DH-17 blaster pistol

"Effective, loyal and reliable, just like most rebels."

The DH-17 blaster pistol, also known as the Fleet Blaster, was a close-combat blaster pistol produced by BlasTech Industries.

Description[]

"It's a DH-17. Leave the settings the way they are and don't even think of switching it to automatic."

―First Sergeant Namir during the Mid Rim Retreat^[9]

RebelSoldier1-SWBC38 — Rebel troopers commonly used DH-17 blaster pistols.

The DH-17 blaster pistol was a close-combat blaster pistol commonly used by soldiers of the Rebel Alliance for conflicts aboard starships,^[1] for which it earned the name of the "Fleet Blaster,"^[8] or during ground operations.^[10] It was also sometimes used by the officers of the Galactic Empire, who might carry it instead of the standard E-11 medium blaster rifle.^[1] The DH-17 blaster rifle was a rifle version that featured a shoulder stock, and a hand-calibrated macroscopes. The rifles were black and silver in color.^[11]

The pistol was dependable on a semiautomatic setting, firing in short bursts. The pistol could also be fired fully automatic, but the power would be drained within ~20 seconds, making fully automatic firing only worth using in panic situations.^[1]^[12] Its high rate of fire and reasonable accuracy made it ideal for medium-range combat.^[13]

History[]

Level5Guards-Narkina5 — Prison Guards on Narkina 5 were armed with DH-17 blasters.

Imperial prison guards stationed at the Narkina 5 Imperial Prison Complex also carried the blaster.^[14] The Cloud-Rider Baroosh Pawk also wielded a vibrobayonet attached to his DH-17 blaster pistol.^[15] Rogue One personals, Corporal Rodma Maddel wielded a DH-17 as did Private Farsin Kappehl used one with an extended magazine and spotting laser.^[16]

During the Galactic Civil War, many rebel troopers were armed with DH-17 blaster pistols.^[10] When the Alliance members were on the run from the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Devastator to transmit the stolen Death Star plans to Alderaan, their ship, the CR90 corvette Tantive IV, was halted and Imperial stormtroopers entered the ship. To stop the enemy boarders, Rebel Fleet soldiers attacked with DH-17 blasters but were eventually defeated by the Imperial forces.^[4] Bodhi Rook, who assisted in stealing the plans from Scarif, carried a DH-17 blaster.^[17]

The Death Star Troopers that Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Chewbacca attacked on the First Death Star were armed with DH-17 blasters, but they were killed when Chewbacca pretended to get loose from Han and Luke and started a chaotic battle in the detention center.^[4] After the Death Star destroyed, Cylo's marines had used the blaster to defend Cylo's whale fleet.^[18] Approximately three and a half years later, the DH-17 was used by rebel soldiers in the defense of Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth,^[19] including Leia Organa Solo.^[17]

LandoCalrissian-SWBC18 — Lando wielding a DH-17 blaster pistol

During the Battle at Elessia, rebel troopers armed with DH-17s rushed to defend an airlock from an Imperial boarding party, but were quickly blown back by the explosive charges used by the stormtroopers and Commander Ellian Zahra. Zahra and her soldiers then fired on any remaining rebels in their path.^[20] Some of the Alliance troopers fought with DH-17s during the Battle of Endor,^[21] including Admiral Ackbar, who was in charge of the Alliance fleet.^[17] The N5 sentry droids used these blasters while guarding the prisoners on the prison transport, the Bothan-5. During a rescue, the bounty hunter known as Din Djarin used one of the droid's DH-17 and blasted a hole in its head.^[22] Approximately thirty years after the Battle of Endor, a resident of Niima Outpost on the planet Jakku used a refurbished DH-17.^[23]

Behind the scenes[]

The DH-17 blaster pistols first appeared in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The pistols were first named as "DH-17"s in the canon continuity from Ultimate Star Wars, a reference book published in April 28, 2015.^[1] Like the E-11, the props were based off of the British Sterling Mk.4 submachine gun, as well as elements from the BSA Machine Carbine.^[24]