E-11 medium blaster rifle

For other uses, see E-11.

"…and loaded up these E-11s you've given us, which require one to aim as far as possible away from what one's shooting at in order to have half a chance of hitting it."

―Deserting stormtrooper TD-7556^[14]

The E-11 medium blaster rifle, more commonly known as the E-11 blaster rifle was a light but powerful blaster rifle manufactured by BlasTech Industries.^[15] Although a Nihil of Krix Kamerat's cell used a similarly-designed blaster during the Battle of Takodana of the High Republic Era,^[16] the E-11 was only created during the Imperial Era.^[15] The DAS-430 Neural Inhibitor was also of a similar design.^[17] The SoroSuub Corporation-produced Freedom One blaster was a technological clone of the E-11.^[2]

The E-11 served as the standard issue weapon of Imperial stormtroopers,^[15] including remaining clone troopers still active under the Empire.^[18] Some Imperial Army troopers, including some members of the normal infantry,^[19] swamp troopers,^[20] and Imperial security troopers, were also equipped with it.^[21] The E-11 was the successor to BlasTech's E-10 blaster rifle^[22] and was based on the DC-15A blaster carbine used by clone troopers during the Clone Wars.^[15]

Features

"I'm sending the next rendezvous point to your helmet navigation system. It's ten klicks to the southeast. Arrive with your E-11 assembled and await further orders."

―Chiron^[23]

Stormtroopers armed with E-11 blaster rifles.

The E-11 blaster rifle combined lethal firepower with impressive range and a versatile design. Featuring three power settings; lethal, stun, and sting, the rifle proved useful for a variety of combat situations. An advanced cooling system resulted in the blaster's superior performance,^[1] especially useful for its fully automatic fire setting.^[24] The E-11 also included a telescopic range-finding sight and a folding three-position stock, which could convert the blaster into a full-length rifle^[1] and could be modified to house a glowrod.^[25] Its standard issue power cells carried energy for 100 shots however the rifle could also be loaded with plasma cartridges that could last for more than 500 shots.^[1] The E-11 could be disassembled for travel and reassembled by its carrier when needed.^[23]

Variants and lineage

E-10 blaster rifle – a late forerunner.^[26]
E-10R blaster rifle – a robust variant of the E-10 blaster rifle.^[26]
E-10.5 rifle — another forerunner to the E-11.^[27]
E-11D blaster carbine – a variant of the E-11 blaster rifle with reinforced barrel.^[28]^[29]
E-11s sniper rifle– a sniper rifle variant of the E-11.^[30]
E-22 reciprocating double-barreled blaster rifle – a double barrel variant.^[29]^[26]
E-11P blaster pistol - a pistol variant used by shoretroopers.^[31]

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Behind the scenes

"I'd always loved the Sterling submachine gun—to me, it looked like a science-fiction weapon—so I thought I could turn that into a blaster for the stormtroopers."

―Roger Christian^[32]

The E-11 medium blaster rifle was based on the British Sterling Mk.4 submachine gun^[33] and designed around it by set decorator Roger Christian for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope,^[32] where the blaster first appeared.^[4]

Due to the limited budget for the film, Christian designed the E-11 and other props around real-world items, such as the submachine gun, which he already loved the look of and thought emulated a science fiction weapon. He sourced the submachine gun he made the original prop around from Bapty and Co, the only location willing to rent weaponry for film productions. To complete the look, he superglued rubber T-strips to the barrel and made other altercations. Director George Lucas, whose approval was a sign to Christian that he was on the right track, loved his work in creating the blaster, particularly with how it could actually be fired. The appearance and weight of the weapon also pleased Lucas. Interested in seeing Christian's process, Lucas than stayed with him for the rest of the day and worked with Christian to assemble Leia Organa's pistol from a starting pistol.^[32]