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- Skywalker: "Activate those walkers, Admiral."
- Yularen: "You are not thinking of using those to transport the clones to that frigate."
- Tano: "Well, they are pressurized…"
- Rex: "And they're equipped with magnetic feet. Mm. Good call."
- Tano: "Master, you're a genius."
- Yularen: "Those walkers are designed for terrain, not space!"
- Skywalker: "Rex, load 'em up."
- ―Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Wullf Yularen, and Captain Rex debate the use of AT-TE walkers aboard the Resolute[13]
The All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE), nicknamed "six legs" by the Separatist Droid Army, was a multipurpose military ground walker and tank used by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. It had six legs, six laser cannon turrets along the body and a heavy projectile mass-driver cannon on the top of the walker. It was one of the main ground vehicles for the Grand Army of the Republic throughout the Clone Wars.
The Republic's successor, the Galactic Empire, retained and made extensive use of the AT-TE during the early years of its reign, before largely being replaced by other walker models by the time of the Galactic Civil War, while some fell into the hands of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
Characteristics
The front view of an AT-TE walker.
The All Terrain Tactical Enforcer was a low-built vehicle that featured six articulated legs for propulsion. Its body consisted of two armored halves that were connected by a flexible concertina section (also housing the walker's power generators), which increased the walker's mobility on the field; it was essentially a mechanical version of the arctic horny whelmer, a hardy animal native to Rothana.[4] Because its legs were low to the ground, the walker had a relatively low top speed, but it also enjoyed greater stability.[2] The AT-TE's low center of gravity, paired with its widely spread six legs made them have more stable footing than the taller, four-legged All Terrain Armored Transports.[14] Each of the AT-TE's legs had triple-jointed hydraulic limbs.[5]
As its name suggested, the AT-TE was suitable for traversing all types of planetary surfaces, as its footpads were equipped with terrain sensors and tractor-field generators.[2][4] Not only was it able to climb sheer surfaces, it could also scale certain metal surfaces thanks to its ability to magnetize its feet.[2][15][4] Furthermore, the walker was capable of surviving in the vacuum of realspace as it was able to be pressurized.[2][13]
The AT-TE's most powerful weapon was a single mass-driver cannon located on the vehicle's dorsal surface, which gave the walker the purpose as a mobile artillery vehicle as well as a tank. In addition to bombarding fixed positions, the mass driver could be used to shoot down slow-moving aircraft[4] as well as intercept incoming rocket fire.[16] The mass-driver cannon had a slow rate of fire,[17] however, four smaller ball-turret laser cannons were mounted at the front, and two others at the rear, to defend the AT-TE from infantry.[4] The AT-TE was excellent in conjunction with the infantry, as the AT-TE could lay down covering fire from an elevated angle and the forward ball-turrets cannons were effective against battle droids.[17] The hexapod's armor could easily deflect small arms fire, and its conductive material spread the heat from weapons fire to minimize penetration.[2][4] The AT-TE was also well-shielded against electromagnetic pulse and ion weaponry.[4] However the armor could be pierced by tanksmasher rockets, which could result in the destruction of the vehicle's complex propulsion mechanisms.[2]
An AT-TE clone trooper pilot in Phase I armor
The walker's crew consisting of a pilot and a spotter seated in a forward compartment; four gunners/support crew, two each seated in the forward and rear hull sections; and a turret gunner who sat exposed atop the walker to operate the mass-driver cannon. The spotter used a rangefinder periscope to select targets and coordinate the fire of the gunners, who operated their weapons via targeting controls.[4][8] The pilot sat in the wheelhouse, which served as both the driver and gunner cabin.[14]
The standard version of the AT-TE could seat two squads or 20 clone troopers split between the forward and rear sections. Acceleration compensators beneath their seats helped keep the troopers in place with seat restraints as backup in case of system failure.[4][1] Some variants also carried smaller All Terrain Reconnaissance Transports in their rear hold and some variants had a command center in the rear[8] instead which was usually used as a mobile command center. Elevators could also be installed at the walker's rear to unload cargo.[14] The crew and passengers were assisted by an onboard IM-6 medic droid, who attended to any injured troopers.[6]
History
Clone Wars
AT-TEs made their debut at the First Battle of Geonosis.
Built by Rothana Heavy Engineering,[1] the All Terrain Tactical Enforcer became the principal battle tank of the Grand Army of the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars.[2] The B1-series battle droids of the Separatist Droid Army took to calling the AT-TEs "six legs."[18] It was used in many large scale open battles[19][20][21] and was also used in operations smaller in scale.[13] As the long war carried on, the AT-TE would regularly prove its worth through its versatility and mettle.[22]
During the Battle of Teth, AT-TEs charged up a mountain face to rescue Rotta the Huttlet while incurring fire from Separatist forces.[23] During the Battle of Devaron, Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, knowing that the walkers were pressurized and had magnetized feet, deployed two AT-TEs, ATAT300 and 773, onto bounty hunter Cad Bane's Munificent-class star frigate while it was in the vacuum of space. This strategy was condemned by Admiral Wullf Yularen when Skywalker proposed it, but Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano and Clone Captain Rex understood his logic and commended his thinking. Ultimately, it was successful, though Skywalker and his team were unable to retrieve the Jedi holocron they were sent to retrieve.[13]
All Terrain Tactical Enforcers charge up a skyscraper during the Clone Wars.
AT-TEs continued to be used throughout the war.[24] The success of the AT-TE also led to the creation of the All Terrain Heavy Enforcer.[25] During the Conquest of Kaller, at least one AT-TE of General Depa Billaba's clone force fought against[26] a battalion[27] of battle droids, but the walker was taken out by fire from Armored Assault Tank Mk Is.[26] A blast from an AT-TE was Clone Commander Cody's chosen method in executing Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi when he received Order 66, since it allowed him to fire on Kenobi in a surprise attack, as Kenobi was not yet aware of the clones' betrayal. However, the blast only succeeded in knocking Kenobi into water, and he later escaped to safety.[24]
Age of the Empire
Imperial service
Upon the establishment of the Galactic Empire, and in keeping with the doctrine of Imperial uniformity, Republic AT-TEs were stripped of their burgundy-colored accents and thrust into Imperial Service. Several walkers were deployed on the Separatist capital of Raxus Secundus, where they helped enforce the occupation effort headed by Captain Bragg. One day during the occupation, AT-TEs were called in to disperse protestors after the remaining senator of the Separatist Senate, Avi Singh, spoke out against the Imperial occupation. One AT-TE was later hijacked by Clone Force 99 to rescue Singh and his droid GS-8. Several more AT-TEs were destroyed by the squad as they fled the city.[10]
Around 18 BBY,[28] numerous AT-TEs were positioned outside of the Imperial Inspectorate HQ on Coruscant as a trio of clone troopers were forcibly retired and escorted out of the facility by Captain Bragg. Clone commando Crosshair watched on nearby before departing for a mission off-world on Barton IV.[29]
An Imperial AT-TE takes part in a parade after the Liberation of Chorin City.
Following the liberation of Chorin City[30] fought a number of years before c. 13 BBY,[31] an AT-TE was part of an Imperial parade through the streets of the city. The AT-TE carried Captain Tarl Sokoli, who had helped lead the liberation of Chorin, and halted at Sokoli's order to meet a watching boy, Beilert Valance.[30] Five years after the end of the Clone Wars, AT-TEs could be found on the junkyard planet Bracca along with ships and other Republic war machines used during the conflict, where they were dismantled and their parts reused.[32]
Days of Rebellion
An All Terrain Tactical Enforcer used by the Rebel Alliance during the Galactic Civil War.
Fifteen years after the end of the Clone Wars, Captain Rex, along with Commanders Wolffe and Gregor, were living in a modified AT-TE on Seelos.[11] They, along with the Lothal Rebels, later used the tank to evade Imperial forces, which consisted of three All Terrain Armored Transport walkers. The tank's mass driver cannon was able to destroy one AT-AT in the sandstorm before Rex ordered a direct assault on the other two while the Rebels escaped. The mass-driver cannon was not strong enough to penetrate the AT-AT's armor, with the exception of the walkers' necks.[33]
The AT-TE was able to sustain multiple shots from both AT-ATs before Wolffe rammed it into one of the walkers. The cannon was temporarily knocked out, but Gregor was able to restore power when the rebels returned and hijacked one of the AT-ATs, giving Rex the opening to shoot the last walker in the neck. The AT-TE was destroyed when the AT-AT collapsed on it.[33] Several AT-TEs were later modified by Rebel Alliance mechanics in order to be used as an attack vehicle during the Galactic Civil War. A number were modified with thicker armor and more powerful armament, becoming known as Elite AT-TEs.[12] At least one AT-TE was used in the Imperial defense of the Kuat Drive Yards.[34]
Behind the scenes
The AT-TE first appeared in the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones.[9]
Appearances
Non-canon appearances
LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "A Hero Discovered" (Wreckage only)- "Double Dilemma!" — LEGO Club Magazine July/August 2016
- "A Time to Shine" — LEGO Star Wars 20
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
- "Way of the Walker" — LEGO Star Wars 98
- "Sliding to the Rescue" — LEGO Star Wars 103
Sources
Non-canon sources
- LEGO Star Wars 78 (Free Gift) (Picture only)
