All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST walker)

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Size:
  8.6 meters tall

• Weapon:
  Laser cannons, concussion grenade launcher

• Affiliation:
  Empire

• Type:
  Scout walker

• Manufacturer:
  Kuat Drive Yards

• 

From the Movies

While not as imposing as its larger AT-AT walker cousin, the AT-ST nonetheless served as a significant addition to the Imperial side of battlefields in the Galactic Civil War. The two-man craft is lightly armed with chin-mounted laser cannons, and side-mounted weapon pods. The two-legged craft, dubbed the scout walker by many, serves as a reconnaisance and patrol vehicle, often flanking approaching AT-ATs and mopping up infantry that sneaks past the larger walkers. The Imperials used AT-STs in both the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Endor.

From the Expanded Universe

Though their light two-legged drive system is more unstable than the four-legged plodding of an AT-AT, AT-STs are faster and more agile, with a top speed of 90 kilometers per hour on even terrain. Because of this speed and mobility, scout walkers spell death to infantry units. Its laser cannons and grenade launchers can cut through troop emplacements. Its foot-mounted steel claws can slice through trip wires or soldiers that close to engage.

There are a number of variant AT-STs in the Imperial arsenal. The AT-ST's predecessor, the Republic's one-man AT-PT, still sees some limited use in outlying Imperial units. A larger AT-ST variant, the AT-ST/A, has been spotted by Rebel spies.

Behind the Scenes

The AT-ST was first developed for The Empire Strikes Back, and the miniature developed for that film has a number of cosmetic differences to the finals produced for Return of the Jedi. Though the scout walker appears briefly in the Battle of Hoth, it was intended to be in at least one more scene. A diving snowspeeder would soar over the AT-ST while firing at the craft. During the filming of the stop motion animation, the painted sky backdrop shifted, and the shot was ruined.

For Return of the Jedi, much more detailed and versatile AT-ST models were constructed. A full size walker model was also constructed for use on location. The AT-ST pilots seen in Jedi were actually Director Richard Marquand and Producer Robert Watts.