The primary use for the All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) is as a scout and perimeter guard. They were also involved in attacks as support vehicles for ground forces and AT-ATs. When used with AT-ATs, they protect the flanks of their big brothers, and clear the area of any troops that might have escaped the behemoths’ lasers.
Unlike their larger counterparts, AT-STs do not have strong armour, and so have to rely on their speed for defence. Their speed does come at a price. As they move on only two legs, they are more prone to unbalancing, but this rarely happens. The chicken walkers, as they are nicknamed, can achieve a top speed or around ninety kilometres an hour, and so can respond to emergencies extremely quickly. They may not be as big as AT-ATs, but AT-STs are still a sight to behold at 8.6 metres tall.
The crew consists of just two persons: the pilot and the gunner. The command cabin is located in the head of the walker, and is protected by armour plating. If necessary, the viewports can be closed by either crew member. Chicken walkers have the same battlefield view as the AT-ATs, a 360 degree holographic projection of the surrounding area. The head moves independent of the rest of the walker, and can allow the weapons to be fired in all directions. These weapons consist of twin blaster cannons, the primary weapon which is located on the chin of the walker; twin light blasters on the port side; and a concussion grenade launcher on the starboard side. These weapons make the AT-STs devastating in close combat, and can mow down whole infantries of troops.
The walkers have a single drive system which powers the legs. An advanced gyro system is also built in to stop the AT-STs from toppling over, although these systems often get damaged. On its feet, there are cutting claws, which help the walkers to keep a grip on the terrain. Although fast on open ground, dense foliage or traps can easily slow down chicken walkers, and if the enemy can get close enough, their drive systems are open to fire.
The crew access the walkers through a hatch located on top of the command module. When not at an Imperial base, the crew climb an access ladder and use the handholds to get into the AT-ST, but normally loading platforms are used when at base.
As time progressed, larger AT-STs were developed. These were called All Terrain Scout Transport/Assault walkers (AT-ST/As). These stood at over ten metres tall, and had as their primary weapon a single heavy blaster cannon. They were also equipped with a superior gyro balance system and reinforced leg braces.