The AQ-5 Waveskimmer, also known as the wave walker, was an Imperial aquatic light assault vehicle.
This 14-meter-long hovercraft was designed to glide over the surface of any body of water. Based on an AT-AT frame, this vehicle was supported by two sturdy legs which angled down from either side of the cockpit. These flat boom-like spars terminated in a pontoon that allowed the waveskimmer to float on the water's surface. They also featured servomotors that could ensure the craft's pilot could position the pontoons in the same plane as the cockpit and react to the craft's acceleration lifting it off the surface to gain speed.
The waveskimmers could carry seatroopers, stormtroopers, and cargo, and had a weapons-load consisting of two concussion missiles, two medium blaster cannons, and two light blaster cannons. A single pilot controlled the waveskimmer.
The AQ-5 Waveskimmer was the first of several aquatic vehicles designed by Hydrospeare's Design Team Beta, which produced the first prototypes during the reign of the Galactic Empire. These prototypes were similar to the final product, however they could only achieve a top speed of 90 kmph and did not carry concussion missiles or laser cannons. They required a crew of three, including two gunners.
The waveskimmers were constructed within the reborn Emperor Palpatine's deadly World Devastators and were deployed directly into combat on Mon Calamari against the New Republic.
- Dark Empire Sourcebook
- Alliance Intelligence Reports
- Star Wars Encyclopedia
- "Ask the Master" — Star Wars Insider 81
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia