Walkers
Walkers
Most walkers are used as armored assault vehicles. Their sheer size and strength enable them to carry more armor and weapons than a similarly sized repulsorlift vehicle, and they can step over smaller obstacles.
AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport)
Created as a ground-assault vehicle and troop transport, the Imperial AT-AT, or walker, is a formidable weapon of war. Over 15 meters tall, a walker moves quickly on its four massive legs. A pilot, gunner, and combat coordinator (commander) operate the vehicle.
AT-ATs are heavily armed quadrupedal armored vehicles with articulated control cabins at the anterior. To beings from worlds with quadrupedal native life, AT-ATs often appear to be giant beasts of war: their control cabins like lolling heads; their chin-mounted lasers suggest fanged monsters of legend. These associations are intentional—an attempt by the AT-AT's designers to inspire fear.
Many companies contribute components to construction of AT-ATs, but the entire vehicle is assembled at the Kuat Drive Yards under strict Imperial supervision. Kuat designers and developers worked from the original Imperial design concepts to create the all-terrain weapon that the Empire uses today.
Walkers can operate in many different terrain types. Varying gravitational fields, climates, and land types do little to hamper performance. The AT-AT makes an effective urban assault vehicle since its height gives its crew a good line of sight over small buildings and low-lying structures. Anything it can't see over, it can knock down or crash through without much trouble.
Its thick armor can absorb heavy blaster fire with little or no damage, and is virtually impervious to harm from close-quarter fighting. Rugged hills and mountainous terrain, including cliffs and sheer slopes of up to eight meters in height, are easily navigated by the giant AT-ATs. Uneven ground such as that found in marshes and jungles slows them somewhat, but they are still more effective than many other ground transports over similar terrain.
The "head" houses the command crew in a compact, crowded cockpit. The walker's weapon emplacements are also located in this section, presenting the crew with a wide field of vision through a viewport of armored transparisteel. The head can elevate and depress up to 30 degrees and turn as much as 90 degrees.
Two forward-firing heavy laser cannons—mounted under the chin—and two medium blasters—one to each side of the head—constitute the walker's personal arsenal. Electro-rangefinders, targeting computers, sensor arrays, and holographic projectors give the crew a 360-degree computer-painted line of sight whenever necessary.
The head is connected to the passenger compartment by a semi-flexible and less-armored "neck/tunnel." Attacks on a walker usually concentrate on this weak point, making it necessary to regularly overhaul or replace these sections.
A walker's body section can carry 40 fully armed and battle-ready stormtroopers. To load and disembark troops, the AT-AT kneels by bending its tri-jointed legs and lowering its body to within three meters of the ground. A landing ramp drops from the rear of the vehicle to deploy passengers. In addition, hatches on the flanks are used when docked at Imperial boarding platforms.
AT-ATs are dropped into a combat zone from huge, specially designed shuttle barges or drop ships which transport walkers from Star Destroyers or nearby garrisons for deployment in a battle area.
Walkers were designed for blatant "shock" attacks: they are visible from great distances as they methodically plod toward the enemy, and the ground trembles as these monsters approach. Anything in their way is casually crushed beneath massive metal hooves.
Their approach, however, is deceptively fast. They only appear to be plodding forward—actually, a great distance is covered by each stride, and Rebels who have faced them report that they are on you before you know it.
Walkers are front-line assault vehicles without equal. Only carefully prepared defenses, a direct attack to knock out the gun emplacements, or concentrated fire on the neck have even the slightest chance of success.
Source: REUP:402