A prototype rocket launcher developed in the Hopeville Missile Base sometime before the Great War, the Red Glare feeds from a 13 round canister and is fully automatic, capable of emptying its magazine in a matter of seconds. It is fitted with a scope which makes it effective at mid to long range. A bright red light emits from the weapon when firing.
Characteristics
The standard rockets have a splash radius of 500 units, or about 7.8 yards. The Red Glare has a default scope of x2.86 magnification. The Far Sighting modification increases this to x4.35—the highest magnification in the game.
Durability
Red Glare can fire a total of about 2245 rockets, the equivalent of 173 reloads, from full condition before breaking.
The screen and lights on the side are identical to the ones found on a laser detonator.
Sometimes when the weapon is dropped after being fired, a smoke particle effect will continue to emit from the rear end of the launcher.
Unlike most other weapons that can be modded, Red Glare's mods do not change the look of the weapon, with the exception of the far sighting modification which changes the color of the scope when aiming from green to darker red.
Inside the Hopeville Armory and Hopeville silo there are diagrams pertaining to Red Glare. In the armory, one is directly right of the entrance on the wall that make note of it's unique barrel and targeting system and the other on the opposite side of the room (plainly seen as you enter) showing the collapsing action of the launcher, though oddly it does not include the scope.
When you holster the Red Glare, the front and rear barrels will contract.
Behind the scenes
This weapon's name is a reference to "The Star Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States of America written by Francis Scott Key in 1814. The name comes from the line "And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there."
The capacity of the weapon refers to the significance of the number thirteen to the history of the United States of America: thirteen colonies formed the United States and the Fallout universe's USA was reorganized into thirteen commonwealths.
