M19 SSM Rocket Launcher

The M19 SSM Rocket Launcher is a weapon used by UNSC forces in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 to combat armored vehicles. The launcher sports a 2x scope, and lock on capabilities in some models.

Summary

The M19, alternatively called the Spanker or the Jackhammer, is a heavy ordinance weapon of the UNSC arsenal used in Halo 1 and Halo 2. It fires HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rockets. The launcher sports a 2x scope and can fire rockets over long distances with devastating accuracy.

The weapon has two barrels, allowing consecutive shots. When reloaded, the barrels are removed. Two preloaded barrels are then inserted back into the launcher. With this mechanism, a Marine can greatly reduce the weight he carries without throwing the weapon away like with modern day disposable rocket launchers.

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 all the riders 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.

Its lock on in later models makes aiming much easier, and killing vehicles almost a guarantee.

Disadvantages

A Spartan fires a rocket at a Covenant Wraith.

Several things counterbalance the rocket launcher's sheer power:

1. It's firing and reloading time are quite slow.
2. Ammunition is often unavailable, and the player can carry only 8 extra rockets at once.
3. It can damage or kill its operator if fired carelessly into surrounding terrain or an enemy at extremely short range.
4. It can easily kill friendly units in close proximity to a target.
5. 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. (Unless you have lock on capabilities)

Effective Against

All Enemies and Vehicles, particularly heavier vehicles such as the Wraith and Scorpion. Two quick shots to the front or close up on the flank will destory it. However against enemy vehicles on their flanks at medium ranges is arguably useless, unless in flat terrain and using extreme leading, it suffers against ghosts and warthogs due to their high speed and agility. If fired at an oncoming vehicle at medium range it can probably be avoided. It is effective against all types of vehicles in later lock on models.

Ammo

M19 Surface to Surface Missile (x2) 102mm Shaped-Charge High-Explosive

As shown on Ammo Box in Halo Graphic Novel

Influences

The M19 SSM was inspired by the SPNKr rocket launcher from the Marathon series. The launcher itself is also nicknamed the "Spanker" due to the "SPNKr" labeling on the launcher and the rectangular cases that contain rocket ammunition.

Speculation

It has been speculated that the M19 has actually been the M41 Rocket Launcher throughout the whole series. This is inspired by the fact that "M41 MAV/AW" has been written on every Rocket Launcher since Halo 1, and the rockets are called "M19 Surface to Surface Rockets (sometimes missiles)", leading to speculation that its name in the manuals of the first two games just implied that it was a launcher of M19 SSM rockets.

Trivia

This version of the Rocket launcher has a TEST button that, whn pressed, spins the end of it around. This only happens when the player does nothing for a while.

See Also

• M19-B SAM Missile Launcher
• M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher

Sources

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