The BB-23 heavy blaster cannon, manufactured by Merr-Sonn, served as an anti-personnel weapon. It was utilized by heavy weapon specialists within the Army of Darth Krayt, a Sith Lord, during the Second Imperial Civil War. Krayt's army was known as the Imperial army. This weapon was quite large, and its capacity to inflict significant damage on enemy infantry resulted in the moniker "big gun." A drawback of the blaster cannon was the need for frequent reloads, specifically after every four shots, which necessitated the user to carry a substantial quantity of ammunition. Jes Gistang, a stormtrooper belonging to Joker Squad, employed a BB-23 heavy blaster cannon during the assault on Borosk in 137 ABY. Borosk was a planet controlled by the opposing Empire-in-exile. Gistang met her death on the second day of combat in an explosion that also destroyed her BB-23.
The anti-personnel blaster, known as the BB-23 heavy blaster cannon, was produced by Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc.. The BB-23's size exceeded that of most standard blasters; it weighed twenty-two kilograms and could be stabilized with a brace for added support. Its single-shot damage output was substantial, and it proved devastating to closely grouped infantry, earning it the "big gun" nickname. It had a price of 4,200 credits and was exclusively for military use.
However, the BB-23 heavy blaster cannon had significant disadvantages related to its size and ammunition consumption. Operators needed two hands to manage its weight, and its high power consumption meant a power pack change was needed after just four shots. This necessitated carrying multiple power packs into battle and frequent reloading, potentially hindering battlefield effectiveness. Moreover, the power packs were vulnerable to detonation if struck by a laser bolt. The weapon's optimal range extended to 75 meters, with a maximum range of 375 meters.
During the Second Imperial Civil War, the BB-23 heavy blaster cannon was a tool of heavy weapon specialists in the Army of Darth Krayt's Imperial forces. Jes Gistang, a stormtrooper and heavy weapon specialist within Joker Squad—a unit of the 407th Stormtrooper Division serving Krayt's Empire—wielded a BB-23 during this conflict. In 137 ABY, Joker Squad and the rest of the 407th were deployed from their headquarters on the planet Yinchorr to participate in an assault on Borosk. Borosk was defended by the 908th Stormtrooper Division, which had recently switched its allegiance to Roan Fel, the former Galactic Emperor, and his Empire-in-exile.
On the first day of combat, Joker Squad was among the initial attackers targeting the 908th's headquarters. During this engagement, Gistang effectively employed her BB-23, killing numerous enemy stormtroopers with its powerful blasts. However, the need for continuous reloading was a constant issue; at one point, her squadmate Anson Trask was forced to eliminate a 908th stormtrooper who had targeted Gistang while she was in the process of replacing the power pack in her blaster cannon.
During the battle's second phase, Joker Squad advanced further into the 908th's base, eventually reaching a mess hall occupied by several 908th stormtroopers. In the ensuing lightfight, a stray blaster bolt struck one of the many power packs that Gistang carried on her belt for her BB-23, causing it to detonate. The resulting explosion consumed both her and her weapon.
The BB-23 heavy blaster cannon made its debut appearance in the fourth issue of Star Wars: Legacy, a comic series titled Noob, which was released on October 11, 2006. Within the comic, the BB-23 was only referred to by its nickname, "the big gun." Its official designation was finally revealed with the publication of the Legacy Era Campaign Guide on March 17, 2009. In the same year, a Jes Gistang action figure, complete with her BB-23, was released by Hasbro as part of the Star Wars: The Legacy Collection Joker Squad six-pack.
The Legacy Era Campaign Guide indicates that the BB-23 heavy blaster cannon could fire ten shots per power pack. However, this contradicts Noob, which clearly shows that the BB-23 required reloading after every four shots. For the sake of consistency, this article assumes that the BB-23 held four shots per power pack.