The 327th Star Corps was an elite corps of clone troopers during the Clone Wars. They were one of the most active units in the Grand Army of the Republic, and fell under the 2nd Sector Army and Systems Army Alpha. The primary clone commander of the unit was Bly. Overall, the 327th was led by Jedi Master Aayla Secura, and at the conclusion of the war, were responsible for her execution under Order 66.
Characteristics[]
The troops of the 327th Star Corps were distinguished by striped yellow markings running the length of their armor and, as a result of Clone marshal commander Bly's ARC training, his troopers were allowed to don kamas and command pauldrons.[1] Units within the 327th were the 7th Legion, the 101st Regiment, the Hawkbat Battalion, the Bacta Company, the K Company, the 2nd Platoon, and Talon Squad.[1]
History[]
Early engagements[]
The 327th Star Corps was deployed for the first time at the First Battle of Geonosis and remained active all the way to the last days of the Clone Wars. Jedi General Aayla Secura was assigned to the Corps after her mission to Hypori, which took place four months into the war. Due to his ARC training, Clone Marshal Commander Bly had misgivings about Secura's Jedi way of doing things, but over time he came to understand her strategies, and the two forged a close relationship.[1]
Under General Secura[]
Under the control of General Aayla Secura and Commander Bly, the 327th served as the Republic's spearhead into the Outer Rim Territories in the later days of the Clone Wars. Their reputation was derived from the actions they engaged in on the Outer Rim, never seeing Coruscant and rarely stationed in one place for more than a week. The troopers of the 327th saw action on such diverse worlds as New Holstice, Honoghr, Anzat and Dromund Kaas.[1] They also fought in the Battle of Christophsis and suffered great casualties during the Sky Battle of Quell.[3] The latter engagement saw the complete destruction of an armada of three Venator-class Star Destroyers, including the Liberty; Secura and Bly only survived the engagement due to the intervention of Anakin Skywalker and the Resolute.
Outer Rim Sieges[]
The corps was deployed in full force during the Republic's five-month siege of Saleucami, which pitted the Jedi and their clone troopers against a massive Morgukai clone army. After the CIS forces were crushed, the 327th were deployed to the Commerce Guild purse world Felucia in an attempt to capture Presidente Shu Mai. Arriving aboard the Venator-class Star Destroyer Intrepid, the initial days of the assault saw a string of success for Bly and his troops, despite the fact that Shu Mai managed to elude capture.[4]
As the 327th pushed through the planet's southern hemisphere, Bly received Order 66 via a top-secret channel, branding the entire Jedi Order as traitors against the freshly-christened Galactic Empire. When Aayla was distracted, Bly and his lieutenants poured blaster fire into their Jedi General, ensuring Secura's death with multiple shots to the body and head.[5][6] Troopers of the 501st, who had served with Secura on Felucia prior to the 327th, privately commiserated the general's death, with one stating that she had at least earned a quick death.[7] The 327th continued to faithfully serve the Empire after its creation.[8]
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: Clone Wars — "Chapter 1"
- The Clone Wars: Headgames
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Jedi Crash"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Defenders of Peace"
- Republic 68 (First appearance)
- "What Goes Up..." — Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 5
- † Star Wars: Republic: Siege of Saleucami
- Star Wars: Battlefront II (Cutscene only)
- Reversal of Fortune
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- Evasive Action: End Game
- Legacy of the Force: Betrayal (Indirect mention only)
- Star Wars Battlefront: Mobile Squadrons
Sources[]
- "Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic" — Star Wars Insider 84
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Pack: Star Wars Evolutions (Clone Trooper to Stormtrooper)) (backup link)
- "Order 66: Destroy All Jedi" — Star Wars Insider 87
- Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection (Pack: Betrayal on Felucia) (backup link)
- Star Wars Fandex Deluxe Edition
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Order of the Jedi (Pack: Aayla Secura (Jedi Master)) (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- The Clone Wars Campaign Guide
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Pack: Clone Troopers & Droids) (backup link)
- Secura, Aayla in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Militaries of Star Wars (Pack: Commander Bly (327th Star Corps)) (backup link)
- Star Wars: Sith Wars
- Clone Commander Bly in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic" — Star Wars Insider 84
- ↑ Premier Collection (Pack: Hawkbat Battalion Clone Trooper Statue) (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Jedi Crash"
- ↑ Reversal of Fortune
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ "Order 66: Destroy All Jedi" — Star Wars Insider 87
- ↑ Star Wars: Battlefront II
- ↑ Evasive Action: End Game