B1 rocket battle droids, alternatively known as B1-series rocket battle droids, rocket battle droids, or even pod hunter droids, represented a specialized modification of the standard B1-series battle droid. Their primary function was to locate and eliminate enemy escape pods.
During the series of attacks perpetrated by the Separatist _Subjugator_-class heavy cruiser Malevolence under the leadership of General Grievous and the Confederate Head of State Count Dooku in the opening year of the Clone Wars against the Galactic Republic, a group of five B1-series rocket battle droids were deployed to seek out and destroy any survivors who managed to flee in escape pods from destroyed vessels. However, during a battle within the Abregado system, which resulted in the annihilation of Jedi General Plo Koon's fleet by the Malevolence, Koon and three surviving clone troopers successfully destroyed the rocket droids along with their Droch-class boarding ship.
Later, these rocket battle droids were utilized on Florrum in 20 BBY during Grievous's invasion of the planet.
Pod hunters, also known as B1-series rocket battle droids, were a specialized version of the B1-series battle droid, standing at a height of 1.9 meter. Their design was specifically enhanced to destroy escape pods. To accomplish this, they were armed with E-5 blaster rifles, rocket packs, and fusioncutters. They were easily identifiable due to their orange and black painted color scheme, which distinguished them from standard B1 units.
When working together, they could pilot Droch-class boarding ships that could attach to most pod designs and breach pods to depressurize the interior, which often killed the occupants without having to utilize blasters. This tactic was considered distasteful by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, which relied on secrecy to survive.
Despite their specialized equipment and purpose for carrying out grim tasks, the effectiveness of B1 rocket battle droids varied. Sometimes, B2 super rocket troopers took their place, relegating the B1 units to other short-range space missions or using them as aerial troopers during planetary engagements.
During the Battle of Abregado, Count Dooku and General Grievous sent a group of rocket battle droids aboard a Droch-class boarding ship with the mission of hunting down survivors and potential witnesses. The droids eventually located Pod 1977 and proceeded to attach themselves to it. From a nearby pod, Jedi Master Plo Koon and a small squad of clones observed as the droids breached the pod, ejecting the two clones inside into the vacuum of space. The droids then focused their attention on the Jedi Master, attempting to board his pod. Koon, aided by clone troopers Sinker and Boost, engaged the droids in combat. After a brief skirmish, Koon severed the boarding ship's connection to the pod, causing it to crash into nearby debris.
In 20 BBY, General Grievous deployed B1-series rocket battle droids on Florrum during the invasion of the planet. Later in the war, they were also deployed on Kashyyyk during the Battle of Kashyyyk.
The initial appearance of B1-series rocket battle droids occurred in "Rising Malevolence," which was the second episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars' animated television series' first season. Its original broadcast date was October 3, 2008. The voice acting for these droids was provided by Matthew Wood, who also voiced General Grievous.