Armored Assault Tank/Legends

"Ouch time."

- Gungan reaction to seeing AATs

The Armored Assault Tank (AAT-1 or AAT) was a medium-sized repulsor tank used mainly by the Trade Federation and the Confederacy of Independent Systems prior to the rise of the Galactic Empire. These vehicles saw service most notably during the Invasion of Naboo and the later Clone Wars.

The vehicle was designed by the Baktoid Armor factories, with its most important parts placed in the back. Piloted by OOM pilot battle droids, AATs comprised a significant portion of the the Trade Federation's ground forces.

Characteristics
The AAT was formidable; it was augmented with heavy inches-thick frontal armor that allowed it to plough through walls, and had heavy weaponry. It carried a payload of 55 shells, but once it ran out, it had to return to its carrier to have its bottom section replaced, recharging its supply completely.

Its crew consisted of four battle droids (one commander, one pilot, and two gunners), and could also carry six B1 battle droids by using the hand grips on the outside. The commander typically sat inside the turret of the primary blaster cannon, while the gunners and pilot were positioned in the main hull of the tank, the gunners operating both secondary blasters.

While relatively quick, it was sluggish compared to the Gian and Flash speeders of Naboo, and the later GAT.

Pre-Clone Wars


Prior to its most notable use in the Battle of Naboo, the AAT-1 was deployed by the Trade Federation to several Outer Rim worlds, engaging them in wargames against each other. In their first true conflict, AATs were sent to Lok to battle pirates there; these battles scarred several AATs, and that scarring could be clearly seen for years to come.

In 32 BBY, the AATs were one of the primary vehicles used in the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo, and was deployed both throughout the city of Theed, where their manouevres caused damage to many buildings, and on Naboo's open fields, where they battled the Gungan Grand Army. Droid commander OOM-9 would command the battle from an AAT. As a result of Anakin Skywalker destroying the Federation's Droid Control Ship, they were left in their final battle positions when the Trade Federation's droid forces were deactivated.

Clone Wars
Shortly before the outbreak of the Clone Wars, the Trade Federation joined the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and hence AATs were assimilated into the rapidly growing Confederate armies. They would see action during the first battle of the war, and would be used extensively during the Dark Reaper Crisis, as well as the Battle of Muunilinst. The Heavy Artillery Gun, also used during the war, had a design similar to that of the AAT. During the war, they showed vulnerability to PLX-1 portable missile launcher fire, with a single missile from this capable of destroying it if aimed at the correct location. Advanced Recon Commandos also displayed capability of jumping inside the tank and blasting it apart from the inside. Also, they seemed inferior to the Republic TX-130 Saber-class fighter tank.

The AAT-1 also saw action during the Battle of Coruscant alongside Octuptarra combat tri-droids, and on a multitude of other worlds, including Muunilinst, Felucia , Aargonar , and Murkhana.

Behind the scenes


In Star Wars: Battlefront, AATs were going to be part of both the Separatist and the Imperial faction. The Imperial variant was cut from the final version, but its code remained hidden in the game-source. Some fans managed to unearth this and other unit-codes left behind and restored them to functional status. These files are available for free on several modding sites.

In the German version of Star Wars: Battlefront, AATs are called GAPs due to the language difference.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
 * Star Wars: Episode I Jedi Power Battles
 * Star Wars: Battle for Naboo
 * Star Wars: Starfighter
 * Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Starfighter: Crossbones
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars video game




 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * "Chapter 3"
 * "Chapter 4"
 * "Chapter 22"
 * "Chapter 25"
 * "Hide in Plain Sight"
 * Hero of Cartao
 * Star Wars Republic: The Battle of Jabiim
 * Star Wars Republic 67: Forever Young
 * To the Vanishing Point
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Republic: The Hidden Enemy
 * Star Wars: Demolition
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game

Notes and references
AAT