M810 Vinegaroon

The M810 Vinegaroon is a main battle tank used by the UNSC for armored combat and infantry support. It was used throughout the Human-Covenant war and saw limited use in the postwar periods. 
== Design Details ==
The M810 Main Battle Tank is based on other UNSC tank designs, specifically the M808 Scorpion. The Vinegaroon shares parts and components with the M808, utilizing the same basic design and frame. The M810 is optimized for reliability, durability and modularity, with heavier armor than its lighter counterparts, sufficient to stop most commonly used anti-armor munitions. M810 tanks also come equipped with more powerful engines than other tanks.
The M810 is also substantially up-gunned, featuring an M310 smooth-bore high velocity 120mm cannon and co-axial .50 caliber M247H heavy machine gun. Like other UNSC tanks, the Vinegaroon also features a gunner compartment ahead of its driver cabin, although fully enclosed in contrast to the Scorpion. The enclosed gunner compartment is capable of mounting a number of weapons, though it is most commonly used with the M460 Automatic Grenade Launcher or M247H. The M310 Main Gun can fire a variety of shells, ranging from armor-piercing shells to HESH rounds for demolition of structures. Alongside this standard armament, the top of the M810's turret is also compatible with mounts for M247 Machine Guns, providing additional firepower when the turret is not in use. 
The M810's durable and rugged design made it popular during long missions and campaigns. For this reason, M810 Vinegaroons produced after 2511 featured accommodations for cargo and passengers. The tread pods were adapted to allow personnel to easily secure equipment and supplies and featured hand holds for troops riding on them. The back of the tank was also fitted with a "bench" that accommodated two more passengers and additional cargo.
=== Variants ===
==== M810A ====
The M810A was the standard production model of the Vinegaroon from 2511 onwards, replacing the original M810. While identical to the base model in most fronts, it featured various upgrades, most of them pertaining to the accommodation of passengers and cargo. Ventilation for the driver's cabin and gunner's station was upgraded. 
==== M810B ====
The M810B was a variant of the Vinegaroon better suited for use in urban areas. It entered service in 2530. The tank's drive system was swapped for one that gave it better maneuverability in tighter quarters, sacrificing sheer power for more precise control. The M810B variant also added three spotlights to the tank. Two mounted a top the turret, and a third on the gunner's cupola, enabling them to control the light from their compartment. 
== Service History ==
=== Early Use ===
Beginning production in early 2502, the Vinegaroon was adopted into service by mid 2503. It first saw use in the Outer Colonies where its ruggedness and reliability allowed it to stay active with minimal maintenance on frontiers and undeveloped territory. By the 2510s, the M810 was relegated almost entirely to service in the Outer Colonies, as the M850 Grizzly was widely considered as a superior option for heavy-duty use in the Inner Colonies. 
=== Human-Covenant War ===
With the start of the Human-Covenant War, mounting losses against the Covenant pressed the M810 back into mainline service to replace Scorpions and Grizzlies damaged or destroyed in battle. The Vinegaroon's ruggedness proved to be a great advantage during the Human-Covenant war, as it was capable of staying active for longer periods of time when Covenant activity made resupply, repair and reinforcements impossible. 
The Vinegaroon earned a reputation for being "nearly indestructible" as heavy fighting against Covenant forces continued. Some Vinegaroons were reported to have continued service even with holes burned into the armor so thoroughly that internal mechanisms were visible underneath. It was also reported that on at least one occasion a Covenant fuel rod bounced off of an M810's armor.