TIE ap-1

The TIE ap-1, informally known as the TIE Mauler, was a light Imperial ground vehicle used during the early years of the Galactic Civil War.

Characteristics


The TIE Mauler was built around a standard TIE/ln starfighter cockpit, fixed between a pair of tank treads instead of wings. As with its airborne brethern, the Mauler emphasized speed and maneuverability at the expense of the protection of armor and shields. Because of their vulnerability to concentrated fire, these vehicles were often deployed in groups of five.

Although TIE Maulers were armed with three rapid fire blaster cannons, the drivers of these vehicles soon discovered that the vehicles' treads were also effective weapons against enemy troops. Gruesome displays of this vehicle running over Rebel soldiers earned it its nickname. Maulers were also equipped with a self-destruct device that could be activated in an emergency. This device would overload the engines, causing them to explode.

History
The vehicle was designed by Santhe/Sienar Technologies to fulfill the Empire's need for a fast, low-cost ground vehicle. Maulers were used throughout the Galactic Civil War, but only saw limited service. However, they were the inspiration for the more advanced century tank, or TIE crawler.

Behind the scenes
The voice of the pilot of the TIE Mauler unit in Star Wars: Empire at War bears considerable resemblance to Darth Maul's voice. "Mauler" also rhymes with "crawler", the nickname of its successor.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Empire at War
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption