DC-15A blaster rifle

The DC-15A blaster rifle was the weapon of choice for the Republic's clone troopers in the Grand Army of the Republic. It was a larger, more powerful long-range alternative to the DC-15S blaster.

Characteristics


While the use of blasters freed a clone trooper from the need to carry projectile ammunition, the DC-15A was a heavy 9.5 pounds, and the inherent instability of plasma gas reduced the weapon's accuracy. The blaster was powerful and deadly in the hands of the specially-trained clone troopers. It was almost as powerful as the E-5 blaster rifle. The rifle also sported a telescopic sight, normally stored under the rifle, which could be mounted on top for long range shots.

The weapon's tibanna gas cartridge carried enough gas for approximately 500 shots, depending on the power settings of the weapon (The highest power setting shot 50 rounds per cartridge). It fired blue plasma bolts that could destroy enemy infantry units, and was fully automatic.

The DC-15 could interface with the helmets of clones to provide a video gunsight on the clone trooper's helmet display. Mounted on a tripod, the maximum effective range of a DC-15A was 10 kilometers. On maximum power, a shot from a DC-15A could leave a 0.5 meter hole in any ferroconcrete wall; however, firing at maximum power caused a greater rate power consumption, reducing the number of shots per power pack from 100 to 10 rounds.

The blaster could be outfitted with ascension cables to climb up walls or cliffs as seen during the Battle of Teth. Even though a powerful weapon, many clones perfered to use the lighter, more compact DC-15S rifle since it was less bulky and was handier in close quarters,  thus creating some sort of rivalry between the weapons. The DC-15A was prefferedwhen fighting against bigger and more armored droids such as the super battle droid and the dwarf spider droid. It was also a good weapon to have if a clone unit confronted a large creature, one such encounter being the Battle of Felucia, where the 501st used it to great effect against several acklay.

History


Manufactured by BlasTech Industries, the DC-15-series was a range of plasma weapons used during the Clone Wars. Later, eight years into the reign of the Galactic Empire, anti-troopers bred on Kamino would use these weapons to fight against the Empire. Some clone Stormtroopers also utilized this powerful weapon. On one occasion, a CIS IG-100 MagnaGuard used a weapon of this type against Asajj Ventress on Boz Pity, nearly killing her.

Behind the scenes
The DC-15A blaster rifle that the majority of the clone troopers carry in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith is based on parts from the German MG-34 General Purpose Machine Gun from World War II (the same gun was used as the basis for the DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle in the original trilogy), making up the rear half, as well as much of the BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle (carried by the Imperial stormtroopers from the original trilogy) turned upside-down for the front.