Snowtroopers were a specialized division of Imperial stormtroopers whose training focused on combat effectiveness in frigid, arctic conditions. Blizzard Force of Death Squadron was one of the units that saw deployment of these specialized troopers, along with other cold-weather military groups.
These troopers saw action on numerous icy planets, notably as part of the Imperial garrison stationed on the planet of Akuria II. Their most famous engagement occurred during the Battle of Hoth, where Blizzard Force of the Empire soundly defeated the forces of the Alliance to Restore the Republic and seized control of Echo Base. Carlist Rieekan, the Rebel general who commanded Echo Base, later commented on the snowtroopers' immediate readiness for combat, contrasting it with the months the Rebel Alliance spent preparing their own equipment for Hoth's harsh winter.
One of the initial operations involving snowtroopers was the surprise attack by the Empire on the Rebel movement's founders located on Corellia. Darth Vader had followed his Sith apprentice, Galen Marek, to Corellia as part of a clandestine scheme to capture the rebellion's founders and eliminate Marek. Snowtroopers rapidly overwhelmed Rahm Kota's guards as they stormed the snowy mountain shelter.
A group of ten snowtroopers, known as Baker Company, were deployed to Goratak III with the mission of retrieving an Imperial I2-CG droid before the Rebel Alliance could secure it. This group was under the command of a bounty hunter named Feskitt Bobb.
Later, in 13 ABY, snowtroopers fought for the Imperial Remnant against the New Republic on the planet Pallaxides.
Snowtrooper armor was specifically engineered to withstand the extreme climates of icy planets such as Hoth, Rhen Var, and Toola. In contrast to standard troopers, snowtroopers wore a robust, white body glove that provided both camouflage and thermal insulation. This was covered by an eighteen-piece external shell, modified with enhanced heating and environmental control systems, along with an airtight oversuit for superior protection against the cold. A breather hood connected to the suit liner covered the faceplate, ensuring breathable air in frigid or hazardous environments. Each trooper was outfitted with boots designed for traction on icy terrain, a standard utility belt equipped with high-tension wire, grappling hooks, ion flares, extra blaster ammunition, a survival kit, and food rations. Garlostar supplied their tents and other specialized gear. The snowtrooper breastplate bore a resemblance to the Model 1010 Photo-reactive Personal Armor manufactured by Krail Armory.
Their helmets incorporated polarized snow goggles. The breastplate used by the snowtroopers was made from a plastoid composite. The controls for the troopers' self-contained life-support systems were located near the center of the breastplate. These controls included a temperature monitor, a power cell monitor, and heater controls. The main heating unit, main power cell, communications unit, and a homing beacon were housed in the troopers' backpacks. The backpack could also function as a power source for other devices. Snowtroopers could survive for up to two weeks in the most severe frozen environments using only their suit's internal power and supplies. They also wore white, heated pants that had pockets.
Standard weaponry for snowtroopers included the E-11 blaster rifles also used by stormtroopers, SE-14r light repeating blasters, two concussion grenades, and one fragmentation grenade. Elite snowtroopers received the DLT-20A blaster rifle in place of the E-11, along with two stun grenades. The E-Web heavy repeating blaster was commonly used by snowtroopers.