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Imperial combat drivers were the elite ground-vehicle pilots of the Galactic Empire's Army. Standard combat drivers were trained to handle everything in the Imperial ground arsenal, including 614-AvA speeder bikes,[7] Imperial Troop Transports,[8] and various type of walkers like the All Terrain Defense Pod.[9] They also flew Imperial LAAT/le patrol gunships.[10]
Several assault vehicles used by the Empire boasted a specialized corps of drivers. Such corps included AT-AT pilots driving All Terrain Armored Transports, tank operators piloting TX-225 GAVw "Occupier" combat assault tanks,[1] and AT-ST drivers operating All Terrain Scout Transports.[2] However, members of all corps were qualified to operate All Terrain Armored Cargo Transports, since they were not technically designated battlefield assault vehicles.[1] Despite this, they still had a specialised driver group.[3] AT-AT pilots saw themselves as the elite among the elite.[11]
Uniforms[edit | edit source]
The generic armor worn by the Empire's combat drivers consisted of a jumpsuit, a cuirass, shoulder- and lower leg-armor, gauntlet-style gloves, and a domed helmet whose faceplate resembled that of Imperial cadets.[7] That combat uniform gave the combat drivers an imposing countenance,[4] and came in two different color schemes. The one worn by the Troop Transports drivers featured a black jumpsuit and field grey armor parts and helmet, while the one worn by AT-DP[9] and speeder bike drivers had a light grey jumpsuit, field grey body armor, and a light grey helmet.[7] In combat, they used an E-11 blaster rifle.[12]
- AT-AT pilot—The field uniform of the AT-AT pilots resembled a white version of the one worn by TIE fighter pilots. It consisted of a light grey flight suit complete with webbing, along with white gloves, boots and helmet.[13]
- AT-ST driver—Contrary to other branches, AT-ST drivers wore little armor. They donned light grey jumpsuits with pockets, a grey-green open face helmet, a belt, black boots and gauntlet gloves, and a pair of dark goggles.[14]
- Tank driver—At the time of the Battle of Scarif, tank drivers wore a partial suit of plastoid plates that not only provided protection, but also permitted the flexibility required to sit in the confining quarters of a tank. Tank commanders wore the same armor, but with a black stripe across the top of their chest plate.[1]
- AT-ACT driver—These pilots wore armor very similar to Scarif coastal defender stormtroopers, in a white and black color scheme similar to combat tank commanders.[3]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
Non-canon appearances[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide
Star Wars Rebels: Extended Preview (Official) on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)- Star Wars Rebels: Head to Head
- Rebel Journal by Ezra Bridger
- "Rebels, Animated"—Star Wars Insider 155
- Star Wars Rebels (Set: 75083 AT-DP)
- Star Wars Rebels (Set: 75141 Kanan Speeder Bike)
- Star Wars Rogue One (Set: 75152 Imperial Assault Hovertank)
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
- Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy
- Art of Coloring: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- Star Wars: Rogue One: Rebel Dossier
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 14 (Helmets: AT-ST Pilot; Helmets: In Pictures)
- Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 6 (Building the Galaxy: Filming R2-D2, Part 3)
- Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: On the Front Lines
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles (Picture only)
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- AT-AT Pilots in the Databank (backup link)
- Imperial Combat Drivers in the Databank (backup link) (First identified as Imperial combat driver)
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2
Star Wars: Rogue One (Pack: Rapid Fire Imperial AT-ACT) (backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1
Imperial Combat Drivers in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- ↑ Unwelcome Arrival
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels – "Fighter Flight"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Star Wars Rebels – "Rebel Resolve"
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels – "Flight of the Defender"
- ↑ AT-AT Pilots in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels – "Empire Day"
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
