All Terrain Personal Transport The All Terrain Personal Transport ( AT - PT ) was a light anti - infantry walker used by the Galactic Republic and , later , the Galactic Empire . It was manufactured by Rothana Heavy Engineering , a subsidiary of Kuat Drive Yards . Made to take a single trooper into an intense combat situation on his own , it was the basis for the AT - ST and AT - AT . Characteristics . AT - PTs were made to take single troopers into intense combat situations on their own , with the firepower of a squad . They stood only three meters tall , and were driven by AT - PT pilots . The walkers were capable of reaching speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour and could climb a 45 - degree angle , with hydraulic adjusters keeping the unit balanced . The vehicles carried a long - range comm antenna for patrols . The main drive unit provided power and hydraulic pressure for the two legs , and featured cooling vents . The cockpit entry hatch was on the side , while the emergency flare launcher was just above the viewport . The AT - PT was — compared to its intended threat , enemy soldiers — heavily armored , enough so that small - arms fire could not penetrate the craft ' s armor . The walker was armed with twin blaster cannons and one concussion grenade launcher , which were only effective against infantry . The walker ' s superior agility made up for its light armor ( in comparison to most other cavalry units ) . The units often traveled in packs for increased firepower . AT - PTs were upgraded versions of Light All Terrain Personal Transport s , and were constructed at Imperial mech factories . History . The AT - PT was designed for the Galactic Republic decades before the Clone Wars , but during the war , the Republic found a need for a small , anti - personnel walker , and the AT - PT became more relevant . It was one of the earliest AT series transports . The AT - PT was a limited production model , the majority of which were stationed aboard the " Dreadnaught " - class cruisers of the legendary " Katana " fleet , and many were lost when the fleet itself vanished . Many of the concepts pioneered in the AT - PT were used in the AT - AP , AT - ST and the AT - AT . During the Galactic Civil War , the Galactic Empire utilized a number of the walkers . They were often used as sentries and patrol vehicles near Imperial installations . Imperial commander Brenn Tantor ordered the use of AT - PTs in several battlefronts prior to his defection . Tantor also used them during the Battle of Eos . Large numbers of AT - PTs were used in the Battle of Ralltiir soon after the Battle of Yavin , where most of them were destroyed by Luke Skywalker and Rogue Squadron . Three AT - PTs were carried aboard a " Sentinel " - class landing craft during the search for the starship " Nonnah . " They also guarded a supply base on the Jade Moon . Several were also on Gerrard V during the planet ' s liberation . Soon after , Rebel Alliance commandos stole three AT - PTs from the Weapons Research Facility on Fest ; they were protected during their escape by the Rebel flight group Rogue Squadron . The Sith Lord and Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military Darth Vader used AT - PTs during the Reytha campaign and the Battle of Zaloriis . A number of AT - PTs also served as part of Blizzard Force under Vader ' s command during the Battle of Hoth . AT - PTs also patrolled an Imperial prison in the Maw . The Star Destroyer " Motivator " carried a group of AT - PTs , which escaped from the ship ' s wreckage during the Battle of Kothlis . The m ' Yalfor ' ac Order in Guiteica used some three dozen AT - PTs during the Rebellion era . Due to the AT - PT being designed for Human users , and to the Order being composed almost exclusively by Bitthævrian s ( who were larger than Humans ) , the Order ' s AT - PTs were commonly piloted by short Bitthævrians . It was believed that the Order took control of those AT - PTs by boarding a pirate ship in one of the rare situations where Bitthævrians left Guiteica . The walkers of the Katana fleet , along with the fleet itself , were rediscovered by the New Republic , and were used in the Republic ' s war against Grand Admiral Thrawn . Behind the scenes . In " Alliance Intelligence Reports " , the cost of an AT - PT was specified as 15 , 000 credits and its capacity as 25 kilograms ; those stats were superseded by later publications . The walkers first appeared in Timothy Zahn ' s novel " Dark Force Rising . " In the 2001 video game " , " the AT - PTs serve as the Empire ' s Heavy Strike Mech unit . Originally , the AT - PT ' s forward viewport was restricted to a small window near the roof , with a large anti - glare panel below it . Sometime after its first appearance in the West End Games ' " Dark Force Rising Sourcebook " , the anti - glare panel was mistaken for the lower half of the viewport and almost every image of the walker since then has carried over this mistake .