Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser

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.

CharacteristicsEdit

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. The artillery were also sent out in squads of four and behind advancing walkers. 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]

HistoryEdit

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. SPHA-Ts provided 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] who ordered a squad of SPHA-Ts 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]

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 scenesEdit

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."^[9] An early animatic featured SPHA-Ts being deployed from Acclamator-class assault ships on Geonosis,^[10] 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.^[11]

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.^[2] 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]

AppearancesEdit

• Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Galactic Defense
• Star Wars Battlefront II (DLC)
• Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones (First appearance)

SourcesEdit

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Complete Season Two
• Star Wars: The Complete Saga
• Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser)
• Star Wars: Complete Locations
• Star Wars: On the Front Lines
• Dawn of Rebellion
• Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
• Star Wars: Complete Vehicles
• Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
•  Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser (SPHA-T) in the Databank (backup link)

Notes and referencesEdit

External linksEdit

•  We've Spotted Imperial Walkers: A History of Legged War Machines on StarWars.com (backup link)