M12A1 Rocket Warthog
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| M12A Light Anti-Armor Vehicle | |
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 An M12A1 Rocket Warthog, equipped with an M39 102mm SC-HE rocket turret. | |
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Product line: |
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| Technical specifications | |
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Length: |
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Width: |
3.1 meters (10.1 ft)[2] |
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Height: |
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Mass: |
3.2 metric tons (3.1 LT; 3.5 ST)[3] |
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Maximum speed: |
78 miles per hour (126 km/h)[1] |
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Armament: |
1 M39 102mm shaped charge-high explosive rocket turret[1][4][3][5] |
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Crew: |
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| Usage | |
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Role(s): |
Anti-armor vehicle |
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Affiliation: |
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The M12A Light Anti-Armor Vehicle (LAAV)[1][5][3][4] commonly referred to as the Rocket Warthog, is ground vehicle in use by the United Nations Space Command. It is a configuration of the M12 "Warthog" Force Application Vehicle, boasting a mounted rocket turret to conduct anti-armor fire support. This is in differentiation to the M12R variant of the Warthog, also often referred to as a "Rocket Warthog" - which boasts a mounted multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) for anti-armor and anti-air capability.[1]
Overview
Design details
- Main article: M12 Warthog
The M12A Warthog is designated a Light Anti-Armor Vehicle in reference to its primary mission - firing upon and dispatching enemy armored vehicles. To this end, it is equipped with an M39 rocket turret,[1][4] capable of firing the same 102mm[3] M19 shaped charge-high explosive rockets fired by the M41 SPNKr family of man-portable rocket launchers.[5] The weapon has three barrels which can be rapidly fired in succession, though require a lengthy reload which leaves the vehicle vulnerable to retaliation.[3] The LAAV designation is shared with the UNSC's series of M12G "Gauss" Warthogs, which sport a more technologically advanced Gauss cannon for similar kinds of anti-vehicle missions.
Outside of the functionality difference of the M39 rocket turret, M12A1 Warthogs can often be noted by their distinctive black-and-yellow paintjob, in stark contrast to the Warthog's usual military camouflage. The seats on these models display similar yellow livery, with the tires being a much darker color than the standard Warthog's.
Variants
Multiple sub-variants of the M12A platform are known to exist, including the M12A1 and M12A2. The M12A1 is the most commonly seen variant, boasting the aforementioned unique paintjob and M39 turret, while the precise specifications and capabilities of the M12A2 model remain unknown. However, both do equip single-launch rocket turrets like the M39.[6] The M12A1 was rarely employed by UNSC forces in the Human-Covenant War,[1] and was mostly superseded by the M12R Warthog due to the more versatile nature of the M79 and M80 MLRS' in countering airborne threats;[6] by the end of the war, the M12G Gauss Warthog served as the UNSC's premiere anti-armor Warthog variant.[1]
In-game information
Halo: Combat Evolved
The Rocket Warthog was first introduced into Halo: Combat Evolved in the PC port of the game, and was not present in the original Xbox release. In the PC edition, it is only available for use in multiplayer alongside the fuel rod gun and flamethrower, and can be found on many of the Big Team Battle maps such as Blood Gulch. The vehicle was included for use in the Combat Evolved component of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and as of Series 2 and Series 7, was given a number of unlockable skins that can be earned and applied.
Production notes
- Main article: Cut Halo: Combat Evolved vehicles § Rocket Warthog
Although the Rocket Warthog was first introduced into Halo in the Combat Evolved PC port, the concept dates back to the pre-Xbox Halo era, with precursors to the Warthog showing up in various early builds including the E3 2000 trailer. In this early build, the Rocket Warthog's turret resembled something more akin to a recoilless rifle, with a single tube mounted off centre. The visual design of this turret was later used in Halo 2 as the basis for the M68 Gauss cannon, with the Rocket Warthog's turret instead being redesigned to the tri-barrel design seen in the final release. The early design of the Rocket Warthog was later one of the many assets restored into Combat Evolved by the Digsite for use in community modding projects. A similar vehicle was also prototyped and similarly-cut from Halo 2.
This visual similarity caused some confusion in the 2009 edition of the Halo Encyclopedia, in which the labels for the M12A Rocket Warthog and M12G Gauss Warthog are erroneously swapped around.[5] This reference was removed entirely in the book's 2011 reprint, with the page updated to account for the Halo: Reach iteration of the Warthog - seeing the M12A replaced with the M12R.[7]
The Rocket Warthog was intended to be featured in Halo: Ground Command as part of an upgrade package for the Warthog vehicle alongside quad-treads from the M862 Arctic Warthog.[4]
Gallery
The Rocket Warthog from the PC version of Halo: Combat Evolved.
A Rocket Warthog in the multiplayer map, Blood Gulch.
A SPARTAN firing the 102mm SC-HE Rocket Turret.
Rocket Warthogs on Timberland in Halo PC.
A M12A1 Rocket Warthog with a skin in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
List of appearances
- Halo: Combat Evolved (Halo: The Master Chief Collection-only)
- Halo: Combat Evolved for PC (First appearance)
- Halo: Ground Command (Never released)
Sources
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo Waypoint, Warthog (Retrieved on Oct 27, 2015) [archive]
- ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 134
- ^ a b c d e Halo: Combat Evolved manual, page 18: PC port edition
- ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint, Community Update - Summer Red, Summer Blue (Retrieved on Dec 3, 2016) [archive]
- ^ a b c d Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 241
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 137
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 241
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