Stormtrooper (Star Wars)

Stormtroopers have distinctive white armor and a helmet with a grimacing, skull-like visage.

Imperial stormtroopers are trained shock troops in the fictional Star Wars universe under command of the Galactic Empire. Stormtroopers are used as strike units against enemies of the Empire and are the primary Imperial soldiers in the original Star Wars trilogy and the most dangerous foes of the Rebel troopers.

Stormtroopers, as a third service, are independent of the Imperial Navy or the Imperial Army chains of command, as they have their own command structure, ranking system and support facilities. However, a company commander can give command to any regular officer over any given squad or platoon. Their organizational manners are similar to those of the Imperial Army. The basic unit of organization is the squad.

Each stormtrooper is assigned a number for tactical purposes and to reinforce the Imperial ethic of uniformity. TK-421 was the number of the stormtrooper whose armor Luke Skywalker wore aboard the Death Star. (For instance, TIE fighter pilots are not attached to any particular craft, as opposed to the contemporary practice of pilots adorning their ships with personalized markings.)

Fans who recreate the armour and weapons of the stormtroopers often join local and regional chapters of the 501st Legion.

The Stormtrooper effect, a common cliché in action movies, was named after these fictional soldiers.

History

The origins of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps lie within the Clone Wars, fought from 22 BBY to 19 BBY. Ten years earlier, the race of expert cloners who resided on the planet Kamino were commissioned to create a Grand Army of the Republic. Jango Fett, one of the most feared bounty hunters in the Galaxy at this time, was the genetic template for the clone troopers which comprised this Grand Army. With a few exceptions for special forces units, his clones were genetically altered to make them more docile and subject to military discipline.

At the end of the war, Chancellor Palpatine gave the clone army the command to execute Order 66, at which point the clones turned on their Jedi generals. In many ways, it can be said that this was the moment the clone troopers became the first Imperial Stormtroopers. The Phase II Clone Trooper armor sported by the clones in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith bears an intentionally-striking resemblance to the Imperial Stormtrooper armor they would don soon thereafter.

The connection between the clone troopers and the Imperial Stormtroopers is not accepted by all fans of the Star Wars universe. However, on the commentary track for Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, George Lucas comments that the Imperial Stormtroopers "Were always meant to be clones", and explains that a scene in which clone trooper units are picking up their helmets in a central processing area was included in the film to illustrate that there were actual living beings underneath the clone trooper/stormtrooper armor, as many children viewing the original Star Wars film A New Hope believed that the Imperial Stormtroopers were robots.

In Episode IV when Luke Skywalker, disguised as an Imperial stormtrooper, comes to rescue Princess Leia she quips "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?" This could suggest that Stormtroopers were clones of uniform height, but might simply indicate that they were on the whole rather tall or well-built.

Some Imperial stormtroopers do, indeed, have height differences in the original trilogy, though much less so in Episodes V and VI than in Episode IV. It is most likely that the heights of the Imperial Stormtroopers varied so widely on the original Star Wars film due to budgetary and time limitations. This is suggested by the fact that in the sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi the heights of the stormtroopers become markedly more uniform. The sequel films had much larger budgets than the original, and with larger budgets come better casting and the ability to spend more attention on detail.

The Expanded Universe has much to say on the genesis of Imperial stormtroopers, including a variety of different gene-templates and conscription as the origins of those shock troopers. Within the canon of the films, however, Lucas seems to have given us the answer to the Imperial stormtroopers' origins through Episode II.

Another line of debate as to the origin of the Imperial stormtroopers as Jango Fett clones comes from the possible fate of Kamino. However, it is worth noting that according to canon clone trooper units such as the 501st Legion and the Shock Trooper units were grown during the war on the Republic capital world of Coruscant following an unsuccessful assault on Kamino by the Confederacy of Independent Systems shortly after the beginning of the Clone Wars. Clone facilities were moved to Coruscant as a redundancy should Kamino have fallen to future assaults.

In the original film, the same voice actor recorded all the lines for the Imperial stormtroopers. Hold-out fans who refuse to acknowledge the connection between the clone troopers and the Imperial stormtroopers posit that voice filters in the stormtrooper helmets are responsible for the identical voices of the Imperial stormtroopers, but it is worth noting that Luke Skywalker still sounds like himself when he dons a stormtrooper helmet during Princess Leia's rescue.

