Imperial Military/Legends

"The Empire will always strike back!"

- Gilad Pellaeon

The Imperial Military was the authorized enforcement arm of the Galactic Empire, and successor to the Republic Armed Forces. It was responsible for carrying out military operations throughout the galaxy as well as maintaining order on Imperial member worlds, governorships, colonies, and protectorates. Its soldiers followed the Imperial Military Code. The military itself was under the direct control of Imperial High Command.

The Imperial Military was not only a physical superpower, but a mental one as well. Vader's stormtrooper division, the 501st Legion, known as "Vader's Fist," inspired fear into any sentient species. The infamous Death Stars were used by Emperor Palpatine to frighten the galaxy's citizens into submission. These are only a few examples of the fact that pure fear of the Empire's might was often more effective than might itself. Much of the equipment used by the Empire was designed to enhance this effect, the fear-inspiring appearance of the AT-AT being one example of this phenomena.

Organization


There were numerous branches in the Imperial Military, each for a different purpose. The Army and Stormtrooper corps were used for ground missions. The Imperial Navy was responsible for space operations, the protection of space lanes, and the transportation of all Army troops (though it had little influence over their activities). The Imperial Department of Military Research (IDMR), based in the Maw Installation, was responsible for creating new, advanced technologies for use by the Imperial Military ranks.

The Imperial Military was more specialized than might first appear. In fact, three different branches of the Imperial Military participated in the famous Battle of Hoth: The Imperial Army was responsible for the assault vehicles, AT-ATs and AT-STs, the Stormtrooper Corps was responsible for a frontal assault, and the Imperial Navy was responsible for the blockade of the planet.

Even though they worked together, each branch had a separate command structure, and there was very little interference between the three branches. For instance, Stormtroopers were often stationed aboard the vessels of the Empire and offered support to the Imperial Army, but were under a different command.

Branches of the Imperial Military included:
 * Imperial Army
 * Imperial Diplomatic Corps
 * Imperial Engineering Corps
 * Imperial Intelligence
 * Imperial Medical Corps
 * Imperial Navy
 * Imperial Science Corps
 * Imperial Starfighter Corps
 * Imperial Stormtrooper Corps
 * Imperial Survey Corps
 * Imperial Security Bureau

Troopers
The Empire used many foot soldiers in battle. Stormtroopers, the most common, were the backbone of the Imperial military, serving as the Empire's soldiers, much like many of them did as clone troopers during the Clone Wars. Some stormtroopers were clones left from the Clone Wars, but Emperor Palpatine decided to start cloning other soldiers from different men and start recruitment after the Kamino Uprising. There were also specialized versions, such as Dark troopers and snowtroopers, that were tasked with specific goals as well as to work in specific environments. Many of the projects to create greatly enhanced stormtroopers failed, such as the Dark Trooper project and the attempt to create Force-sensitive stormtroopers. Stormtrooper Command was tasked with the coordination and leadership of this branch of the Imperial military. For punishment, Imperial officers who failed to complete their duties were forced to serve in the Stormtrooper Corps.

Types of Troopers:
 * Army Pilot
 * Dark Trooper
 * Engineer
 * Imperial Pilot
 * Imperial Marine
 * Scout Trooper
 * Shock Trooper
 * Snowtrooper
 * Stormtrooper
 * Sandtrooper
 * Spacetrooper

Ground Vehicles
Walkers such as AT-STs and AT-ATs symbolized the might and resources of the Empire. They were giant weapons of war, feared by all. Many believed such weapons to be invincible. After the formation of the Empire at the end of the Clone Wars, many vehicles left over from that previous galactic conflict were used by the military, along with Separatist light vehicles, such as the Dwarf Spider Droid. Later on in the Empire's existence as the primary galactic power, older vehicles, such as the AT-AP, Juggernaut, and cargo AT-TEs were used in the Outer Rim.

Other vehicles used less widely known included the AT-AA, AT-PT, and the TX-130T fighter tank. These units were not as famous as their counterparts but also very dangerous to enemy units.

Imperial Star Destroyers
"At that close range, we won't last long against those Star Destroyers!"

- Admiral Ackbar

Although Venator-class Star Destroyers had served valiantly in the defense of the Republic during the Clone Wars, the rise of the Galactic Empire quickly turned the powerful vessels into symbols of fear and intimidation. The Venator and Victory-class Star Destroyers were stripped of their Republic markings and became the first of many warships that would comprise the Imperial Starfleet. Despite the total collapse of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Empire's military spending would only increase, leading to the development of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer. Eventually, the former Republic vessels would be phased out in favor of the new Imperial class, which would become the primary symbol of Imperial space power.



