B1 battle droid (TFM)

B1 Battle Droids were the top of the line battle droids around the time of the Naboo Crisis. However, upgrades were made, and were ultimately replaced by the newer B2 Battle Droids. The B1’s came in two colors, beige and sand red. Although the sand red design was used predominately on the battle fields of Geonosis, they did see action aboard the starship, Invisible Hand. They were the main fighting force during and shortly before the Clone Wars. They were produced in massive numbers, ranging into the millions, and were programmed for destruction, although there were records of the B1 Battle Droids performing diplomatic missions such as peace treaties, negotiations, and other miscellaneous acts. Despite their destructive programming, B1 Battle Droids were also known for their kindness and courtesy. They were chivalrous, yet efficient and ruthless. They were the perfect combination of complete opposites and helped pave a path in the history of the galaxy.

flaws
There were many flaws in the original design of the B1, one of which was the lack of targeting. Since the droids didn’t know how to target, they refrained from actually firing their weapon. Unfortunately, the Trade Federation never found this out until after they had ordered thirteen separate legions of droids. But since their numbers were so great, the Trade Federation decided to use them more as barriers and blockades then soldiers. This targeting issue wasn’t solved until around the time of the Clone Wars, where they would be required to shoot. However, the new targeting system malfunctioned and the Trade Federation had to start a recall of millions of droids.

They finally fixed the targeting problem shortly before the end of the war, where the existence of B1’s started to dwindle. However, there were other problems with the design that were never addressed. The B1’s came with their legs fused together at the feet, which made it impossible for them to walk. That meant that each droid needed an assistant to move them if the ranks moved or place them in their position at the beginning of each battle. The Separatists finally learned to place the droids on moving platforms, which would enable them to move and fire at the same time. However, that idea was abandoned shortly after once they realized the targeting systems were malfunctioning.

Another design flaw was the lack of an audio transmitter. This meant that the droids could not talk. There was one instance where a B1 was caught talking, but after further investigation, the Trade Federation realized that it was a maintenance droid that The Cleaner Guy had customized. The Separatist, later, studied the transmitter that The Cleaner Guy had created, but could never manage to replicate it for production in their droids. So as a result, the Separatists went back to the idea the Trade Federation had created, which was an internal comlink, which allowed the droids to communicate with each other, but not anyone around them. This was what made the existence of a droid general who could speak and communicate with the droids so dire, hence the creation of General Grievous.

Weaponry
The B1 battle droids carried a classic E-9 blaster rifle. It was short and stubby, but effective, at least in the testing simulations. Since the droids never had a targeting system that worked for about thirteen years, once they were finally able to use the rifles, they did not know how to shoot them. The droids had to go through an intense three week crash course in weaponry handling, where it taught the droids how to use the E-9. However, that did not mean they could shoot straight. The Separatists had to issue another three week crash course on aiming and firing.

By the time the droids knew how to fight and were good at it, the war was over and there was no need for the droids. The droids were never deactivated or recalled, they were simply left to do what they wanted. Many of them joined the Rebellion and Aldeeranian Security Forces and flew with Princess Leia on her diplomatic missions, aiding her with negotiations. They became the backbone of the Rebellion, along with specialist trained Rebel Commandos and Troopers that eventually led the Rebellion to victory.