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ARogue Squadron gunner
- "Wedge, I've lost my gunner. You'll have to make this shot. I'll cover for you. Set your harpoon. Follow me on the next pass."
- ―Luke Skywalker, toWedge Antilles during theBattle of Hoth[1]
The termgunner described a person who operated weapon systems onboard armed vehicles orstarships.
Description[]
Typically stationed in a vehicle operated by multiple crewmembers, gunners controlled weapons that usually operated independently of the vehicle'spilot or, in the case of larger starships, the rest of the crew.
ARodian gunner
A gunner would either be in charge of all of a vehicle's weapons (like in theAll Terrain Armored Transport), in split control of a vehicle's weapons with the vehicle's pilot (like in theT-47 airspeeder,Aleph-class starfighter, orScimitar assault bomber), or in co-control of the vehicle's weapons along with one or more other crewmembers (like in aSkipray Blastboat or anImperial-class Star Destroyer). The kinds of weapons that required independent gunners included rear-firingblaster orlaser cannons,quad lasers andmissile launchers. Gunners in capital-ship grade weapons emplacements such asheavy turbolaser batteries andion cannons almost always operated as part of a larger weapons crew under theweapons-control officer.
Gunners served on many types of vehicles includingwalkers, militarylandspeeders andairspeeders,starships of all sizes, and ground-based turrets of all types, including anti-vehicle and anti-personnel emplacements. Those serving as gunners, both in a civilian and military capacities, often went through special simulator and live-fire training in order to become certified in the operation of their weapon of choice and to improve their skills.
Those notable for their skill as gunners includedHan Solo andWes Janson, along with manyJedi Knights such asSaba Sebatyne,Leia Organa Solo,Luke Skywalker, and many others. It was through their use ofthe Force, which allowed them to sense the intentions of the enemy, that gave them a distinct edge over their opponents, particularly when dealing with enemystarfighters while manning small-scale anti-ship weapons.
Among the ranks of theAlliance to Restore the Republic, the rank ofTrue Gunner was the highest order of gunnery awarded to those who displayed superior abilities.Lieutenant Janson earned his True Gunner's insignia during his early days of service to the Rebellion.
History[]
During theClone Wars,Ahsoka Tano served as tailgunner forAnakin Skywalker during the hunt for theMalevolence, a massiveSeparatist battleship. From this vantage point, Tano observed a flaw in Anakin's all-out assault strategy in his attack of theMalevolence'sbridge. At her urging, Anakin changed strategy and had hisY-wingstarfighters target theMalevolence'sion cannon instead.[2]
Appearances[]
Sources[]
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Notes and references[]
- Related categories:
- Gunners
- Related Categories:
- Gunners