Phase I clone trooper armor was the standard issue armor that was used by the clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic during the early phase of the Clone Wars. Manufactured by Kaminoan armorsmiths, the armor consisted of white plastoid plates worn over a black body glove. Over time the Phase I armor was supplanted by the Phase II clone trooper armor, which was better adapted to human anatomy.
Created by Kaminoan armorsmiths for the clone troopers of the Galactic Republic with designing help from the bounty hunter Jango Fett, the Phase I clone trooper armor consisted of twenty form-fitting plates of lightweight plastoid-alloy composite. Those plates were sealed to a black temperature control bodysuit via magnatomic gription panels. The bodysuit was also pressurized, offering temporary protection against the vacuum of space, and the body glove protected the clone from the extreme cold and heat.
Phase I armor introduced the short-lived practice of identifying clone officer rank by color.
Phase I armor with splashes of color denoted the military ranks of clone trooper officers, which was considered beneficial for non-clones or even clone troopers with damaged or defective helmets. However, this system fell out of practice as the clones became more individualistic due to the Jedi's influence. Color and armor customization came to denote a clone's individuality; Clone Commanders such as Cody wore customized armor that set them apart from the rank-and-file units.
Phase I featured a T-shaped visor and was customizable.
The armor's design was reminiscent of the Mandalorian armor, including the helmet with a distinctive T-shaped visor. Despite its advantages and Fett's role in designing the armor, the Phase I gear was still a product of the Kaminoans, who were unfamiliar with human ergonomics and physiology. Because of their lack of understanding, the armor limited a clone's free movement, could be uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time, and proved uncomfortable to sit in.
Phase I could be customized with additional pieces of equipment, including pauldrons and kamas. Inside the Phase I helmet, a clone trooper had a life support system, a tracking device for monitoring troop movements, and a display screen, which was built into the helmet's viewplate. The helmet also contained a comlink, and a comlink antenna was located in the helmet's crest. A clone could also have attachments to their helmets, such as macrobinoculars, a rangefinder, or a visor.
Wearing Phase I armor, clone troopers fought in the Clone Wars on behalf of the Galactic Republic.
The armorsmiths of Kamino designed Phase I armor after the Mandalorian armor worn by the clone soldiers' template, the bounty hunter Jango Fett. Fett himself gave input on the armor, and it was introduced at the same time as the first batch of clone troopers, which were deployed at the First Battle of Geonosis. By the time of the Battle of Mon Cala, it was gradually being replaced by Phase II clone trooper armor, which was more comfortable and capable of supporting more specialized equipment. Having fully customized their original gear and become very used to it, some clones refused to change into the new armor.
At the time of the Battle of Mon Cala, Clone Captain Rex had not yet adopted Phase II armor, but one of the clones who served alongside him aboard an Venator-class Star Destroyer had.
In the DVD audio commentary for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Dave Filoni noted that, while there were transmitters and receivers in the clone troopers' helmets, having the characters hit the buttons of and hold up wrist-mounted comlinks signaled to the viewer that the characters were speaking with each other.
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