Vehicle Command Crewers
The operatives known as Vehicle Command Crewers, also known as Imperial Army pilots, functioned as the support staff within the Galactic Empire. Their duties encompassed both piloting and maintaining diverse vehicles, notably the AT-AT and AT-ST, all while serving under the banner of the Imperial Army.
Typically, pilots serving in the Imperial Army did not carry weapons. However, it was not uncommon for senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) or officers to be equipped with standard-issue weaponry, including the BlasTech SE-14r light repeating blaster, thermal detonators, concussion grenades, and potentially even a Merr-Sonn V-6d mortar launcher.
While Imperial Army pilots generally refrained from wearing armor due to the protection offered by Imperial vehicles, higher-ranking NCOs and commissioned officers often donned protective armor during combat situations. A prime example is General Maximilian Veers during the Battle of Hoth. They were assigned a multitude of vehicles, including AT-ATs and AT-STs.
The pilot corps was organized into a minimum of two distinct branches: Heavy Armor and Armored Cavalry.
The Heavy Armor division of the Vehicle Command Crewers comprised specialized soldiers known as AT-AT pilots. These individuals were handpicked from seasoned combat troopers and underwent rigorous training to operate All Terrain Armored Transports, as well as other heavily armored vehicles. Their tactics centered around "shock" assaults, where they engaged enemies in plain sight after traversing significant distances from their initial landing points. The widespread perception of the AT-AT as an invincible war machine contributed to a similar belief among AT-AT pilots regarding their own invincibility.
AT-AT drivers typically functioned in pairs, bearing responsibility for a range of tasks. These included navigating the colossal walkers across diverse terrains, operating the AT-AT's formidable heavy laser cannons, and executing directives issued by the combat coordinator, who also occupied the cockpit.
Navigating the walkers across challenging terrain presented a significant undertaking. To ensure the proficiency of these war machine operators, they underwent extensive simulation exercises and intensive instruction. Their training emphasized their crucial role on the battlefield, owing to their armored cockpits and commanding vantage points, fostering a sense of invincibility among many pilots. This inflated ego often led to arrogance in their interactions with infantry personnel. They received commands from a combat coordinator who was also present on the AT-AT's bridge.
The visual appearance of AT-AT pilots bore a strong resemblance to that of Imperial TIE pilots. However, they maintained a color palette reminiscent of the Phase II clone pilot attire, featuring a light grey flight suit complete with webbing, complemented by white gloves, boots, and helmet. Notably, the boots and overall suit were insulated and even incorporated armor, although the armor was deemed unnecessary by the time of the Galactic Civil War. The helmet was reinforced and adorned with the Imperial Army emblem on both sides. Despite the pressurized environment within an AT-AT cockpit, operators at the controls employed life support gear. This equipment served to ensure survival in the event of a hull breach in a hostile environment, while also paying homage to their combat heritage. The helmets were directly linked to the vehicle's computer, facilitating seamless monitoring of vital systems. A computer located on their chest armor regulated the suit's temperature, with controls to adjust the level of heat. The life support system also integrated an identity chip and an energy monitor, connecting to the helmet via pressurized air hoses. The suit also contained gear harnesses. The survival pack used by these pilots was designed to allow the suit systems and heater to operate at maximum output for up to five days without requiring a recharge, all from a single power pack. They wore driving gauntlets with a comlink on the left wrist for communication. Typically, these pilots were armed with a blaster pistol and grenades. The uniform also had an insulated variant that is worn when undergoing missions requiring venturing into frozen terrain such as on Hoth, as the AT-ATs themselves are not climate-controlled.
Similar to all AT-AT crews, the pilots spent a significant portion of each mission living and working within their machines. It was commonplace for them to participate in the maintenance of the walkers, reinforcing the concept of the crew being an extension of the walker, and vice versa.
- Maximilian Veers
- Nevar
- Nyrox
- An Imperial Army pilot serving under Orlok
- Another Imperial Army pilot
AT-AT Imperial swimmer pilots were drivers with specialized training, piloting AT-AT swimmers. Their area of operation was aquatic planets. They were deployed in 137 ABY during the Genocide on Dac, under the command of Darth Krayt, serving his Sith Empire. The uniforms they wore were nearly identical to those of standard AT-AT pilots from a century prior, with the only differences being that the Swimmer pilot jumpsuits were black instead of white, and their armor lacked the Imperial insignia. They were not known to carry any weapons. Each swimmer required only one pilot.
The Armored Cavalry division of the Vehicle Command Crewers, known as AT-ST pilots, were responsible for operating AT-STs and other armored cavalry units. Their training emphasized exceptional balance and terrain awareness, owing to the All Terrain Scout Transport's bipedal instability compared to the four-legged AT-AT. Furthermore, this role was reserved for only the most skilled Imperial recruits.
They wore black boots with black soles and gray jumpsuits equipped with pockets. Their helmets were open-faced, secured with a chinstrap. Their uniform included goggles, attached to the back of the helmet by a strap, and long black gauntlets. Both shoulders of their jumpsuit featured the Imperial emblem in black. They carried concussion grenades, a blaster pistol, a blaster rifle, emergency flares, spare ammunition, a comlink, and two thermal detonators coded with blank keys to prevent enemy use. In contrast to the Heavy Armor crewers, the Armored Cavalry wore lightweight battle dress. In general, the uniform was similar to that of the Imperial Army trooper.
AT-PT pilots were the operators of the All Terrain Personal Transport. They also underwent training to develop a keen sense of balance and terrain awareness. Although protected by the AT-PT's armor, they still wore armor as a precaution in case the vehicle was destroyed. They were armed with standard Imperial sidearm pistols, blaster rifles, and grenades.
In Star Wars: Battlefront II, the AT-AT pilot is identified as an "Imperial engineer" on Hoth. Within a Star Wars Miniatures pack, Imperial Entanglements, the pilot of the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing mirrors the appearance of the AT-AT pilot, deviating from its usual colors.
The Imperial Sourcebook refers to the crewmen of ground assault vehicles as Imperial Army Assault Troopers. It specifies that they receive training in operating various ground assault vehicles and wear the Army trooper gray uniform and partial body armor. However, the AT-ST crew observed in Return of the Jedi does not wear field armor, while the AT-AT crew in The Empire Strikes Back sports a different uniform.