According to the Expanded Universe, When the New Republic replaced the Empire years after the end of the Galactic Civil War and took over the machinery of galactic government, they terminated the stormtrooper program, though the Imperial Remnant continued to use stormtroopers in battle until a peace treaty was signed some years after. Following the treaty, Imperial stormtroopers became little more than guards and police officers on Imperial Remnant worlds, though they fought along with their New Republic/Galactic Alliance comrades against the Yuuzhan Vong.

Officers

In non-combat situations, a stormtrooper officer wears a black officer uniform, insignia, and a garrison cap. All stormtrooper officers wear the characteristic white armor during action. In some situations, they wear standard Rank Insignia of the Galactic Empire (rank squares) over the armor so their rank is apparent to non-stormtroopers. Stormtroopers outfitted for the desert wear a rank-denoting pauldron.

At the Imperial Academy at Carida, troopers learned an old game called Quadrant, which is a tactical visualization game. Troopers on duty are allowed to play this game (they usually do) to pass off time when not endangered or in a tense situation. After months at Carida, a stormtrooper cadet is paired with a veteran trooper for quicker learning in action. The game Quadrant is loosely similar to chess, or possibly BattleTech. Some troopers become so good, they can play the game without a board.

Equipment

The troopers' most distinctive equipment is the white battle armor they normally wear. The complete 18-piece armor set completely encases the body and typically has no individually distinguishing marking outside of rank. In fact, the casual first-time observer sometimes mistakes the stormtroopers as a form of battle droid. In certain situations however, stormtroopers will sometimes wear camouflage armor to help them blend in with different environments. This reform was instituted after the embarrassing defeat at the Battle of Endor where a legion of stormtroopers was defeated by a large Rebel-Ewok attack force.

The reinforced helmet contains advanced breathing filters (which act as protection against chemical and biological attacks, as well as toxins) and a comlink for instant communication with other units. The comlink uses linked encoding sequences to rotate frequencies every few seconds while keeping all troopers in the unit synchronized (c.f. real world frequency-hopping spread spectrum radios). If a trooper's helmet is removed without the trooper first hitting the comlink's control stud (most likely found on the under-rim of the helmet), the frequency coding routine is automatically deleted from that helmet.

The automatic polarizing lenses protect the trooper against intense glare and provide them with enhanced combat vision or holographic vision processors which allow vision through many barriers such as smoke, darkness and fire. The Multi-Frequency Targeting and Acquisition System (MFTAS) helps with the stormtroopers' perception in darkness as well as smoke and other visibility obscuring conditions.

The helmet also assists in aiming at moving targets. The Comtech Series IV helmet speaker uses three-phase sonic filtering for clear sound (for troopers, it is connected to the audio pickup). It also has a vocoder for talking to non-stormtroopers. The backplate contains an emergency twenty minutes of oxygen if the trooper should be so unlucky to be exposed to vacuum or be trapped underwater. It also contains a power pack. The stomach armour contains a manual suit seal and environmental controls. The thigh armor has a reinforced alloy plate ridge, and the lower right side, near the knee, contains the suits system power cells. The left upper side of the shin armour has a knee protector plate for use with sniping. The utility belt has two blast energy sinks to protect the trooper's hips. The stormtrooper's boots are not armoured, but they are treaded. The armour is equipped with IFF circuitry for identification and command purposes for identifying each other.

It also protects the troopers from very harsh environments as well as projectiles and impact weapons. The armour might be penetrated by a direct blaster bolt, but it will reduce damage from the bolts absorbed significantly. The body glove allows for operation in warm or cold climates, however it can protect the trooper from almost any environment, from total vacuum conditions to the very extremes in cold and heat for a very limited period of time.

Some special features include a wrist comlink, a tiny battle Holocam built into the helmet, a resonator (to open secure doors) built into their armor, and an external helmet light. Power gloves help in hand to hand combat.

Some Literature indicates that stormtroopers also are issued olive green uniforms to wear when off duty.

Firearms

The E-11 blaster rifle can be found almost anywhere. It is the standard issue weapon of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps and one of the most commonly issued rifles in the Galactic Empire. They are also in high demand (although heavily regulated) for civilian and corporate sales, along with a brisk trade in them on the underground market.

It has proven to be a highly versatile design, spawning a wide number of variations. To make up for the high demand for these weapons, BlasTech Industries has authorized SoroSuub and Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc to manufacture them under license. These three manufacturers are found mixed indiscriminately across the Galactic Empire in Imperial stocks. In addition to these, several specialized designs have been spawned.

