LM-432 crab droid/Legends

"Crab droids have a subpar targeting percentage, but deliver a profit of forty-eight-thousand credits per unit. They might not win the war, but they could save the Techno Union's fiscal quarter."

- Techno Union risk-assessment report

LM-432 crab droids were battle droids used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. They were nicknamed "muckrackers" because of their extensive use in marshy terrain. Their name was derived from their six-legged scuttling movement.

Description


Ranging from three to twenty feet tall, crab droids could use its legs to attack infantry in its way. As well as their powerful pincer legs, LM-432 crab droids were armed with twin blasters. These blasters were capable of rapid fire and a powerful double blast. They were also equipped with a vacuum pump system integrated into their forward pincers, which could suck up and then spit out mud to either clear space for Separatist forces or obscure the visual sensors of enemy forces. This earned them the nickname of "muckracker". Crab droids also used their front two pincers to whack opponents out of the way or to crush them with their ends.

LM-432 units were covered by armorplast-shielding that could deflect blaster shots. The largest legs of an LM-432 unit were tipped with heavy duranium stabilizers that could secure perches on even bedrock. Smaller LM-432s were unable to get rid of opponents who managed to get on top of them; a weakness some clone troopers exploited. When in pursuit of an enemy it could move very fast in short bursts to overtake it, and in this way run over the enemy.

History


Crab droids were first deployed in conflicts on marshy worlds, but their ability to cross difficult terrain and even scale jagged surfaces led to their usage elsewhere, such as at the Battle of Utapau.

Other variants of the LM-432 crab droid included tiny models for espionage and giant versions that served as mobile armor, which were capable of taking on Jedi. One rare variant was equipped with Gungan bubble wort projectors that could imprison their targets in force fields.

At least one crab droid was seen fighting on Rodia during the Mission to Rodia.

Following the execution of the Separatist Council by Darth Sidious's new apprentice, Darth Vader, these units were de-activated.

A number of them were used by the Zabrak bounty hunter Vril Vrakth during the Battle of Nizon in 19 BBY.

During the Battle of Tar Morden, many crab droids were stolen from a factory and would be utilized in the Academy of Carida for live fire training sessions, and would be among the inspirations for the Imperial MT-AT walker.

Decades later, crab droids left from the Clone Wars were still utilized by the Empire during the Galactic Civil War, being used as scouts and sentries.



Behind the scenes
Muckraker is a term for journalists who uncover scandals for news stories.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
 * Boba Fett: A New Threat
 * Sithisis
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith game
 * Star Wars: Republic: The Hidden Enemy
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Celestia Galactica Photografica
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith game
 * Star Wars: Republic: The Hidden Enemy
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Celestia Galactica Photografica
 * Celestia Galactica Photografica

Notes and references
LM-432 Krabbendroide droide cangrejo LM-432 LM-432 Crab Droid Dróide Carangueijo LM-432 LM-432 -rapudroidi