Biker Advanced Recon Commando

"Did that happen in the war? Did you get it fighting a droideka?"
"It was just a regular battle droid. But, yes, we've seen some action…"
"I bet you were very brave."

―Kennan Taanzer and a BARC trooper.^[5]

Biker Advanced Recon Commandos, known simply as BARC troopers or BARC pilots, were specialized Advanced Recon Commando clone pilots that were trained to operate the BARC speeder, which was named after them. Distinguished by their unique helmets, the Grand Army of the Republic's BARC troopers participated in the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and later served under the Galactic Empire as clone stormtroopers.

Description

Overview

Biker Advanced Recon Commandos,^[7] known simply as BARC troopers^[8] or BARC pilots, were specialized Advanced Recon Commando clone pilots that were trained to drive the Biker Advanced Recon Commando speeder, which was originally named and designed for them.^[1] Due to their specialized training, BARC troopers could operate their speeders over hazardous terrain at over 500 kilometers per hour.^[9] Some BARC troopers were also trained as clone scout troopers.^[8]

As elite soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic, BARC troopers were sent on highly dangerous missions during the Clone Wars against the Confederacy of Independent Systems,^[8] and were highly flexible in where they fought.^[9] Multiple units fielded BARC troopers during the war, including the 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps,^[4] the 501st Legion's Triton Squad,^[10] the 327th Star Corps,^[9] and a squad on the planet Eriadu.^[11]

Equipment and armor

Clone BARC troopers wore specialized Phase II clone trooper armor with a unique helmet, based on the helmet worn by clone assassins,^[9] equipped with sensor feeds that enhanced performance and reaction time,^[1] as well as an enhanced breath filter.^[12] Some BARC troopers customized their Phase II armor with an added ARC command sash and further distinguished their armor with colored marking that designated their unit affiliation.^[13] BARC trooper helmets could also be equipped with macrobinoculars.^[1] BARC troopers that were trained as clone scout troopers wore camouflaged clone scout trooper armor.^[8]

Although they were considered pilots, Biker Advanced Recon Commandos also fought separately from their vehicles and were known to wield different weapons during the war,^[3] including DC-15S blaster carbines, DC-15A blaster rifles, DC-17 hand blasters,^[14] flamethrowers, WESTAR-M5 blaster rifles,^[10] chainguns, and electromagnetic pulse launchers. As their name implied, the main weapon and vehicle of the Biker Advanced Recon Commandos was the BARC speeder. It gave the troopers increased mobility and the ability to carry more firepower than the standard infantry clone trooper.^[8]

History

Galactic Republic

Due to the speeder's rise in popularity with normal clone troopers, Biker Advanced Recon Commandos were no longer the sole drivers of the BARC speeder by the end of the war.

Originally created to operate the Galactic Republic's BARC speeders, Biker Advanced Recon Commandos were the first soldiers to use the vehicle during the Clone Wars, before it was eventually given out to other clone troopers due to its immense popularity in the Grand Army of the Republic.^[15]

Seeing deployment as early as 20 BBY, BARC trooper Commander Neyo brought his DUM-series pit droid WAC-47 to the Jedi Temple communication center on Coruscant.^[2] Later, Neyo attended the Republic strategy conference aboard the Valor space station.^[16] BARC troopers were also active in 19 BBY, seeing action during the Battle of Kashyyyk, where BARC troopers faced Separatist battle droids on the beaches of Kachirho.^[3]

Following the Battle of Saleucami in 19 BBY,^[4] clone BARC troopers of the 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps patrolled the planet's surface, before receiving contingency Order 66 from Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. The 91st's BARC troopers, including clone trooper commander Neyo and CT-3423, enacted the order—killing their Jedi General Stass Allie.^[17] The 91st's BARC troopers also enacted the order on Bogden 3, executing Jedi Masters Sian Jeisel and Du Mahn.^[5]

Galactic Empire

"Blast! Where did it go?"
"What does it matter? The Jedi are dead—most of 'em. Those left are scattered."
"Order 66 remains in effect. We see one, we kill it. Same as the rest."

―A clone stormtrooper officer and an Imperial BARC trooper.^[6]

Imperial BARC troopers hunt down Tsui Choi.

Following the rise of the Galactic Empire, all clone troopers were reorganized as clone stormtroopers of the new Imperial regime.^[18] On the planet Eriadu, a squad of Imperial BARC troopers, led by a clone trooper commander, attempted to execute Order 66 on Tsui Choi, but were all killed in the process by the Aleena Jedi Master.^[6]

On Kashyyyk, Biker Advanced Recon Commmandos of Triton Squad assisted in the enslavement of Kashyyyk, helping burn down Wookiee settlements on the planet, but were eventually thwarted and killed by Chewbacca and Tarfful.^[10]

Behind the scenes

Biker Advanced Recon Commandos first appeared, albeit unnamed, in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, a 2005 film written and directed by George Lucas.^[4] They were later identified in a teaser for the Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees expansion for the Star Wars Galaxies video game, hosted on the game's official website in the same year.^[7]