Trade Federation Droid Army
The Trade Federation Droid Army, also known as the Federation Army, was a droid military force established and operated by the Trade Federation during the final decades of the Galactic Republic. As its title indicates, it primarily consisted of battle droids.
History
In the time after the Stark Hyperspace War, the Trade Federation faced increasing threats from piratical and mercenary actions targeting their trade routes. This situation prompted requests to the Galactic Senate for authorization to arm Federation transport ships for defensive purposes. Despite continuous increases in the Federation's weaponry, the Neimoidian leaders remained apprehensive. Furthermore, Viceroy Nute Gunray secretly collaborated with Darth Sidious, leading to the formation of a military organization for the Trade Federation.
Contracts were awarded to Baktoid Armor Workshop, Haor Chall Engineering, and the Colicoid Creation Nest for the production of battle droids and military vehicles for the Trade Federation. Many of these designs were based on existing Federation technologies. For example, the Trade Federation ore barge served as the foundation for the C-9979 landing craft, while the B1-Series battle droids that formed the Federation's infantry were advanced versions of the Hunter-killer droid. Even Neimoidian concepts were integrated, with the droideka being modeled after its Colicoid creators.
The Trade Federation Army's initial assembly occurred within the hangar bay of the battleship Acquisitor, prior to the Eriadu Trade Summit. During this event, representatives from Baktoid Armor and Haor Chall presented their designs to Viceroy Gunray and his staff. Along with landing craft and battle droids, Armored Assault Tanks, Multi-Troop Transports, Platoon Attack Craft, and Single Trooper Aerial Platforms were showcased, although the Federation had not yet engaged with the Colicoids at this stage.
The army's buildup was conducted secretly, although the galaxy was introduced to the B1 battle droids at the Eriadu Summit, where one caused the deaths of members of the Trade Federation Directorate. The Army's first deployment happened during the Invasion of Naboo, preceded by tests in the Karthakk system, where Nym and his Lok Revenants fought against droid forces on Lok and Eos.
The Invasion of Naboo proved to be a pivotal event for the Federation. Their clandestine army was fully revealed and used to dominate Theed and other Naboo settlements. However, this display of power quickly soured when Queen Padmé Amidala inspired her people to launch a desperate counteroffensive against the Naboo occupation. While the Gungan Grand Army engaged the Droid Army on the Great Grass Plains, Amidala compelled Nute Gunray to sign a treaty, effectively ending the occupation. Adding to their misfortune, Anakin Skywalker destroyed the Droid Control Ship in orbit, rendering the entire army inoperable. The droids were reloaded onto their transports and removed from the system, while Gunray and his associates were sent to Coruscant for trial.
The Supreme Court mandated a reduction in the size of the Droid Army, although Gunray was never convicted and continued to advocate for control of his forces. Despite the Republic's directives, the Federation managed to maintain a significant portion of its military. Moreover, the Federation secretly began to rebuild and enhance its army, utilizing droid factories on numerous planets to significantly expand its military capabilities. Upon the formation of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Trade Federation forces were integrated into the Separatist Droid Army, fighting alongside droids from the Commerce Guild, the Techno Union, and other major corporate entities.
Composition
The actual makeup of the Trade Federation Droid Army remained a mystery due to its secret creation and deployment. Droid forces were concealed within the vast hangar bays of Lucrehulk-class battleships and could be assembled from components that appeared harmless enough to evade detection by Republic customs officials. For invasions of planets like Lok and Naboo, the Federation transported its droids in landing craft, which traveled from the Battleship to the planet's surface. From there, Multi-Troop Transports, Trade Federation dropships, and Platoon Attack Craft moved B1 battle droids from the landing zone directly into battle.
Before the advancements made during the Separatist Crisis, the Droid Army was controlled by a Central Control Computer, usually located on a specialized Droid Control Ship orbiting the target world. Ground-based control computers were also deployed to transmit backup signals. Core ships could dock in landing pits to broadcast these signals from the ground. Control Computers encrypted to command Vulture droid starfighters in control ships and battleships had an approximate operational range of sixteen thousand kilometers. The destruction of the Control Computer would cause all droid forces to shut down, and control broadcasts could be intercepted or overwritten with enemy encryption, causing confusion in the Droid Army.
The invasion force directed at the city of Theed included thirty-three Multi-Troop Transports—each carrying one hundred and twelve battle droids—and three hundred and forty-two Armored Assault Tanks, in addition to droid starfighters and infantry.
The Naboo invasion force featured a variety of droids, including the Beetle droid, Energy Pummel, and Bio Cannon. These forces were deployed against both the Naboo and the Gungans.
Organization
The Droid Army, at least during the Clone Wars as part of the Separatist Droid Army, had a nine-level command structure.
Squad
A squad was made up of eight battle droids. Due to their droid nature, and thus being either remotely directed or programmed before an engagement, the squads did not require an officer, although organic squads were led by a sergeant.
Platoon
A Platoon included seven squads, totaling 56 battle droids.
Company
A Company was composed of two platoons, transported via either an MTT or a Troop carrier. They were complemented by 112 battle droids, plus support droids. These were typically led by a battle droid officer, and were the lowest command chain for droid officers.
Battalion
A Battalion consisted of seven troop-carrier companies (MTT or troop carriers), along with a squadron of 24 AATs. The total droid count was 784 battle droids, plus support droids, and they were commanded by a battle droid officer.
Vanguard
Vanguards were designed to penetrate heavy defenses, primarily composed of 11 MTT companies and a squadron of 18 AATs. They included 1,232 battle droids plus support droids, commanded by a battle droid officer.
Regiment
A Regiment comprised four battalions and a single vanguard, totaling 4,368 battle droids plus various support droids, and was commanded by a battle droid officer. Their numbers were the total force carried aboard one C-9979 landing craft.
Division
A Division included five regiments, transported into battle via a section of five C-9979 landing craft. They had a total of 21,840 battle droids plus support droids.
Corps
A Corps was made up of five divisions, transported into battle via a squadron of 25 C-9979 landing craft. They had a total of 109,200 battle droids plus support droids.
Army
An Army comprised two corps and represented the total surface force carried aboard a Luchrehulk-class battleship. A single army was commanded by the battleship's captain and included 218,400 battle droids, plus support droids.
Behind the scenes
The Droid Army in the Battle of Grassy Plains was entirely created using computer graphics.