M650 Mastodon
| M650 Mastodon | |
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Manufacturer: |
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| Technical specifications | |
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Length: |
10.2 meters (33.5 ft)[1] |
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Width: |
6.0 meters (19.7 ft)[1] |
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Height: |
5.0 meters (16.4 ft)[1] |
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Mass: |
36.2 metric tons (35.6 LT; 39.9 ST)[1] |
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Armament: |
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Crew: |
2 operators[1] |
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Complement: |
20 troops[1] |
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In service: |
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- "Fuel tanks check, Marines check."
- — A Mastodon pilot during the Banished occupation of Installation 00[4]
The M650 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), commonly known as the Mastodon, is an armored personnel carrier of the United Nations Space Command, primarily utilized by the UNSC Army and colonial defense forces.[3][1]
OverviewEdit
Design detailsEdit
The Mastodon is heavily-armoured and considered the cutting edge of expeditionary and troop transportation, though is lightly-armed. The vehicle is comprised of a heavily-armoured and bulky main chassis with a large interior compartment capable of holding up to twenty infantry, including even heavy infantry such as Spartans in MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.[1][3][2] The interior compartments see the crew cockpit in the fore of the vehicle, nestled above the drive containing the forward two pairs of wheels. The vehicle's driver is situated in the front, facing forward, with storage lockers mounted on either side of them. Behind the driver is the vehicle's joint commander-gunner, who is seated facing toward the vehicle's rear with their back to the driver. The commander-gunner can operate the vehicle's sole turret via a remote weapon link.[5]
Inside the main bay of the Mastodon are a total of twelve seats, six in the vehicle's rear and four in the middle, with a further two fold-down chairs, and space for a further eight standing personnel.The chairs are evenly dispersed on the vehicle's port and starboard sides, and are situated next to the Mastodon's firing ports to allow the infantry inside to shoot out of the vehicle and assist in its defence. The aft of the vehicle contains the remotely-operated mount for the turret, alongside three exterior hatches that allow for a rapid disembarking of the infantry inside - with one on the back, and one on the port/starboard sides.[5]
The Mastodon is served with six extremely large wheels, resulting in the vehicle being easily able to navigate cluttered battlefields. They are considered extremely fast and manoeuvrable vehicles for their size, though their overall lack of agility combined with their sheer size makes them difficult to deploy. As such, they are not as common sights on the battlefield as as the far-less protected M831 Troop Transport Warthog or M15 Razorback.[3][2]
ArmamentsEdit
By default, Mastodons are equipped with a single M41 Vulcan in a remotely operated weapon station.[1][2] However, they are compatible with all standard weapons of that mounting style shared with the Warthog platform, thus enabling them to employ other Vulcan models such as the M46 or M49, Gauss cannons such as the M68 Gauss cannon or rocket/missile turrets akin to the M39 and M79.[5] This means that the Mastodon only carries a single relatively light armament, when compared to its contemporaries such as the M35 Cougar. Rather than relying on the single turret as the main source of firepower, the Mastodon's primary offensive utility instead comes from the troops it can carry. Passengers can fire their weapons through the APC's firing ports.[2]
Operational historyEdit
- "Frontline express let's go."
- — A Mastodon pilot on Installation 00[4]
M650 Mastodon APCs have historically been the preferred frontrunners of the UNSC Army and various colonial defence forces, considered the cutting-edge in expeditionary transport capability.[1][3]
During the conflict on Installation 00 between the Banished and the crew of UNSC Spirit of Fire, Jerome-092 sought to initiate the production of Mastodons to minimize infantry casualties, as troops were in short supply and reinforcements were unlikely.[3] At least one Mastodon was present at Fort Jordan, and served to provide transport for a small group of marines, ODSTs and a Hellbringer following the base's destruction by the Warlord Ristyx.[6]
GameplayEdit
Halo Wars 2Edit
- Info: Mobile Garrison, Can carry infantry, The infantry being transported provide supporting fire, Equipped with light machine gun
- Tier: 1
- Cost:
3, 
250, 
75
Mastodon Upgrade: Infantry Capacity
- Info: Increases unit capacity from 3 infantry squads to 4.
- Tier: 3
- Cost: 0, 700
Mastodons are exclusive to Jerome-092 and can be made at the Firebase once the leader power has unlocked them. They perform okay against infantry but poorly against vehicles, aircraft, and structures. Due to their low offensive power, Mastodons benefit greatly from a complement of Marines. The survivability of the infantry depended on their remaining health when they were on board Mastodon. If the Mastodon is destroyed with the passengers in full health, they will survive and take damage. But, if the Mastodon is destroyed with a heavily wounded infantry, the infantry will also be killed. With proper upgrades from Marines, the Mastodon can become one of the most effective all-rounder units on the battlefield. In Blitz, Mastodons cost 
60 energy.
Phoenix LogEdit
 Armored personnel carrier. Mastodons are heavy troop carriers available to Commander Jerome. Each is armed with a M41 machine gun in a remotely operated weapon station, but the vehicle's primary offensive utility comes from the three units of infantry it can carry. Each of these units can engage the enemy using their weapons through the APC's firing ports. The Mastodon can be upgraded to carry an additional infantry unit. If the Mastodon is destroyed the troops within will survive, but suffer heavy damage. M650 Mastodons are widely used by the UNSC Army and colonial defense forces. Their large troop compartments enable them to carry heavy infantry (such as Spartans in powered assault armor) and their armor protects against most heavy weapons, but their size made them difficult to deploy and they lack the mobility of smaller (but far less protected) Warthog troop carriers. With troops in short supply on the Ark—and reinforcement unlikely—Jerome has investigated starting production of these vehicles to minimize infantry casualties. |
TriviaEdit
- Following the UNSC tradition of naming ground vehicles after animals the M650 is named after the Mastodon, an extinct relative to the Elephant.
- The Mastodon is seemingly based on the cut Cougar from Halo Wars, and the cut Kodiak APC from Halo: Reach.
GalleryEdit
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Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
Development imagesEdit
Concept art of the Mastodon featuring Cyclops sitting on the vehicle for Halo Wars 2.
Mastodon in comparison to a M12B Warthog.
Concept art of the Mastodon's interior layout.
Early models of the Mastodon for Halo Wars 2.
Model of the Mastodon.
Top view of the Mastodon.
Underside view of the Mastodon.
Rear view of the Mastodon.
Blitz card art
Unused camo skin for the Mastodon.
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ScreenshotsEdit
An M650 Mastodon on Installation 00 in Halo Wars 2.
Jerome-092 leads two Mastodons.
Omega Team in a Mastodon.
A group of Mastodons attack a Banished Banished outpost.
List of appearancesEdit
- Halo Wars 2 (First appearance)
SourcesEdit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 143
- ^ a b c d e f g Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Mastodon
- ^ a b c d e f g Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Know-Scope (Retrieved on Jul 30, 2021) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Mastodon in-game unit
- ^ a b c Mastodon interior schematics
- ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Fort Jordan
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