The basic E-11 blaster rifle is 43.8cm long (folded), and weighs 2.6 kilograms. The power cell housing opens on the left side of the action housing, above the trigger, giving the E11 a very low profile (useful when shooting prone or from a barricade), with a standard powercell providing 100 shots. The blaster gas chamber contains sufficient supplies for thirty power cells. All moving and/or metal parts are fitted with a corrosion-proof, vacuum-rated, dry lubricant. The top of the receiver has a universal, quick detach sight rail, which comes from the factory mounted with a light, ring recticle, 2x optical scope. The basic three-piece folding stock rides along the left side, under the power cell. When ordering from the factory, one may specify that they wish a fixed stock or a one-piece, right-folding stock at no extra cost.

Stormtroopers also carry a cylindrical Thermal Detonator on the back of their belts for emergency use. The buttons are unmarked so that enemies can't detonate them.

Stormtroopers can also have a glow rod attached to their blaster rifle, or use a glow rod staff to provide extra light.

Specialized stormtroopers

Airtroopers

Airtroopers are a specialized unit of Imperial stormtroopers that were developed after the Battle of Hoth. They have thick, gray armor and jetpacks.

Blackhole Stormtroopers

File:Blackholetroopers.jpg

Blackhole Stormtroopers from the 1979 Russ Manning comic strips.

Blackhole stormtroopers are a specialized unit of Imperial stormtroopers. For most of the Galactic Civil War, a shadowy Emperor's Hand codenamed Blackhole carefully sifted through countless streams of information, distilling it into useful information for Imperial Intelligence. He had available an enormous amount of resources, including an entire Star Destroyer and its troops and fighters. He made the Imperial stormtroopers under his command have their armor cast in black to match his own particular eccentricities. The armour modification had useful benefits as well. The stygian-triprismatic polymer afforded the stormtroopers increased sensor stealth. Blackhole disappeared completely during the Galactic Civil War, and his troops were absorbed by other Imperial groups. After the Battle of Endor, some of the Blackhole stormtroopers found their way into renegade Imperial guard Carnor Jax's private army.

Coruscant Guards

Coruscant Guards are a specialized elite branch of the Imperial stormtroopers that serve as law enforcers in Coruscant and some Core Worlds. They wear lightweight heavily-padded crimson and black armor which provides considerable protection against physical attacks. The armor's sophisticated battle helm allows the stormtrooper to work in total darkness, as well as containing a comlink scrambler for communication with fellow personnel. A unit commander's helmet includes a voice activated heads-up display which shows the positions of all other Coruscant Guards. Under Palpatine's issue of martial law, the Coruscant Guards were empowered to search a building or home and detain any suspected enemies. Their weapons are the Merr-Sonn taser staves and the Merr-Sonn R-88 Suppressor riot rifle (a weapon which combined stun grenades and blaster rifles).

The predecessors of the Coruscant Guards were the Homeworld Security Shocktroopers of the Old Republic. Coruscant Guards are seen in the videogame Shadows of the Empire in the sewers and Prince Xizor's palace.

Dark Troopers

File:Dark Trooper Battlefront.jpg

A Phase II Dark Trooper from Star Wars: Battlefront.

Main article: Dark Trooper

The dark troopers were advanced battle droids that featured heavy armor that resembled that of a stormtrooper, powerful weapons, and jetpacks for increased flexibility and tactical advantage.

They came in three versions: the Phase I dark trooper, a skeletal droid armed simply with a vibro-blade and physical shield; Phase II, which featured an external armor similar to the stormtroopers Mark III Armor and a jump pack. The phase II armor could also be worn by a human soldier. The Phase III dark trooper was the final unit produced, but it was never fully developed; the only three prototypes were on board the Arc Hammer, one of which was used by General Rom Mohc, the man who the Dark Trooper project originated from. It was a more powerful variant of the Stage II model, and like the phase II, intended to be worn as a battle suit.

Hazard troopers

Hazard troopers are a specialized subsection of Imperial stormtroopers found in the PC game Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Hazard troopers wear a very heavy suit of body armor which offers complete immunity to temperature extremes, as well as being immune to acidic damage. The armor is also a functioning space suit which can keep the wearer alive in a vacuum or underwater environment for up to three days. The armour is extremely strong and can resist lightsaber attacks to some extent. Hazard troopers are commonly equipped with either the Imperial Heavy Repeater or the Stouker Concussion Rifle.

Magma troopers

Magma troopers, also known as red troopers, are a specialized division of Imperial Stormtroopers. They are responsible for quelling revolts and other actions on volcanic mining planets. They were likely responsible for actions on volcanic planets such as Mustafar and Dankayo.

