Imperial Military/Legends

"Nothing can stop the Empire now!"

- Anonymous Imperial officer

The Imperial Military was the military of the Galactic Empire and succeeded the Republic Armed Forces. It was responsible for carrying out military operations throughout the galaxy as well as maintaining order on Imperial member worlds, governorships, colonies, and protectorates. Its soldiers followed the Imperial Military Code. Imperial High Command had oversight of the Military.



There were many branches of the Imperial Military. Each branch was responsible for one particular area. For instance, the Army and Stormtrooper corps were used for ground missions. The Imperial Navy was responsible for space operations, the protection of space lanes, and the transportation of all Army troops (but had little influence over their activities). The Imperial Department of Military Research (IDMR), based in the Maw Installation, was responsible for creating new, advanced technologies for use by the Imperial Military ranks.

Three or more branches of the Imperial Military participated in the famous Battle of Hoth. The Imperial Army was responsible for the assault vehicles, AT-ATs and AT-STs; the Stormtrooper Corps was responsible for a frontal assault, and the Imperial Navy was responsible for the blockade of the planet.

Even though they worked together, each branch had a separate command structure, and there was very little interference between the three branches. For instance, Stormtroopers were often stationed aboard the vessels of the Empire and offered support to the Imperial Army, but were under a different command.

Branches of the Imperial Military included:
 * Imperial Army
 * Imperial Engineering Corps
 * Imperial Intelligence
 * Imperial Medical Corps
 * Imperial Science Corps
 * Imperial Navy
 * Imperial Starfighter Corps
 * Imperial Stormtrooper Corps
 * Imperial Survey Corps
 * Imperial Diplomatic Corps

Stormtroopers
Stormtroopers were the backbone of the Imperial Military, serving as the Empire's soldiers, much like many of them did as clone troopers during the Clone Wars. Some Stormtroopers were clones left from the Clone Wars, but Emperor Palpatine decided to start recruiting other soldiers after the Kamino Uprising. There were also specialized versions, such as Dark troopers and Snowtroopers, that were tasked with specific goals as well as to work in specific environments. Many of the projects to create greatly enhanced stormtroopers failed, such as the Dark Trooper project and the attempt to create force-sensitive stormtroopers. Stormtrooper Command was tasked with the coordination and leadership of this branch of the Imperial Military. For punishment, Imperial officers who failed to complete thier duties were forced to serve in the Stormtrooper Corps.

Walkers
Walkers such as AT-STs and AT-ATs symbolized the might and resources of the Empire. They were giant weapons of war, feared by all. Many believed such weapons to be invincible. After the formation of the Empire at the end of the Clone Wars, many vehicles left over from that previous galactic conflict were used by the military, along with Separatist light vehicles, such as the Dwarf Spider Droid. Later on in the Empire's existence as the primary galactic power, older vehicles, such as the AT-AP, Juggernaut, and cargo AT-TEs were in used in the Outer Rim.

Other vehicles used less widely known were the AT-AA and AT-PT. These units were not as famous as their counterparts but also very dangerous to enemy units.

Star Destroyers
Although Star Destroyers had served valiantly in the defense of the Republic during the Clone Wars, the rise of the Galactic Empire quickly turned the powerful vessels into symbols of fear and intimidation. The Venator and Victory-class Star Destroyers were stripped of their Republic markings and became the first of many warships that would comprise the Imperial Starfleet. Despite the total collapse of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Empire's military spending would only increase, leading to the development of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer. Eventually, the former Republic vessels would be phased out in favor of the new Imperial class, which would become the primary symbol of Imperial space power. The culmination of the Star Destroyer design came in the form of the Executor-class Star Dreadnought, which was larger and more powerful still. The Fleet also used in the later years Eclipse-class Star Destroyers which were equipped with superlasers designed to destroy capital ships.



Following the Battle of Endor, the Imperial fleet went into decline as major elements of the fleet were hijacked by warlords seeking to establish their own power bases in a destabilized galaxy. Still, other Imperial vessels would be captured by the fledgling New Republic and turned against the Empire. By the time of the signing of the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty, the power of the star-fleet had diminished to a mere fraction of its former number.

Immobilizer 418 cruiser
The Immobilizer 418 cruiser, also known as the Interdictor-class heavy cruiser, Interdictor-class Star Destroyer, or Interdictor-class medium frigate, was a 600-meter-long cruiser built on the standard Vindicator-class heavy cruiser hull. This vessel was equipped with 4 gravity-well projectors, massive devices that projected pseudo-gravity that could prevent a vessel from escaping into hyperspace.

Frigates
The Empire used many capital ships as frigates. Some of the most common were the CR90, the Victory II-class frigate and the Carrack-class light cruiser. The varied in size and power, but were still mighty weapons of war. They had were more specialized than Star Destroyers. Though Star Destroyers were the backbone of the Fleet, frigates were commonly used unless a major battle requring firepower in amounts that they could not provide was brewing.

TIE series
The Empire had millions of TIE fighters, coming in many varieties. All varieties of the TIE (except for the TIE Defender), however, had no shields. This was merely an extension of the tactics used by the Empire and the Emperor.

The TIE/ln starfighter was the Empire's most common fighter. Millions were flown by pilots. Though the fighter had no shields, it was very fast, and, most important to Palpatine, it was cheap. There were many variations as well, such as the TIE/In starfighter, the TIE/sa starfighter and the TIE/D Defender. With the exception of the Defender, all were realtively cheap and extremely efficient.

The Imperial R.O.E. (Rules Of Engagement) stated that Imperial TIE Fighters must have a 3 to 1 ratio advantage over enemy fighters in order to engage. That was a key part of Imperial strategy. Whenever possible, the Imperials tried to obey this rule.

Starfighter Corps
The Imperial Starfighter Corps served as an independent branch of the military. It was charged with the sole duty of operating spacecraft, the most notable of which were the TIE series of starfighters. While it was an independent service alongside the Army, Navy, and Stormtrooper Corps, it relied on the other branches for security, deployment, and logistics support. Only the top ten percent of Imperial Academy graduates were selected for flight duty, while all others were dispersed throughout the other services.

Psychological Effect
"Fear will keep the local systems in line&mdash;fear of this battlestation."

- Grand Moff Tarkin

The Imperial Military was not only a physical superpower, but a mental one as well. Vader's stormtrooper division, the 501st legion, aka Vader's fist, inspired fear into any sentient nonhuman species. The infamous Death Stars were used by Emperor Palpatine to frighten the galaxy's citizens into submission.

Behind the scenes

 * In A.C. Crispin's book, The Paradise Snare, it is subtly hinted that the Imperial March is "the martial theme of the Imperial Navy."

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars: Empire at War
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi