LAAT/i

The **Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry (LAAT/i)**, also known as the **Low Altitude Assault Transport**, **Republic attack gunship, Republic Gunship** or **Assault Gunship**, was one of the several models in the Low Altitude Assault Transport line of starships that mainly served as gunships and troop transports for the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. Its role was to transport Clone troopers as well as offering air-to-ground and air-to-air support for the Galactic Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The LAAT/i gunship saw extensive use in numerous battles and campaigns of the Clone Wars. During the Imperial Era, the ships were used by both the Galactic Empire and Alliance to Restore the Republic.

## Characteristics

The Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry gunship was a military repulsorcraft. Besides serving as an infantry transport, the LAAT/i gunship was also used to provide air-to-ground and air-to-air support for Republic forces. The front of the gunship had two double cockpit bubbles where the pilot and co-pilot/gunner sat in single file and could be sealed off from the rest of the gunship. A variety of equipment was located in the nose of the craft, including the flight computer and sensors.

The LAAT/i gunship was armed with a varied mix of complementary weaponry which could unleash considerable firepower. A pair of dorsal mass-driver missile launchers could fire a variety of ordance at up to hypersonic velocities and hit targets hiding over the horizon. These were fed by rear-mounted missile belts which utilized special frictionless material to load the weapons. Four composite-beam laser turrets provided for defense against airborne threats. Each turret had a wide field of rotation, but the composite-beam design allowed for precision aiming beyond a turret's physical rotation. Two of these were mounted in the wings and remotely controlled, while the other two extended out from the craft and were manually controlled by two gunners. Three anti-personnel laser cannon turrets—two mounted in the chin and one in the rear—were useful against infantry and other light ground targets. Each could vary the output on their laser shot to a maximum of five gigajoules. Lastly the gunship could carry eight light air-to-air rockets mounted beneath its wings.

Beneath a surface layer of superficial armor plating, the LAAT/i was equipped with an inner layer of powered, superdispersive armoring which would spread the impact of enemy fire across the entire hull. It could also use its laser turrets to shoot down enemy missiles. When faced with overwhelming enemy fire, the gunship could close its blast shields. In a crash, the LAAT could deploy fire retardant and both the cockpit canopy and side doors could be explosively blown off to allow escape. Additional emergency equipment included medical packs and armor repair kits, collapsible repulsor stretches, inflatable decontamination tents, and a IM-6 Battlefield Medical Droid.

A LAAT/i gunship could carry a full platoon of thirty clone troopers in its main hold. The use of powerful inertial compensators helped troopers to remain standing during their journey. It could also carry up to four speeder bikes. These were deployed from the tail ramp, with the rear laser turret providing covering fire during deployment.

The gunship's primary repulsor array was located along the bottom of the fuselage; additional altitude-control repulsors were mounted in the wings which, although not designed for aerodynamic lift, also helped to balance the craft. Designed specifically for maneuvering low in a planet's atmosphere, the LAAT/i was at an advantage when dogfighting starfighters below the altitude of mountains as the latter had to sacrifice their considerable speed advantage. While not originally designed for it, LAATs were later modified to allow for short trips in space.

## History

Following the formation of the Galactic Empire, the LAAT/is were absorbed into the Imperial Navy. Under Imperial service, the gunships continued to transport and deploy troopers into battle. The Wookiees of the Kashyyyk resistance used LAAT/is leftover from the Clone Wars in defending their homeworld from Imperial subjugation; these particular gunships had their wings and missile launchers repainted yellow. Members of the Hidden Path on the moon of Jedha used LAAT/is. By 4 BBY and the following years leading up to the Galactic Civil War, the Empire had largely replaced the LAAT/i with the smaller LAAT/le patrol gunship.

Later on, the Rebel Alliance found several disabled, yet still functional, LAAT gunships. The Alliance used these vehicles to further their cause in overthrowing the Empire. When in use by the Rebels, they were known as either "**Alliance Assault Craft**" or "**Rebel Assault Transports**".

In 3 ABY, an Imperial storm commando named Sarkli, along with many other stormtroopers, landed in a canyon on Geonosis after a skirmish in the asteroid field with Rogue Squadron. Sarkli's escape pod landed near a LAAT/i gunship left over from the Clone Wars. The Imperials were attacked by B1-Series battle droids, also from the Clone Wars. Sarkli commandeered the LAAT/i in an attempt to escape the droids. Wedge Antilles, who had also crashed on Geonosis, fought his way through stormtroopers and droids and was attacked and almost killed by Sarkli when he came out of the chaos. The LAAT was severely damaged when Wedge took control of an E-Web heavy repeating blaster. Swearing revenge on Wedge, Sarkli crashed the LAAT/i into the canyon wall.

Skakoan revolutionary Jul Tambor got his hands on at least three LAATs. By 5 ABY, a more advanced variant of the aging LAAT/i, the low-altitude Imperial transport, was in use; one of which was used by the remnant of the Galactic Empire led by Grand Moff Lozen Tolruck on Kashyyyk.

LAAT/is were used by the Second Union. Two of these gunships were used by the Union on Nevarro as escape craft to flee the Nevarro city after the Union plotted to blow up the city using hidden underground bombs. One of the two gunships carried IG-88A.

## Appearances

* Remastered (First appearance) (wreckage only)
* Counterattack
* The Sacred Water of Rugosa
* Bounty
* Fallout