Tribubble bongo

"Master, what's a bongo?" "A transport, I hope."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn

Tribubble bongos were unusual, bio-engineered submersibles used by the Gungans of Naboo.

Characteristics


The hull was equipped with an electrical power plant, a guidance system, and passenger seating. Most bongo designers were inspired by the creatures of the oceans surrounding them. As a result, many bongos resembled squid, sting rays or other sea creatures. The most commonly used propulsion system used by a bongo was several long, aft-mounted tentacles that rotated to push the bongo forward through the water. These tentacles were powered by an electromotive field motor. Bongos also had repulsorlifts for both entering and exiting specially designed bongo bays connected to most Gungan cities.

The bongo's passengers sat in small compartments covered by bubble-like canopies. These in reality were actually hydrostatic fields, similar to those use to create buildings in Gungan cities like Otoh Gunga. Hydrostatic fields were generated by channeling energy between two opposing poles. An access panel located under the cockpit bubble allowed temporary repairs to the steering systems.

For the bongo, energy traveled between a positively charged prong jutting over the cockpit and several small, negatively charged receptors positioned around the passenger compartment. Once activated, the field kept air in and water out. The most complex aspect of the bongo was its buoyancy system. Sponge-like hydrostatic chambers were spread out around the perimeter of the bongo. In order to dive, heavy oil was released into the hydrostatic chambers, changing density. When surfacing, these were purged of oil, forcing another density change. The oil was recycled throughout this system.

History


The first bongos were probably invented by a tribe known as the Bongomeken Collective. Millennia later, they evolved into the Otoh Gunga Bongameken Cooperative. They ranged from tiny, single-person craft to the large Heyblibbers used for long journeys.

Bongos were handcrafted, ensuring that each craft was unique from the rest. A bongo was built around an organic coral-like skeleton bred in special underwater fields by Gungan designers. This skeleton formed the bongo's hull and was strong, though not durable enough to withstand Opee sea killer attacks. This made it prone to damage by sea monsters encountered in the watery depths of Naboo.

While the Gungans produced much of the technology needed for bongo creation, electronics and specialized equipment like metal cargo containers had to be purchased from the Naboo. Gungan traders procured such items from the Naboo in exchange for foodstuffs and medicine.

Bongos were incredibly versatile and could be built for many functions. Cargo bongos featured cargo holds instead of passenger modules, while a Gungan Army transport bongo could carry about five armed passengers. Monobubble racing bongos were also produced and bongo technology even enabled the Gungans to construct starships, which they used to colonize the Naboo moon Ohma-D'un.

Types of Bongos

 * Bongo Scout
 * Bongo Light Scout
 * Bongo Advanced Scout
 * Bongo Behemoth
 * Bongo Advanced Behemoth
 * Bongo Laser
 * Bongo Fast Laser
 * Bongo Missile
 * Bongo Heavy Missile

Behind the Scenes
In reality, a Bongo is a deer-like mammal native to Africa, resembling a cross between a Zebra and a Donkey.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * The Death of Captain Tarpals
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
 * Episode I: The Phantom Menace ½
 * Episode I: Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * Deep Spoilers
 * The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo

Notes and references
Bongo Bongo