The WESTAR-M5 blaster rifle was a blaster rifle used during the Clone Wars by the Grand Army of the Republic.
Description
Another view of the WESTAR-M5
The blaster rifle could be calibrated to fire in semi-automatic, automatic, and burst-fire modes, and could be equipped with a variety of attachments, including an under-barrel grenade launcher that could be used against armored enemies.
This blaster improved on the DC-15 design, making it easier to aim. It featured an extendable stock and a larger ammunition magazine.
History
An Advanced Recon Commando wielding a WESTAR-M5.
This weapon was seen as being very effective on such missions as the Battle of Muunilinst, where not only did it prove useful in providing rapid cover fire, but also being able to break through the armor on the top of an Armored Assault Tank and disable it with several shots from the inside. The WESTAR-M5 also proved effective on Hypori when a crack team of ARC troopers were sent to the planet Hypori to rescue the surviving Jedi that were commissioned there. The ARCs made great use of the attachable one-shot pump-action missile launcher and the rapid and powerful bursts of the gun to buy time for their teammates to save the surviving Jedi Generals.
WESTAR-M5 blaster rifles were mainly used by the Advanced Recon Commandos and Galactic Marines during the later years of the Clone Wars.[1]
This gun proved its effectiveness in a variety of situations and was indeed a powerful and useful weapon that was employed with deadly efficiency by the Alpha-class ARC troopers.
Behind the scenes
The WESTAR-M5 blaster rifle appeared in the 2003 video game Star Wars Galaxies, a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts,[1] prior to its closure on December 15, 2011.[2] The WESTAR-M5 blaster rifle was a reward for being successful in the player versus player "battlefields" introduced with the release of the "Game Update 10,"[1] on June 2, 2009.[3]
Appearances
- Maul: Lockdown (and audiobook)
- Republic 50 (First appearance)
Star Wars: Clone Wars — "Chapter 3"
Star Wars: Clone Wars — "Chapter 9"
Star Wars: Clone Wars — "Chapter 11"
Star Wars: Clone Wars — "Chapter 21"
"Descent" — Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 4- Star Wars Galaxies (post-NGE)
Sources
- The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
Star Wars Evolutions (Pack: Clone Commandos) (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5
Star Wars Galaxies (post-NGE) — Item: "WESTAR-M5 Blaster Rifle"
- ↑
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT STAR WARS GALAXIES™ on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (original site is defunct)
- ↑
Star Wars Galaxies: Game Update 10 on the official Star Wars Galaxies forums (original site is defunct)
External links
WESTAR-M5 Blaster Rifle on the SWG Wiki
Producer Note: May 8th, 2009 on the official Star Wars Galaxies forums (original site is defunct)
