Republic LAAT Gunship

Low Altitude Assault Transport "These gunships fly like butcherbugs and cut into us like Blood Carvers. We must have one."

- Archduke Poggle the Lesser

The Low Altitude Assault Transport (LAAT) was a specialized gunship used by the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. It and its variants were produced by Rothana Heavy Engineering.

The LAAT was affectionally known as the "larty" by the clone troopers.

Details
An early LAAT-design was used as a prisoner transport by the Jedi Order at least ten years before the Clone Wars, but the more familiar version gained fame as an air assault vehicle during this galactic conflict.

The LAATs first appeared at the Battle of Geonosis, where they rescued the surviving Jedi from the execution arena, disabled and destroyed many of the fleeing Separatist capital ships and the Hailfire droids on the battlefield.

The gunships mounted numerous weapons emplacements, including three blasters, two single and two twin composite-beam lasers, eight anti-aircraft rockets, and two mass drivers for launching larger missile weapons.



They were equipped with atmospheric containment shielding and could be deployed from space, but their optimal fighting range was still in the lower atmosphere.

During the Galactic Civil War, the Rebel Alliance found disabled, yet still functional, LAAT gunships. The Alliance used these vehicles to further their cause in restoring the Republic. When in use by the Rebels, they were known as either "Alliance Assault Craft" or "Rebel Assault Transports".

Other rebel groups not affiliated with the Alliance would also come to rely on the aging military transports, like the Jabiim and Kaminoan rebels.

LAAT/c
The LAAT/c cargo variant had longer wings for enhanced stability when carrying large loads and only carried a pair of blasters. Transports of this type carried AT-TE walkers into battle on Geonosis and other battlefields during the Clone Wars.

LAAT/i (ARC trooper transport)


This modified LAAT inserted Advanced Recon Commando units behind enemy lines. It was fitted with extra internal equipment, but otherwise resembled a normal transport. These transports were often painted black instead of red, with some having elaborate predatory animal-faces sprayed on the front and blue stripes on the back. Like all LAAT models, it was produced by Rothana Heavy Engineering.

LAAT/v
The LAAT/v vehicle variant was slightly larger than the standard LAAT transport and lacked a passenger compartment. The rear hangar had also been expanded to allow the craft to carry 16 speeder bikes or eight military landspeeders.

Behind the scenes

 * The LAAT was inspired by real-world helicopter gunships, notably the Russian Mil Mi-24 Hind.
 * In addition to the LAAT-variants, there were several other gunship-models that both pre- and postdated them and were designated with similar acronyms. Most notable were the AIAT/i gunship, the VAAT/e transport and the HAET-221 gunboat.

Appearances



 * Star Wars Tales 21 (Possible predecessor)
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Republic Commando
 * Republic Commando: Hard Contact
 * Republic Commando: Triple Zero
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Chapter 1
 * Chapter 2
 * Chapter 5
 * Chapter 12
 * Chapter 20
 * Chapter 23
 * Chapter 25
 * Brothers in Arms
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader 
 * Evasive Action: Prey
 * Star Wars Empire 26: "General" Skywalker, Part 1
 * ''Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike