BlasterA blaster (also called a gun) was a ranged weapon that fired bursts of particle beam energy called blaster bolts from a replaceable power cell. The most commonly used weapon in the galaxy, blasters' intense beams consisting of compacted high-energy particles and intense light could kill or paralyze their target, depending on their setting. Blasters ranged from compact pistols, all the way up to large, heavy rifles and starship-mounted blaster cannons. Some have used blasters ever since their youth: Anakin Skywalker owned a small ion blaster in his childhood, Leia Organa was given a sporting blaster when she was just a teenager, and Mandalorian children were given blasters, along with extensive training, prior to becoming thirteen standard years old.
Technical InformationThe term blaster was often used interchangeably with the term laser in everyday conversation, both denoting the same type of particle beam weapon. However, strictly speaking, the laser was a much older weapon design than the blaster. And, unlike those of lasers, blasters' firing cycles had more proficient recharge rates, allowing them to be capable of attaining much higher rate of fire, though at a loss of distance and accuracy.
There is also some dispute as to what size restrictions denote a "blaster". For example, blasters are commonly thought of as handheld weapons only, but starship-mounted blaster cannons may fall in this category as well.
Laser Mechanics
A laser beam was a coherent shaft of light. When referring to light (or any other wave pattern for that matter), coherence refers to the pattern's "sameness" in multiple waves. In other words, each light wave emitted from the laser device had the same wavelength and amplitude as all other waves emitted from the same device, and all "crests" and "troughs" of every wave were aligned with the others.
Lasers were generated by introducing energy to a medium, the substance used to generate the beams. Tibanna gas was a frequently favored medium. When an atom of the medium was excited by energy, one or more of its electrons would "jump" to a higher energy level. When the atom stabilized (the point at which the electrons return to their original energy levels), a photon was released. A photon was a "packet" of energy that traveled in both a wave-like and a particulate manner, giving it a high energy level, as well as a high damage rating. Some types of sniper rifles fired invisible bolts of energy by using a special type of blaster gas. This weapon was very useful for acting from concealment, especially if the user were wearing a portable stealth field generator or sound dampener.
Blaster Mechanics
Blasters were a considerable improvement over the archaic laser design. Instead of a coherent beam of light and heat like a simple laser, the blaster fired a highly compressed, focused high-energy particle beam that was very deadly to most creatures. The energy that made up the blaster bolt depended on the type of blaster being used.
The less common blaster was a plasma based design, like those used by the Grand Army of the Republic. Plasma-based blasters were effective against all targets, but even more so against droids because of the nature of plasma as a superheated, ionized gas. Droids were weak against ion energy, so they were a natural choice against a droid army. This explains the use of the BlasTech DC-series in the Clone wars.
In plasma-based blasters, a high-energy gas (tibanna gas, for example, used in the BlasTech DC-series) would move from the gas chamber into another chamber where it was altered into a plasma state. It was then released from a magnetic "bottle" effect through the collimating components. This turned the mass of plasma gas and energy into a coherent energy beam as a coherent energy bolt of light and plasma. This combination of light and plasma formed the deadly bolt fired from a blaster.
The more common type was the blaster that fired a high energy particle beam that was more deadly to humanoids and other biological targets than superheated plasma (which was quite deadly anyway), but it was still effective enough against droids to put a B1 battle droid down and keep it down. Particle-beam types were also more efficient because they used less blaster gas to produce the beam than is necessary to form a plasma bolt(as plasma is a form of gas).
In particle-beam based blasters, like the E-11 used by stormtroopers, a small amount of high-energy gas moved from the gas chamber to the chamber commonly called the XCiter. In the XCiter chamber, the gas was energized by the power pack, then passed into the actuating blaster module, which, when assisted by the components in the barrel, processed the now extremely high-energy gas into a compressed beam of intense energy particles, coupled with intense light, which generated the deadly high-energy particle beam fired from most blasters. In these blasters, the combination of superhot laser-light and a compressed bolt of intense energy particles formed the deadly bolt.
Most personal blasters had two kinds of ammunition: a gas cartridge and a power cell. Less powerful weapons, like the Drearian Defense Conglomerate Defender sporting blaster, relied largely on the power cell and used only a small quantity of gas, while very powerful weapons, like the illegal Tenloss DX-2 disruptor pistol, used much larger amounts of gas. Still other weapons, namely those dating from earlier times, employed a kind of removable power cell/cartridge which supplied enough energy (though at weaker levels) to make total expenditure seldom.
Blaster bolts usually dissipated in a small, sparky explosion of extreme heat and force upon contact with an unshielded surface. Weapons such as Han Solo's DL-44 blaster pistol and the E-11 blaster rifle could cause incredible destruction, and had the power to blow huge chunks from stone walls and smaller holes and pockmarks out of durasteel bulkheads, as seen Han Solo's and Luke Skywalker's raid on Detention Block AA 23. An ion accelerator uses an electrical charge to stun or kill enemies.
Electronic EnhancementsMany blasters had side attachments and accessories to aid in targeting, accuracy, rate of fire, and grip. Some known attachments included targeting lasers, electronic scopes, and larger power packs. Delta Squad's DC-17m interchangeable blasters had sniper and anti-armor attachments for adaptability in unpredictable situations. Boba Fett's EE-3 carbine rifle had a small scope which could interface with Fett's helmet for increased accuracy. Jango Fett's two WESTAR-34 blaster pistols had dallorian alloy plating, which kept the weapon from overheating.
History and Usage
The oldest known type of blaster was used by an ancient droid of an unknown model employed by the Rakatan Infinite Empire. This weapon was considered to be extremely up-to-date compared to the blasters of the year 3,956 BBY. Besides that, the oldest and most venerable example of blaster technology was the triple blaster, which dated back to the Galactic Republic. It worked by using three separate blasters connected to the same targeting system, often coordinated in sets of two or four and fired simultaneously at a target. By the rise of the Empire, triple blasters had become exceedingly rare. Prior to the innovation of the triple blaster, beam tubes were used. They consisted of backpacks with a hose coming out of the side that connected to a focusing tube. All of the equipment that created the blaster beam was contained in the backpack and was fired out of the hose. These lost popularity quickly once triple blasters were invented.
Triple blaster technology began to wane as what was traditionally thought of as "the blaster" was created, as it was a self-contained unit that could produce bolts by itself with no additional equipment.
An updated version of blaster technology was the autoblaster. Designed for the B-wing starfighter, it had an even higher rate of fire than other blasters but was not available to other models until after the Battle of Endor.
The most common personal weapon in the galaxy by the rise of the Empire, blasters were often used not only by military personnel, but by civilians as protection. They were more commonly seen in the Outer Rim worlds, though small, concealable Hold-out blasters were frequently used by social elite, such as Baron Administrator Lando Calrissian. Many establishments, such as the Cantina in Mos Eisley had restrictions against use of blasters, though these were often overlooked if the conflict remained small.
The most common manufacturer of blasters during the Galactic Civil War was BlasTech, which had contracts with both the Imperial Military and the Alliance to Restore the Republic. It also manufactured the Protector civilian fighter-grade blaster line.
Blaster VarientsHoldout blasters
Stingbeams
Sporting blasters
Blaster pistols
Heavy blaster pistols
Blaster rifles
Blaster carbines
Repeating blasters
Autoblasters Blaster cannons
Blastswords
Hold-Out BlasterHold-out blasters (also holdout blaster) were small, palm-sized blasters that could be easily concealed inside a sleeve. Because of their small size, holdout blasters usually could only fire six shots before expending their power cells. They saw widespread use in weapon-restricted areas[1] and were commonly found in the possession of undercover agents[1], gamblers and other scoundrels, or nobles seeking to protect themselves. The association of holdout blasters with more nefarious characters meant that such blasters were outlawed on some worlds. They were sometimes carried by more lethal characters for back-up firepower. Iella Wessiri Antilles, Mara Jade Skywalker, and Han Solo were among the many to use holdout blasters. Holdout Blasters were hidden on each floor of the Imperial Palace, contained within a datacard box regarding the complete history of Corvis Minor.
Blaster PistolA blaster pistol was a small, hand-held version of a blaster rifle, and was commonly referred to simply as a "blaster." Pistols were commonly smaller than rifles, with enough power to kill a humanoid and punch through body armor, though they did not have the energy to pierce the hull of a starship. Ownership and use was regulated in many systems, generally in the form of restrictions and regulations. Coruscant was one such example, as was the mining world of Peragus II, where only lower strength mining lasers were allowed.