Minetroopers

Minetroopers, also known as Underminers or mining assault stormtroopers, attacked and policed worlds with excavation sites that had quarries with important natural resources in them. If the Empire wasn't receiving its tax on the mined products, these Underminers would enforce the brutal laws. Rebelling diggers could be "calmed" by the Minetroopers' blasters.

Minetroopers wore tan armour and carried oxygen supplies for the far depths of quarries.

Radiation troopers

File:Radtroopers.jpg

Radiation troopers conducting a mission.

Radiation troopers, also known as radtroopers or radiation zone assault troopers, are an elite Imperial stormtrooper division. These troopers are well equipped to operate in one of the deadliest terrain types. A lead-polymer substrate in the modified plastoid armor gives protection needed to withstand lethal Grade 4 ionizing radiation zone for several hours. Only the radtrooper suits are proof against extended operations in deadly environments. The Galactic Empire deploys them into radiation-filled zones that contain assets the Empire wants to claim or defend. The Empire has been known to employ neutron bombing which kills or maims a large number of the local population. Radtroopers are normally equipped with vibroblades, force pikes and grenades due to the fact that standard blaster weapons are not effective at high radiation levels. Some high powered plasma-based weapons, similar to the DC-15 blaster rifle used by clone troopers of the Old Republic, are used, as plasma is not affected by radiation.

Sandtroopers

File:Sandtrooperondewback.jpg

A Sandtrooper riding on a Dewback.

Sandtroopers or Desert Troopers are specially trained divisions of Imperial Stormtroopers equipped with modified armor and equipment to withstand the harsh climates of desert planets like Tatooine. Though their armor is similar to that of a regular Stormtrooper, their suits contain advanced cooling systems, which offers better protection from the relentless heat than standard Stormtrooper armor. Their helmets contain lenses that automatically polarize to protect the trooper's eyes, as well as breathing filters. Another notable difference is the shoulder pauldron each Sandtrooper wears. These are used to denote rank, with enlisted personnel wearing black pauldrons, while officers wear white and commanders of several units of these elite soldiers wear orange pauldrons. Additionally, Sandtroopers can operate in hot, wet, tropical environments with slight modifications to their equipment. They are also protected from sand entering the armor.

The weapon loadout for Sandtroopers is much the same as Stormtroopers and includes the standard E-11 blaster rifle or a BlasTech DLT-19 Heavy Blaster Rifle or a BlasTech T-21 Light Repeating Blaster , blaster pistol and Imperial Repeater. They may also carry thermal detonators and other explosive devices.

Due to environments that may be too hostile to machinery, Sandtroopers tend to rely on local domesticated creatures, such as the Dewback, as transport.

External link

• Desert Troopers at the Star Wars Databank

Scout troopers

File:ScoutTrooper.jpg

Imperial Scout Trooper

Main article: Scout troopers

Scout troopers are an elite group of stormtroopers trained to use high speed vehicles (normally speeder bikes) to scout and survey areas. Scout troopers wear lightweight armor that is considerably more flexible than the standard uniform worn by their infantry counterparts the helmet also provides improved visibility compared to the standard infantry. They are trained to be more independent thinkers than regular stormtroopers, and work in pairs. Being scouts, these stormtroopers are lightly armed with standard orders to retreat and alert regular troops in case of contact with the enemy.

File:Seatrooperfightingseal.jpg

Seatrooper fighting a Sedri.

Seatroopers

The seatroopers, also known as aquatic assault stormtroopers, were a special branch of the Imperial stormtroopers. They were used by the Galactic Empire to maintain a presence on the aquatic worlds under its rule. Many of the machines used by the Empire were modified for aquatic use, including TIE Fighter Boats, Wavewalker and AT-AT Swimmers. The seatrooper's armor is based on the light design of the scout trooper. It covers a two-piece environmental body glove that gives protection from uncomfortable temperature extremes or toxic water environments. Their armor is more flexible than standard stormtrooper designs. The aquatic troopers regular weapon is a blaster rifle/speargun hybrid.

Snowtroopers

Snowtroopers or Blizzard Force were an elite division of the Imperial stormtrooper infantry. They wore customized armor well-suited to the climate extremes of ice planets like Hoth and Rhen Var. In addition to the hard white armor, their suit incorporated fabric overgarments that helped contain heat and terrain gripping boots for slippery conditions. The helmet contained snow goggles and breath warmer cover and breath heater.

