All Terrain Armored Transport / Legends The All Terrain Armored Transport ( AT - AT ) walker , also known as the Imperial Walker , was a major part of the Galactic Empire ' s motor - pool . Carrying a vast amount of fire power and being heavily armored , the AT - AT was argueably the most feared and effective land vehicle in the Imperial Army , and enjoyed a long life span , from the Clone Wars to the Second Imperial Civil War , over 150 years later . However , it was also known for its relatively slow speed . Description . The AT - AT walker was a behemoth of a war machine , standing at a height of 22 . 5 meters . The quadrupedal walker closely resembled ancient beasts of war , or even a giant legendary beast from the dark side of the Force . Designed for the dual purpose of crushing and demoralizing enemy forces , and also serving as a transport for Imperial troops and light vehicles , the AT - AT was among the most astonishing vehicles in the Imperial Army ' s inventory . Hundreds of these walkers were produced during the Galactic Civil War , and its intimidating and powerful presence often earned it the distinction of being the first vehicle into a combat zone . Serving as the " head " of the mechanical walker was a movable command section containing the command cockpit , with room for the commander , pilot and gunner . The command section housed all of the AT - AT ' s weapon systems , as well as holographic targeting systems allowing the gunners a 360 - degree view of their position . The cockpit was also equipped with a holoprojector for purposes of external communication . Forward visualization was supplied by a glowing red command viewport . The head could rotate as much as ninety degrees right or left and thirty degrees up or down for an expansive field of fire . Positioned above and below the command section was the walker ' s sensor array and blaster cannon energizer , respectively . The command head was attached to the trapezoidal armed body section by a flexible armored tunnel , allowing cockpit access from the rest of the machine . The AT - AT ' s troop section could typically carry five speeder bikes , up to forty troops normally comprising Imperial stormtroopers or Imperial land assault trooper s in a double - tiered passenger section , and heavy weaponry , such as E - Web heavy repeating blaster s . The AT - AT could also variably hold two All Terrain Scout Transports in lieu of soldiers in a rear vehicle bay , though they required partial disassembly to fit inside . Housing the troop section were two large side panels ; each one held an escape hatch . The rear panel also housed the troop staging area . Positioned in the center of the body section was a rectangular boarding hatch with sliding ramps where the AT - AT ' s complement of troops loaded and disembarked . An AT - AT unloaded its troops by kneeling to three meters above ground level until the boarding ramp could extend outward . Individual stormtroopers could also be deployed rapidly by rappelling cable . An AT - AT walker deployed to the moon Yavin 8 carried a distress beacon which was launched aboard a missile . Below the troop body section were two immense Kuat Drive Yards FW62 compact fusion drive system s that , in conjunction with the walker ' s four giant heavily - reinforced legs , propelled the AT - AT forward at a top speed of sixty kilometers per hour . However , this maximum rate was achievable only on flat , stable terrain . At the rear of , and connected to , the drive motors were the walker ' s three fuel slug tanks that powered the massive machine . The AT - AT ' s rear also included atmospheric exchangers and a filtration unit to regulate the interior living conditions . The walker ' s legs were supported by massive durasteel footpads with impulse terrain sensors , supplemented by toe flaps , that could crush obstacles in its path with little effort , effectively helping the AT - AT to live up to its name . The legs did , however , require constant maintenance and repair . As the titanic walker marched down the battlefield , its heavy , stomping feet would cause the ground to shake , demoralizing the enemy before they were even engaged . The AT - AT ' s formidable offensive capabilities were supplied by dual , chin - mounted Taim & Bak MS - 1 fire - linked heavy laser cannon s ( for slower , more cumbersome targets ) and two fire - linked medium repeating blasters mounted on each side of the head ( designed for lighter , agile targets ) . The two sets of weapons could