Galactic Military news

Standard foot soldiers employed by just about any and all military forces. Men, women and everything in between from all walks of life sign on their lives for any and all reasons; fame, wealth, fear, hatred, desperation. Light troopers constitute the main element of any ground force. Formations of light troopers were organized into standard units of varying sizes, ranging from squads and up to the largest tactical units, the divisions. Divisions were roughly equivalent to the Empire's Stormtrooper Legions in manpower, but not necessarily in combat power.

Troopers were an essential component in any power's armed forces. They often made up the bulk of invasion forces, and were used to defend key installations from the enemy. These soldiers were commonly on foot, although they could be transported to and from battles by vehicles such as dropships. Infantry were normally equipped with a blaster rifle or some other firearm, and sometimes grenades and a sidearm. Throughout galactic history, numerous armies have equipped their infantry with specially designed combat armor.

Special forces were any fighting units trained specifically to undertake particularly difficult missions that could not be expected of regular troops, and their missions were generally of a more confidential nature. Typically, special forces are armed with superior weapons and equipment, given a variety of elite training regimes to hone their skills. Often recruits for any special forces programme are drawn from the top percentage of regular infantry units, the most experienced soldiers or die-hard new enlistees.

From B1 Battle Droids to their larger B2 Super Battle Droid cousins and even the deadly Destroyer Droid, iconic war droids used by the old Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. One thing all battle droids had in common was that they had limited intelligence. They were programmed to follow orders, and not much else, though they did have personalities. Some battle droids however, had some form of intelligence. These droids were much more expensive to make, due to their advanced brains.

Scout troopers, biker scouts, recon infantry, were specially trained soldiers tasked with a variety of vanguard duties. As light-armored variants of other infantry formations, scout troopers were specifically trained for activities too complicated or delicate for regular infantry troopers. As such, they were exceptional additions to any fighting force as reconnaissance troops, assassins and survivalists. Due to their purpose as scouts and reliance on exceptional vision, they typically make for excellent marksmen, and thus they can be regarded as the finest snipers in service to any modern military force. Hence, they can be particularly useful as assassins.

The All Terrain Recon Transport (AT-RT) was a one-man bipedal walker used for reconnaissance and patrolling, first by the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars and later by various galactic militaries due to the walker's reliability. It was originally developed by Kuat Drive Yards and was a precursor to the infamous AT-ST. The AT-RT was 3.2 meters tall and 2.9 meters long, with a saddle-like seat for a single driver. Its open cockpit design made the driver especially vulnerable to sniper fire, a notable flaw, but low costs and good visibility of the battlefield made up for this shortcoming. The AT-RT was capable of tremendous speeds and could also leap quite a distance thanks to its light construction.

The All Terrain Recon Transport (AT-RT) was a one-man bipedal walker used for reconnaissance and patrolling, first by the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars and later by various galactic militaries due to the walker's reliability. It was originally developed by Kuat Drive Yards and was a precursor to the infamous AT-ST. The AT-RT was 3.2 meters tall and 2.9 meters long, with a saddle-like seat for a single driver. Its open cockpit design made the driver especially vulnerable to sniper fire, a notable flaw, but low costs and good visibility of the battlefield made up for this shortcoming. The AT-RT was capable of tremendous speeds and could also leap quite a distance thanks to its light construction.

The tank's repulsorlifts allowed it to travel over any form of terrain, even making the transition from water to land with relative ease. The T2-B carried a sophisticated sensor system, making it a valuable scouting vehicle for air assaults and similar long-range attacks.

But, being armed only with four rapid fire-linked lasers, made the repulsor tank a weak attack vehicle when compared to the AT-AT walkers of the Imperial Army. However, it did have deflector shields, which allowed some lasting power while under enemy fire. It countered infantry very well because its shield was strong enough to deflect the majority of small blaster fire, and its rapid fire cannons could make short work of the majority of infantry.

The Scout-class 2-M repulsor tank, or simply SC2-M repulsor tank, was a ground-based repulsortank produced by Rothana Heavy Engineering for use by the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War. It was a scout variant modeled after the 2-M Saber-class. The tank came equipped with a deflector shield generator but sacrificed the heavier firepower of the Saber-class to create space for an additional passenger and added sensor equipment.

The Armored Assault Tank was a formidable vehicle; it was augmented with heavy inches-thick frontal armor that allowed it to plow through walls, and had heavy weaponry. It carried a payload of 57 shells, but once exhausted, the AAT had to return to its carrier to have its shovel-shaped lower hull completely replaced, fully replenishing its supply.

