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Our military is the best the galaxy has to offer. Our armies are endless, our fleets without limit. Anyone who dares stand in the way of the Empire will pay the consequences and will know why we are in control.
—Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin
The Imperial Armed Forces, also known as the Imperial Military or more commonly as the Military or Armed Forces by Imperial citizens, were the unified armed forces and military branch of the Galactic Empire. It was formed in 19 BBY at the end of the Clone Wars from the pre-existing Republic Armed Forces where it was quickly annexed into the newly formed Empire and was quickly reorganized by Darth Sidious, now known as Emperor Palpatine. The Imperial Military was one of the largest in all of galactic history possessing vast armies and near-endless resources, the armed forces showcased the full might of the Empire and its war machine. The Imperial Military was tasked with protecting Imperial worlds as well as their protectorates, colonies, and proxy systems and was tasked with crushing any opposition to the Imperial regime.
History[]
Foundation[]
The Imperial Armed Forces was founded in 19 BBY at the end of the Clone Wars following the Decleration of a New Order and the establishment of the Galactic Empire to act as the official successor to the Galactic Republic. The Republic Military was obsorbed into the Empire without hesitation and the Imperial Military was quickly established using pre-existing Republic military personnel, equipment, bases ect. After this, Supreme Chancellor Sheeve Palpatine, now known as the Galactic Emperor, quickly began reorganizing the military where he haid loyalists put in charge and dissident officers purged while those who were newer were given lower positons in the hierarchy until they aquired the needed skills to improve and rise through the ranks. The Clone Troopers were renamed into Imperial Troopers and were tasked with eliminating the survivng remnants of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, which managed to survive due to the Separatist Parliament remaining active and they managed to successfully re-activate many Separatist Droid Army units and fleets across the galaxy.
The newly formed Imperial Military was then tasked with the job of eliminating the remannts of the Confederacy and was to force them into surrendering. From there on, the Imperial Military traveled to the Outer Rim and began supressing the last the Separatist armies and leadership with worlds such as Mygeeto falling into Imperial hands and others were quickly invaded and occupied as well. By 18 BBY, the Confederate capital of Raxus Secundus was found and invaded by the Imperial Armed Forces. The Imperial Army landed on the planet and deployed their soldiers into combat while the Imperial Navy battled the surviving remnants of the Confederate Navy, which proved to be a formidable opponent even at its final hours. The planet fell and the surviving Separatist leaders surrenderd after signging the Raxus Accords. Despite this however, many remnants of the Confederate Military refused to surrender and dispersed across the galaxy forming the Separatist Holdous.
Early Expansion[]
Not long after the surrender of the Separatist leadership and the collapse of the Confederacy, all Confederate worlds were quickly placed under martial law and were subjected to military occupation from Raxus Secundus all the way to the backwater worlds such as Geonosis. The various companies that formed the Confederacy such as the Trade Federation, Techno Union, and Corporate Alliance among others, had all of their assets taken and the companies were either absorbed into the Empire completely or their remnants were handed over to Imperial companies due to the Separatist companies collapsing with their heads having been killed on Mustafar. Many Confederate worlds that were free from Republic control were soon invaded by the Empire and they would see battle with re-activated droid armies and local militias and resistance groups. These worlds would quickly fall one by one with only a few standing out as exceptions for their levels of resistance, mainly Ryloth and Mandalore due to the fierce resistance from the native rebel cells and factions, but they to would fall to the Empire. Resistance on Mandalore was from a faction known as Maul Loyalists, a faction of Mandalorian warriors that remained loyal to Darth Maul and his regime, while Ryloth was harder to deal with due to the knowledge and skills of the Free Ryloth Movement.
Outer Rim Annexation[]
After the surrender of the surviving remnants of the Separatist leadership, the rest of the Confederate Military was shut down and disbanded with any organic units remaining active announcing their surrender to the Galactic Empire, but not every remaining Separatist surrendered and they soon escaped deeper into the Outer Rim and even into the Unknown Regions. These remnants formed the Separatist Holdouts and took any Separatist military hardware, weapons, and battle droids along with organic soldiers and volunteers and quickly fled into neutral or disputed territory in the galaxy to avoid the Empire. The Separatist Holdouts would wage a guerilla war against the Empire and use insurgent tactics against the Imperial Military from insurrections and guerilla tactics used against Imperial Army tactics to surprise attacks against Imperial Navy patrols.
