- "This here is 66 tons of straight-up, HE-spewin', dee-vine intervention!"
- — Avery J. Johnson
The M808B Main Battle Tank[1][2] is a variant of the M808 Scorpion. The tank features a coaxial-mounted M247T machine gun.
Design
Essentially sporting the same design with the M808 Scorpion, the M808B differs from base model in such that its secondary armament has been moved from a pintle mount to a coaxial mount. The M247T machine gun is mounted beside the primary weapon and thus points in the same general direction as the main armament, relying in the turret's ability to traverse in order to change arc.
Advantages
The advantages of the Scorpion vs. other vehicles, especially in multiplayer, include its heavy armor, massive damage, area of effect, and significant accuracy-range. The scorpion is difficult to destroy be direct assault, unless by the use of anti-armor weapons (i.e. rockets, fuel rods, etc.). From Halo 2 onward, the concept of boarding appeared, making it significantly easier to destroy vehicles using stealth, though it is still difficult to pull off on a fully manned scorpion. When fully manned, a Scorpion brings not only the significant punch of the main turret, but also the indipendant chain gun for anti-infantry/RAV. It has been used succesfully from high altitudes to bombard enemy positions with ease. The Scorpion is easily one of the most powerful, and most important, assets on the battlefield.
Disadvantages
The main disadvantages of the Scorpion are its size, speed, manuverability, and rate of fire. Also notable is its uncanny ability to draw out enemies in swarms. Most people can recognize a Scorpion on sight, and many by the sond it makes. Being extremly powerful, the Scorpion generally becomes the focus of enemy attacks, until it is either destroyed or stolen. While the only effective ways of destroying a Scorpion include deploying heavy artillary or boarding it directly, the Scorpion's lack of speed and mauverability make it difficult for the driver to avoid them. The only way a Scorpion can counter a rocket launcher is to shoot first and hope the rocketeer dies. The gunner can be easily sniped, but is almost invaluable in warding off potential boarders. The Scorpion is unable to do this effectively on its own due its low raate of fire.
In Halo: Combat Evolved, where multiplayer vehicles could not be destroyed, the Scorpion posed a significantly greater threat, and was therefor pivotal to the success of a match. Opposing teams generally allocated a great deal of time and energy towards obtaining Scorpions, and keeping them under their control.
Changes
The M808B Scorpion Tank makes its first appearance in Halo: Combat Evolved, in the campaign level Assault on the Control Room; it is also available in the multiplayer levels Blood Gulch and Sidewinder. The tank is a dull gray, it moves at a decent speed, and it has a lightly protected canopy in multiplayer, although this is not so in Campaign. Because of this, it is easy for a sniper to kill the driver of the tank, effectively disabling it. Players also have the option of riding on the tank's tread covers in multiplayer.
Changes from Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 2
- The color of the tank has now changed from brownish gray to olive green, and the textures have also been updated.
- Players now cannot ride on the tank's tread covers, called 'hotseats'. Standing on them is much easier with the revamped physics engine.
- The reticule for the tank has also changed and is a lot smaller, for increased accuracy.
- The tank now moves a lot slower, further limiting its movement and its evasive capabilities.
- The tank's canopy has been replaced with a solid metal cover like in Halo: Combat Evolved's Campaign, preventing the driver from being sniped while it is intact. However, vehicle damage has been added to human vehicles, and so the player is in danger of the tank exploding if too much damage is taken.
- The main cannon reloads twice as fast, requiring only a two second delay. The dots during the reload time are now removed. It is also more accurate.
- The machine gun is now much more accurate. Previously, the machine gun fired in a very wide area.
- Driving and aiming controls are now completely divorced allowing for greater maneuverability when firing. Previously the aiming and steering controls were linked, meaning the player had to steer more or less in the same direction they were aiming.
Variants
List of known units
- 030569
- 12-9F5: Painted brown, this version has a wider-set track and an enhanced undercarriage, and is designed for urban warfare.[3]
- 957-A3: Painted gray, the 957-A3 has enhanced electronics for a more accurate cannon shot.[3]
- UE8-14: Painted olive-green, this variant has thinner armor, is lighter, and is designed for medium-armor warfare.[3]
- TB-SB-1: Painted black, the TB-SB-1 has thicker armor than the standard Scorpion and a sturdier chassis.[3]
- HJ3-213: With thicker treads than the standard version, this variant has a sturdier chassis as it is built for rougher terrain.[3]
Gameplay tactics
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Campaign
Halo: Combat Evolved
- When you first acquire the tank on Assault on the Control Room, and clear out the Wraiths, the best way to take out the Banshee is to turn the tank around, look right up to the structure where it takes off from, and backup until you receive the checkpoint. Once the Banshee takes off, start moving forward and do not open fire until the Banshee has fired its Fuel Rod Cannon; after the round hits the ground, take aim and take it down.
- Later on, after you move into the valley with the second set of Hunters, as soon as you get to the bottom of the slope, quickly turn around and head back up the ice ramp to take out the Covenant dropship attempting to flank you from behind. Be sure to watch out for your Marines, as they will also follow you up the slope.
Halo 2
- Ditch the tank completely on "Delta Halo" when you proceed into the structures. Just use the Warthog, as your mistakes will be limited - especially when you must take on the Ghosts in the later part of the level.
Multiplayer
- In Halo: Combat Evolved, even small pieces of cover, such as the spires on the top of Blood Gulch's bases, can stop players taking damage. Taking cover behind these spires while the cannon fires and firing while it reloads is effective, just watch out for the machine gun, which at close range, is quite lethal.
- In Halo: Combat Evolved where the driver is exposed, it is possible to eliminate him with a single shot from a sniper rifle. However, if the player fails to kill the driver and is exposed, his tactic may turn against him and result in his death. Because of that, this tactic can be suicidal in some occasions. The pistol can also be used this way, but it requires more shots than a sniper rifle.
- Although you cannot ride on the tread covers like you could in Halo: Combat Evolved, a player who has taken the enemy's flag can still ride the tank by jumping on the tread cover and staying put; they will not fall off as usual and can ride all the way back to the base with extra firepower supporting you.
- Equipped with a powerful gun, the Scorpion can easily take out any aircraft it lays its eyes on. A way to counter this is to position your aircraft directly above the tank where its "blind spot" is. Then lower the aircraft on top of the tank keeping sure that you're still in its blind spot. Then, get out of the aircraft and jump on it and stick it with a grenade effectively destroying the tank. This tactic is primarily for use by the Hornet and Falcon with them being the only two vehicles with VTOL technology. This tactic can still be employed with the Banshee, but with a less effective outcome.
Halo Wars
The Scorpion is the mainline UNSC vehicle. This armored tank is a mobile weapons platform. It is available for production inside the Vehicle Depot.
Requirements
- 500 Resources
- Tech Level 2
Upgrades
- Canister Shell
- A special attack with a blast radius which is devastating to infantry.
- Power Turret
- The turning speed of the turret is doubled.
- Grizzly
- Turns M808B Scorpion into the M850 Grizzly (available only if Sergeant Forge is the leader).
Trivia
In Halo: Combat Evolved, the Scorpion tank's cannon was a solid object, but in Halo 2 and Halo 3, the player will go through if they try to walk on the barrel - the character's legs will separate from their body.
Gallery
Detail of the scorpion emblem.
A render of the M808B Scorpion Tank in Halo: Combat Evolved.
The Scorpion in Pre-Xbox Halo.
The Scorpion accompanied by a group of SPARTANs in Halo: Combat Evolved.
A Scorpion being delivered to New Mombasa in Halo 2.
Unit 957-A3 under fire by a Covenant Scarab in Halo 2.
- TB-SB-1.jpg
Scorpion tank, unit TB-SB-1.
- H2 Scorpion-Jack.jpg
A Scorpion tank being hijacked.
The Scorpion tank as it appears in Halo Wars.
A render of the Scorpion as seen in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
The Heads-Up Display when driving an M808B Scorpion in Halo Anniversary.
- Scorpion Library.jpg
A M808B Scorpion, as displayed in the Library feature of Halo Anniversary.
