Armored Assault Tank/Legends

"Ouch time."

- Captain Tarpals reaction to seeing AATs

The Armored Assault Tank (AAT-1 or AAT) was a medium-sized repulsor tank used mainly by the Trade Federation and the Confederacy of Independent Systems prior to the rise of the Galactic Empire. These vehicles saw service most notably during the Invasion of Naboo and the later Clone Wars.

The vehicle was designed by the Baktoid Armor factories, with its most important parts placed in the back. Piloted by OOM pilot battle droids, AATs comprised a significant portion of the Trade Federation's ground forces.

Characteristics
The AAT was formidable; it was augmented with heavy inches-thick frontal armor that allowed it to plough through walls, and had heavy weaponry. It carried a payload of 55 shells, but once it ran out, the AAT had to return to its carrier to have its bottom section completely replaced, fully recharging its supply.

The AAT's launch tubes could be equipped with a variety of ammunition. The three standard-issue ammunition types were "bunker-busters", high explosive shells used for destroying enemy structures; armor-piercing shells, used for penetrating heavy armor on tanks; and high-energy shells for anti-personnel and anti-vehicle use. As they are fired, these shells are surrounded in high-energy plasma, which improves their penetration and reduces friction, thus increasing speed.

Its crew consisted of four battle droids (one commander, one pilot, and two gunners), and could also carry six B1 battle droids on the hand grips on the outside. of the tank The commander typically sat inside the turret of the primary blaster cannon, while the gunners and pilot were positioned in the main hull of the tank. The gunners operated both secondary blasters, and the commander controlled the main turret. The OOM series commander was essential to the function of the rest of the crew; if the commander was destroyed, the crew would cease functioning, often causing the tank to drift out of control.

The reactor, along with key power and communications gear, was kept in the rear for protection, as with many other Baktoid vehicles. The AAT used heavy-duty repulsors to keep it off the ground and propel it forward. While this method was relatively quick, it was sluggish compared to the Gian and Flash speeders of the Naboo, and the later GAT.

While it's armament was considerable, the effectiveness of the AAT's armor was questionable. On one occasion (during the Battle of Naboo) an AAT was destroyed by a single heavy blaster bolt, opening a meter-wide crater in the frontal armor.

Pre-Clone Wars


Prior to its most notable use in the Battle of Naboo, the AAT-1 was deployed by the Trade Federation to several Outer Rim worlds, engaging them in wargames against each other. These battles scarred several AATs, and that scarring could be clearly seen for years to come.

In 32 BBY, the AATs were one of the primary vehicles used in the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo, and was deployed both throughout the city of Theed, where their manouevres caused damage to many buildings, and on Naboo's open fields, where they battled the Gungan Grand Army. Droid commander OOM-9 would command the battle from an AAT. As a result of Anakin Skywalker destroying the Federation's Droid Control Ship, they were left in their final battle positions when the Trade federation's droid forces were deactivated and were thus captured by the Naboo.

Clone Wars


Shortly before the outbreak of the Clone Wars, the Trade Federation joined the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and hence AATs were assimilated into the rapidly growing Confederate armies. They would see action during the first battle of the war (the Battle of Geonosis), and would be used extensively during the Dark Reaper Crisis, as well as the Battle of Muunilinst. On the planet Christophsis, AATs were used under the command of General Loathsom and many AATs were destroyed in the battle. The Heavy Artillery Gun, also used during the war, had a design similar to that of the AAT. During the war, they showed vulnerability to PLX-1 portable missile launcher fire, with a single missile from this capable of destroying it if aimed at the correct location. Advanced Recon Commandos also displayed capability of jumping inside the tank and blasting it apart from the inside. Also, they seemed inferior to the Republic TX-130 Saber-class fighter tank.

The AAT-1 also saw action during the Battle of Coruscant alongside Octuptarra combat tri-droids, and on a multitude of other worlds, including Muunilinst, Felucia , Aargonar , Maridun, and Murkhana.

Aftermath
However, following the Imperialization of the Trade Federation by the Galactic Empire, stormtroopers would sometimes utilise AATs during a few battles in the Galactic Civil War (possibly including the First Battle of Tatooine).

Behind the scenes
In Star Wars: Battlefront, AATs were going to be part of both the Separatist and the Imperial faction. The Imperial variant was cut from the final version, but its code remained hidden in the game's source. Some fans managed to unearth this and other unit-codes left behind and restored them to functional status. These files are available for free on several modding sites.

In the German version of Star Wars: Battlefront, AATs are called GAPs due to the language difference. In the French version of Star Wars : Battlefront, AATs are called CAB (Char d'Assaut Blindé)

Notes and references
Armierter Angriffstank AAT Armored Assault Tank AAT