Organization[]
The Imperial Armed Forces was headed by the Imperial Defense Committee which includes the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Imperial Military and the highest-ranking Moffs in the entirety of the Galactic Empire. The Chairman of the Imperial Defense Committee was the official Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Military, though Darth Vader shared that position due to him being appointed Supreme Commander by Emperor Palpatine. The Minister of Defense was put in charge of monitoring all military activity and affairs including the deployment of troops, appointment of new members to the defense committee, and making sure military production was ahead of schedule and was meeting the necessary standards. The Joint Chiefs were all made up of the leaders of each branch of the armed forces and made up the higher echelons of the committee such as the Chief of the Imperial Army, Chief of the Imperial Navy and others.
Branches[]
Flags of the branches of the Imperial Military.
The Imperial Armed Forces was made up of five branches, the Imperial Army, Imperial Navy, Imperial Starfighter Corps, the Imperial Marine Corps, and the Stormtrooper Corps. Each branch was overseen by their own respective leaders with the army, navy and starfighter corps being lead by a Joint Chief while the Stormtrooper Corps and Marine Corps were lead by a Chairman instead, but were still appointed to the Joint Chiefs of Staff regardless due to their roles in the Imperial Military. All branches and their leaders filed reports to the Ministry of Defense and would be revalidated by the Defense Minister who would report directly to either Darth Vader or Emperor Palpatine to see if any change, reforms, or even purges were needed to ensure the stability of the Imperial Military and of the Galactic Empire as a whole. Each branch was also given their own personnel with their own requirements, academies, training facilities, bases and equipment with the most well known example being the iconic Stormtrooper Armor of the Stormtrooper Corps, though alterations and variants of the armor was handed over to the Imperial Marines and later all branches in 3 BBY.
Imperial Special Forces would often operate within the jurisdiction of any branch that each unit is assigned to, though the majority of Imperial Special Forces units and squads were assigned to the Imperial Army and were supervised by army generals and officials while those that operated within the Marines answered directly towards the Imperial Naval Command or Marine High Command. Special Forces were given their own equipment and weapons which included heavily modified and advanced stormtrooper armor which includes stronger armor platings and other gadgets and enhancements that allow special forces operatives to traverse any environment regardless of the severity of the harsh conditions it may have, such as the jungles of Felucia or the tundras of Hoth and other similar worlds while other special forces units were given their own unique armor that was rare in the rest of the military. The most well known special forces operatives were Death Trooper, which are known for their skills in combat, far surpassing the majority of Imperial soldiers, and were feared among the Rebel Alliance and other rebel cells and were nicknamed "Hell Troopers". They were modified soldiers with armor platings rumored to be surgically attached to their bodies are known for being ruthless assassins and shock troops that reportedly butchered rebel fighters during various operations. The existence of such units was heavily classified by the Imperial Military leadership.
Headquarters[]
The headquarters of the Imperial Armed Forces was on Coruscant where the former Republic Military Base was located at. The building itself was preserved and was repurposed by the Imperial Military to serve as its new headquarters. The base was renamed the Imperial High Command Center and was the new base of operations for the Imperial High Command as a whole whcih included the various sub-units of high command, the Army Command, Navy Command, Starfighter Command, Stormtrooper Command, and Marine Command. The Defense Committee was the highest ranking body in the high command and is comprised of all leading members of the Imperial Military as a whole. Bases and facilities stationed across the galaxy would have communications links that kept them in touch with star fleets and other communications hubs that connected them to the high command center as a whole and granted Imperial officers and Moffs contact with the rest of the Galactic Empire as a whole.
Imperial High Command was also tasked with coordinating military operations alongside other Imperial organizations such as the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order, the Imperial Security Bureau, Imperial Intelligence, and other organizations and interplanetary bodies. High Command was also tasked with sending personnel and other men to various Imperial protectorates and proxy systems to help retain the pro-Imperial governments and keep the worlds within the sphere of influence of the Empire. In such matters, High Command would send in military advisors, officers, and soldiers to train and arm the pro-Imperial worlds' armies to help them fight off any resistance to the pro-imperial governments and keep the worlds under the Empire's direct control.
Personnel[]
Soldiers of the Imperial Military.
The Imperial Armed Forces used a wide variety of different types and forms of infantry with the most iconic being the Stormtroopers, which quickly took over as the de-facto infantry force of the entire Imperial Military in the years following the Empire's establishment. Due to the Humancentric ideology of the Imperial regime, the military was almost comprised entirely of humans and officially barred any alien species from enlisting within the ranks of the Imperial Armed Forces, though there were exceptions for near-human species, but they tend to suffer having to meet higher expectations and standards along with discrimination within the military hierarchy. Stormtroopers made up the backbone of the Imperial Military and made up much of the personnel of the armed forces as a whole and were called "faces of the Empire" by soldiers and civilians alike.
