This article is about the iteration of the Scorpion tank introduced in Halo 5: Guardians. For other uses, see Scorpion (disambiguation).
M820 Scorpion
H5G - M820 Scorpion.png
Production information

Manufacturer:

Chalybs Defense Solutions[1]

Product line:

Scorpion[1]

Model:

M820[1]

Technical specifications

Length:

10.2 meters (33 ft)[1]

Width:

8.5 meters (28 ft)[1]

Height:

5.7 meters (19 ft)[1]

Mass:

35 metric tons (34 LT; 39 ST)[1]

Maximum speed:

128.7 kilometers per hour (80.0 mph)[1]

Armament:

Crew:

One operator, one gunner[1]

Complement:

Up to four passengers[1]

Usage

Year introduced:

2557[1]

In service:

Post-Covenant War conflicts[1]

Role(s):

  • Anti-armor platform[1]
  • Direct assault and localized defense[1]

Affiliation:

United Nations Space Command[1]

 

The M820 Main Battle Tank, commonly known as the Scorpion, is the United Nations Space Command's primary main battle tank, introduced in 2557. Manufactured by Chalybs Defense Solutions,[1] the M820 Scorpion is the successor of the M808 model used throughout the Human-Covenant War.[2]

Specifications

Design details

The M820 Main Battle Tank is similar in most respects to its predecessor, the M808 MBT - it is a lightly built, highly mobily weapons platform, utilising four indepently operating tracked bogies for high manoeuvrability on rugged terrain, and features a low hull profile and a highly placed cannon, with a cuppola pintle-mounted crew-serviced GPMG and room on the bogies for limited troop transport. It differs from the M808 in a number of important ways, however - it is significantly lighter than its 66 ton predecessor, at only 35 tons, and can achieve a top speed of 128.7 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour), a significant improvement over the M808's top speed of 96.5 kmph (60 mph). However, it does not exchange mass for armor protection, retaining its survivability. The 90mm M512 smooth-bore high-velocity cannon has been replaced with a more powerful M990 electrothermal-chemical (ETC) 150mm smoothbore cannon, trading commonality of ammunition with older Scorpions for a new calibre that can accomodate future planned guided munitions and advances in energetic propellants. More importantly, the new Scorpion is built from the ground up with new technologies and techniques, lacking the Scorpion's deferred technology revisions and historical compromises.[1]

Armaments

The M820 Scorpion is noteworthy for representing a new weapon platform without decades of deferred technology revisions and historical compromises. The Scorpion is outfitted with a 150mm M990 electrothermal-chemical smoothbore cannon, breaking legacy ammo compatibility with its M808 predecessor. Instead, the M820 Scorpion's cannon accommodates both planned cannon-launched guided munitions and future advances in energetic propellants.[1] For example, a variant of the Scorpion currently in skunkworks development by Hannibal Weapon Systems is set to incorporate directed-energy weapons, a laser-firing primary cannon and a Gauss repeater turret.[3] The mainline M820 Scorpion is also armed with a pintle-mounted machine gun.[1]

Variants

  • Corp Scorpion: An up-armored variant used by Liang Dortmund security forces to defend remote installations.[4]
  • Tundra Scorpion: A Scorpion variant featuring tundra camouflage and better armor than the Corp variant.[4]
  • Urban Scorpion: A Scorpion variant featuring urban camouflage and better armor than the Corp variant. Used by UNSC Army and UNSC Marine Corps units for deployment against Insurrectionists in urban areas.[4]
  • Woodland Scorpion: A Scorpion variant featuring improved off-road maneuverability, simplifies air transport into remote areas and has better armor than the Corp variant.[4]
  • ONI Scorpion: The ONI "security" Scorpion features heavier armor than the Urban variant and has an upgraded cannon utilizing experimental ammunition.[4]
  • Hannibal Scorpion: Upgraded by Hannibal Weapon Systems, this variant is one of the corporation's several test bed tanks, outfitted with heavy armor and a directed-energy weapon.[3]

Operational history

The M820 Scorpion was introduced in 2557,[1] and had become popular in War Games matches aboard UNSC Infinity.[4]

A M820 Corp Scorpion, owned by Billy, was on Meridian when the world was invaded by Promethean forces. Governor Sloan of Meridian gave Fireteam Osiris an option to use the Scorpion to help fend off the Promethean invaders.[5]

Only one M820 Scorpion was taken by Guardian 3209 to Genesis during the Battle of Genesis, with 031 Exuberant Witness offering Fireteam Osiris if they wanted to use it.[6]

Gallery

Halo 5: Guardians REQ Cards and variants

List of appearances

Sources

Template:UNSC Vehicles