Executor-class Star Dreadnought
The culmination of the Star Destroyer design came in the form of the Executor-class Star Dreadnought, which was larger and more powerful still. Several Executor-class ships were known to have been constructed, including the original Executor, the Lusankya, the Iron Fist and one other Super Star Destroyer of unidentified class which served much later on fighting against the Yuuzhan Vong.

Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyers
The fleet also used two Eclipse-class Star Destroyers during the Empire Reborn era. These mighty ships were equipped with superlasers powerful enough to melt a planet's crust.

Immobilizer 418 cruiser
The Immobilizer 418 cruiser, also known as the Interdictor-class heavy cruiser, Interdictor-class Star Destroyer, or Interdictor-class medium frigate, was a 600-meter-long cruiser built on the standard Vindicator-class heavy cruiser hull. This vessel was equipped with 4 gravity-well projectors, massive devices that projected pseudo-gravity that could prevent a vessel from escaping into hyperspace.

Frigates
The Empire used many capital ships as frigates. Some of the most common were the Victory II-class Star Destroyer and the Carrack-class light cruiser. They varied in size and power, but each was still a force to be reckoned with. They were more specialized than Star Destroyers, and though Star Destroyers were the backbone of the Fleet, frigates were more commonly used, unless a major battle was at hand.

TIE series
The Empire had millions of TIE fighters, coming in many varieties. All varieties of the TIE (except for the TIE Defender), however, lacked shields. This made the craft more vulnerable than the other ships used in the Imperial Military, forcing the pilots to fly with greater precision, demanding the highest skill from each one.

The TIE Fighter was the Empire's most common fighter. Though the fighter had no shields, it was very fast, and, most important to Palpatine, it was cheap. There were many variations on the original, such as the TIE Interceptor, the TIE Bomber, and the TIE Defender. With the exception of the Defender, all were relatively cheap and extremely efficient.

The Imperial R.O.E. (Rules Of Engagement) stated that Imperial TIE Fighters must have a 3 to 1 ratio advantage over enemy fighters in order to engage. Beating the enemy in numbers was a key part of Imperial strategy.

Starfighter Corps
The Imperial Starfighter Corps served as an independent branch of the military. It was charged with the sole duty of operating spacecraft, the most notable of which were the TIE series of starfighters. While it was an independent service alongside the Army, Navy, and Stormtrooper Corps, it relied on the other branches for security, deployment, and logistics support. Only the top ten percent of Imperial Academy graduates were selected for flight duty, while all others were dispersed throughout the other services. The ISC included both Imperial Pilots and Imperial Marines.

History
"Fear will keep the local systems in line&mdash;fear of this battlestation."

- Grand Moff Tarkin

The Imperial Military formed as a realignment of the Grand Army of the Republic. Originally formed when then Chancellor Palpatine was authorized to create a Galactic Military under his Emergency Powers, the GAR was formed by clones from facilities on Kamino. These clones were created from the DNA of Jango Fett under orders from Jedi Master Sifo Dyas.

Following the Clone Wars and the transformation from Republic to Empire, the clones were given new armor and weapons, and went form fighting droids to suppressing planetary uprisings on planets such as Naboo. After the Kamino Uprising, Palpatine decided that having an entire army based on a single template was too dangerous, and began to diversify. One company, however, the 501st Legion, remained pure. According to Palpatine's idea of human supremacy, the stormtroopers remained on the whole, human.

After facing a droid uprising on Mustafar led by Gizor Dellso, the biggest threat to the Imperial Military was the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Its three biggest battles were at Yavin, Hoth, and Endor. In fact, Endor would see the end of the Empire's founder and his right hand man (Vader), sending the Imperial Military into chaos.

Following defeat at the hands of the New Republic, the Imperial Military split to follow multiple leaders, depending on their location and direct command. Several factors were led by the likes of Warlord Zsinj, Ysanne Isard, and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Though they all came close to defeating the New Republic, especially Thrawn, all ultimately failed. When Palpatine returned, much of the military sided with him. After his final defeat, the retreated to the portion of space known as Imperial Space. They would later reunite with the New Republic to fight the Yuuzhan Vong. After about 40 ABY, the Imperial Remnant began to regain power; after the Battle of Caamas in 130 ABY, it was once more the dominant faction in the galaxy. However, the Imperial Military was divided again when Emperor Fel was forced out of power, and parts of the military remained loyal to him.

Behind the scenes

 * In A.C. Crispin's book, The Paradise Snare, it is subtly hinted that the Imperial March is "the martial theme of the Imperial Navy."

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars: Empire at War
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi