Snowspeeders

The snowspeeders came to the fore during the Battle of Hoth. While the Rebels were evacuating, the squadron of snowspeeders fended off the AT-ATs to buy time for the Rebels to escape.

The repulsorlift drive units’ circuitry is located beneath the laser cannon power converters. These are exposed, even during battle, to allow mechanics quick access for repairs and maintenance. These speeders can achieve speeds of over a thousand kilometres per hour, while their combat speeds can go up to six hundred kilometres per hour. These speeds afford snowspeeders great manoeuvrability, which is aided by mechanical braking flaps placed above each repulsor engine. The speed also makes speeders very good scout and patrol vehicles.

A snowspeeder’s weapons consist of twin laser cannons, placed on each side of the cockpit. At the rear of the speeder is a harpoon gun and tow cable. This is normally used for retrieving cargo barges, but can be used as a weapon. In fact, the cables were essential during the Battle of Hoth. They were used to wrap around the AT-ATs’ legs in order to topple them. In combat, snowspeeders are equipped with heavy armour plating, although this does not compare at all with the shields on an X-Wing.

Two crewmembers are required to operate the snowspeeder efficiently; one pilot and one gunner. They sit back-to-back, and the gunner has computer systems to operate all the speeder’s weapons, although the pilot can choose to man the laser cannons instead.

Speeders can handle most terrain, although they must be adapted before-hand. Snowspeeders were called that as they were used in snowy conditions. Other names have stuck to speeders used for certain conditions, such as ‘sandspeeders’, or ‘skyspeeders’.

It depends on the terrain just how much adapting must be made. For the snowspeeders, Alliance technicians spent much time adding repulsor-coil heaters, and de-icing nozzles. These all made sure the engines did not freeze and the turning and braking flaps worked in the extreme cold.