Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher (Half-Life 2)

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Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher
Production information
Faction	Resistance
Type	Laser-guided rocket launcher
Technical specifications
Damage	200 (150 in multiplayer)
Magazine/reload type	1
Max ammo	3
Weapon category	5
Ammo type	Laser-guided rockets
Accuracy	Varies on target
Range	Medium to long
Usage
Used by	Gordon Freeman Rebels
Game information
Entity	weapon_rpg (weapon entity) item_rpg_round (ammo entity) rpg_missile (projectile entity)

 

"This steerable rocket launcher is our best bet for taking down a Gunship."

― Odessa Cubbage

The Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher, simply known as the "RPG", is a powerful weapon sometimes used by Rebels against Combine forces.

Overview

Odessa Cubbage introducing the RPG.

The RPG is mainly used by the Resistance to take out Combine Dropships and their troop containers, Combine Gunships, Hunter Choppers, Striders, and sometimes even APCs. Gordon Freeman is first given this weapon by Odessa Cubbage at the coastal base New Little Odessa, during the Half-Life 2 chapter Highway 17, to take down a Gunship. In the Hospital in Episode One, Gordon finds an RPG in the attic, again right before a Gunship attack. In Episode Two, it is found in a supply cache in the chapter Under the Radar. This particular cache awards the Orange Box Achievement "Gordon Propelled Rocket" when found.

A very powerful and useful weapon, the RPG has a laser guide that can precisely guide the rocket while it is in flight, making it ideal for making precision shots at various distances. The rocket can even be re-guided to turn completely around if it misses its target, or maneuvered to avoid enemy defenses. Rockets are also the most powerful explosives available to Gordon, being almost twice as strong as a grenade.

Tactics

• Since only three rockets can be carried at any one time, resupply is an important consideration during extended battles with Gunships or Striders. In these situations, a green infinite supply crate of rockets can usually be found somewhere in the area, either prior to or during the battle. Therefore, the presence of a crate of infinite rockets tends to be a precursor to a very tough battle.

• RPG ammo is often hard to find, so the RPG should be used sparingly when there are no supply crates nearby. Thankfully, they are almost always found in areas where a large battle will take place.

• The RPG is also a valuable weapon for taking care of Combine Snipers. It can easily be guided into a sniper's window, and can even be turned into it by the skilled player without having to face the sniper.

• When targeting gunships it is important to guide the rocket past the ship's defenses using the laser guide. This is easily achieved by spiraling around the ship for a while so as to attack it while it is disoriented and unable to see the rocket, preventing it from being shot down.

Related Achievements

Half-Life 2: Episode Two
	Gordon Propelled Rocket (5G)
	Unlock the rocket launcher lambda cache in chapter Under The Radar.

Behind the scenes

• The RPG appears to be inspired by the Swedish-made AT4 disposable recoilless gun.

• Ted Backman made the RPG model two days before E3 2003, finishing "between midnight and five a.m."

• As suggested by a line from Alyx cut from Episode One ("Get that soldier! The one with the rocket launcher!" and "Come on, we can't let one soldier with a rocket launcher stop us."), a Combine Soldier was to use an RPG against Gordon Freeman and the other evacuees to halt their advance to the escape trains.

• The Half-Life 2 leak features an older viewmodel with a scope; the worldmodel is not in the files.

• An entity found in the Half-Life 2 leak's Hammer, named player_missile, shows that during the game's development, a first-person view of shot missiles was available, with a temporary HUD, and to be tested in on destroyable lifeguard tower-like buildings and live Citizens in the map temp_crash.

Trivia

• In Episode One, the player normally finds the RPG right before the Gunship fight, but in rare cases, it can be acquired during the street battle before meeting Barney. This can happen if an RPG-wielding Rebel dies during the battle, or if the one attempting to flee over the bridge drops theirs down to the street when killed by an explosion (before the bridge is retracted).

• The RPG will not un-equip itself when it runs out of ammo, however, the player cannot switch back to the empty RPG if a different weapon was selected.

Gallery

• 

  HUD icon, from HalfLife2.ttf file (the same icon as that of the cut Missile Launcher).

• 

  HUD pickup icon, from HalfLife2.ttf file.

• 

  HUD ammo pickup icon, from HalfLife2.ttf file.

• 

  Leak viewmodel.

• 

  Worldmodel.

• 

  Viewmodel.

• 

  Rocket model.

• 

  Rocket model, in flying mode.

• 

  Ammo crate model.

• 

  The "RPG Guy" used as Odessa Cubbage's placeholder in the Half-Life 2 leak.

• 

  A Rebel with an RPG telling Gordon that the Resistance is fully engaged in Strider combat.

• 

  RPG ammo crate and rockets near a dead Rebel under Bridge Point's bridge.

• 

  RPG on the ground near Dock 137.

• 

  A RPG near the killed rebels.

• 

  Gordon's weapons being taken away and destroyed in the Citadel, among them the RPG.

• 

  An RPG on a cliff at St. Olga

• 

  A RPG lying on the scaffolding.

• 

  One of the Resistance supply caches in the Outlands, featuring the RPG on the ground.

List of appearances

Main games

• Half-Life 2 (First appearance)
• Half-Life 2: Episode One
• Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Other

• Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (Non-canonical appearance)
• Half-Life 2: Lost Coast (Non-canonical appearance)
• Source Particle Benchmark (Game files only) (Non-canonical appearance)

References

Combine OverWiki has more images related to Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher (Half-Life 2).