be independently rotated in order to engage multiple targets at once . However , the AT - AT ' s head , which could move between a range of left , center and right firing arcs , could only rotate one fire arc per heavy laser volley . The walker ' s strong external 9095 - T8511 grade durasteel armor was virtually impervious to all but the heaviest of artillery weapons . The most vulnerable part of the walker was its flexible neck , which was susceptible to lighter blaster barrages . If punctured , it can lead to a reactor breach , although it was considered an unlikely scenario , it nonetheless was considered potentially catastrophic . The legs were also somewhat unstable and could be tripped due to a high center of gravity , leaving the walker defenseless . In addition , when tripped , AT - ATs do not regain footing easily , and they are also vulnerable to crumbling terrain . Damaging its knee joints can lead to loss of mobility , being less sound than the other parts of the leg due to their representing the flexible joining of two components , with the joints being vulnerable to artillery attacks . While first appearing to be a slow , lumbering vehicle , the AT - AT would often be on top of its enemies before they knew what had hit them . The AT - AT also lacked armor covering on its underbelly , leaving the spot vulnerable to mounted guns or portable missile launchers . To remedy this weakness , AT - STs were usually stationed around the walker ' s flanks to ensure nothing was given a clear shot at the AT - AT ' s weak underside . The walker could also be disabled with shots to the knee joint . In addition , they also lacked rear facing weaponry , and while sufficiently armored , their primary purpose nonetheless was to act as troop transports , and thus have comparatively lighter armaments compared to other mainstay walkers in the Imperial Army . In order to compensate for these glaring blind spots , the AT - ATs are often deployed in staggering formations , as well as accompanied by support vehicles . AT - ATs were typically deployed for ground assault from orbit by large dropships . Walkers stationed within larger warships , such as the " Executor " - class Star Dreadnought , were delivered to planetary surfaces within Incom Y - 85 Titan dropships , capable of carrying four AT - ATs . Smaller starships , such as the " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer , deployed single walkers via the " Theta " - class AT - AT barge . Other designs , including the Telgorn Corporation Warlord Dropship , were capable of delivering a platoon of four walkers . Modified variants . The Empire utilized several modified variants of the standard AT - AT design for purposes of fitting certain mission profiles in specific environments . The walkers used at the Battle of Hoth in 3 ABY — nicknamed " snow walkers " — were specially designed with heat circulation systems , de - icing controls , and energy efficient environmental controls . The AT - AT " dune walker " was a desert terrain walker fitted with Sienar Fleet Systems z23 heat dissipation unit s ; while the Aquatic Terrain Armored Transport , known as the AT - AT " swimmer , " was a repulsorcraft cousin of the standard model . There was also the All Terrain Ion Cannon , a long - range artillery gun mounted on an AT - AT chassis . Various planetary garrisons often modified their AT - ATs to suit the local environments , with various modifications including gas filters , heat recirculators , and anti - corrosive sheens . The Aquatic Terrain Armored Transport , also known as the AT - AT Swimmer , was an extreme modification created by the Imperial Army garrison for use on Kabaira . History . Clone Wars origin and development . AT - ATs were first designed and assembled by Kuat Drive Yards during the Clone Wars . They were evolved from the AT - TE walkers first employed in the Battle of Geonosis , as well as the AT - PT . The first - generation AT - AT walkers saw their debut during the Battle of Jabiim , later on in the Clone Wars . During this battle , the overwhelmed Confederacy forces were annihilated by them . Their significance waned when the walkers were slowed down by the muddy surface of the planet , making it easier for the enemy units to bring them down . At some point , AT - AT walkers managed to fall into the hands of the CIS , with at least one unit being kept in a research facility on the Separatist world of Diado . During the Wars , wheeled tanks like the A5 and A6 Juggernauts were preferred