Clone Lieutenant

This article is about the clone trooper rank. You may be looking for the generic military rank of lieutenant.

"Hmm... learned something today, have you lieutenant, hmm?"
"I think we all did, General."

―Jedi Master Yoda and Clone Lieutenant Thire^[4]

Clone Lieutenant was a rank held by a number of clone trooper officers throughout the Republic Military during the Clone Wars. The rank would continue to be used within the early Imperial Era as clones filled out the ranks of the early Stormtrooper Corps.

Description

A Clone Lieutenant was a clone trooper with the rank of lieutenant in the Grand Army of the Republic^[1] or Galactic Republic Navy, both of which were part of the overall Republic Military.^[3] In the Grand Army, a Clone Lieutenant commanded a platoon of thirty-six troopers^[1] via the position of platoon leader.^[5] The four lieutenants of a company, in turn, were led by their respective Clone Captain.^[1] However, Clone Lieutenants were also able to hold command in smaller army units, such as a squad,^[4] and fell into the command structure of overall formations, such as a division. Indeed, a Clone Lieutenant could assume command of an overall force should something happen to their superiors.^[6] Clone trooper pilots active under the Republic Navy could also hold the rank of lieutenant.^[3] Elite Advanced Recon Commandos^[6] and clone commandos could also hold the rank.^[2]

Clone Lieutenants held command over formations of their clone siblings and were, at first, identified by blue markings.

At the start of the Clone Wars,^[7] Phase I armored^[8] lieutenants wore clone trooper armor featuring four blue circles on the left breastplate as well as a stripe of blue down the length of each arm, vertically up the middle of the helmet and laterally around the visor.^[1] Encouraged by the Jedi to personalize their armor and develop their personalities, clone troopers,^[9] including the lieutenants, would quickly^[4] come to personalize their gear^[9] with unit markings and individual flourishes.^[4] Such would continue into the days of Phase II clone trooper armor.^[10] During the early Imperial Era, the Clone Lieutenant rank persisted into the Stormtrooper Corps.^[2]

History

Lieutenant Hawk served as a pilot for the 501st Legion. In that capacity, Hawk flew a gunship during the Battle of Teth.^[3] Clone Lieutenant Thire served in the Coruscant Guard as a shock trooper. He accompanied Jedi Master Yoda to Rugosa in order to persuade King Katuunko to ally with the Galactic Republic.^[4] Another clone lieutenant was Trap. Trap led the Tango Company on a mission to escort the Republic Pelta-class medical frigate TB-73 back to the Ord Cestus medical station. Whilst on route to the station, fellow clone trooper Scythe was infected by a Geonosian brain worm, which led to the infection of all other clones on board, including Trap.^[11]

Lieutenant Galle served under Jedi General Aayla Secura as part of the 327th Star Corps. When Order 66 was issued by Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, Galle opened fire on Secura alongside the clones present, killing her.^[12] The Clone Lieutenant rank continued to be used in the early Imperial Era, during which time clones still saw a great degree of use in the Imperial Military. The commando Hilo held the rank of lieutenant.^[2]