Warning: This infobox has missing parameters: designer, type and unrecognized parameters: modules, class, era
This model of All Terrain Armored Transport was used during the Galactic Civil War. It replaced its larger predecessor.
Description
- "Watch out kid, this thing handles like a drunken bantha."
- ―Han Solo, to Luke Skywalker while piloting an AT-AT
The All Terrain Armored Transport was an imposing, heavily armored, quadrupedal combat walker that stood 22.5 meters tall and could move 60 kph.[5] Its impressive appearance made it useful as much for psychological effect as for tactical reasons. It also served as transport for combat personnel.
The vehicle's cockpit and sensor array were located in the "command pod"[4] or "head" part of the walker,[7] which also carried spotlights and the main armaments: dual Piperii-Cerlurn R-90C medium blasters located on the sides or "temples,"[4] and a pair of heavier Taim & Bak MS-1 heavy blaster cannons fitted on the "chin."[4] Inside the cockpit stood a vehicle commander behind two AT-AT pilots who controlled the walker's movement.[2] AT-AT pilots and personnel wore specialized suits in case the walker's pressurized cockpit was smashed open in hostile environments.[11] However, the neck and joints were weak spots and could be damaged by blaster cannons and other heavy weaponry. The entire walker was vulnerable to other AT-AT fire, if one happened to be hijacked and turned against the other.[3][10]
Connecting the "head" to the "body" was what was dubbed the "tunnel," which led to a troop compartment capable of ferrying numerous soldiers, along with a vehicle bay at the walker's rear that held five 74-Z speeder bikes. The main, rectangular troop hatch was located in the middle of the walker's side, two smaller escape hatches were located both to the main hatch's immediate left and right,[7] and the auxiliary hatch was located in the walker's underside.[12] The walker's tail end consisted of filtered atmosphere intakes on its upper part, while a blaster cannon energizer was located within. At the bottom of the behemoth was the walker's fuel slug tank, which had a reputation of being dangerous. The walker's four legs were aided by ankle drive motors, while inside the giant footpads were several terrain scanners.[7]
The Elite AT-AT, a more heavily armored variant with a darker color scheme, was based on the body of this version.[9]
History
Age of the Empire
- "I heard of these. Imperial armored transports. Giant four-legged things that were used to keep the peace on conquered worlds."
- ―Scoggan, to Davjan Igo upon entering the ruins of an AT-AT
This model succeeded the model used in the pre–Galactic Civil War conflict against the rebellion.[13] Plans for this version existed as early as 4 BBY.[14][15]
Galactic Civil War
- "That armor's too strong for blasters. Rogue group, use your harpoons and tow cables. Go for the legs; it might be our only chance of stopping them."
- ―Luke Skywalker, during the Battle of Hoth
Following the Battle of Yavin, the Alliance to Restore the Republic stole a number of AT-ATs and provided them to Saponza's Gang.[9]
During the Rebel assault on the Imperial weapons factory moon of Cymoon 1, a group of Rebels led by Han Solo and Leia Organa stole an AT-AT from Weapons Factory Alpha. They used the walker to escape from the factory after they sabotaged its main power core to explode. During their escape, Solo fired a shot that nearly killed the Sith Lord Darth Vader, using the AT-AT's powerful quad laser cannons.[6] Soon after, Vader overtook the Rebels in their escape and cut down the massive walker's back left leg. The AT-AT fell tremendously, and its passengers barely escaped the wreckage[16] before fleeing Cymoon 1 entirely for the safety of the Alliance Fleet.[17]
During the Battle of Hoth, General Maximillian Veers led a squadron of at least five AT-ATs on the icy fields of Hoth to knock out the shield generator that protected Echo Base, the Rebel headquarters. The triumph of Veers' squadron allowed the Imperials to invade Echo Base and rout the Rebels, striking a major blow in the war. However, the battle also revealed that the AT-ATs could be toppled by a cable wrapped around their legs. Although that weakness had been used effectively by the Alliance on Hoth,[2] the Empire continued to use these mechanical behemoths in the later stages of the war,[18] employing them in several skirmishes on Tatooine.[9]
Rise of the First Order
Decades after the war, a young scavenger named Rey used one of the downed AT-ATs, designated Hellhound Two, as her home on Jakku.[19]
Appearances
Non-Canon appearances
- Star Wars Epic Yarns: The Empire Strikes Back
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Showdown on Hoth"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return of the Kyber Saber"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "A Perilous Rescue"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises — "Rey Strikes Back" (Mentioned only)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises — "Attack of the Conscience"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Sources
Notes and references
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels on Facebook
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 AT-AT walker in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Star Wars: Rogue One: AT-ACT Deluxe Book and 3D Wood Model
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars Rebels- Secrets #3 AT AT on www.youtube.com (backup link not verified!)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Star Wars 2: Skywalker Strikes, Part II
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Rey's Survival Guide
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 We've Spotted Imperial Walkers: A History of Legged War Machines on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Star Wars: Commander
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lost Stars
- ↑ Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded
- ↑ Star Wars: Complete Locations
- ↑ Relics of the Old Republic Trivia Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link (tv-shows/star-wars-rebels/relics-of-the-old-republic-trivia-gallery) not verified!)
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "Empire Day"
- ↑ Star Wars: Galactic Atlas
- ↑ Star Wars 3: Skywalker Strikes, Part III
- ↑ Star Wars 4: Skywalker Strikes, Part IV
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens
External links
- Star Wars Rebels on Facebook