over both the AT - AT and the AT - HE , due to the decreased ground pressure of wheeled vehicles over legged ones . Imperial refinements . During the time of the Galactic Empire , AT - ATs were not completely forgotten , as a later - generation model participated in the Battle of Orion IV . AT - ATs were being tested on the planet Carida when the Rebel Alliance attacked . The AT - AT was instrumental in winning the battle . After the Battle of Yavin , it was Maximilian Veers that fully resurrected the concept , bringing the AT - AT into full Imperial service . They were deployed on a wide array of worlds in the following months , including Corellia , Chandrila , and Ghorman . Largely because of it resembling a large beast in the Outer Rim and Imperial - made propaganda reinforcing its near - invincible status , civilians within both the Rimmers and various galactic civilians , with Mon Mothma also explicitly stating the Rebel Alliance refuses to use the vehicles due to their acts of psychological destabilization , since they represented hope instead of fear . Nearly three years after the Battle of Yavin , Veers neared completion on a superior model while on Zaloriis . This was nicknamed the " Dune Cow " . With the prototype " Blizzard 1 " , constructed at Camp Culroon , Veers assaulted the planet ' s capital when Zaloriis declared their affiliation with the Rebellion . At least one AT - AT was used at the Battle of Boz Pity . The AT - AT was unknowingly steered into a trap set by Renegade Squadron ; a detonation pack was used to blow up a hidden cache of explosives , and the huge explosion toppled the machine . However , the battle was ultimately a victory for the Empire . Several AT - ATs were also deployed to Ralltiir to subjugate the scientists , although several of them were destroyed after Red Squadron destroyed the bridges into the city with bombs , developed by scientists , and their speeders . At the Battle of Hoth , the Empire ' s Blizzard Force utilized AT - ATs to assault the Rebel ' s Echo Base , as it was protected from above by an energy shield . Due to their weight , and the unstable terrain they were traversing , a few were lost before the battle even began . General Maximilian Veers commanded the ground forces and advanced on the shield generator , decimating Rebel troopers in their trenches . Blizzard Force ' s frequent usage of AT - AT ' s was largely the reason behind their logo adopting an image of the AT - AT . Faced with such forces , Luke Skywalker employed a strategy earlier devised by himself and strategist Beryl Chiffonage to disable the walkers : his squadron of snowspeeders would use their magnetic harpoons and tow cables to entangle the walkers ' feet , toppling them . Wedge Antilles and his gunner , Wes Janson , managed to disable one walker using this method . Luke destroyed two more by cutting a hole in each with his lightsaber and tossing in a concussion grenade . Dash Rendar was able to bring down a third through unknown means . Another AT - AT that closed on Echo Base was destroyed by Renegade Squadron , which used particle cannon turret s to destroy the war machine . ( The dangers of AT - AT walkers toppling was discovered by an Imperial Cadet named Davin Felth , but the oversight was not corrected by Colonel Veers prior to deployment . ) Despite these small successes , they were ultimately insufficient to turn the tide of the battle , and the Battle of Hoth was one of the most devastating losses for the Rebellion in the entire Galactic Civil War . The AT - ATs succeeded in destroying the shield generator , thereby allowing the main Imperial force to land and attack Echo Base . The AT - ATs would go on to devastate the Rebel defenses . During the Battle of Dubrillion , Wedge Antilles , after infiltrating the Dubrillion superlaser facility in an All Terrain Scout Transport , managed to hijack an AT - AT Walker inside of a hangar . Wedge then proceeded towards the generator room and used the walker ' s firepower to destroy the superlaser facility ' s turbines and destroy the facility and the superlaser for good . Several AT - ATs also broke out of the " Imperial I " - class Star Destroyer " Motivator " after it was shot down from orbit during the Battle of Kothlis , although Rogue Squadron managed to down them in the ocean . At least one AT - AT patrolled the garrison base on the forest moon of Endor , but had no impact on the battle there , as AT - ATs were limited in their range by the dense foliage of the moon . As a result , smaller vehicles , such as All Terrain Scout Transports , saw far more use . An AT - AT was originally going to be used in the Battle of Endor , but it was crippled by Renegade Squadron , resulting in portions of the Galactic Empire attempting to fix it . Beyond Endor . Sometime after the Battle of Endor , the Empire replaced the AT - AT ' s lasers and blasters with light turbolasers , easily capable of defeating many highly protected defensive weapons emplacements . In 5 ABY , an AT - AT was patrolling on Ruusan as the Imperial faction , led by the Seven Dark Jedi , searched for the Valley of the Jedi . Shortly after cutting down Sariss , Rebel mercenary and rising Jedi Knight Kyle Katarn headed for the Valley himself , passing through the standby AT - AT as he went . By 9 ABY , Nomad City on Nkllon was a mining operation owned by Lando Calrissian . The city was built from a " Dreadnaught " - class heavy cruiser mounted on top of 40 captured AT - ATs to constantly move the city away from the day side of Nkllon and prevent it from being destroyed by the intense radiation of Nkllon ' s sun . However , the city was damaged and later abandoned , leading to the eventual destruction of Nomad City and its AT - ATs by the intense radiation . During the reborn Emperor Palpatine ' s insurgency in a clone body from 10 ABY to 11 ABY , the Empire developed a new variant of the AT - AT that was equipped with the most powerful Imperial turbolasers and the new X - 80 power cells . These were deployed during an attack on New Alderaan . During the battle , they vaporized many buildings , gun emplacements and starfighters . Following the Galactic Civil War , AT - ATs and AT - STs were also used by the New Republic . They were considered as quite old vehicles and were relegated to local planetary defense forces . were also used by the New Republic , the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances , and various other governments . During the Yuuzhan Vong War , AT - ATs were found on the Imperial Remnant planet Shramar , and battled a Yuuzhan Vong army during the battle there . The New Jedi Order ' s Myrkr strike team found one of these vehicles on the Yuuzhan Vong Koros - Strohna " Baanu Rass " in 27 ABY . AT - ATs were also deployed by the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances during the liberation of Coruscant in 29 ABY . It was the predecessor of the All Terrain Armored Heavy Transport model , but was still used by Darth Krayt ' s Galactic Empire in 138 ABY . Behind the scenes . The name " AT - AT " is never spoken in any of the films . Instead , the machines are referred to as " Imperial walkers . " The AT - ATs used in " " and the brief appearance in " " were created with the use of stop - motion animation . When there was a wrong leg animation with the AT - ATs , George Lucas would take that scene and make a turret shoot it in the leg . This supposedly happened twice . In the DVD commentary , George Lucas explained that he got the idea of the AT - AT from the massive tripods from ' 1898 novel " " . Joe Johnston also claimed that the inspiration for the AT - AT was in fact the , which had been commissioned by the United States Army for potential use in the , before being abandoned by due to the design proving to be too exhausting to operate . It was rumored that Lucas ' inspiration for the AT - AT walkers were four legged cranes at the port of Oakland , although Lucas denied such was the case . The animators who brought the AT - AT Imperial Walkers to life in " The Empire Strikes Back " based their movements on elephants . AT - ATs frequently appear in video games , though in games they vary in durability . In some games they can be damaged by shooting them , such as in " Shadows of the Empire " and the " Battlefront " series , though in the latter their durability makes using blasters impractical . In the " Rogue Squadron " games , AT - ATs are completely immune to all weapons and can only be destroyed with a Snowspeeder ' s tow cables , except for one mission where a Snowspeeder carries bombs with its tow cable that are powerful enough to destroy an AT - AT . Typically , their weapons are easy for the player to avoid , but destroying the walker can prove to be difficult because of their strong armor . Additionally , in the gaming book " " , an AT - AT can be destroyed by a choice between shooting the knee joints or using a harpoon cable , just days after the Battle of Yavin . During development for " Rebel Strike " , the third entry for