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"Soldiers of the Rebel Alliance, this is our most desperate hour. You are our only hope."
―Gial Ackbar[13]

Rebel troopers, also known as Rebel soldiers or Alliance troopers, were the front-line soldiers of both the early rebel movement and, later, the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War. Initially formed from loosely connected resistance cells, the leadership of Mon Mothma saw them become an impressively armed and trained galaxy-spanning infantry.

History[]

Rebel Hoth Troopers DICE

Troopers defend the planetary ion cannon of Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth

With the proclamation of the New Order 19 years before the Battle of Yavin, discontinued military equipment from the former Grand Army of the Republic often wound up in the hands of rebelling factions in a variety of star systems.[14] With many resenting Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine's expansionist policies into the galaxy's periphery, many came to form loose, unorganized cells against the Emperor's reign. Cham Syndulla's Free Ryloth Movement[15] epitomized the ferocity of early resistance movements four years into Imperial rule, while smaller actions orchestrated by groups such as Berch Teller's rebel cell and the Corellian Resistance[16] continued to prove a nuisance to Imperial authorities well into the Age of the Empire.[14]

At least five years before the Battle of Yavin, a loose rebel network came into existence that opposed the Galactic Empire on a near galactic scale. However, it was unorganized, with many groups not knowing the existence of one another in order to ensure each group's individual survival in case one was compromised. One group known as Phoenix Cell utilized CR90 corvettes and a Republic-era Pelta-class frigate along with RZ-1 A-wing interceptors that would continue to be used by Rebel forces well into the Galactic Civil War, while soldiers wore uniforms that were visually similar to those worn by later resistance fighters.[8][11]

Endorsoldiers

General Han Solo commanded his strike team, the Pathfinders, during the Battle of Endor.

With the formation of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, Rebel troopers would see wide use and variations in armor and equipment. They were deployed on worlds as far flung as Sullust,[17] Coyerti,[17] and Haidoral Prime,[17] as well as in major battles such as the Battle of Hoth[6] and the Battle of Endor.[7] Following the establishment of the New Republic, Rebel troops were transitioned into the role of New Republic soldiers.[10]

Organization[]

Twilight Company patch

Sixty-First Mobile Infantry, also known as Twilight Company

Rebel troopers were the backbone of the Rebel Alliance.[18] Organized into various units, such as fire teams of two individuals or squads of four when necessary, they served under the command of Generals such as Crix Madine or Carlist Rieekan. Grand strategy was dictated by Alliance High Command, which had the final say in all joint military operations.[7] Troopers could be placed under infantry units such as the Twenty-First or Thirty-Second Infantry, the aquatic Sixty-Eighth Infantry or vanguard 61st Mobile Infantry. The Rebel Alliance Special Forces, including the Pathfinders, were composed of the best soldiers in the Rebellion often pulled from the Rebel trooper ranks, and were utilized and regarded as highly trained and organized commandos.[17] Pathfinders were also still identified as rebel troopers.[19]

Uniforms and Equipment[]

MPL-57 Barrage Trooper SWL

A Rebel Trooper in the outfit adapted from Alderaan security and armed with an MPL-57.

Rebel troopers being deployed on numerous worlds across the galaxy, their standard uniform and equipment varied depending on the environment and mission.[1][20] Unable to finance a standard uniform for the entire army, the Alliance devised a standard look for troopers to identify themselves and improve unit cohesion and morale.[2] Many Rebel troops adopted the uniform of Alderaanian consular security, wearing blue shirts, black combat vests, gray trousers and black calf-length boots, along with a distinctive white helmet with a visor above the forehead. This uniform appeared at outposts such as Base One, while a variant was utilized by support crew on Yavin 4, with a similar white helmet design but instead wearing a light brown jumpsuit instead of combat vest and shirt. Officers wore a similar uniform to their trooper counterpart, but instead sported a light brown jacket, shirt and pants along with a brown belt. Those in the Rebel Honor Guard wore dark green, buttoned jackets with pockets, matching pants and black boots, but had a similar helmet to those of consular security.[4][18]

Troopers on Hoth wore a white or beige shirt and pants, along with matching tan and white caps with ear flaps, and could carry goggles when necessary. Troopers in the field and not in the safety of Echo Base often wore a similar variant as those in the hangar but instead had more of a white and gray coloring, along with white Alliance Cold Weather Backpacks.[6]

