Digsite's Halo 2 E3 demo.

    The Weevil's plasma mortar bolt in Digsite's Halo 2 E3 demo.

  • The impact of the Weevil's plasma mortar in Digsite's Halo 2 E3 demo.

    The impact of the Weevil's plasma mortar in Digsite's Halo 2 E3 demo.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 305
  2. ^ a b Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 9
  3. ^ Halo Waypoint Forums, Catalog Interaction (Retrieved on Apr 13, 2016) [local archive] [external archive]
  4. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level Outskirts
  5. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 330-331
  6. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 345

v • d • e
 
Heavy weaponry in service of the Covenant and its remnants
Support weapons
Stationary weapon emplacements
Vehicle-mounted weapons
Starship weapons
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