the " Rogue Squadron " video game series , the development team , because of their insistance of rebuilding the " Rogue Leader " game coding entirely from scratch to make it different from its predecessor , ran into some gaffes and problems during animation . One of these gaffes was Luke Skywalker ' s harpoon cable attaching to the AT - AT ' s neck , and then walking it as if it were a giant dog , during the development of the Battlefield Hoth mission . At Disney World ' s Hollywood Studios , a giant model of an AT - AT is located just outside Star Tours . In July , 2010 , Hasbro released an AT - AT vehicle capable of holding up to 19 figures . Included with the vehicle is a speeder bike and one AT - AT driver . On a translucent decal image on the cockpit ' s " viewscreen " is a personal note from Brian Parrish ( Hasbro ' s Design Manager for the " Star Wars " franchise ) that reads , " HOPE YOU ENJOY THE AT AT , " on the screen above the photo image of the Rebel power generator , with " B . PARRISH " on the next line , underneath . In addition , other phrases in Aurebesh are visible on the clear acrylic screen that read , " REGULAR MODE , " " INFRARED MODE , " " MAX , " " MIN , " " ZOOM IN , " and " ZOOM OUT , " as well as the numbers , " 077 254 72 7 . " First use discrepancy . The 2001 video game " " has a mission which describes the creation of the AT - ATs and their introduction to the service of the Empire . All this happens before the Battle of Hoth . However , there are several appearances of the AT - ATs in BBY sources , including the video games games " " and " " . The first is S - canon ; however , the latter is accepted as C - canon and shows them in the Battle of Orion IV . First - generation AT - AT walkers are featured in the comic story - arc " " . The 2006 video game " " shows them being introduced before the Battle of Yavin . The 2011 comic book " " shows them in use just after the Declaration of a New Order in 19 BBY . Also , in attack of Kashyyk in player can see AT - AT in field , although this battle was far earlier than AT - AT creation . AT - AT is pronounced " at - at " in " " , and " Star Wars : Galactic Battlegrounds " . They are also called " A - T - A - T " s briefly in " " . In " " both terms are used . However , in " " , it is pronounced " A - T - A - T " . Height discrepancies . One more time . . . ! In " Forces of the Empire , " an article that was first published Issue 2 of " The Empire Strikes Back Official Poster Monthly " , the All Terrain Armored Transport was described as " a fifty - foot tall armored exoskeleton . " The figure of fifty feet was likely derived from sources such as " The Empire Strikes Back Sketchbook " , which suggested that the designers of the model intended for the AT - AT to appear as fifty feet tall on screen . In 1984 , this figure was given as the height for the AT - AT in the first edition of a " A Guide to the Star Wars Universe " In 1983 , " The Empire Strikes Back " radio dramatization included a scene in which a young Rebel officer , who would be later identified as Maren Kelsome , gave the command staff of Echo Base a rough estimate of the height of the AT - ATs approaching his location . His statement that they were " twenty , twenty - five meters high " in the script later was changed to " ten , fifteen meters high " in the recorded version . Supplements for West End Games ' s listed the All - Terrain Armored Transport at a height of 15 . 5 meters . " Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy " revised the AT - AT ' s height to 22 . 5 meters in a section dealing with the dropships that were used to land the walkers during the Battle of Hoth . This larger figure was based upon unofficial calculations by Curtis Saxton , with whom James Luceno , the author of the book , consulted on technical matters . It was calculated using a scene in " The Empire Strikes Back " where Luke Skywalker is ascending a cable beneath a walker . This figure was repeated by " " , a compilation of the " Inside the Worlds of " series , but the " Episodes IV - VI Data Files " section of " " listed the AT - AT ' s height at 15 . 5 meters , adding further confusion to this issue . Yet another alternative size for the AT - AT was shown in the fan club kit , which included a desktop wallpaper depicting various vehicles in scale with each other . Compared to the HAVw A6 Juggernaut , which is unambiguously known to be 49 . 4 meters long and 30 . 5 meters tall , the AT - AT is shown to be 18 . 5 meters in height .