Recruitment []
Your Empire calls on you, enlist today.
—An Imperial Army propaganda poster
The Imperial Military officially accepted recruits from all across the galaxy whether they be within the official borders of the Galactic Empire or within its sphere of influence such as protectorates, proxy systems ect. Recruitment was carried out by COMPNOR which established recruitment centers all across the Empire. Imperial officers and other military officials would also attend events such as parades and celebrations during either Empire Day and during rallies held by COMPNOR known as the New Order Rallies. There, young and ambitious citizens seeking fame and glory within the Empire were given the opportunity to join the Imperial Military and enlist in any branch they saw fit. Recruitment centers ere prominate throughout the Core Worlds, Inner Rim, and the Colonies where pro-Imperial sentiment was the strongest and the regions saw the highest levels of enlistment and recruitment.
Recruitment techniques varied upon each region of the galaxy with the Expansion Region having a large presence of recruitment centers, but were only present on the worlds most loyal and most stable, while more dissent worlds were placed under martial law and standard recruitment only existed within the more stable/loyal cities and regions of the worlds. Within the Mid Rim and Outer Rim Territories, recruitment centers lacked a presence on the majority of such worlds due to the lawless nature and unstable situations that the region are known for. Instead, recruitment centers existed on exceptionally stable and loyal worlds such as Lothal and Ordonia among others and citizens from both the Mid and Outer Rims were usually drafted into the Imperial Military or enlisted in penal battalions to avoid being punished by the Imperial regime and were promised fame, wealth, fortune and rewards for cooperation and service towards the Empire. Those in penal battalions were promised pardons for whatever crimes they were arrested for in the first place, but said units were typically thrown into situations with low chances of survival and were viewed as useful cannon-fodder by their superiors.
Training[]
We only accept the best of the best and I expect all of you to give it.
—Unknown Imperial Task Master
The Imperial Armed Forces quickly took over all training facilities and centers that belonged to their predecessors, the Republic Armed Forces. As a result, many Clone Wars-era training facilities remained active and were modified and remodeled in the years since the end of the war and new training centers were also constructed. Imperial Academies were the primary institutions responsible for the training of new recruits into the Imperial Military and varied upon each branch. For recruits enlisting in the Imperial Army, Marine Corps, or Stormtrooper Corps, academies meant for those branches were based on rocky, rough terrain worlds where the conditions were survivable, but hard enough that it forced recruits to make tough decisions, adapt, and grow to meet the high standards and requirements for entry into the Imperial Military. Recruits seeking to join the Imperial Navy were sent to naval academies on industrial worlds, space stations, and sky stations and were taught how to properly manage Star Destroyers and adapt during space combat. Flight schools were set up for future pilots in the Imperial Starfighter Corps where they taught recruits how to pilot a TIE Fighter and how to traverse during space combat. Imperial Special Forces were sent to classified remote facilities where they were tested by facing the harshest environments and cruelest of climates in Imperial space, and were forced to pass the most intense of combat simulators which were rumored to be so intense that some recruits feel and act as if they're in an actual battle.
Equipment[]
Members of the Stormtrooper Corps on the Death Star I.
Uniforms and Gear[]
Imperial soldiers were given a variety of uniforms which depended on what position and branch each soldier was serving in. Imperial Officers of all branches were given olive-grey colored tunics and trousers along with matching caps and black boots. Standard officer uniforms were the same for officers in the Imperial Army, Navy, and Marine Corps with a notable variant being those in the Stormtrooper Corps which have the same uniforms as the other branches, but were black instead. Imperial Army Troopers were given gray colored battle dresses and were also equiped with partial body armor and helmets along with large visors to protect their eyes. While Imperial Army Troopers were the standard infantry units for the Imperial Army, they were mainly tasked with defending Imperial bases, military installations, and were mainly tasked with maintaining Imperial holdings at all costs while more elite units, such as Stormtroopers, were sent out to the front lines to deal with more dangerous missions. Imperial Navy Troopers wore black jumpsuits and large black helmets and served similar roles to army troopers in that they were primarily defensive units. Technicians and specialists were given grey jumpsuits and black caps.
