All Terrain Defense Pod

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"Yes, they're remarkable machines—faster and better armored than the old AT-RTs."
"What about firepower? That ball cannon looks mean."
"I've seen a single shot punch through medium vehicle plating. That mean enough for you?"
―Piers Roddance and Ames Bunkle[11]

The All Terrain Defense Pod (AT-DP) was a large, bipedal walker utilized by the Galactic Empire and were manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards prior to and during the Galactic Civil War. They were driven by Imperial combat drivers and served as the mainstay of backwater garrisons.

Description

AT-DP interior view.

AT-DP interior view.

The AT-DP walker, a successor to the AT-RT used by the Empire's predecessor state, the Galactic Republic, it served as the mainstay of backwater garrisons and support for larger war machines, including the AT-AT. Unlike the bulky AT-AC which was almost as tall, and the smaller AT-ST, that boasts a host of armaments, the AT-DP was armed only with a single Maad-38 heavy laser cannon. The weapon was powerful enough to destroy another walker of the same type.[12] The cockpit had seating for a driver and a gunner, with the gunner situated behind the driver, though both crewmen could move the walker, fire the cannon and had access to the gyroscopic controls used to keep the walker stable. Each of these walkers had a hatch at the top to access the cockpit; a main viewport at the front, with bulbs on the side and slits to improve visibility; and holographic projectors.[13]

Kanan shooting an AT-DP with a disruptor rifle.

Kanan shooting an AT-DP with a disruptor rifle.

To protect the crewmembers and equipment, each walker possessed armor strong enough to protect from blaster fire. This armor could not protect against missile launchers, however, and in one instance, an AT-DP was disabled when shot with a T-7 ion disruptor rifle.[14] Thermal detonators exploded near the legs and feet of a walker could also cause damage.[12] Although the walkers were sturdy, their heads were prone to exploding under sustained duress, such as being pressed by an AT-AT.[10]

AT-DPs were used throughout the Empire to keep the populations of occupied worlds in line and to combat insurgent forces. Many of these walkers were used in Imperial facilities such as Imperial Academies for both defensive purposes and training cadets.[13] In situations where an Imperial presence needed to be established quickly and powerfully, two walkers could be attached to the underside docking clamps of a Gozanti-class cruiser for landing in almost any suitable environment.[14]

History

The AT-DP was originally intended to be used to protect Imperial assets on occupied worlds.[9] The Imperial 291st Legion used the newly released AT-DP walkers to clear out a nest of Thalassian slavers on Galpos II. They subsequently used the AT-DP walkers as the vanguard in urban fighting on Mendavi.[11] In 18 BBY,[7] AT-DPs operating as part of Rantu's battalion were deployed to Mon Cala and fought in the Battle of Dac City under Darth Vader to combat the forces of King Lee-Char on Mon Cala.[15]

Some time later, while on a mission to steal unknown Imperial weapons, the Spectres located T-7 Ion disruptor rifles and used them to disable attacking AT-DPs.[14] Many of these walkers saw action against the rebel cell located on Lothal[9] as part of the Lothal garrison.[16] These walkers were also prominent in many Empire Day festivals, serving in a similar capacity to stormtroopers and Star Destroyers as omnipresent symbols of the Empire's strength.[17] Between 4 BBY and 3 BBY,[18] the Spectres undertook a heist within an Imperial base. In order to escape, the rebel cell then needed to steal AT-DPs and fight their way out.[19]

AT-DP's were used in the Battle of Atollon.

AT-DP's were used in the Battle of Atollon.

During the Mandalorian Civil War in 1 BBY, Imperial Governor Tiber Saxon deployed two AT-DP's to defend a Mandalorian prison during a mission to Mandalore, and used a special variant of the AT-DP to carry the Arc Pulse Generator nicknamed the Duchess. The weapon and the walker were both destroyed, along with Tiber Saxon, when his Star Destroyer was destroyed.[20] Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo "Thrawn" sent AT-DPs operating under his armored division into the Battle of Atollon.[21]

In 0 BBY, AT-DPs were used by the Empire alongside AT-STs on Tatooine during the hunt for the Death Star plans.[22]

