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- "A big gun doesn't make a big man."
- ―CT-5555 "Fives," to CT-782 "Hevy" during the Battle of the Rishi moon
The Z-6 rotary blaster cannon was a blaster cannon used by the Galactic Republic[3] and the Separatist Alliance[4] during the Clone Wars. Later, during the reign of the Galactic Empire, these weapons were used by both the Imperial Army's Heavy Weapons Stormtroopers and Rebel Alliance's Heavy Soldiers during the Galactic Civil War.[5]
Contents
History[]
A Rebel trooper firing a Z-6
Creation[]
The Z-6 rotary blaster cannon was a model of blaster cannon manufactured by Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc.[2] and BlasTech Industries.[1] It was created in an attempt to solve the two problems limiting blaster fire-rate: recharge time and overheating. To solve these problems, the Z-6 was created as a chaingun. The weapon was equipped with six small, rotating blaster cannons distributed around a large cooling cell. Each cannon contained its own active chamber, which fired while turning. The Z-6 was capable of firing 166 shots per second without the risk of overheating or throwing its user into the air. It was extremely heavy and required its user to stand still to be used with precision. On top of its weight, troopers equipped with the Z-6 would also have to carry its energy cartridges. Replacing the weapon's cartridges took multiple minutes, and would force its user to leave the battlefield during that time. Merr-Son engineers attempted to find solutions to these problems, but none of them were satisfactory, which tainted the Z-6's popularity. [2]
Usage during the Clone Wars[]
During their training on Kamino, every clone trooper was trained to operate the Z-6 rotary blaster cannon. However, only heavy weapons experts utilized the weapon voluntarily during battle. The blaster cannon was almost exclusively used by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars, as it was too heavy for the Confederacy of Independent Systems's B1-Series battle droids.[2]
In 22 BBY,[6] clone trooper CT-782 "Hevy" used a Z-6 rotary blaster cannon to defend Rishi Station before sacrificing himself to warn the Republic in an attempt to stop a Separatist attack on Kamino.[7] During the Battle of Umbara, clone trooper "Hardcase" used a Z-6 blaster cannon.[8] At the Battle of Ringo Vinda, the 501st Legion and Clone Commander Doom's unit relied heavily on the Z-6 to attack Admiral Trench's forces.[9] When the Separatists invaded Scipio, Commander "Thorn" used a Z-6 nicknamed "the Hammer."[10][11]
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
Sources[]
"Ambush" Episode Guide – The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as rotary blaster cannon) (also as clone machine gun)- "Rookies" Episode Guide – The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
- "ARC Troopers" Episode Guide – The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as Z-6 rotary blaster cannon)
- "Crisis at the Heart" Episode Guide – The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (as mini cannon)
- Hardcase in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) (as rotary laser cannon)
- Star Wars: Galactic Atlas
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 14 (Databank A-Z: Dengar–Domino Squad) (Picture only)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 23 (Databank A-Z: Hassk Triplets–Holograms) (Picture only)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 37 (Helmets: AT-RT Drivers) (Picture only)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 38 (Highlights of the Saga: Ambush on Rugosa) (Picture only)
- Star Wars: Legion – Legion Core Set (Card: AT-RT Rotary Blaster) (Reissued in AT-RT Unit Expansion)
- Rise of the Separatists
- The Art of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Picture only)
- 7 Clones You'd Want on Your Team | Star Wars: List It! on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (backup link)
- "Blasters and Firearms" – Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Sixth Scale Figures (Pack: 501st Battalion Clone Trooper (Deluxe)) (backup link)
- Clone Trooper Hardcase in the Databank (backup link) (as rotary laser cannon)
- Clone Commander Thorn in the Databank (backup link) (as Z06 blaster cannon)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rise of the Separatists
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
"Blasters and Firearms" – Star Wars Encyclopedia
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Ambush"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Star Wars Battlefront II
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Star Wars: Commander
- ↑ Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates the events of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes "Supply Lines" and "Bombad Jedi" to 22 BBY. As the episode "Rookies" takes place between the two episodes according to Star Wars: The Clone Wars Chronological Episode Order on StarWars.com (backup link), CT-782's death must take place in that year.
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Rookiees"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Plan of Dissent"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "The Unknown"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Crisis at the Heart"
- ↑ Solo: A Star Wars Story