Imperial soldiers that were sent out to the front lines and were sent into foreign lands outside of Imperial territories were given more protective gear. The most iconic uniform was the Stormtrooper Armor worn by the soldiers of the Stormtrooper Corps. The Stormtroopers were the direct successors to the Clone Troopers of the Galactic Republic and had upgraded versions of the Clone Armor with new modifications such as stronger gear, more advanced helmets, environmental protective elements and other features that aid Stormtroopers when they were out in combat. Helmets offered better vision to Stormtroopers and aided in poitning out enemy combatants and helping with the vision of Imperial Stormtroopers when storms or other extreme weather and enviornmental conditions got in the way of their actions. Variants of the armor existed for different soldiers for the various branches from modified versions of pre-existing armor for Imperial Marines and Navy Commandos to more advanced versions for Special Forces and covert ops troopers. One of the most iconic and well known uniforms in the entire Imperial Military beyond the Stormtrooper armor were the white uniforms worn by the those with the rank of Grand Admiral, one of the highest in the Imperial Military, as their uniforms made them stand out as strong and skilled military leaders and were viewed as the greatest threats to opposition to the Empire by rebels and Imperials alike. The white uniforms worn by the grand admirals in the navy became symbols of power, experience and prestige.
Ground Vehicles[]
An Imperial armored patrol composed of AT-ST and AT-AT Walkers.
The Galactic Empire used a wide variety of ground vehicles commonly used by the Imperial Army and Stormtrooper Corps, but were also used by the Imperial Marines and Special Forces as well as Navy personnel during certain operations. The most well known vehicles were the AT-ST and AT-AT Walkers which gained a reputation as symbols of the Empire's might during the days of early expansion and colonization of former Confederate and Republic worlds in the Mid Rim and Outer Rim Territories. During the early years of the Empire, the military primarily used Clone Wars-era military hardware and vehicles, but eventually phased out or remodeled as the expansion period came to an end. Vehicles such as the AT-TE and the AT-RT were commonly used by early Imperial troops, but were slowly phased out by new walkers and were repurposed by 12 BBY with the AT-TE remaining in full service as part of the Imperial Marines and the AT-RT being used by Imperial Army Troopers on occupied worlds and member systems. TX-130T Fighter Tanks were commonly used in the Imperial Army and the HAVw A6 Juggernauts were used to reinforce the Empire's grip over the galaxy and its people and were viewed as worthy Clone Wars-era hardware to preserve and continue to use in common service among all branches.
Starships[]
Imperial Star Destroyers and TIE Fighters blockading a planet.
During the early days of the Galactic Empire, the Imperial Navy used salvaged hardware from the Clone Wars such as Venator-class Star Destroyers as part of their navy. As time went on however, developments in military technology rendered the Venators obsolute and they were soon decomissioned not long after the war had ended and were replaced by Imperial-class Star Destroyers which were mass produced after testing proved successful. The Imperial Star Destroyers quickly became one of the main icons of the Empire as the sight of the Star Destroyers signaled that any world where the cruisers flew showed that the world now belonged to the Galactic Empire. The Star Destroyers were the symbol of Imperial space power and were grim reminders to dissenting citizens of who was in charge of the galaxy and the production and creation of the cruisers stemmed from the early conflicts against the political remnants of the Separatist Alliance which still retained control over the Outer Rim Territories and the Venators were suffering high casualty rates from Separatist Holdouts and their guerrilla tactics.
Later on by 11 BBY, the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer became the primary star destroyer for the Imperial Navy and later on the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer would be introduced and used alongside the Imperial I-class. The most common frigates used by the Imperial Navy were initially those from the Clone Wars-era, but would be later phased out in favor of the Imperial II-class frigate and the Victory II-class frigate. The Empire would also adopt the Gozanti-class cruiser and uses them to deploy TIE Fighters and various walkers into battle and are also used in logistical and support roles as well. A decade after the Clone Wars had ended, most Clone Wars-era weapons and vehicles had been withdrawn from the military, though the Acclamator-class assault ship was still used long after the war.
Starfighters[]
TIE/LN starfighters attack a Rebel CR90 corvette.
Starfighters that were used during the Clone Wars by the Republic Starfighter Corps remained in Imperial service during the early years of the Empire prior to the development of the TIE series. Alpha-3 Numbus-class V-wings and Agressuve ReConnaissance-170 starfighters were the primary starfighters of the early Imperial Starfighter Corps and were used during the early campaigns against the Separatist holdouts in the Mid and Outer Rim Territories and during the United Front insurrection.
During the early years of Imperialization a new series of starfighters were being developed which would later become the TIE series which began development in mid-18 BBY. The goal of the project was to create a series of new starfighters that were fast, deadly and easy to mass produce. By 10 BBY new ships like the TIE/LN Starfighter, TIE Interceptor and TIE bomber had tooken over as the primary starfighters for the Empire and replaced the Clone Wars-era fighters which were withdrawn from frontline service. By then most of the old fighters were used by the Corporate Sector Authority Security Forces, the United Front and later the Rebel Alliance, mercenary and pirate gangs and various resistance movements.