The AAT's launch tubes could be equipped with a variety of ammunition. The three standard-issue ammunition types were "bunker-busters", high explosive shells used for destroying enemy structures such as outposts; armor-piercing shells, used for penetrating heavy armor on tanks; and high-energy shells for anti-personnel and anti-vehicle use. As they were fired, these shells were surrounded by high-energy plasma, which improved their penetration and reduced friction, thus increasing speed.

An updated version of the T3-B heavy attack tank, the T4-B was armed with two fire linked laser cannons, with three concussion missile tubes placed between them, the firepower of which was devastating against infantry units. Typically, missiles were used at long range, against any target, then the tanks would close in and engage the enemy with their powerful anti-armor laser cannons.

The AT-TE was a multi-purpose assault vehicle capable of tasks ranging from the transportation of clone trooper platoons around a battlefield to full-scale attacks upon enemy installations. The vehicle performed most admirably in support roles that involved providing immediate cover fire for battalions of soldiers. AT-TEs were often deployed in large numbers to overwhelm the enemy through sheer volume of firepower.

The RX-200 Falchion-class assault tank, also referred to as the RX-200 "Falchion" ion tank, Falchion, stun cannon tank, Republic stun tank, or stun tank, was a low profile tank manufactured by Rothana Heavy Engineering and formerly utilized by the Grand Army of the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. The stun tank's design was an extension of the technology utilized in the SPHA-T, another Republic vehicle. The vehicle can perform both artillery and anti-aircraft duties.

The tri-droid was an up-scaled version of the smaller octuptarra combat tri-droid. The Techno Union developed the combat version first, re-using the design later for the much larger heavy artillery version of an infantry battle droid.

The LAAT was an engineering masterpiece that took years to produce. The Kaminoans had to overcome many tasks that faced them from new weapon designs to stability. They used repulsorlift turbines located in the wings and base of the transport to provide stability against the anti-aircraft weapons deployed by the CIS. They also created a new weapon that would bring mass damage to the battle field, an ion repeater that created a beam to slice through buildings and people.

U-wings were manufactured by Incom Corporation. Used to drop troops into battle, and provide cover fire for them, U-wings were pivotal in transport and protection of the Rebel Alliance's ground forces during the Galactic Civil War and beyond. Their two wing-like strike foils, or S-foils, were retractable and could be positioned forward-facing or backward-facing depending on the situation.

The GR-75 medium transport, also known as the Gallofree medium transport, was a clamshell-hulled transport produced by Gallofree Yards, Inc. A sister design to the civilian GR-45 model, the GR-75 was used by freight drivers and shipping firms to haul cargo. The transport's outer hull was like a thick shell with the interior entirely open for cargo pods. This open-space design could fit up to 19,000 metric tons of cargo into the 90 meter long ship. Modular cargo pods greatly sped up the loading and unloading process.

The Action VI transport, sometimes referred to as the bulk transport, was a popular freighter built by Corellian Engineering Corporation. Action VI transports typically operated in convoys or in well patrolled areas of space. Since they lacked even the most basic forms of self-defensive measures, such as armor and weaponry, they were often prime targets for pirates and so had to rely on protection from other capital ships and starfighter escorts.

The Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid, Mark I (also known as the Vulture-class droid starfighter or simply as the vulture droid) was a droid starfighter used widely in the Clone Wars and beyond. It was capable of maneuvers that would kill an organic pilot, but they lacked the resourcefulness and cunning of living pilots, although they were capable of responding much faster.

The RZ-2 was a single-seat starfighter manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering. The ship featured a liquid-cooled flight computer, hyperdrive, deflector shielding, and port gyro stabilizer. The two upright stabilizers at the rear of the ship were adjustable for atmospheric flight, and were made of corrugated carbo-plas, a strong but lightweight material.

A custom TransGalMeg Industries, Incorporated design, the Kihraxz reflected the popular design of the Incom X-wing starfighter's fuselage. At the nose were a pair of stabilizer fins and two wings sprung from the center of the fuselage. Under each wing was a large sublight engine that provided the main thrust, and a third maneuverability engine was mounted on the stern of the frame.

Incom-FreiTek Corporation's T-85 X-wing starfighter was an advanced version of the old T-65B X-wing starfighter. The X-wings featured 4 fusial thrust engines and were equipped with a hyperdrive. The engines could reach speeds up to 1,300 KPH and 120 MGLT. The craft was flown by 1 pilot with an onboard astromech droid for assistance. Additional systems included deflector shields and sensors. The craft featured a distinctive nose to hold advanced Carbanti sensors.

