Headcrab Shell In Half life 2

Headcrab Shell
Production information
Affiliation	Combine
Manufacturer	Combine
Technical specifications
Ammunition Type	Headcrabs
Game information
Entity / spawn codes	env_headcrabcanister

 

Headcrab Shells are one of the more nefarious pieces of weapon technology possessed by the Combine. These shells are launched over long distances and plunge into enemy-controlled territory, releasing a payload of deadly Headcrabs. Used primarily to flush out and destroy Resistance bases, they are a deadly weapon, and are responsible for the destruction of many communities. Due to their use of living organisms in attacks, Headcrab Shells are classified as a form of biological weaponry.

Contents  [show]

OverviewEdit

The Headcrab launcher seen inSt. Olga's church in Half-Life 2: Lost Coast.

These large projectiles can crash through most barriers, embedding themselves several feet, even into concrete. At this point a hatch at the rear of the shell opens and releases multiple Headcrabs. There are several hoses that seem to spray the Headcrabs with some sort of gas or mist, possibly to enrage them or to speed up zombification. Usually these are only basic Headcrabs, although Fast Headcrabs have also been observed exiting a shell. Poison Headcrabs also seem to be used in shells, but have only been seen emerging from unlaunched Headcrab Shells during Lost Coast and in the chapter Exit 17 of Half-Life 2: Episode One, in which only one Headcrab is included per shell. A possible instance in Half-Life 2 where the player can enter a house which has been bombed by a poison Headcrab Shell is during the Highway 17 mission. Searching the house will reveal several poison Headcrabs and a poison zombie, but no other types, indicating that the shell contained poison Headcrabs.

The Headcrabs released by the shell will infest the surrounding area, parasitizing or killing any hosts in the vicinity. This infestation renders a significant area surrounding the crash site completely inhospitable to human life. While one shell is not a huge threat by itself, as Headcrabs are generally weak, the effects can be horrific when the Combine shell an area with scores of these munitions. This happened to the Resistance's mining town ofRavenholm prior to the events of Half-Life 2 which was inhabited by a large number of escapees from City 17 and was quickly overwhelmed by the parasites, to the point where there is only one known human survivor, Father Grigori, left in the town.

A Headcrab Shell in the Canals.

Throughout Half-Life 2, Headcrab Shells are fired from an unseen launcher somewhere in the player's vicinity. In Lost Coast, a working launcher is seen in St. Olga's monastery. The Headcrab Shells are fired with a loud explosion and streak towards their target in a steady arc, leaving temporary vapor trails behind and emitting a noise not unlike a conventional mortar shell.

The launcher itself has a large metal barrel with a plunger inside which fires Headcrab Shells roughly every 10 seconds. A sign on it indicates, "Warning, Moving parts can crush and cut. Keep hands and other objects clear during operation." It is easily destroyed by dropping metal objects like candlesticks into the chamber. Even though the Lost Coast chapter was cut, it is very likely that this depiction of the launcher is a cannon.

In the Half-Life 2 chapter Water Hazard, Headcrab Shells which don't deploy anything are still shown to be very powerful. One can be shown toppling a massive brick factory chimney, almost crushing Gordon in his airboat.

The Combine uses Headcrab Shells in much the same way as they use Manhacks, only on a wider scale, being an efficient way to eliminate entire centers of Resistance. In addition to being used on their own as an effective weapon, individual Headcrab Shells are also used in a tactical role during some operations where they are used to weaken smaller targets, create disarray, and force enemies out of entrenched positions. The initial explosion of the shell's landing is almost as devastating as a regular artillery shell, and this allows the shell to penetrate buildings with ease, as is shown by their use during The Uprising in City 17.

Despite these horrific implications, this particular Combine technology does have one major weakness. Since the Headcrabs are effectively bottle-necked into the opening, they can be defeated easily before they are able to climb out of the shaft by simply standing near it and shooting or beating them to death as they jump out.

On one side, the Shell has an arrow with "DANGER" and "KEEP AWAY" written above and under it.

Behind the scenesEdit

• The concept was first intended for the cut Sacktick^[1] and as a device attached to a Gonarch, the Big Momma Pod.^[2]
• In an alternate unused line for Lost Coast, the Fisherman refers to the launcher as "zombie gun"
• The Chimeran Spire missiles of the Resistance franchise are likely based on headcrab shells, as they serve an identical purpose. The said missiles however, are larger, leave a crater and release thousands of smaller, scarab like creatures.

GalleryEdit

Station 6 being shelled.

Ditto.

Overhead view of Station 6 after being shelled.

The living payload being set free.

Shells seen in theCanals.

Results of shelling at Station 7.

More Shells seen along the Coast.

A Headcrab Shell being launched from the launcher at St. Olga's church.

Shells within the Hospitalin City 17.

Ditto.

A Headcrab Shell and a Standard Zombie in The Outlands.