Stormtrooper armor

"I can't see a thing in this helmet!"

- Luke Skywalker, disguised as a stormtrooper

Stormtrooper armor was the standard armor worn by the Imperial stormtrooper.

Description
"What is it with you people and Vader? It can't be the helmet that scares people. Stormtroopers have helmets."

- Alliance First Sergeant Namir during the Mid Rim Retreat

Developed by the Imperial Department of Military Research, stormtrooper armor was the standard issue armor of the Imperial Army's Stormtrooper Corps, and was manufactured on planets such as Gilvaanen. It was introduced sometime after the conclusion of the Clone Wars, and was intended to replace the Phase II clone trooper armor. It was made up of 18 individual, overlapping plastoid composite plates and synth-leather boots which allowed for mobility, while also dispersing energy, protecting the wearer from glancing blaster bolts. A soft click would inform the wearer of whether or not they had correctly attached the armor. The armor was also impervious to projectile weapons and blast shrapnel. However, the plating made running difficult, and was vulnerable to direct hits from blasters or Cyclers. Its reinforced combat helmet featured an integrated comlink, audio pick-up, two artificial air-supply hoses, and a broadband communications antenna powered by a single power cell. The helmets visual processor assisted the wearer in seeing in darkness, glare, and smoke, though it limited the wearers field of vision. A built-in heads-up display also provided targeting diagnostics, power levels and environmental readings at the corner of the wearer's eyesight, and one could access data on various military subjects and civilian organizations on the helmets display.

Stormtrooper armor was capable of protecting its wearer in extreme environments, including deserts, forest, icy wastelands, and limited exposure to the vacuum of space. The armor's torso plating featured environmental controls on its midsection, it's black body glove was vacuum-sealed and made of a smart material that could adjust to the wearers body heat and external temperature. Though a rebreather pack was required for extended use in environments that lacked breathable atmosphere. It was a punishable offense to utilize the armor's internal cooling options in noncritical situations due to its power drain, however many Imperial cadets still attempted to do so.

Utility belts were equipped with a grappling hook, a backup C1 personal comlink, a holster for an E-11 blaster rifle, and one BlasTech N-20 Baradium-core thermal detonator.

Higher ranks were signified with a color coded pauldron worn over the right shoulder. The rank of commander was represented with an orange pauldron, though one soldier who served under the Grand Inquisitor had his colored red. Black identified enlisted soldiers. Several black pauldroned stormtroopers accompanied Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin to the planet Lothal, and later came aboard his flagship, the Sovereign, to serve as reinforcements when it was infiltrated by a band of rebels. White pauldrons represented the rank of sergeant. Blue pauldrons were used to identify stormtrooper snipers.