The HAVw A5 Juggernaut, a colossal combat vehicle boasting ten wheels, was manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards. It saw action with both the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars era, and the Galactic Empire throughout the Galactic Civil War.
This 21.8 meter long wheeled assault vehicle, the HAVw A5 Juggernaut, was conceived and constructed by Kuat Drive Yards. The main body of the A5 reached a height of ten meters, while the addition of a separate sentry tower elevated the Juggernaut's total height to almost fifteen meters. Fortified with robust, nearly impenetrable armor, the A5 featured a dual control cabin design, with one cabin situated at each end of the vehicle. Consequently, the A5 could be steered from either end, and each wheel could be independently controlled from either cabin. This dual steering system was implemented to mitigate the significant time needed for a complete vehicle turnaround; in scenarios necessitating a change of direction, the vehicle could simply be driven from the opposite end.
The A5 Juggernaut was propelled by five sets of enormous wheels, incorporating large bump flexors for shock absorption, alongside a flexible system of shocks and servos. However, the wheels suffered from a lack of traction, and the use of independent drive units resulted in the A5 lacking the necessary maneuverability or momentum to navigate particularly rough or uneven landscapes. The drive system also presented operational challenges, demanding precise coordination between the two pilots to maintain wheel alignment during maneuvers, thus preventing wheel lockup and vehicle immobilization. Juggernauts with impaired drive systems often remained out of service for weeks, awaiting replacement parts. The A5 Juggernaut could attain a respectable speed of two hundred kilometers per hour on a straight course, but its turning speed was notably slow, dropping to a mere twenty-five kilometers per hour.
Perched atop the Juggernaut was a sentry tower, incorporating a sensor array requiring additional height for optimal functionality, as well as a communications antenna. The information gathered by the sensor array was transmitted to the gunnery positions to enhance targeting accuracy. Lacking input from the tower, the A5 was forced to rely on information acquired from ground-level sensors, rendering it susceptible to attacks from aircraft or vehicles situated outside its direct line of sight. Its exposed position made it the most vulnerable point on the A5, and thus the least desirable assignment for any crew member.
The A5 was equipped with various weapon systems, including three Mk 1e/W heavy laser cannons, one of which was turret-mounted on the roof of the forward command cabin, and one on each side of the vehicle, covering the port and starboard firing arcs from the rear quarter of the A5. The laser cannons had a range that was two-thirds that of comparable walker weapons. A turret-mounted Mk 3/W medium blaster cannon or double medium blaster cannon was centrally located on the roof of the A5. It possessed superior range and stopping power compared to a walker's chin-mounted weapons. Two Mk 2/W concussion grenade launchers were integrated into the same turret as the medium blaster cannon, concealed beneath retractable covers. Each launcher held a magazine of either ten concussion grenades or six Mk 4/W concussion grenades. The A5's overall firepower was comparable to that of an AT-AT walker.
The A5 required a crew of two pilots, one in each command cabin, along with six gunners to operate the various weapon systems. An additional trooper was needed in the sentry tower to provide target information for the gunnery positions. Primarily utilized as a troop transport, the A5 could accommodate fifty soldiers in power armor, along with all their necessary equipment. It could also be reconfigured to carry light assault vehicles, such as six speeder bikes, two light combat assault speeders, or other small repulsorcraft. The A5's capacity for transporting troops and small assault vehicles equaled or, in some cases, surpassed that of a walker.
A new A5 Juggernaut cost 200,000 credits, while a used model could be purchased for 120,000 credits. Each vehicle had a cargo storage capacity of one metric ton and could carry a week's worth of supplies. The design of the A5 Juggernaut influenced the development of the later All Terrain Armored Transport.
Serving as a precursor to the AT-AT, the A5 Juggernaut saw widespread use. During the Clone Wars, the Galactic Republic Senate approved a resolution permitting planets within demilitarized systems to establish local defense forces to aid in resisting Confederacy of Independent Systems incursions. With Republic financial and logistical support, Kuat Drive Yards secured a contract to provide assault vehicles to these newly formed planetary defense forces, leading to the creation of the A5 Juggernaut. Sharing design elements with the All Terrain Tactical Enforcer, the A5 was conceived as a larger, wheeled counterpart to the AT-TE, featuring identical armor plating and a similar command cabin. Affectionately nicknamed the "rolling slab" by its crews, the A5 instilled fear in its adversaries. Playing a significant role in military operations throughout the Outer Rim Territories, the A5 was regarded as a cutting-edge combat vehicle upon its introduction. The A5 was sold to governors, corporations, and private entities across the Outer Rim, and it also fell into the hands of criminal organizations, including those affiliated with the Hutts. The A5's distinctive drive system rendered it an effective combatant in both rough terrain and urban environments.
The A5 Juggernaut was among the most formidable ground vehicles deployed during the Clone Wars, proving to be a versatile combatant capable of spearheading ground assaults or engaging in hit-and-run tactics. They also functioned as mobile command centers or as anti-aircraft artillery against airspeeders and low-flying starfighters. By 19 BBY, the A5 had been superseded in the Grand Army of the Republic by the considerably larger A6 model.
With the rise of the Galactic Empire, numerous A5s previously serving in planetary defense forces were seized by the Empire for deployment in the Outer Rim Territories. They were typically deployed when AT-AT walkers were unavailable or when terrain conditions precluded their use. During the Galactic Civil War, the Empire possessed and maintained a larger number of A5 Juggernauts than any other organization. As newer and more advanced combat vehicles were introduced, the Empire began to retire its A5 fleet or abandon damaged vehicles on the battlefield. The Empire deemed the resources required to recover these derelicts to be disproportionate to their value, allowing criminal enterprises, private companies, and insurgent groups to acquire them.
By the time of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the galaxy, only a handful of A5 Juggernauts remained operational. Those still in service demanded skilled mechanics and constant maintenance to remain combat-ready.