The Alliance to Restore the Republic stole a number of these walkers and provided them to Saponza's Gang after the Battle of Yavin. Meanwhile, the 68th Legion opposing Saponza's gang also made use of AT-DPs.[9]

Behind the scenes

"There's clearly some influence from concept artist Joe Johnston as well, in our walker. Ours is actually one that Joe had designed for the Episode V scout walker, an abandoned design."
―Star Wars Rebels executive producer Dave Filoni[1]

The All Terrain Defense Pod was a vehicle created for the 2014 animated series Star Wars Rebels. However, it was first mentioned on a StarWars.com article, "NYCC 2013: Meet the Inquisitor, the New Face of Evil in Star Wars Rebels."[23] The vehicle would then made its debut through the promotional tie-in web browser game Star Wars Rebels: Ghost Raid.[16] The design of the All Terrain Defense Pod was developed from an early illustration by concept artist Joe Johnston for[1] the 1980 theatrical film[24] Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back.[1] Concept artist Pat Presley would then refined and finalized the design of the vehicle for the animated series.[25]

In the Star Wars Legends continuity, the All Terrain Defense Pod appeared in the guidebook Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide, which was written by Daniel Wallace, illustrated by Joe Corroney,[26] and published by becker&mayer! on October 14, 2014.[27] Despite releasing past the canon and Legends continuity split in April 2014, becker&mayer! has confirmed that the guidebook takes place on the latter continuity.[28]

Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
Storyboards Concept art Digital renderings In-progress artwork
Star Wars Rebels
Storyboards Concept art Digital renderings In-progress artwork

Appearances

Non-canon appearances

Sources

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Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dawn of Rebellion
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Star Wars Rebels: Head to Head
  4. ↑ Ultimate Star Wars
  5. ↑ Star Wars Rebels: Visual Guide: Epic Battles
  6. ↑ Facebook icon Star Wars Rebels (@starwarsrebels) on Facebook (post on August 8, 2014): "Used for patrolling the capital, the All Terrain Defense Pod is an intimidating sight to the citizens of Lothal." (backup link) (screenshot)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Star Wars: Timelines dates the invasion of Mon Cala to 18 BBY. As All Terrain Defense Pods are seen in the invasion in Darth Vader (2017) 13, they must have been introduced during or before that year.
  8. ↑ Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "Rebel Resolve"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Star Wars: Commander
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "An Inside Man"
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Servants of the Empire: Edge of the Galaxy
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "Hera's Heroes"
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "Breaking Ranks"
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "Droids in Distress"
  15. ↑ Darth Vader (2017) 13
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 StarWars.com Star Wars Rebels: Ghost Raid on StarWars.com (backup link) (original link is obsolete)
  17. ↑ Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "Empire Day"
  18. ↑ Star Wars Rebels: Imperial Heist includes Sabine Wren with blue-green hair, which first appears in "The Lost Commanders," however it takes place before Kanan Jarrus was blinded in "Twilight of the Apprentice." Star Wars: Timelines dates these episodes to 4 BBY and 3 BBY respectively. Therefore, Star Wars Rebels: Imperial Heist must take place between these years.
  19. ↑ Star Wars Rebels: Imperial Heist
  20. ↑ Star Wars Rebels: Heroes of Mandalore
  21. ↑ Rebels-mini-logo Star Wars Rebels — "Zero Hour"
  22. ↑ Star Wars: Complete Locations, New Edition
  23. ↑ StarWars.com NYCC 2013: Meet the Inquisitor, the New Face of Evil in Star Wars Rebels on StarWars.com (backup link not available)
  24. ↑ Star Wars Year By Year: A Visual History, Updated and Expanded Edition
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Premium-Era-real Star Wars: Rebels on Pat Presley's official website (backup link archived on August 4, 2025)
  26. ↑ Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide
  27. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Star Wars: Imperial Handbook Deluxe Edition on Amazon.com (original link is obsolete)
  28. ↑ Facebook icon Becker&mayer! Books (@beckermayerbooks) on Facebook (post on September 12, 2014): "Hi Mark! Imperial Handbook is set in Legends." (screenshot) (content now obsolete) (In response to: "Does anyone know if this book is set in Legends? Or Canon?")

External links