There were many different varieties of blaster pistols. There were also larger, more powerful versions known as heavy blaster pistols, and smaller, precision pistols known as sporting blasters or hold-out blasters. BlasTech Industries was perhaps the most famous and popular manufacturer of the blaster pistol, and produced a variety of models throughout galactic history.
Pistols were firearms used as sidearms or backup weapons. A pistol would tend to have less firepower than its rifle or carbine cousins. Blaster pistols could be seen just about everywhere in the galaxy. A pistol may have been the one of the most common weapons, but was usually not the weapon of choice, mainly due to its short range and lack of power. However, some pistols, like the DC-17 hand blaster, had incredible amounts of power and firing speed for a sidearm.
Normally, a soldier's favorite place for his pistol was in its holster. But in emergency situations, it could mean the difference between life, death, or worse.
Heavy Blaster PistolA heavy blaster pistol was a more powerful version of the standard blaster pistol, utilizing a more highly powered gas chamber, firing larger, more damaging bolts with a wider beam. It had power comparable to a blaster rifle but a shorter range than the typical blaster pistol. The power pack was generally the same size as a standard pistol and was consumed at a considerably higher rate than a typical blaster pistol. Due to the weapon's formidable power it was in most systems heavily restricted if not entirely illegal, but was nevertheless very popular with soldiers and mercenaries of all sorts.
Blaster RifleA blaster rifle was a designation given to certain types of offensive blaster weaponry.
The blaster rifle was the staple infantry weapon since before the formation of the Galactic Republic, and continued to be used hundreds of years after the Battle of Yavin, with no sign of being superseded any time soon. There was substantial evidence pointing to the use of blaster technology by the Rakatan Infinite Empire, and it was possible that their infantry forces wielded blasters in combat.
Rifles were heavy duty blaster variants, much more powerful than a pistol, although heavy weapons were more powerful than rifles. The rifle was usually a soldier's weapon of choice, and many variants were seen. Most rifles came equipped with a stun setting, used to temporarily disable an opponent.
Blaster rifles had a retractable stock and weighed about 4.5 kg for most models. The ideal range for the weapon was roughly 30-60+ meters. The typical blaster rifle had a value of 1,000 credits in the legal market; however, since the weapon was illegal for civilian use in a majority of systems, black market sales were prominent.
Disruptor rifleA disruptor rifle was a vicious and devastating weapon that disintegrated its target. It tore apart its victim at the molecular level, destroying their body tissues and bypassing most sorts of personal energy shields.
A disruptor weapon shot a constant beam of energy that would travel in a straight direction until it hit solid matter, so this made disruptors very popular as sniping weapons, and most types of disruptor were manufactured with built in scopes. The use of disruptor weapons was illegal in the Republic, and therefore was usually associated with shadier organizations, such as crime syndicates and Mandalorians, and the weapons became prime smuggling objects, as they were highly valued in taboo areas. The weapon was also utilized by Tyber Zann and his Consortium to defeat the enemies he faced in his campaign for corruption. A smaller version of the disruptor rifle was the disruptor pistol, which was lighter and smaller but still almost as deadly as its larger cousin.
Dash Rendar used a different type of the disruptor rifle. This was not a weapon used for sniping. It shot a small blue plasma ball that exploded and did a large amount of damage. It was much like the concussion rifle.
Thermal detonatorA thermal detonator was a highly unstable grenade-like weapon popular among military personnel, criminals, bounty hunters, and mercenaries. The thermal detonator was utilized since at least as early as 4,000 BBY.
Technical InformationThe thermal detonator was designed to be thrown by a soldier, planted in a specific location or on a specific vessel, or dropped by a vehicle. It would then adhere to any metallic object until it detonated. The reasons for using a thermal detonator varied widely, and despite the legal restrictions of many governments, the thermal detonator saw widespread use across the galaxy.
The name was descriptive of the process by which the device explodes. Inside the shell, which was generally made of thermite or axidite, was a sample of baradium, a highly volatile substance. A trigger emitted a short burst of energy that forced the baradium into a state of fusion reaction. This trigger could simply be a button. Some had a fail-deadly trigger, meaning that if it was released, it would set off the grenade. The result was an expanding particle field that could atomize any material that did not conduct heat or thermal energy within the fixed blast radius; typically five meters, though some had an even greater radius. Custom grenades could have a blast up to 100 meters.[1] Unlike other grenades, a thermal detonator's blast would only go as far as its blast radius. After that, the blast field would collapse, and anything even slightly beyond the blast radius would be left unharmed.
