LAU-65D/SGM-151 missile pod

Template:Weapon The LAU-65D/SGM-151, also known as the Missile Pod, is a portable United Nations Space Command infantry weapon. It is a missile-launching weapon, and holds up to eight small, highly explosive missiles when released from its tripod. The Missile Pod is capable of locking onto vehicle or turret position targets.

Operation

The mounted version of the Missile Pod can only be seen in one Campaign level, The Storm. When mounted, it has an infinite amount of ammo. The Missile Pod can carry eight rounds, which are less powerful than the Rocket Launcher and can fire continuously without the need for reloading. In its mounted form, the Missile Pod is used by Marines as a rocket-powered mortar (by firing its missiles vertically into the sky). This allows the missiles to hit targets from above, inflicting maximum damage and leaving less time for the target to avoid the strike; however, in its mounted form, it can't hit targets on the ground up close easily (it will just fire up into the air and do no damage.)

Once the missile is fired, it will travel about five meters before becoming self-propelled. This, along with the pod's ability to maintain a lock even when there's an obstacle (such as a small hill in Valhalla) between the pod and the target, means the wielder can fire at an upward angle, giving the missile enough vertical clearance to fly over the hill and into the target.

It is also effective against foot-bound stationary targets (such as an enemy sniper); the missile's high speed means that even if the target hears the missile, he or she may not be able to react in time. This is most effective at short and medium range, mostly because it is harder to see an enemy at long ranges, much less determining if one is moving. One of the best anti-vehicle tactics is to lock on, aim up in the air, and fire; however, its low ammo capacity when unmounted means it should be used sparingly. Also, on Valhalla, a possible tactic is to carry the missile pod into the Man Cannon while firing at an enemy. The enemy will most likely not see you and will die confused, leaving you able to repeat the trick.

Tactics

The Missile Pod can be a weak weapon against infantry. It typically takes a direct missile hit to kill an opponent with one shot. Quite unlike the Rocket Launcher, its splash damage is confined to a smaller area, making it challenging to use in a one-on-one mid-range fight. The pod is extremely deadly against vehicles, however, and can be found on the following maps: Valhalla, Sandtrap, Sandbox and Construct. Of course, any player can place it into any map using Forge. It causes the wielder to fall victim to the high maneuverability of a Ghost, as the wielder is slow due to its' weight. On Valhalla, it is capable of destroying Banshees, Mongooses, Warthogs, and turrets. On Construct, the missile pod becomes a powerful infantry weapon because the map's architecture allows for quick kills, making it especially useful for killing the sword wielders or campers at the Gravity Lifts.

It is noteworthy to use in a Big Team Slayer match next, as a few short missiles can take out a central threat, such as a Scorpion, Banshee, or Wraith antagonizing your opponents and getting kills for you and your team.

Trivia

• Missile Pods are first and only seen in the campaign on the level "The Storm", along with being the missile pod's only appearance in game, its debut as a turret mounted weapon is also made in The Storm.
• Hornets fire couples of what appear to be Missile Pod missiles as a primary weapon.
• On Heroic difficulty, it takes eight rounds of the LAU-65D/SGM-151 to destroy a Phantom; however, it only takes four missiles to the rear section to destroy it because the engines will go critical, which will end up destroying the rest.
• If you give the Missile Pod to the Arbiter during single player campaign by killing him and dropping the pod at his feet, he'll be able to lock onto infantry with the Missile Pod.
• The LAU-65D/SGM-151's missile is considerably stronger than the M41's ordinance according to their size (Rocket launcher is 102mm, Missile pod is 125mm), but much weaker for some reason.
• The maximum magazine size of a Missile Pod can be changed in Forge. However, this has no effect on the weapons actual ammo capacity which is always 8. Similarly, you can't spawn missile pods mounted on turrets, probably for game balancing reasons, since a missile pod with infinite ammo is a tremendous defensive advantage.
• The Missile Pod can be used to do the Halo 2 "Ring of Rockets" trick.
• Too Close To The Sun, is a Halo 3 multiplayer achievement. It is awarded for destroying a Banshee in either campaign or a ranked multiplayer playlist with a Spartan Laser or Missile Pod. Unlocking this achievement will give you the Scout Body for Spartan Armor Customization. It is represented by a red ten-pointed star with a brown-winged white star.
• In Multiplayer, if a vehicle is locked onto by a Missile Pod, the driver, gunner, or passenger, should hear a droning/buzzing/beeping noise from their HUD as a warning to get out of the vehicle.
• Although it is a weapon, the Missile Pod acts more like a vehicle, and is classed as one in the game code.Template:Fact
• The Missile Pod acts similar to the modern day Javelin Rocket Launcher, but only when mounted. The Missile Pod's designation (SGM-151) is also similar to that of the Javelin (FGM-148).

Gallery

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  A good example of the missile pods homing ability.

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  The missile launched from the pod.

• Missle pod angle.jpg

  Back View

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  Marine using a Missile Pod on its stand.

• 1215439386 Images.jpeg

  A SPARTAN pointing a missile pod upwards.

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  A missile compared to a Heat rocket.

Sources

Template:UNSC Infantry Weapons