Introduction to Armor
The Imperial Troop Transport was the first vehicle offered by Kenner that was not seen in Star Wars. To justify the vehicle, Kenner included a small comic book that explained its use in the Star Wars story line. According to the story, a squad of Stormtroopers was ordered to find R2-D2 and C-3PO after their escape from the Rebel Blockade Runner. Munitions craft, used to resupply combat Vehicles in the midst of battle. Image Unavailable: MAF Gunship: Airspeeder: CL 9 Widely-distributed gunships used in the first two years of the Clone Wars. Eventually supplanted by the more advanced HMP Droid Gunship in the final year of the conflict.
The fundamental mission of Imperial armor and other Imperial direct fire weapons is to close with and destroy the enemy. The ability to move, shoot, communicate, and provide armored protection is a decisive factor on the surface battlefield. In accomplishing its assigned missions, armor uses fire, maneuver and shock effect, synchronized with other maneuver elements and with combat support from Imperial starfighters and infantry. When properly supported, armor is capable of conducting sustained operations against almost any sophisticated planet-based threat.
The entire purpose of armor (particularly the Walkers, which will be discussed later) is to carry the heavier blaster cannon into battle. The “armor’s armor” is provided to ensure that the crew is protected from shrapnel (the main cause of battlefield casualties) and small arms fire. The crew exists solely to serve the heavier blaster cannon, anti-air batteries, or torpedo/missile launchers. The driver moves the vehicle into firing position, the commander selects targets and the gunner makes sure the blast strikes the target in the area of maximum vulnerability. Some armor is also designed specifically to carry an explicit number of infantry forces into battle.
Since its primary inception during the Clone Wars, armor has been the preeminent system used in maneuver forces for the last thirty years of warfare. They embody the mobile protected firepower needed to fight the close combat maneuver battle. In the attack, they function as a part of a combined arms mounted force, and must enter the close combat battlespace in order to win; driving the enemy from an objective or destroying him. In the defense, these units must also fight and destroy enemy forces moving into this battlespace. The operational capabilities of survivability and lethality are defined by the need to fight and win against any system entering or engaging armor in the battlespace. Survivability must be maximized against any weapon system capable of engaging in the close combat battlespace. Lethality requirements are driven by the need for the armor to engage and destroy any vehicle entering the close combat battlespace.
Armor units require extensive maintenance, proficient operators and skilled mechanics. They are vulnerable to the weapons effects of other armor units, mines, airfighters, and starfighters. When armor operates in urban areas, dense woods or other close terrain, reduced visibility leaves them somewhat vulnerable to dismounted infantry attacks. In such situations, they generally must rely on their sensor data and reconnaissance information to forewarn them of any such attacks. Existing or reinforcing obstacles over non-ideal terrain can also sometimes restrict or stop armor movement.
Imperial Walkers
The concept of the military walker has practical advantage within the overall strategic and tactical scheme of the Imperial Forces. Walkers have military value in relation to the other instruments of surface warfare such as repulsorcraft, artillery, infantry and support from fighters and warships in space.
The best asset of an Imperial Walker is found in most of the names of these vehicles: 'all terrain.' Althought a misnomer as standard walkers are restricted from terrain such as lava fields and deep water, walkers are good for negotiating extremely variable terrain strewn with obstacles. Although a repuslorlift vehicle of equivalent size may be faster, it is a single rigid object. A walker's flexibility makes it easier to deal with terrain features which are abrupt and comparable to the size of the vehicle itself. Additionally, there are locations in the galaxy where unusually variable gravitational or magnetic conditions confound standard repulsorlift engines.
Simply being in contact with the ground is an advantage for a walker. The ground is a potent device for vehicular control. A ground vehicle under fire or delivering its own momentous volleys is braced and supported by the ground. The advantage of traction allows a surface vehicle to stop, start and dodge in an instant, whereas a turning or braking aircraft has to use lateral thrusters or rely upon relatively tenuous frictional contact with the air.
Simply being in contact with the ground is an advantage for a walker. The ground is a potent device for vehicular control. A ground vehicle under fire or delivering its own momentous volleys is braced and supported by the ground. The advantage of traction allows a surface vehicle to stop, start and dodge in an instant, whereas a turning or braking aircraft has to use lateral thrusters or rely upon relatively tenuous frictional contact with the air.
