AT-AT

[1]
All-Terrain Armored Transport
Production information
Manufacturer	Imperial Ministry of Industry
Class	Infantry Attack Walker
Product line	AT-At
Estimated Raw Material Price	290,306 CR
Cargo Stats
Weight	290 T
Volume	{{{volume}}}
Weight Capacity	25 T
Volume Capacity	140m Cubed
Hull Stats
Length	{{{length}}}
Width	{{{width}}}
Height	{{{height}}}
Hull	800
Deflector Shields	0
Ionic Capacity	600
Navigational Stats
Hyperspeed	0
Sublight Speed	0
Manoeuvrability	1.00
Sensors	1
ECM	0
Technical specifications
Armament	Medium Lasers: 2 Heavy Lasers: 2
Max Passengers	49
Escape Pods	0
Affiliation	Imperial Army Armored Corps (Galactic Empire)
Role	All-Terrain Armored Infantry and Small Vehicle Transport and Assault Walker

The All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) is a quadrupedal 'walker' mainly used by the Galactic Empire. Resembling large mechanical beasts, these vehicles are the perfect embodiment of Imperial philosophy; to inspire fear through sheer strength and where necessary to destroy anything that impedes Imperial progress. The AT-AT was originally designed to be a troop transport, allowing for up to forty Stormtroopers, nine crew members and two speeder-bikes to be carried. It can also transport two partially dismantled All Terrain Scout Transports. Unfortunately, troops and vehicles are extremely difficult to offload in the field of battle and a landing platform or some similar object is needed. Lacking a platform, vehicles and troops can only disembark when the transport is in the kneeling position with the ramp extended; this leaves it vulnerable to attack.

The AT-AT's main armament includes two chin-mounted heavy lasers and two temple-mounted blaster canons. Thick, blaster-resistant armor plating covers the majority of the walker's body. The legs are made for the most rugged environments imaginable; this has the added benefit of allowing the walker to walk over and crush most light vehicles and equipment.

The AT-AT is not without weaknesses, however. Since there are no rear or top mounted weapons, the vehicle is left with a multitude of blind spots. Additionally, the underside of the walker is insufficiently armored which is a weakness that has often been exploited because the main fuel cells are also located at the bottom of the walker. Another major design flaw is that the 'neck' of the AT-AT has almost no armor and is another spot often targeted to disable the transports.

Command

Due to the fluidity of the structure of the Imperial Army Armored Corps and Imperial Army as a whole, it is difficult to define which ranks make up the command and crew of an AT-AT. Normally, however, an AT-AT has two Second Lieutenants (0-1) serving as co-pilots, a Second Lieutenant or First Lieutenant (0-2) commanding a Stormtrooper or Reconnaissance Platoon, perhaps a Captain (O-3) commanding a full Company in situations where larger units are required, and maybe even a small shuttle to transport troops to the ground. Due to this organization, a Captain or Major (O-4) can usually can usually be found as the commanding officer of an AT-AT. Due to the expensiveness of AT-ATs, they may be found in groups as large as four, which, due to galactic unit-size standards, is normally classified as an Armored Brigade and commanded by a Colonel (O-6), High Colonel (O-7), or Brigadier General (O-8) from a single AT-AT which serves as the brigade's headquarters, normally the most heavily-armed or armored walker in the unit. However, smaller units do exist, consisting of just one AT-AT up to Brigade size, and thus you will find multiple ranks commanding these fearsome walkers. Usually, AT-ATs serve as mobile command bases for larger armored units, with an entire army of TIE-Crawlers and AT-STs being easily led into battle by these massive machines. Thus, they usually serve as the first armored vehicles to charge into battle. It is said that the Armored Corps of the Imperial Army is always the first to go into battle, and if this is true, then the AT-AT is the first of the first--the first and last that the enemy's front lines will ever see.

Design

The AT-AT's origins can be traced back to the fearsome walkers of the Grand Army of the Republic, such as the All-Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE), the All-Terrain Open Transport (AT-OT), and the All-Terrain Attack Pod (AT-AP). It seems to be a mix of all of these, copying the transport elements from the AT-OT, the combat effectiveness of the AT-AP and the heavy firepower and resistance capability of the AT-TE, while adding a psychological element, with its massive size being able to cause even the most battle-hardened rebels to flee in terror. However, this all comes at the cost that it is slow, too tall to be an effective troop transport without a shuttle or dropship on board, and too big to be efficient in smaller combat situations. It is also vulnerable to attacks from below, and because of its massive size, it is easy for enemies to sneak under the walker or aim an artillery barrage at its curved hull. Thus, many officers who have become known as dedicated career AT-AT crewmen have become highly-decorated over their service, as to serve on an AT-AT is a dangerous yet rewarding career for any Armored Corpsman.