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All Terrain Scout Transports are bipedal war machines used by the Galactic Empire in the fictional Star Wars universe. AT-STs were seen in the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Endor in the movies The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, respectively.
Also known as a "chicken walker" because of its shape and walking motion, the AT-ST is an amazing light ground combat vehicle. It has chin-mounted double medium laser cannons, a concussion grenade launcher on the left side of its head and a blaster cannon on the right. This gives the AT-ST additional firepower against armored enemy units. Just the sight of Imperial walkers can decrease Rebel morale.
The bipedal propulsion system is also one of the primary weaknesses of the AT-ST. On uneven or shifting terrain, a walker can become unbalanced enough to fall over. This was demonstrated during the Battle of Endor, when Ewoks released a large pile of logs and stones to roll down the hill into the path of an AT-ST. The walker was unable to handle the rapidly shifting ground, and despite attempts by the pilot to stabilize the vehicle, the vehicle fell on its side and was destroyed.
During the Battle of Endor, an AT-ST was hijacked by the Wookiee warrior Chewbacca and used against the Imperial forces. It is unknown whether this was the only time a walker of this type was used by the Rebel Alliance.
At the Battle of Hoth several AT-STs were deployed to provide cover for the larger AT-AT walkers. The AT-ST is thought to be a highly versatile weapon, excelling against infantry and light armored vehicles. They are also commonly used to protect units and patrol areas.
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