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
Developed by the Imperial Department of Military Research, stormtrooper armor was the standard issue armor of the Imperial Army's Stormtrooper Corps. 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 which allowed for mobility, while also dispersing energy, protecting the wearer from glancing blaster bolts. 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. Its reinforced combat helmet featured an integrated comlink, audio pick-up, two artificial air-supply hoses, and a broadband communications antenna. The helmets visual processor assisted the wearer in seeing in darkness, glare, and smoke, though it limited the wearers field of vision.

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, and it's body glove was vacuum-sealed, though an external oxygen supply was required for extended use in environments that lacked breathable atmosphere.

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.

Rank was signified with a color coded pauldron worn over the left shoulder. The rank of commander was represented with an orange pauldron, though one solider who served under the 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. Additional colors were white and black.