RT-97C heavy blaster rifle/Legends

"Stop that ship! Blast 'em!"

- An unnamed stormtrooper in Mos Eisley Docking Bay 94

The RT-97C Heavy Blaster Rifle was a designation given to certain types of offensive blaster weaponry, that produced more devastating results than its lesser cousin, the blaster rifle.

Characteristics
The RT-97C featured an extra long galvenning barrel for a finer alignment of the energy beam projectile that increased firing range.

It contained three separate scopes to increase accuracy and versatility. Its first scope was a thermal scanner that was capable of detecting and enhancing life forms that generated heat. Its second scope was a sniper scope that automatically calculated range and adjusted the rifle's collimating components. Its third scope was a passive infrared scope that used heat imaging technology. It also rendered elements like rain, smoke, dust, and darkness transparent and it could transmit visual data  to stormtrooper's optical sensors.

Although cumbersome compared with the BlasTech E-11, it was the preferred weapon of Imperial sandtroopers.

Behind the scenes
The MG-15 provided the basis for the rifle. The MG-15 with its saddle drum magazine was used by German air crews for air defense in WW2.

Until 2008 this weapon had never been given an official name by any Star Wars reference material, and so was usually just referred to by fans as the "MG-15". It was eventually given the official name "BlasTech RT-97c" in the Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection (DK Books 2008). The designation represents the artists of the blueprints Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas and the year they first met - R(eiff)T(revas)-(19)97c(hris).

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope