User:Impurest Cheese/M342 Close Combat Vehicle


 * The M342 Close Combat Vehicle or Cassowary is a vehicle that was designed to fight in urban areas against infantry. Armed with flamethrowers and machine guns it was deadly in close combat.

History

 * The M342 Close Combat Vehicle was created by Terra Heavy Armour Industries in 2552 for use by the UNSC. The Cassowary never made it to the front line as the Freighter carrying the tanks to Reach was diverted due to Covenant Invasion. The ship stopped off by Eradinus were it was hijacked by the URF. The tanks were then mass produced by Kalashnikov Arms and Armor for use in the battles against the UNSC. There were no Cassowaries in Operation BALISTA as they were produced on New Odessa and were unable to be taken to Ferrus II. Later the Brutes would mount their 421-Chemical Sprayer onto the tank to enhance the damage it did in close combat. Cassowaries would be used in the 3rd Battle of Earth and Hybarus against UNSC forces.

Use against Infantry and Vehicles

 * The M342 Close Combat Vehicle was used predominantly against infantry. Both the HMGs and Chemical Sprayer that were mounted on the tank were most lethal in close combat. Both weapons were deadly against Infantry with the Chemical Sprayer strong enough to ignite fortifications and infantry. The pair of M247 Machine Guns which were strong against infantry were less effective against vehicles. Against light vehicles both weapons were sufficient enough to protect the tank although they were not strong enough to defend against heavy armor. To compensate this the passengers riding on the roof of the tank often carried RPG92s or AK 553 Assault Rifle equipped with K81 Grenade Launchers to deal with tank. The armor of the Cassowary was strong enough to protect against most UNSC small arms weaponry. Tanks were different story with the armor only slightly thicker then that of the M796E Light Battle Tank.

Type-421 Chemical Sprayer

 * The M342 Close Combat Vehicle was naturally equipped with a pair of M247 Machine Guns. Terra Heavy Armor Industries were unwilling to attach any kind of flamethrower as they believed it could be dangerous for the passengers riding on the roof. The URF were also unwilling to do the same task but the Brutes had none of their caution and attached a Type-421 Chemical Sprayer to the tank. They had already done the same thing with their Type-70 Armoured Vehicle which had been used in the 3rd Battle of Harvest with deadly consequences to the defending UNSC. Convincing the URF that they could make the tank safe while keeping the attached chemical sprayer the Jiralhanae Weapons Guild was given six Cassowaries to experiment. There were few casualties when tested but URF soldiers tended to sit at the back of the vehicle just in case.

Compatibility

 * Marines
 * Spartans
 * URF Insurrectionists
 * Brutes
 * Elites

UNSC Remarks

 * "What is a Cassowary anyway? Apparently they are big ass birds for Australia. The only Cassowaries I have seen breath fire and spit bullets."


 * "Unless you happen to have Tanks nearby it is best to stay on the floor when a Cassowary comes a calling."


 * "Apparently the Cassowary was meant to be ours. Looks like the URF stole it from right under our noses."