M319 grenade launcher
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The M319 Individual Grenade Launcher (more formally Individual Grenade Launcher, Caliber 40mm, M319)[1], comically known as the "Pro Pipe" by Bungie employees, is a single-shot, break-action, explosives launcher in use by the United Nations Space Command, specifically the UNSC Army. It has been a mainstay weapon, due to its simplicity, ruggedness and firepower, in the UNSC Army since its adoption in 2263, and has seen action in several armed conflicts during nearly three centuries of use,[2] with the Human-Covenant War as the most prominent. It was used during the Battle of Reach.[3]
Design Details
The grenade launcher has two firing modes. The first launches grenades at around normal grenade speed, which detonates on impact with an opponent or after normal grenade time after hitting a non-opponent surface. The second firing mode shoots a grenade that explodes when the player wishes. This is performed by holding down the trigger, which fires the grenade but it is merely primed, it will only explode after the trigger is released. This enables the player to lay a trap and essentially creates an explosive with a dead-man's trigger (a trigger that will go off once it is released, e.g. when the player dies). Like the Halo: Reach Fragmentation grenade, a player will take a little damage if hit by the grenade when it is merely primed.
Also, the grenade acts as a form of EMP that could bring down or temporarily disable vehicles, but only when used in the firing mode that allows the player to fire the grenade in a dormant, primed state.[4]
The weapon utilizes a break-action breech loading system, which after firing one round must be reloaded, like that of many twentieth century shotguns.[5]
Trivia
- It appears to be roughly based off of the M79 grenade launcher, a weapon used throughout the Vietnam War. This is due to its single-shot break-action configuration.
- The grenade launcher has got multiple nicknames among the fan community and Bungie alike, including "pro-pipe," a reference to the numerous grenade launchers and RPG weapons in the Call of Duty games, which have been collectively dubbed "noob-tubes."
- The M319 IGL's being manufactured in 2263 makes it the oldest known active service weapon utilized by any branch of the UNSC.
Gallery
The grenade launcher in gameplay.
