Phoenix Logs/UNSC Units/Mastodon

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 ABC'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.