At the time of the Galactic Civil War, the R-28 was overshadowed by the Rebel Alliance's use of the wildly popular T-65 X-wing starfighter, and production was postponed until long after that conflict came to an end. After the establishment of the Galactic Alliance during the Yuuzhan Vong War decades later, the early designs were eventually upgraded with modern technologies and engineering innovations. The R-28 served as an important intermediate step between the T-65 X-wing and the X-83 TwinTail starfighter, the latter of which shared several of the same parts. The R-28 had become a common craft used in local defense forces and by civilian pilots. Though outdated, it was one of the most common starfighters in the galaxy.

The Hyena-class bomber was originally designed as an air-to-surface bomber. With its twin laser cannons and maneuverability, the Hyena bomber also was used as a fighter but only to support other fighters.

Affectionately known as a "wishbone" to Rebel Alliance and New Republic pilots, the Y-wing starfighter was deployed as a fighter-bomber, designed to fight its way to its objective, deliver its payload of high explosives, and fight its way out again. Its weaponry included two laser cannons, two ion cannons, and two proton torpedo launchers. An astromech droid, such as an R2 unit, could be plugged into a socket behind the cockpit to act as a co-pilot and manage the ship's various systems.

The Series 24 was a next-generation model of the Skipray Blastboat manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems, which saw active service during the Second Galactic Civil War. One variant was known as the Skipray 24r Blastboat, and was designed for the single role of attacking Capital ships, specifically for hit-and-fade attacks on enemy fleet formations.

MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 was a heavy bomber manufactured by Slayn & Korpil. The starship featured six sublight ion thrusters, a single hyperdrive, and artificial gravity projectors. At the bottom-front of the ship strutted a targeting sensor mast, which contained a targeting sensor and active-tracking array. Two short range comms antenna were located along the top of the ship along its keel line. Jutting horizontally from the ship's profile were two stabilizer foils. The B/SF-17's intended purpose was to deliver a payload of 1,048 proton bombs on top of a target.

Sphyrna-class Hammerhead corvettes, also referred to as Hammerhead-class cruisers, were inspired by a similar starship design by Rendili Hyperworks that dated back centuries prior to the Imperial Era. Hammerhead corvettes carried a respectable armament of heavy laser cannons and turbolasers, with the standard variant being armed with two dual forward-mounted heavy laser cannons by the bridge and a dorsal turret-mounted twin light turbolaser battery at the ship's engine block.

A versatile starship, the CR90 was used extensively across the galaxy by governments and private interests. The interior of the CR90 featured a modular design to allow for easy reconfiguration of the Corellian corvette from one function to another. Some older model corvettes, like the CR70, could easily be upgraded with retrofit packages like the Vanguard c20 to become CR90s.

The Raider-class corvette was designed to fill a tactical void the Empire had against the Rebel Alliance's starfighter-oriented strategies. The hardy corvette was armed with dual heavy laser cannons, turbolasers, and ion cannons, with some variants carrying concussion missiles. The corvette was equipped with a hyperdrive to complement its use in the Outer Rim Territories as a patrol ship.

The Lancer-class was a frigate design armed with 20 AG-2G quad laser cannons, with at least some of these guns capable of being retracted into the main hull of the vessel. The Lancer was propelled by four drive engines and had a hangar bay area on its ventral side, where it could dock two shuttles. In addition, the Lancer has a docking port located on the top of its bow. The ship's bridge was located in the middle of the bow area, below a similar-looking computer/sensor control room.

The Free Virgillia was a class of corvette constructed by the Corellian Engineering Corporation. It was armed with powerful bunker buster plasma bombs, turbolaser turrets that had dedicated power outputs, and a complement of bomber craft or a squadron of A-wing starfighters that could dock on its reinforced pylons.

The Carrack was very heavily armed for its size, a feature which it coupled with impressive speed and maneuverability made it a highly versatile warship. A group of Carracks could defeat one ship ten times bigger than an individual Carrack. In addition, the survivability of the design was enhanced by safety devices built into the hull to strengthen the spaceframe and provided extra protection for the crew. Reinforced bulkheads and a compartmentalized design made Carracks tough for their size, and these were combined with independent life-support systems in different sections of the hull to lessen the dangers of hull breaches. Even when Carracks were reduced to drifting hulks, it was by no means uncommon for salvage teams to find survivors unharmed inside the wreckage.