Most thermal detonators had fixed field yields and radii, along with timers. Some, such as those used by Imperial stormtroopers, featured adjustable timers, with settings typically ranging from 6 to 18 seconds.
Some people connected several thermal detonators using a linking mechanism, which would allow them to detonate at once and increase the damage.[3]
TypesMerr-Sonn Munitions Class-A thermal detonator, an extremely powerful military model Class-C thermal detonator, a military model Merr-Sonn Munitions Class-E thermal detonator, an anti-infantry model Merr-Sonn Munitions V-1 Thermal Detonator, a smaller model, typically used by snipers or assassins Baradium-core code key thermal detonator, special operations model Thermal detonator tape, used for breaching sealed doors MM-40 Thermal Charge The different types of thermal detonators varied in power greatly. Although typically used as a grenade, many were far deadlier.
UsesFor use as thrown explosives, thermal detonators used a thumb-operated trigger and a timed detonator to ensure the weapon bearer did not destroy himself. When used by a soldier, the trigger was pressed and the device was then lobbed towards the enemy. It had to be timed, so it couldn't be thrown back, or detonate in mid-air. When used as gravity or inertial explosives by starfighters, speeders, or mortar units, thermal detonators used a range sensor to determine the appropriate trigger time. Some could even be clamped onto things, such as speeders. Thermal detonators were sometimes used as mining tools, but other devices were better suited for the job.
By the late days of the Galactic Republic, thermal detonators had become very common and more practical than the aging frag grenade and the plasma grenade, despite the fact that the Republic had outlawed them. Ironically, the Republic would use them in its army. The Separatists also used thermal detonators through not as often, during the Clone Wars. Bounty hunters were known to carry them on their belts not only to intimidate, but to use. Stormtroopers and Rebel soldiers both employed thermal detonators during the entire Galactic Civil War.
Small thermal detonators could be inserted in a victim's body and set to explode when an external condition was met. In that case, the victim would die in the explosion, but bystanders would not be harmed.
Gernade LauncherA grenade launcher was a weapon used to shoot grenades over longer distances than they could usually be thrown. Grenade launchers could also be mounted to starfighters, making it possible for some ships to fire concussion grenades. By adding these launchers, a starfighters overall effectiveness could be greatly raised. Some of the most common types of grenade launchers was the Thermal Detonator Launcher and the EMP Launcher. The Galactic Empire's Merr-Sonn Mobile Grenade Mortar was the vehicle form of a grenade launcher. The Grenade Mortor could fire up to one hundred grenades per second. The Empire also sometimes equipped grenade launchers on a Mobile Defense Unit.
GernadeGrenade was a catch-all term for any self-contained explosive device, usually thrown by hand, but sometimes launched from a grenade launcher, which was useful in infantry combat. Types of grenades included:
Adhesive grenade
Biotic grenade
Chemical Load grenade
Cold grenade
Concussion grenade
Corellian spark grenade
Cryoban grenade
Dye grenade
ECD grenade
EMP grenade
Flash-bang grenade
Fire grenade
Fragmentation grenade
Plasma GernadeA plasma grenade was a type of grenade that exerted pressurized gas similar to the Cold grenade, except it ignited into flames when it reached the outside world. This type of grenade was not very common and has not been seen since the Jedi Civil War. It is believed that the famous bounty hunter Calo Nord used plasma grenades and might have even tried to use one when trying to kill the amnesiac Revan. These grenades were highly rare and highly expensive, and the only military force that used them were the Sith.
Cold GernadeA cold grenade was a type of grenade which exerted pressurized gas that froze objects when it made contact with the outside world. This made a form of ice. This type of grenade was not commonly used and was only used by trackers/bounty hunters that intended on capturing their victims alive. It is believed that this type of grenade stopped being produced at the end of the Jedi Civil War, though some varients of this were still in use during the Clone Wars.
Revan once acquired a special cold grenade on Korriban. He later used this grenade to freeze a pathway that would lead him to a Star Map.