A. Functions
Thus walkers are the prime combat vehicles for the occupation of territory. A walker trades speed for versatility and presence. Walkers are built to seize and assert dominance on the ground. It is noteworthy that the main weapons of known walker models point forwards, laterally or downwards. They are directed at enemy peer vehicles or at ground targets. Walker designers may assume that whenever necessary, walkers will operate in conjunction with friendly flying forces that are able to provide cover from enemy starfighters and airfighters. Although walker crewmen share similar or possibly identical training, the diverse functions of the machine dictate a diversity of forms. Of all vehicles in the broad walker category, there are many different designs serving unrelated operational purposes. Jitbit macro recorder serial. Some walker models are large enough to fulfill other roles in addition to that of a basic assault vehicle. For instance, the AT-AT walker serves as an armoured personnel carrier (at platoon level) as well as an indomitable mobile weapons platform. Smaller walkers may have fewer interior options but their mobility and lesser durability suits them to tasks where a more fleeting presence is required.
B. Visibility
Star Wars Imperial Ground Vehicles
A side-effect of a walker's powerful presence is its enormous visibility on certain kinds of open terrain. The greatest of walkers make formidable targets that are slow-moving compared to their size. However the resources of the Empire are such that it can afford to build and deploy vehicles with armour and other protection that confidently surpasses the firepower of their expected opponents. On the other hand, visibility can be a great asset. Walker gunners have a good view of the surrounding battlefield, and they can shoot what they see. Exposure to enemy fire is not so great a concern when the enemy's fire is much less powerful. Height and presence also imparts the advantage of immense intimidation, when the walkers are operating from a position of strength.
C. Weapons of Terror?
The physical dominance and remarkable combat effectiveness of some models of Imperial walkers has led to a notion that they are 'weapons of terror.' This is an exceptionally negative idea and it probably reflects an envious pro-rebel bias in most references. Effectiveness is terrifying, but terror is not the same thing as effectiveness. If walkers depended on frightening opponents rather than their basic military capabilities, then they would suffer abysmal defeats against battlefield foes who were either well-trained or who belonged to species with extreme nonhuman thinking. Even cheap war droids could be made to be dauntless in the face of a walker. Intimidation may be an incidental benefit of walker design, but not necessarily a key function.
-TheForce.net's Technical Commentary on Walkers
WALKERS CURRENTLY IN USE IN THE IMPERIAL MILITARY
Imperial Airspeeders
Airspeeders can fly in the upper atmosphere of a planet, however they cannot enter the vacuum of space. They were originally intended to be utility craft, but have been modified for specific battle uses by the Imperial Army. These craft are also known as “airfighters.” The Empire has several airfighter models which are also capable of travel in vacuum; such craft are assigned to.
AIRSPEEDERS CURRENTLY IN USE IN THE IMPERIAL MILITARY
Imperial Landspeeders
These vehicles make use of anti-gravity technology, the most prevalent of which is that of repulsors. The repulsor is an anti-gravity device which uses electromagnetic force to levitate an object off the ground. It uses the available gravity as an opposing force, and actually pushes against that gravity. For this reason, landspeeders have a maximum vertical lift, which varies from vehicle to vehicle. Like airspeeders, they were originally intended to be primarily utilized as utility and supply vehicles, but many have been converted to military purposes.
LANDSPEEDERS CURRENTLY IN USE IN THE IMPERIAL MILITARY
Imperial Wheeled/Treaded Vehicles
Rather than moving via mechanical legs, these vehicles remain in contact with the ground and move via a mechanical rolling action (e.g. wheels or treads). While the Imperial Army relies mainly on Walkers, Crawlers continue to remain in Imperial service simply due to their durablity and ruggedness.
WHEELED VEHICLES CURRENTLY IN USE IN THE IMPERIAL MILITARY
Imperial Watercraft
Though archaic in principle and seldom used to any extent, the Empire does have several distinct watercraft at their disposal. With the advent of long-range airfighters and starfighters, these craft can be especially vulnerable. However, they are ideal for patrol use or assault on water-worlds.
Star Wars Imperial Vehicles List
WATERCRAFT CURRENTLY IN USE IN THE IMPERIAL MILITARY