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Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser

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This article covers the Canon version of this subject.  Click here for Wookieepedia's article on the Legends version of this subject. 

"Concentrate all your fire on the nearest starship."
―Yoda commanding SPHA-Ts during the Battle of Geonosis[4]

The Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser (SPHA-T), also known as the Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery (SPHA), was a 12-legged gun platform manufactured by Rothana Heavy Engineering. They were the largest ground based weapons used by the Grand Army of the Republic in the Clone Wars. During the Imperial Era, SPHA-Ts were used by the Imperial Artillery Corps of the Galactic Empire.

Characteristics[]

SPHA-Ts during the Battle of Geonosis

Combining the devastating firepower of a permanent laser cannon emplacement with the ability to liberally walk into battle on powerful articulated legs,[6] the Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser (SPHA-T),[2] also known as the Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery (SPHA),[7] were the largest ground based weapons in the arsenal of the Grand Army of the Republic at 140.2 meters in length.[2] It only used its twelve legs when maneuvering between firing positions; when attacking an enemy target, a SPHA-T remained motionless to give its gunners added precision for aiming its extraordinarily heavy turbolaser beam.[1] Although it took no less than 30[2] specialized[6] clone troopers to man each gun platform, they were powerful and effective enough to blast through starship shields and hulls.[2] However, SPHA-Ts could only be charged up to a certain level.[6]

SPHA-Ts were able to provide defense for assault ships that were landing and devastating direct firepower.[8] The artillery walkers were generally deployed in squadrons of four and were usually placed behind advancing walkers like the All Terrain Tactical Enforcer.[9] Aboard Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships, SPHA-Ts were stored behind All Terrain Tactical Enforcer walkers, which were at the front of bays. During the Clone Wars, thanks to Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, some Venator-class Star Destroyer had additional Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery cannons located at their ventral docking bay. These laser cannons increased ventral firepower.[8]

History[]

Several SPHA-Ts focus fire on a fleeing core ship

Manufactured by Rothana Heavy Engineering,[1] 100 SPHA-Ts were deployed in key positions on several battlefronts during the First Battle of Geonosis,[6] the opening battle of the Clone Wars.[4] They were deployed in squads of four at the rear of advancing All Terrain Tactical Enforcers, while Low Altitude Assault Transport carriers ensured they were well defended by AT-TEs and infantry on foot, who were mobilized around and in front of SPHA-Ts to a distance of several kilometers.[6] The SPHA-Ts carried coordinating actions with infantry and the AT-TEs[9] to provide an impregnable line of defense for the fleet of Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships that landed immediately outside the Petranaki Arena, which supplied an assembly point for the deadly juggernauts. During the battle, they proved particularly effective on the battlefield commanded by Jedi Master Yoda,[6] and one squadron was ordered by Master Yoda to focus fire upon a fleeing core ship.[4] This caused antigrav repulsorlift malfunctions that grated a tractor beam effect with the ground, greatly accelerating its fall[6] and destroying the ship.[4] However, after these shots, the SPHA-Ts had to be replaced with charged guns from the rear lines.[6]

During the Battle of Coruscant, a SPHA-T located in the hangar of a Venator-class Star Destroyer fired upon a Munificent-class star frigate[10] and took the enemy ship out as Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi passed it.[11] After the Clone Wars and the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Imperial Army's Imperial Artillery Corps used the SPHA-Ts as mobile artillery.[5] The SPHA-Ts were eventually replaced by the smaller and faster SPMAs.[3]

Behind the scenes[]

"They are in Attack of the Clones. They just look a little different. I had them redesigned to look a little more Godzilla-like for our purpose."
―Dave Filoni clarifies the connection between the stun cannon tank and the SPHA-T[12]

Originally created for the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones,[4] the Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery was designed in concept sketches by Concept Design Supervisor Erik Tiemens. His initial concepts had the self-propelled cannon be mounted on treads, but George Lucas instead suggested that it be a walker like its AT-TE cousin. During production, the SPHA-T was called "Clone Tank A."[13] An early animatic featured SPHA-Ts being deployed from Acclamator-class assault ships on Geonosis,[14] though this scene was cut from the final film.[4]

The RX-200 Falchion-class assault tank featured in "The Zillo Beast" and "The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" was redesigned from the SPHA-T to better resemble the maser tanks from the Godzilla franchise.[12]

The 140.2 meter databank size does not visually correlate with the physical appearances in Attack of the Clones of which the Legends size of "Less then 60 meters" comes from. The CGI model used in the film is slightly visually larger than two times the length of an AT-TE, rather than significantly larger as implied by the databank.[13] The 2018 canon reference book, Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles authored by Landry Q. Walker, also establishes a length of 140.2 meters.[3]

Appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Ultimate Star Wars
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 StarWars-DatabankII.png Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser (SPHA-T) in the Databank (backup link)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Dawn of Rebellion
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Star Wars: Complete Locations
  7. ↑ Star Wars: Galactic Defense
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Star Wars: Complete Vehicles
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 AltayaCite.svg "Explosives, Heavy Weapons and Unstable Elements" – Star Wars Encyclopedia
  10. ↑ Armada.png Star Wars: Armada – Venator-class Star Destroyer Expansion Pack (Card: SPHA-T)
  11. ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Two—Behind the Story: Attack of the Zillo Beast
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Databank title.png Self Propelled Heavy Artillery - Turbolaser (SPHA-T walker) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  14. ↑ Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones DVD commentaries

External links[]

Galactic Republic ground vehicles
Repulsorcraft
Infantry Support Platform · RTT-04 armored troop transport · RX-200 Falchion-class assault tank · TX-130 Saber-class fighter tank · Unstable Terrain Artillery Transport
Speeders
74-Z speeder bike · BARC speeder · CK-6 swoop bike · Panther police interceptor · RapidResponse police speeder
Walkers
All Terrain Attack Pod · AT-FRC Force Reconnaissance Walker · All Terrain Open Transport · All Terrain Reconnaissance Transport · All Terrain Tactical Enforcer · AV-7 Anti-vehicle Artillery Cannon · Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser
Other
Coruscant elevated maglev train · HAVw A6 Juggernaut
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