Armed with only a heavy repeating blaster, the Storm Skimmers were focused towards speed and stealth, like the 74-Z speeder bikes. However, unlike the speeder bikes, they had more armor and protection against enemy fire, and were intended for rapid deployment against enemy personnel. Later models, post-Endor, would have an extra heavy repeating blaster.
The two occupants sat in tandem, with the pilot located in the rear of the craft and the gunner in the nose.
They gained in popularity around the Battle of Yavin, but were eventually replaced by the older 74-Z speeder bike. Still, many were kept in backorder as all-purpose vehicles and would see many years of service, long into the Galactic Civil War.
Although most Skimmers served the Empire, some were captured and used by the Alliance to Restore the Republic. However, non-Imperial users were forced to wear pressure-suits to achieve maximum altitudes, while stormtroopers' armor provided a sealed environment for their protection. Maximum altitude for the Skimmers lay between 11 and 15 km from ground level.
During Operation Shadow Hand, the Dark Empire used Storm Skimmer Patrol Sled to patrol the planet Byss.