Gadulo-pattern needle rifle
| Gadulo-pattern Needle Launcher | |
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| Production overview | |
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Manufacturer: |
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Type: |
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| Specifications | |
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Length: |
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Width: |
24.1 centimeters (9.5 in)[4] |
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Height: |
37.4 centimeters (14.7 in)[4] |
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Weight: |
7.9 kilograms (17 lb)[4] |
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Ammunition type: |
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Feed system: |
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Firing mode: |
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Optics: |
2× magnification optics[3] |
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Effective range: |
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In service: |
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The Gadulo-pattern Needle Launcher (UNSC Type classification: Type-31 Needle Rifle)[1] also known as the needle rifle,[6] is an infantry weapon originally manufactured by the Covenant's Sacred Promissory, formerly in service with the Covenant military.[7] After the fall of High Charity in 2552, Maeleesh Bazaar took over the production of the needle rifle.[4]
OverviewEdit
Design detailsEdit
- Main article: Needle-based weaponry
As its name suggests, the Gadulo-pattern needle rifle is one of the many Covenant needle-based projectile weapons, and shares operational functionality with the ubiquitous needler, but notably features an electronic sighting optics system.[4] The needle rifle fires unconventional, long and razor sharp Subanese crystalline shards, which detonate several seconds after coming to rest in soft tissue.[4] The needles are stored within the midsection weapon, with several protruding from the shroud. The rear end of the weapon appears to be on a hinge, indicating it may be able to collapse into a more compact form.
Similar to other needle-based weapons, the needle rifle's internal mechanism snaps off crystalline shards into individual charged projectiles, which are launched linearly at the intended target. However, unlike the needler, the needle rifle's projectiles are not designed to home in on a target.[2] Given that the needler uses an additional magnetic auger within the weapon to catalyze the shards so they can track heat signatures,[3] the needle rifle likely lacks a magnetic auger. However, the needle rifle's shards travel much faster than that of the needler, leaving the needle rifle's only destructive similarity to the needler being the individual/collected needle explosion.
The rifle's crystalline shards are held in an ammo cylinder. The reload process for the needle rifle is very similar to that of the Vostu-pattern carbine and Mosa-pattern carbine. The only difference between the reloads for the carbine and the needle rifle is that the canister for the carbine is not covered by any sort of hatch, which, in the case of the needle rifle, is the weapon's top module—also where the optics system is mounted. When reloading, the top module flips open to expose the ammo canister that ejects upon opening, allowing the user to insert a new canister. When the top module locks in place, the crystalline shards are splintered and then extrude from apertures on the weapon's shroud.[3]
UsageEdit
Without the needles' tracking ability, the needle rifle must be fired like a marksman rifle.[2] The needle rifle is operated in a similar role to the Vostu-pattern carbine,[1] and was commonly employed by Skirmishers, Kig-Yar Snipers, and Sangheili during the Fall of Reach;[8][9][10] notably, a Sangheili Field Marshal used a needle rifle to kill Spartan-III Catherine-B320 with a headshot during the Siege of New Alexandria.[11] Within the Covenant and its splinter factions, the needle rifle is used by Sangheili, Jiralhanae, Kig-Yar, and Yanme'e.[12] Following the dissolution of the Covenant, the needle rifle was inherited by its splinter factions, including the Swords of Sanghelios,[13] Merg Vol's Covenant,[14] and Sali 'Nyon's Covenant.[15]
TriviaEdit
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See our gameplay information related to Gadulo-pattern needle rifle on its gameplay page. |
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Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
- The scope of the needle rifle has a hash-mark compass. To the right of the scope, it also features a symbol which turns red when the crosshairs are aimed at an enemy.
- Killing an opponent with a supercombine of the needle rifle's needles will grant the player a Needle Kill medal.
- During the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, the needle rifle had an 18-round magazine. This was increased to 21 rounds (to match the three round increase in the DMR's magazine size) for the final game. In both cases, the model for a fully-loaded needle rifle only shows 12 needles sticking out.
GalleryEdit
Concept art and illustrationsEdit
Early 2008 concept art of the needle rifle.
Early 2008 concept art of the needle rifle.
Early 2008 concept art of the needle rifle.
Early 2008 concept art of the needle rifle.
Early 2008 concept art of the needle rifle.
Later 2009 shape exploration for the needle rifle.
2009 functional studies for the needle rifle's function.
Finalised modelsheet and functional refinement for the needle rifle.
Finalised material pass concept of the needle rifle.
Sangheili Storm part of Sali 'Nyon's Covenant armed with needle rifles during Operation: ATHENA in Halo: Escalation.
RendersEdit
A pre-Alpha render of the needle rifle in Halo: Reach; note the green lights and needles.
Another early version of the needle rifle in Halo: Reach; note the green lights.
A render of the needle rifle from Halo: Fireteam Raven.
Another render of the needle rifle from Halo: Fireteam Raven.
ScreenshotsEdit
A pre-Alpha screenshot of the HUD view of the needle rifle in use in Halo: Reach.
A pre-Alpha screenshot of Noble Six utilizing the needle rifle in Halo: Reach.
First-person view of the needle rifle in the Halo: Reach campaign.
First-person view of the needle rifle being used in the Halo: Reach multiplayer.
First-person view of the needle rifle in use in Halo: Reach Firefight.
View through the needle rifle's scope in Halo: Reach.
A Sangheili Ranger firing a needle rifle at a Warthog in Halo: Reach.
Two Skirmisher Majors wielding the needle rifle in Halo: Reach.
A Skirmisher Commando with the needle rifle in Halo: Reach.
A Kig-Yar Sniper firing a needle rifle from a watchtower in Halo: Reach.
A trio of Skirmisher Murmillones with the needle rifles in Halo: Reach.
A Spartan carrying a needle rifle in Halo: Reach multiplayer.
A Special Operations Sangheili wielding a needle rifle in Halo: Reach multiplayer.
A Spartan shot in the head with a needle in Halo: Reach.
A Kig-Yar Sniper armed with a needle rifle in Halo: Reach Firefight.
A Sangheili with a needle rifle in Halo: Reach's Firefight Versus.
A Kig-Yar sniper wielding a needle rifle during the Battle of Circinius IV in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.
List of appearancesEdit
SourcesEdit
- ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 335
- ^ a b c d e f Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 127
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 294
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Halo Waypoint, Needle Rifle (Retrieved on May 14, 2021) [local archive] [external archive]
- ^ Bungie.net, Point of Impact (Retrieved on Feb 7, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Bungie.net, Halo: Reach Ordnance Page - Type-31 Rifle (Retrieved on Feb 7, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 294
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level ONI: Sword Base
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Nightfall
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level New Alexandria
- ^ Halo: Shadow of Intent
- ^ Halo: Outcasts, chapter 1
- ^ Halo: Spartan Assault, campaign level Hunt for the Cult Leader
- ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 23
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