Rebel Commando Strike Team SWL

A Rebel commando strike team on assignment

Troopers assigned to forest, desert and volcanic worlds often but not always wore a uniform resembling those used by the strike team assembled to take down the Death Star II's shield generator on the forest moon of Endor, with camouflaged green and brown jackets and pants, along with backpacks similar to those worn by troopers on cold worlds but camouflaged green or gray. They could also carry brown sacks, and had a green metal rim circling their helmets. Pathfinders were commandos who utilized this same outfit. Troopers assigned to desert worlds could also wear uniforms similar to troopers on the Tantive IV. Bantha Riders rode banthas and utilized a tan shirt and brown jacket along with a similar helmet worn by troopers on the Tantive IV.[7][20][18]

Zabrak DICE

Rebel troopers included various alien species

Rebel troopers often utilized the DH-17 blaster pistol and DL-18 blaster pistol, as well as the A280 blaster rifle or its modified variant the A280C blaster rifle, while the E-17d sniper rifle was used by Rebel marksmen. Rebel Vanguards wore a white shirt and black jacket, along with brown pants and black boots, and utilized PLX-1s to take out heavy targets.[4][7][18][20]

Alliance troops also utilized the personal energy shield technology stolen from the Empire to minimize damage from enemy blaster bolts. Often being deployed in the field with limited supplies and armaments, Rebel troopers modified their weapons into multi-purpose weapons, with the development of an insert that allowed soldiers to fire charged ion bolts for a limited time. When Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. sought to increase its market share, it developed the widely used MPL-57, popular for its versatility and capability for firing a wide range of ammunition.[21]

Specialized Rebel troopers[]

The Rebel Alliance possessed a variety of specialized troopers that were trained to defend Alliance leaders on countless worlds and during many operations, changing uniforms and tactics to meet each challenge.[1]

StarWars8-Rebel-troopers

Rebel fleet troopers aboard a threatened starship during the Battle at Elessia

Behind the scenes[]

The rebel soldier Kori Zaran is a central character in the non-canon book LEGO Star Wars Galaxy Mission, where Zaran embarks on the galaxy mission to return to Echo Base.[30]

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

Non-canon sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 StarWars-DatabankII Rebel Troopers in the Databank (backup link)
  2. 2.0 2.1 ToppsDigitalLogo Star Wars: Card Trader (Card: Rebel Fleet Trooper - Rebel Alliance - Base Series 1)
  3. Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "The Mystery of Chopper Base"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
  5. Star Wars (2015) 44
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
  8. 8.0 8.1 Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "Fire Across the Galaxy"
  9. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary dates the formation of the New Republic as taking place thirty years before the Starkiller Incident, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 4 ABY. Therefore, It can be deduced that the New Republic trooper was formed in 4 ABY as well.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Aftermath
  11. 11.0 11.1 Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
  12. Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!
  13. EA-StarWars-Logo Star Wars Battlefront Gameplay Launch Trailer on the official Electronic Arts Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)  (Posted on StarWars.com)
  14. 14.0 14.1 Tarkin
  15. Lords of the Sith
  16. SWInsider "The End of History" — Star Wars Insider 154
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Battlefront: Twilight Company
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Star Wars: Galactic Defense
  19. ToppsDigitalLogo Star Wars: Card Trader (Card: Endor Rebel Trooper - Rebel Alliance - Base Series 1)
  20. 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 20.12 20.13 20.14 20.15 20.16 20.17 20.18 20.19 20.20 Star Wars: Commander
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Star Wars Battlefront
  22. 22.0 22.1 Star Wars: The Rebel Files
  23. SW Legion template Star Wars: LegionFleet Troopers Unit Expansion (Card: MPL-57 Barrage Trooper)
  24. 24.0 24.1 Star Wars Battlefront II
  25. Shattered Empire 1
  26. *StarWars-DatabankII Rebel Pathfinders (SpecForces) in the Databank (backup link)
  27. Star Wars: Force Arena
  28. Star Wars: Rogue One: Rebel Dossier
  29. SWYTlogo The Mandalorian Panel – Sunday on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (content now obsolete; backup link)
  30. LEGO Star Wars Galaxy Mission
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