M45D shotgun

M45D Shotgun
Production overview
Manufacturer:	Misriah Armory
Type:	Shotgun
Variants:	Blaze of Glory; Lawgiver; Oathsworn;
Specifications
Length:	113 centimeters (44.4 in)
Width:	11 centimeters (4.4 in)
Height:	24 centimeters (9.6 in)
Weight:	3.6 kilograms (8 lb)
Ammunition type:	M296 8-Gauge 18.5mm Magnum
Capacity:	6 shells
Operation:	Pump-action
Optics:	None (Smart-link-compatible)
Service history
In service:	United Nations Space Command

"Short-range semi-automatic shotgun. Get up-close and personal to maximize damage."

— Halo 5: Guardians, REQ description^[5]

The M45D Tactical Shotgun is a firearm built by Misriah Armory and used by the armed forces of the United Nations Space Command. It is one of the most commonly used variants of the M45 family of tactical shotguns, the other notable member being the older M45E shotgun.^[4]

Overview

A Heads-up display schematic of the M45D.

Design details

The M45D follows the standard design for most shotguns used throughout the UNSC, and consists of a tubular magazine mounted above the barrel, with shells inserted from the top of the weapon and loaded via pump-action. Like its M45E counterpart, the weapon can hold up to six M295 8-Gauge 18.5mm shells, which make the weapon ideal for use in close-quarters fighting such as urban combat and naval boarding actions. However, its versatility is increased due to its capacity to use other, more specialised, kinds of ammunition.^[3] Despite this powerful ammunition and lightweight nature, the weapon is considered surprisingly comfortable to use in part due to its (generally underappreciated) magnetorheological recoil dampening technology.^[3]

Although M45D shotguns generally lack the smart link-controllable choke that is found on some iterations of the M45 platform,^[3] at least some iterations of the weapon are fitted with a feature analagous to it. These examples are usually fitted with a holographic sight projection mounted just below and to the left of the rear iron sight.^[6]

Variants

Smart-link controllable choke: an upgraded version of the M45D featuring a holographic projection sight and a smart-link controllable choke.^[7]
Blaze of Glory: a variant with a kinetic bolts attachment on the barrel, allowing the weapon to fire hard light-infused rounds.^[8]
Lawgiver: a variant with increased stopping power and rate-of-fire.^[9]
Oathsworn: a series of customised shotguns built for use by Kelly-087; each weapon bears the same name, though has unique differences.^[10]^[11]

The upgraded M45D featuring the holographic sight and smart-link capabilities.
Blaze of Glory.
Lawgiver.
Oathsworn.

Service history

The M45D has become the most common tactical shotgun in use by the United Nations Space Command.^[4] SPARTAN-II Kelly-087 is a common user of the M45D, having customised one to serve as her personal signature weapon, "Oathsworn".^[12]^[11]

Production notes

In the Universe article on the M45D on Halo Waypoint, the M45D was noted as explicitly lacking the smart-link controllable choke that is featured on some models of the M45.^[3] This seems to be an inclusion intended to allude to the smart-link aim mechanics of the shotgun featured in Halo 5: Guardians, though erroneously suggests that the shotgun model featured in Halo 5 lacks this feature. It is unclear whether this text intended to split the Halo 4 and Halo 5 iterations of the weapon into the M45D and regular M45, respectively; regardless, the Halo 5 iteration of the shotgun was definitively referred to as the M45D in the Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition).^[4]

Gallery

Halo 4 concept art for the M45D, alongside the M6/X Spartan Laser.
HUD icon of the M45D in Halo 4.
First-person view of the M45D Tactical Shotgun by John-117 in the Halo 4 campaign.
The M45D Tactical Shotgun in action in Halo 4 multiplayer.
A Recruit-clad Spartan-IV firing the M45D.
A HAZOP-clad Spartan-IV wielding the M45D on Complex.
The M45 in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta.
Edward Buck firing an M45D during the Battle of Kamchatka in Halo 5: Guardians.
First-person view of the M45D by Frederic-104 in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign.
Smart scope with the M45D by Fred-104.
Fred-104 with an M45D in Halo 5: Guardians.
First-person view of the M45D in Halo 5: Guardians.
Smart scope with the M45D in Halo 5: Guardians.
Concept art of the Smart Scope for the shotgun in Halo 5: Guardians.
Third-person view of the M45D engaged in smart scope.
A Freebooter-clad Spartan-IV using an M45D on Pegasus.
An Armiger Soldier with an M45D on Raid on Apex 7.
The M45D in Halo Online.

List of appearances

Halo 4 (First appearance)
- Spartan Ops
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo: Initiation
Halo: Escalation
Halo: Mortal Dictata
Halo: Spartan Strike
Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series
Halo 5: Guardians
- Limited Edition
Halo Mythos
Halo: Tales from Slipspace
Halo: Retribution
Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual
Halo: Lone Wolf
Halo: Outpost Discovery
Halo: Shadows of Reach (Cover art-only)

Sources

^ ^a ^b ^c Halo Waypoint, Halo 4 Interactive Guide - Weapons: Shotgun (Retrieved on Apr 30, 2013) [local archive] [external archive]
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 70
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Halo Waypoint, Shotgun (Retrieved on Oct 29, 2015) [archive]
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 173
^ Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Shotgun description "Short-range semi-automatic shotgun. Get up-close and personal to maximize damage."
^ See production notes
^ Halo 5: Guardians, Shotgun in-game weapon
^ Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Blaze of Glory description "Advanced technology married to brutal simplicity. Advanced Shotgun with Forerunner mechanism to fire fast-moving hardlight projectiles with extra range and anti-vehicle effect. Reloads with a single shell."
^ Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Lawbringer description "Dura lex. Sed lex. Improved Shotgun with increased damage, accuracy, and rate of fire."
^ Halo Waypoint, Building Your REQ Collection: Part 1 (Retrieved on Apr 13, 2016) [archive]
^ ^a ^b Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Oathsworn description "Memories of loss and dreams of vengeance, sealed in steel and composites. Mythic Shotgun with increased damage, accuracy, and rate of fire. The user's movement speed is also increased while Oathsworn is equipped."
^ Halo: Lone Wolf, issue 1

[Guide-1] Halo Waypoint, Halo 4 Interactive Guide - Weapons: Shotgun (Retrieved on Apr 30, 2013) [local archive] [external archive]

[H4EVG-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 70

[universe-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Halo Waypoint, Shotgun (Retrieved on Oct 29, 2015) [archive]

[Enc22-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 173

[REQ-5] Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Shotgun description "Short-range semi-automatic shotgun. Get up-close and personal to maximize damage."

[6] See production notes

[7] Halo 5: Guardians, Shotgun in-game weapon

[Blaze-8] Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Blaze of Glory description "Advanced technology married to brutal simplicity. Advanced Shotgun with Forerunner mechanism to fire fast-moving hardlight projectiles with extra range and anti-vehicle effect. Reloads with a single shell."

[Law-9] Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Lawbringer description "Dura lex. Sed lex. Improved Shotgun with increased damage, accuracy, and rate of fire."

[10] Halo Waypoint, Building Your REQ Collection: Part 1 (Retrieved on Apr 13, 2016) [archive]

[Oath-11] Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Oathsworn description "Memories of loss and dreams of vengeance, sealed in steel and composites. Mythic Shotgun with increased damage, accuracy, and rate of fire. The user's movement speed is also increased while Oathsworn is equipped."

[12] Halo: Lone Wolf, issue 1

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