Spike cannon
Spike cannons, also known as spiker autocannons,[1][2] are a class of heavy mounted weapon typically used by the Covenant and its remnants. As their name suggests, spike cannons employ the use of spike projectiles as their primary munitions.[3] Due to its ubiquitous use on the Jiralhanae Chopper, the spike cannon is nicknamed Kong Cannon, Bike Cannon, and Bike Blaster.[4]
OverviewEdit
Design detailsEdit
While there are multiple variants of spike cannons, they generally fire superheated spike projectiles larger than those loaded in handheld spike weaponry, albeit at a slower rate of fire.[4][5] Spike cannons are mounted on ground vehicles as well as aircraft and controlled by either the vehicle's operator or additional gunners.[6][3] When the Jiralhanae first repurposed Lighter Than Some's invention into the Choppers, they were equipped with spike rifles,[7] but later—more refined—models of the Chopper employed forward-firing and self-loading twin-paired heavy spike cannons, which fire large 35mm caliber spike projectiles.[8][9][10] Despite the weapons being self-loading cannons that fire large calibre projectiles, in his publication Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present, Dr Robert McLees suggested "autocannon" may be a misnomer for the spike cannons.[8] Regardless, the weapon displays a degree of modularity: while the cannon can be upgraded with stabilizers for increased damage and accuracy,[11] the spike projectiles themselves can also be upgraded to explosive shrapnel rounds,[12] converting the cannon to its "shrapnel cannon” variant.[1][3] Although spike cannons tend to fire at a lower rate of fire when compared to plasma cannons and needle cannons, their spike projectiles remain very effective against infantry and light armored vehicles.[2][13]
UsageEdit
- Light spike cannons
- Dovotaa Workshop Reaver - 2x light spike cannons[2][13]
- Spike cannons
- Dovotaa Workshop Griever - 2x spike cannons[6]
- Qavardu Workshop Gravemaker - 4x spike cannons[6]
- Heavy spike cannons
- Spike turret - 2x heavy spike cannons[Note 1]
- Barug'qel Workshop Chopper - 2x heavy spike cannons[1][3]
- Barukaza Workshop Chopper - 4x heavy spike cannons[14]
- Bolroci Workshop Chopper - 2x heavy spike cannons[3]
- Shrapnel cannons[3]
- Barug'qel Workshop Chopper - 2x shrapnel cannons (Optional)[1]
- Terror Chopper - 2x shrapnel cannons[3]
GalleryEdit
A profile view of the heavy spike cannon in Halo 3.
A Barukaza Workshop Chopper firing its heavy spike cannon in Halo 3.
The impact of a round from the heavy spike cannon on the ground in Halo 3.
An M274 Mongoose under attack from a heavy spike cannon in Halo 3.
A Barukaza Workshop Chopper equipped with heavy spike cannons in Halo Wars.
A Barug'qel Workshop Chopper firing its spike cannons in Halo Wars 2.
A spike turret firing its spike cannons in Halo Wars 2.
A Chopper firing it shrapnel cannons at a Sentinel Aggressor in Halo Wars 2.
A pair of Dovotaa Workshop Reavers firing their light spike cannons in Halo Wars 2.
Blitz card art featuring spike turrets firing their spike cannons in Halo Wars 2.
A Bolroci Workshop Chopper's spike cannon in Halo Infinite.
A Bolroci Workshop Chopper firing its spike cannon in Halo Infinite.
A Catulus Chopper's spike cannon in Halo Infinite.
A Catulus Chopper firing its spike cannon in Halo Infinite.
List of appearancesEdit
- Halo 3 (First appearance)
- Halo Wars
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo: Escalation
- Halo Wars 2
- Halo Infinite
NotesEdit
- ^ The spike turrets fire projectiles that are identical to those fired from the Barug'qel Workshop Chopper's spike cannons. Given its name, it can be reasonably inferred that the spike turret employs the same spike cannons as the Chopper.
SourcesEdit
- ^ a b c d Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Chopper "The Brute counterpart to the Ghost, Choppers are durable raiding vehicles that can deal out punishment with its twin spiker autocannons and ability to ram enemy forces that approach too close. The spike cannons can be upgraded with shrapnel rounds for additional explosive punch."
- ^ a b c Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Reaver "It is armed with Thrasher missile pods that track on enemy aircraft and a light spiker autocannon that can deter attack by infantry and light armored vehicles."
- ^ a b c d e f g Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 465
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 345
- ^ Halo 3, In-game Chopper vehicle
- ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 473
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, chapter 20: "Ponder noted two things as the alien dismounted: first, the vehicle’s seat remained elevated off the ground—evidence of some limited, anti-gravity capability; second, the vehicle was armed with a pair of the aliens’ spike-flinging rifles."
- ^ a b Bungie.net, The Brute Chopper (Retrieved on May 11, 2012) [local archive] [external archive]
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 253
- ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 31
- ^ Halo Wars, Factory: Chopper level 2 upgrade - Stabilizers "Increases the autocannons' damage and accuracy."
- ^ Halo Wars 2, Banished outpost: Chopper upgrade - Shrapnel Rounds "Unit Upgrade, Adds explosive rounds, Detects Cloaked units."
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 466
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 273