Iron Squadron Iron Squadron was a squadron that used a YT - 2400 light freighter known as the " Sato ' s Hammer " two years before the Battle of Yavin . The cell was led by Mart Mattin , who inherited the position from his father . During the Age of the Empire , they were an independent rebel cell that operated at Mykapo . In 2 BBY , Iron Squadron joined Phoenix Cell after the Galactic Empire imposed martial law on Mykapo . Description . The Iron Squadron was led by Mart Mattin ' s father , who was the brother of the Phoenix Cell ' s Commander Jun Sato . After he died , his son assumed leadership of the group . His crew consisted of the female Theelin Gooti Terez , the human male Jonner Jin , and the astromech droid R3 - A3 . They operated from a YT - 2400 light freighter called " Sato ' s Hammer " . History . During the Age of the Empire , a small rebel cell emerged at the planet Mykapo called the Iron Squadron . The Iron Squadron was initially led by the father of Mart Mattin , a native of Mykapo . Following his death , Mart assumed leadership of the group . Operating from their freighter " Sato ' s Hammer " , the Iron Squadron harassed Imperial forces in the system . The group was isolated from other rebel cells including Commander Jun Sato ' s Phoenix Squadron . Sato believed the cell had perished after he lost contact with his nephew Mart . In 2 BBY , the Galactic Empire imposed martial law on Mykapo and sent an advance patrol to the system . Iron Squadron clashed with the patrol and sustained damage to their ship ' s hyperdrive . Shortly later , the Spectres and the Phoenix Squadron arrived to evacuate rebel sympathizers on Mykapo . The Spectres ' leader Hera Syndulla came to the aid of the Iron Squadron . Her VCX - 100 light freighter " Ghost " destroyed several TIE fighters that had been attacking the " Sato ' s Hammer " . Despite their casualties , Mart declined the Spectres ' offer of assistance and his ship destroyed the Imperial " Gozanti " - class cruiser , the command ship in the Imperial patrol . Following the skirmish , the Iron Squadron docked with the " Ghost " . Hera and her fellow rebels Ezra Bridger , Sabine Wren , and the astromech droid Chopper visited the " Sato ' s Hammer " and found that the ship ' s hyperdrive and systems had been damaged . Hera and her comrades tried to warn the Iron Squadron that they had to leave because Imperial reinforcements would come . However , Mart and his crew refuse to leave Mykapo , which they regarded as their home . After Hera returned to the " Ghost " , Ezra convinced her to let him , Sabine , and Chopper stay behind for longer so that they could reason with the Iron Squadron . Ezra and his fellow rebels managed to win over Mart ' s crew by helping R3 - A3 repair the ship ' s hyperdrive . Despite repairing the hyperdrive , Sabine and Chopper ' s efforts came to naught because Mart diverted the power to the ship ' s laser cannon s and deflector shield s . When Admiral Kassius Konstantine arrived with an " Arquitens " - class command cruiser , two " Gozanti " cruisers , and more TIE fighters , Mart wanted to take on the Imperials . However , Gooti and Jonner realized that they would not be able to take on the Imperials . Gooti , Jonner , and R3 - A3 fled with the Spectres aboard the " Phantom II " while Mart stayed behind . Outnumbered and damaged , the " Sato ' s Hammer " was no match for Konstantine ' s forces and its engines were disabled . Mart managed to send a distress call that was picked up by the Spectres . At the urging of Commander Sato , Hera , her crew , and Iron Squadron joined forces to rescue Mart . Konstantine attempted to lure the rebels into a trap by planting a magno - mine on " Sato ' s Hammer " . However , Hera countermanded that by sending Chopper and R3 - A3 to disable the magno - mine . After picking up Mart and his ship , the rebels reattached the magno - mine to a crate and dropped it over Konstantine ' s light cruiser , damaging the ship . Iron Squadron and the Spectres were aided by Commander Sato , who scattered Konstantine ' s forces . The Iron Squadron and their rebel allies then escaped shortly after Grand Admiral Thrawn arrived on his Imperial Star Destroyer " Chimaera " . Upon seeing the " Chimaera " , Mart and his comrades realized that they were seeing a Star Destroyer for the first time . They decided to pull their resources together and joined Phoenix Squadron . After reaching Chopper Base on the planet Atollon , Mart embraced his uncle and his crew Gooti and Joyner . Behind the scenes . Iron Squadron made its first appearance in an episode of the third season of " Star Wars Rebels " animated series with the same name .