Imperial combat driver

Content approaching. Rebel Journal by Ezra Bridger, Star Wars Helmet Collection 14–class.

Parts of this article are no longer up to date.

Please update the article to include missing information, and remove this template when finished.

Imperial combat drivers were the elite ground-vehicle pilots of the Galactic Empire's Army. Standard Imperial combat drivers were trained to handle everything in the Imperial ground arsenal, including speeder bikes,^[10] Imperial Troop Transports,^[11] and various type of walkers like the All Terrain Defense Pod.^[12] They also flew Imperial LAAT/le patrol gunships.^[13]

Several assault vehicles used by the Empire boasted a specialized corps of drivers. Such corps included AT-AT pilots driving All Terrain Armored Transports, Imperial combat assault tank pilots piloting TX-225 GAVw "Occupier" combat assault tanks,^[1] AT-ST drivers operating All Terrain Scout Transports,^[2] and Juggernaut Pilots operating HCVw A9.2 juggernaut transports.^[5] 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 specialized driver group.^[3] AT-AT pilots saw themselves as the elite among the elite.^[14]

They were organized in the Combat driver corps^[7] and the Imperial Vehicle Corps.^[8]

Uniforms[]

SpeederBike-Disneyxd — An Imperial combat driver piloting a 614-AvA speeder bike

Standard Imperial combat drivers—The standard armor worn by the Galactic 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.^[10] That combat uniform gave the combat drivers an imposing countenance,^[6] and came in two different color schemes. The one worn by the ones driving Troop Transports featured a black jumpsuit and field grey armor parts and helmet, while the one worn by AT-DP^[12] and speeder bike drivers had a light grey jumpsuit, field grey body armor, and a light grey helmet.^[10] In combat, they used an E-11 medium blaster rifle.^[15]

AT-ATDriver-Rifle — The armor of an Imperial AT-AT pilot.

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.^[16] On cold worlds like Hoth, their suits were insulated.^[17]
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. To a certain degree, they resembled^[18] the non-stormtrooper Imperial Army troopers who, at one time, had been a major part of the Imperial Military.^[19]
Imperial combat assault tank pilots—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. 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 coastal defender stormtroopers, but in a white and black color scheme similar to combat tank commanders.^[3]
Imperial Transport Pilot—These pilots wore white armor with helmets similar to Imperial combat assault tank pilots and body armor similar to Stormtroopers, but with blue markings.^[4]
Juggernaut Pilot—These pilots wore armor similar to Imperial combat assault tank pilots, but was grey-green in color and more simplistic in design. Some pilots had red markings on their left upper arm.^[5]