They brandished standard blaster rifles, blaster pistols, thermal detonators, and concussion grenades. Specialized teams used E-Web heavy blasters. In the Battle of Hoth, snowtroopers rode in AT-ATs (All-Terrain Armored Transports) before going on the ground. Although it is not specifically seen, it is assumed that snowtroopers drove the AT-STs (All-Terrain Scout Transports) in the battle as well.

File:Snowtrooper.jpg

A snowtrooper at the Battle of Hoth.

The Imperial troops who invaded the Rebel base on Hoth were part of an elite stormtrooper corps, assigned to General Veers and the Imperial Death Squadron. While the fleet carried stormtroopers from all the specialized divisions, those dispatched to Hoth were designated the Blizzard Force team.

Blizzard Force stormtroopers are trained to work in tandem with AT-AT walkers. There is no stealth involved in Blizzard Force tactics. They are trained to hit a planet fast and hard, like a blizzard, crushing any opposition quickly and completely. Once walkers secure an area, snowtroopers disembark via zip-lines and then go about clearing any pockets of resistance.

The Blizzard Force stormtroopers wear the typical black, two-piece temperature control body glove worn by other stormtroopers. Over this is an 18-piece outer shell that has been altered to include more powerful heating and personal environment units, and an airtight fabric oversuit for additional protection from the cold. To facilitate breathing in extremely cold or dangerous atmospheres, a breather hood envelops the snowtrooper's faceplate and feeds into the suit liner. Each trooper is equipped with a standard utility belt containing high-tension wire, grappling hooks, ion flares, additional blaster ammo, a survival kit, and food and water packs. Snowtroopers carry blaster pistols, blaster rifles, and two concussion grenades.

Snowtroopers were most commonly seen in the assault on Echo Base in The Empire Strikes Back, and in the video games Star Wars Empire at War, Battlefront, Battlefront II, Jedi Academy and Shadows of the Empireon the Nintendo 64. Though they were only seen once, they are still considered a very versatile unit of the Imperial Army.

File:Spacetroopereu.jpg

A spacetrooper

Spacetroopers

Spacetroopers, also known as zero-G assault troopers, are specialized Imperial stormtroopers. They are regarded as second only to the Emperor's Royal Guard and are sometimes known as "walking tanks". Although the standard stormtrooper armor is designed to protect the trooper in the vacuum of space, it is only designed to do so over moderate periods. Thus, spacetroopers wear a larger suit of powered armor that stands two meters tall in addition to the standard stormtrooper armor worn underneath. Their large power suits operate as personal space craft and assault vehicles, and provide them with the equivalent firepower of a light tank. These elite troops are trained to fight in space for extended periods. Their missions typically involve the capture of enemy vessels. They are deployed in units of forty aboard assault shuttles. Capital ships can be easily overtaken with well organized assaults.

A spacetrooper's equipment usually consists of cutting plasma-torches and power vibro-saws for quick entry into a vessel, as well as napalm-like flame throwers for forcing enemy shipboard troops into confined spaces for capture or containment. When a subject or person is needed alive, space troopers are issued stun blasters as well as their normal weaponry and provided with the proper intelligence about their target.

Storm commandos

File:Storm commando.jpg

A Storm Commando

The Storm Commandos were an elite branch of the Imperial stormtroopers. They were formed in response to the guerrilla tactics of the Rebel Alliance early during the Galactic Civil War, developed by Crix Madine. Even after he defected to the Rebel Alliance, the Storm Commando training program still continued, and only the best Imperial stormtroopers received this training; and they were used as elite forces by the end of the war. They are specially trained for anti-Rebel missions, siege breaking, raids and sabotage, with units ranging from four to forty commandos. Their black armor is based on the scout trooper's light armor and is coated with an advanced polemic called reflec which deflects light and sensor energy.

Use in popular culture

• During the January 1, 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade, the largest conglomeration of Imperial Stormtroopers ever marched in step. The 2007 Grand Marshal was George Lucas.

See also

• Clone commandos
• Clone troopers
• Emperor's Royal Guard
• Senate Guards
• Star Wars: Republic Commando
• 501st Legion

External links

• More Information on Imperial Stormtroopers at StarWars.com
• Snowtroopers at the Star Wars Databank
• Blackhole stormtroopers at the Star Wars Databank
• Storm Commandos at the Star Wars Databank
• Coruscant Guards at the Star Wars Databank
• Aquatic assault troopers at the Starwars Databank
• Radiation troopers at the Star Wars Databank
• Space troopers at the Star Wars Databank
• Stormtrooper on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki