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- "Good guys wear white."
- ―A common clone trooper saying
Phase I clone trooper armor was the armor worn by clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic during the early stages of the Clone Wars.
To Humans, the clone trooper's armor appeared white overall, but to Kaminoans, clone trooper armor had many colors due to them seeing in the ultraviolet spectrum of light. Phase I armor was later replaced by Phase II clone trooper armor as the Clone Wars progressed.
Description
- "Your armor, it's shiny and new. Just like you."
- ―Clone trooper captain Rex, to a group of clone shinies
Clone troopers in standard Phase I armor
With some design assistance from Jango Fett, the basic armor design became composed of twenty form-fitting plates of lightweight plastoid-alloy composite, sealed to a black bodysuit and weighed just under forty kilograms. Because the armor would be used by an army of physically identical clones, only one size was needed. It loosely resembled Mandalorian shock trooper armor, as a result of Jango's participation in its design. The austere sensibilities of Kaminoan society resulted in the blindingly pristine white state of each set of armor, although command units originally had stripes of different colors, depending on their rank (yellow meaning commander, red meaning captain, blue meaning lieutenant, and green meaning sergeant). However, as the Clone Wars progressed, the colorized markings began to identify the troopers with specific units. The helmets usually had fins on the top.
As the Clone Wars progressed, some troopers began to show individuality, customizing their armor to adapt to their needs with items such as visors, rangefinders, pauldrons, kamas, enhanced communications gear, and jetpacks. A light source could be attached to the helmets to illuminate dark areas.[6] Some troopers even painted unique designs on their armor and helmets according to personal tastes.
Phase I cold assault armor variant
The armor was heavy, uncomfortable, and not very well liked by clone troopers, hence it being often referred to by non-clone GAR personnel as a "body bucket". Its inconvenience was due to the Kaminoans' lack of knowledge of Human anatomy. It did, however, have coolant systems to prevent overheating, and also included enhanced breathing filters inside the T-visor. The armor could take some modular attachments, like a bacta pack for a medic or small flamethrower for Advanced Recon Commandos. The armor suit also resisted vacuum environments, allowing the trooper to continue to fight outside of spacecraft for a short time (though recovery was needed).
The helmets used by clone troopers in phase I armor.
Some armor sets, depending on what planet the trooper was stationed, were customized to fit the planet's conditions. For example, those on water planets such as Glee Anselm had water resistant armor, and advanced breathing equipment for underwater operations, along with fins attached to the boots. The armor of some troopers had symbols to designate the squad that they were in.
History
Making its battlefield debut at the start of the Clone Wars, Phase I clone trooper armor was the standard issue equipment donned by the clone troopers who formed the Grand Army of the Republic.[1] The clones took pride in their gear, resulting in the common saying "Good guys wear white."[4] However, troopers also began to customize their attire as the conflict carried on, such as to represent their unit affiliation. While not all troopers in such a unit would adopt such a personalized appearance for their Phase I gear,[7] perfectly shiny and clean white armor was a sign that a clone trooper was new to the battlefield, earning them the name "shinies from their more experienced clone brethren.[5]
A squad of stormtroopers during the early Imperial Period wearing Phase I armor alongside Darth Vader.
During the later part of the Clone Wars, the Phase I sets were mainly replaced by Phase II armor. However, some clones chose to keep either some, or all of the elements of their Phase I armor, at least until Order 66, such as 01/425, and the ARC troopers who killed Master Sev.[8] Even after the Republic was reorganized into the Galactic Empire, some of the newly-rebranded Imperial stormtroopers continued to use Phase I and Phase II armor before it was replaced by a new design.[2]
A group of Kaminoan Clone Masters would later rebel against the new regime, creating a batch of anti-Imperial clone troopers clad in Phase I armor. However, this new clone army would be defeated by their Imperial counterparts.[3]
Appearances
Non-canon appearances
Clone troopers from LEGO Star Wars III
- LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
- LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
- LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
"Kowakian Monkey-Lizard" on LEGO's official website (backup link) (original link is obsolete) (Posted on StarWars.com)
"Giant spiders are awesome...." on LEGO's official website (backup link) (original link is obsolete) (Posted on StarWars.com)
"Always count your clones before take-off" on LEGO's official website (article) (content obsolete) (Posted on StarWars.com)
"Orders are orders" on LEGO's official website (article) (content obsolete) (Posted on StarWars.com)
"You can't hit the brakes in space" on LEGO's official website (article) (content obsolete) (Posted on StarWars.com)
"Sith make the best pancakes" on LEGO's official website (backup link) (original link is obsolete)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 film
LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 on LEGO's official website (backup link) (original link is obsolete)
- LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
LEGO Star Wars: Microfighters — "Tank Attack Antics"- Battle of the Sith Lords (Canceled)
Sources
Concept art from The Art of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary
- Star Wars Adventures Magazine 9
Republic Fighter Tank on Wizards.com (original site is defunct) (Picture only)- The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
"Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic" — Star Wars Insider 84- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
Star Wars: Movie Heroes (Battle Pack: Republic Troopers) (backup link)- Ultimate Sticker Collection: Star Wars: Battles of the Clone Wars
Star Wars: Force Collection (Card: Clone Trooper)
Star Wars: Force Collection (Card: Commander Ponds)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Republic 78
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Star Wars: Battlefront II
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
- ↑ 5.0 5.1
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Rookies"
- ↑
The Clone Wars: The Clones are Coming on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
- ↑
"The Order of Outcasts" — Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 5

