M19 missile

A HEAT Missile from The Art of Halo 3.

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The 102mm High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) shaped charge can be fired from M19 SSM Rocket Launcher^[1] and M41 Rocket Launcher^[2]. As the name reveals, they are primarily designed to penetrate Tank and other vehicular armor, such as that on Warthogs. The 102mm HEAT charges are large, almost as large as the 105-120mm shells that the 21st century tanks used to fire. When fired from the M19 Rocket Launcher, the charge will lock on the target and follow it until it is destroyed or out of sight. Instead, when fired from the M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher, it seems to travel slower and it will not arc or lock on the target.

Warfare

The HEAT 102mm charge will kill or destroy the following:

Scorpion/Wraith tank in two direct hits.
Banshee Ground Support Aircraft/Hornet in one direct hit.
Spartan in MJOLNIR with one direct hit or if the target is within a two-foot blast radius.
Covenant Infantry, of any caste or rank, Hunter included with one direct hit. It will take two hits from blast radius damage to destroy a Hunter.
Ghost/Chopper/Mongoose will die in one direct hit.
Warthog/Spectre/Brute Prowler in 1 to 2 hits depending on hit location.

It has been observed that:

It can be sniped out of the air.
If timed correctly, a Gravity hammer, explosion, or even a sniper rifle or battle rifle can cause it to spin out of control, and eventually explode. This method can also cause the rocket to flip backward at the person who fired it it the explosion is placed correctly, possibly killing them (Halo 3 only).
In Halo 3 has approximately the same speed as Halo: Combat Evolved, while in Halo 2 is slightly faster.

Trivia

HEAT missiles were first developed in World War II for anti-tank usage by the Allied forces. They were used in their M9 Bazookas against Axis tanks.

Gallery

An armory with a cache of HEAT and gauge ammunition in Halo: Combat Evolved.
DJC-Rocket Ammo.jpg

A case containing two HEAT missiles.
A HEAT from Halo: Combat Evolved.
A HEAT from Halo 3.
A HEAT from Halo: Reach.
A comparison of rocket models between Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 3 and Halo: Reach, respectively. (not to scale)
A HEAT compared to a Missile Pod missile.