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The E5 blaster carbine, or E-5 blaster carbine, was a blaster carbine used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems throughout the Clone Wars and later by criminal, paramilitary, or Rebel groups during the Galactic Civil War. It was shortened version of the B1 battle droid's famous E-5 blaster rifle manufactured by Baktoid Armor Workshop.
Description[]
The E5 blaster carbine was a carbine version of the famed E-5 blaster rifle. Like its predecessor, it was originally a BlasTech design that was reverse-engineered by Baktoid Armor Workshop for wide use by battle droids. However, contrary to the E-5 rifle, the carbine was largely intended to be used by vehicle crews and rear-echelon droids. The carbine E-5 was lighter and shorter than its rifle counterpart. Designed for mass production, the E5 family was made with substandard materials that rendered the weapon fragile and prone to overheating.[2] The fact that the weapon was intended for use by non-living wielders allowed Baktoid to skimp on some of the finer points—such as the fact that short barreled weapons were comparatively fragile and produced a great deal of heat over repeated firings.[1] The E5 carbine also lacked precision over long distances but had a retractable stock that improved its usability.[2]
History[]
The E5 carbine was introduced during the Clone Wars to equip Separatist B1, BX and OOM battle droids. The weapon was manufactured en masse to equip Trade Federation and later Separatist forces, and was a frequent sight in the hands of B1 battle droids, particularly among vehicle crews and special operatives.[2]
A "legendary" E5 carbine
Following the Clone Wars, huge amounts of E5 carbines were made available[2] to paramilitary units,[4] pirates, smugglers,[1] spacers,[5] and cash-strapped groups such as the Rebel Alliance. Although not held in the highest regard by its users, its high availability and its cheap price made it a common sight throughout the galaxy.[2] During the Galactic Civil War, it was favored by officers.[6] After the Battle of Yavin, a spacer discovered a heavily-modified E5 Carbine, dubbed "legendary" E5 carbine.[7] E5 carbines were also used by B1 battle droids serving HK-47 on the planet Mustafar[3] in 1 ABY.[8] One such weapon, OR-5's E-5, was later found by a spacer in the Kubaza beetle cavern.[9]
E5 blaster carbines were still used during the New Jedi Order era.[1]
Appearances[]
- Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees (First appearance) (as E5 Carbine)
- Star Wars Galaxies: Trials of Obi-Wan (as E-5)
- Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Online Adventures (as E5 Carbine)
Sources[]
- Arms & Equipment Guide (First mentioned) (as E5 Droid Blaster)
- Star Wars Galaxies: The Total Experience: Prima Official Game Guide (as E5 Carbine)
Friday Feature - Player Guide: the Art of Combat on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link) (as E5 Carbine)- Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Guide: Prima Official Game Guide (as E5 Carbine)
- Tech Specs: Carbines on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)(as E5 Carbine)
- Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition Core Rulebook (as E-5 blaster carbine)
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Threat of the Conqueror (Card: E5 Carbine) (backup link)
- Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook (as E5 carbine)
- Stay on Target (as E5 blaster carbine)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Arms & Equipment Guide
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Stay on Target
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
Star Wars Galaxies: Trials of Obi-Wan — Item: "OR-5's E-5"
- ↑
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Threat of the Conqueror (Card: E5 Carbine) (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees
- ↑ Tech Specs: Carbines on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Online Adventures — Hotfix 17.10
- ↑ According to its opening crawl, Star Wars Galaxies was set sometime after Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The only precise time indication in the game was given by the character Ruwan Tokai, who referenced the destruction of the Death Star at the Battle of Yavin as occurring one year earlier, placing the game sometime around 1 ABY. Later, multiple elements confirmed the placement of the game storyline in 1 ABY. First, The Essential Reader's Companion established that the tie-in novel Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine took place in 1 ABY. Furthermore, the game expansion Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees was set during the Blockade of Kashyyyk, one year after the Battle of Yavin according to The Star Wars Holiday Special. Additionally, the main scenario of The Nightsister's Revenge from the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game was set over a year before the Battle of Hoth (3 ABY), so around 1.5 ABY. Finally, the reference book Strongholds of Resistance placed the events of Star Wars Galaxies's Chapter 9: "The Fury of Exar Kun" one year after the Battle of Yavin. Of note, Galaxies's Chapter 11: "The Battle of Echo Base" introduced the Battle of Hoth in the game. However, the developers were quite clear that this was only intended to be a completely isolated "Star Wars Moment" without any effect on continuity for the rest of the game.
- ↑ Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Online Adventures — Collection: "Rare Carbine Weapons Mark II"
External links[]
- E5 Carbine on the SWG Wiki
- A Legendary E5 Carbine on the SWG Wiki
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