The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/EOD variant, more commonly known as Explosive Ordnance Disposal Armor, and abbreviated as EOD Armor, is a variant of the Mark IV, Mark V and Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor systems.[1]
Development and history
The MJOLNIR/EOD variant was created at the UNSC Damascus Materials Testing Facility on Chi Ceti 4. The helmet was designed to channel the pressure wave of a nearby detonation around the user's head, significantly reducing the likelihood of decapitation in the event of an explosion. The MJOLNIR/EOD variant's pauldrons and chest plate were designed specifically to reduce the number of grabbing edges on the armor, decreasing the likelihood of dismemberment and protecting SPARTANs during operations that involve the handling of explosive ordnance (e.g., clearing/planting land mines, demolishing enemy structures/material and, or planting/defusing bombs).[1]
Characteristics
Mark V
- Main article: Halo: Reach
- "Developed at the Damascus Materials Testing Facility on X Ceti 4; entered service in 2531"
- — Description of the EOD helmet in Halo: Reach [2]
Helmet characteristics
Price: 15,000 cR
The EOD Helmet in Halo: Reach is only slightly different than its Halo 3 version. Beyond the general graphic improvement, the helmet's visor has been changed from a pair of goggles to a more normal wide slit. Additionally, the rebreather-like apparatus on the sides of the helmet now match the players color instead of being a concrete white. The Greek symbol of Caduceus, commonly used in medical imagery, can be seen on the right side of the "forehead" of the helmet. CNM and UA/HUL attachments can be purchased for the helmet. The UA/HUL variant is unique in that it removes both of the rebreathers from the helmet.
Mark VI
- Main article: Halo 3
Helmet characteristics
Unlock: Unlock the Campaign Complete: Legendary achievement.
The helmet is mostly squared off with two separate eyepieces, rather than a visor. They are more akin to a pair of goggles unlike the other MJOLNIR armor variants that are visor-adorned. In actual combat, this would highly increase protection to the face but also reduce the field of vision considerably. The helmet also has a single plate over the nose and mouth and a pair of rectangular objects along each cheek, assumed to be jowls protectors or lengthy re-breathers.
Shoulder pauldron characteristics
Unlock: Complete The Ark on Legendary difficulty.
The shoulder pauldrons are large and rounded. They have been optimized for EOD missions and are designed to decrease the chances of dismemberment if the wearer is caught in a blast.
Chest characteristics
Unlock: Complete Tsavo Highway on Legendary difficulty.
The chest plate is thicker than the other chest permutations, and has a broadly curved front with a steep backcurve on the sides. This construction is intended to increase the survivability of the wearer by providing greater projectile resistance and by deflecting concussion waves around the body and to the side.
Trivia
- Bungie Armor is a slight variation of the EOD chestplate. Bungie Armor lacks the three mid-level lights and has an effect that causes flames to appear around the helmet.
- The EOD chest plate bears a very striking resemblance to the armor design of the MJOLNIR Mark V armor's chest plate from Halo: Combat Evolved. Because of this, many players use it in conjunction with the Mark V helmet and Mark VI shoulders to create an improvised version of the original Mark V armor from Halo: Combat Evolved.
- The EOD chestplate in Halo 3 somewhat resembles the Default chestplate seen in Halo: Reach.
- The UA/HUL attachment makes the helmet look similar to the Rogue helmet seen in Halo 3, by removing the air filters.
- According to a Bungie poll, EOD is currently the 5th most popular helmet variation in Halo Reach.
- The rebreathers featured on this helmet are similar to the CBRN attachements available for the Security and GUNGNIR helmets.
- The Caduceus emblem that appears on the Mark V EOD helmet also appears on med packs, Army medics, and the Tactical/Trauma Kit armor permutation. This suggests that the EOD may also have an intended secondary role to provide medical assistance to wounded allies in dangerous situations. It's possible that there may be a non-MJOLNIR variant of the helmet for use by UNSC medical personnel, likely in toxic environments where the distinctive CBRN would aid in operations.
Gallery
A render of an EOD helmet, found via a glitch in the Halo: Reach Beta.
- Jman98.jpg
A customized Noble Six wearing EOD armor during a cutscene in Halo: Reach.
- EOD compilation.jpg
Various concepts for the EOD helmet for Halo: Reach.
List of appearances
- Halo 3 (First appearance)
- Halo: Reach
Sources
- ^ a b Halo 3, Armor description
- ^ IGN Video: Halo: Reach Xbox 360 Video - The Armory Video