Clone paratrooper

"Want to see my impression of a Geonosian?"
"What, plummeting to the ground in a spray of bugsplatter after I put a round through you?"
"You’re so masterful."
"I’m so a sergeant, Private—"

―Fi and clone paratrooper Barlex^[3]

Clone paratroopers, also known as airborne troopers, sky troopers, and sometimes referred to as "Beehive" paratroopers due to the shape of their helmets, were elite clone troopers who specialized in high-altitude drops and aerial operations, using special equipment and armor, during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Description[]

Overview[]

Clone airborne troopers,^[8] also called clone paratroopers^[2] and sky troopers,^[3] were specialized and elite clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic that utilized specialized equipment to carry out high-altitude drops,^[2] aerial reconnaissance, and aerial combat^[1] during the Clone Wars against the Confederacy of Independent Systems.^[2] Many units deployed clone paratroopers during the war, including the 187th Legion,^[9] Clone Commander Keller's unit,^[7] the Sky Corps,^[10] and the 212th Attack Battalion.^[11] Some units were entirely composed of clone airborne troopers, including the 2nd Airborne Company^[2] and its sub-unit Parjai Squad,^[3] as well as a clone airborne division of the 501st Legion.^[4]

Equipment and armor[]

Swi skycorps — Clone paratroopers used winged jet backpacks to conduct their airborne operations.

Towards the start of the war, clone paratroopers wore standard Phase I clone trooper armor.^[11] As the war progressed and Phase II clone trooper armor was introduced, paratroopers began wearing standard Phase II armor,^[10] as well as a specialized, heavy variant that came equipped with^[2] a beehive-shaped helmet, which gave airborne troopers the nickname "Beehive" paratroopers.^[12] Both the specialized helmet and its armor were designed to withstand high-altitude drops.^[2] For the purposes of their drops and aerial operations, clone paratroopers utilized winged jet backpacks as part of their standard kits.^[1] They also wore^[2] kamas, ARC command sashes,^[13] and were often equipped with various pouches and bags.^[6]

Paratrooper armor could be customized to denote rank and unit affiliation, as was the case with the 2nd Airborne Company's orange stripes.^[2] Some paratroopers customized their armor further, including clone commander Keller, who equipped his armor with a white cloak.^[7] MEC troopers were known to use clone paratrooper helmets.^[14] Paratroopers were also armed with different weapons, including^[6] the BlasTech Industries DC-15A blaster rifle, the DC-15S blaster carbine, one or two DC-17 hand blasters,^[13] and a scoped blaster.^[15] At least one clone paratrooper wielded the E-Web heavy repeating blaster during the Clone Wars.^[16] Clone paratroopers who trained as clone snipers used the DC-15x sniper blaster rifle, Merr-Sonn V-1 thermal detonators, and autoturrets.^[5]

History[]

Clone Wars[]

"Nice of you to join us, Omega, and may I be the first to say that you look like a bunch of complete prats?"

―Clone paratrooper Barlex greets Omega Squad^[3]

Clone paratroopers EGTW — A squad of clone paratroopers storm a Separatist-held world during the Clone Wars.

Clone airborne troopers were active as early as 21 BBY,^[17] where members of the 2nd Airborne Company's Parjai Squad, including their senior non-commissioned officer Barlex, interacted with the members of Omega Squad—while under orders to drop them off on the planet Gaftikar, before leaving to fight the Separatists on Mirial.^[3] Clone paratroopers continued to see deployment towards the end of the war, and saw action during the Battle of Toola,^[7] the Battle of Mygeeto,^[5] and the Battle of Coruscant.^[9] The 212th Attack Battalion's 2nd Airborne also deployed airborne troopers from the planet Coruscant to Utapau, for the Battle of Utapau after General Grievous was discovered there.^[6]

Rise of the Empire[]

"Did you find Kenobi?"
"Sir… No one could have survived that fall."

―Commander Cody and an airborne trooper^[6]

212th-control-Utapau — A clone paratrooper reports to Commander Cody following the Battle of Utapau.

In 19 BBY, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine executed Clone Protocol 66 which identified all Jedi as traitors to the Republic. Shortly after, Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, now Darth Vader, was sent to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to kill all of the Jedi located there. He was accompanied by his clone trooper unit known as the 501st Legion,^[6] including an elite division of clone paratroopers.^[4] The 2nd Airborne Company and Parjai Squad followed the order as well on Utapau, where they failed to kill and find their Jedi General, Obi-Wan Kenobi.^[6]

Following the rise of the Galactic Empire, all clone troopers were turned into clone stormtroopers of the new Imperial Army, including clone paratroopers who became members of the new Imperial regime.^[2]