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The 212th Recon Division
- "Thank you for your report, Colonel. I hope your division will show improved performance in the weeks to come. You may go."
- ―Emperor Palpatine, to Colonel Barokki after the latter was Force choked
A division was a type of military unit of varying size and type that was active throughout different factions in galactic history. Divisions ranged from naval to army divisions, and were different military unit types. The term division could also be used generically to mention a contingent of military units.
Description[]
Law enforcement[]
The Galactic Empire's Commission for the Preservation of the New Order's sub-bureaus[2] were also referred to as divisions. The Coalition for Progress, led by Minister Pitina Mar-Mas Voor, was considered one such division of COMPNOR and served as the propaganda arm of the Galactic Empire.[3]
Ground forces[]
A land military division was part of an army, and varied in size and type.[4] The commanding officer of a division was referred to as a Division Commander.[5] Variations of a land military division were the Trade Federation's armored infantry division, which utilized armor and infantry forces,[6] and the armored division[7] which was also referred to as an tank division. Such divisions were deployed by the Separatist Alliance,[6] the Galactic Republic,[8] and the Galactic Empire.[9] Armored squadrons could form part of Republic tank divisions.[8]
The GAR 332nd Division.
Ground divisions in the Grand Army of the Republic could be combined-arms units subordinate to a legion with aerial and ground vehicles[10] and specialized reconnaissance divisions subordinate to a battalion.[11] Republic divisions could also contain infantry companies[10] and had the capability to deploy All Terrain Tactical Enforcers, LAAT/i gunships and LAAT carriers. Such a division could be led by a Clone Commander.[10] Additionally, Republic armor divisions consisted of all-terrain vehicles and HAVw A6 Juggernauts supported by clone sharpshooters, clone trooper officers, heavy weapons clone troopers, and standard clone troopers.[11]
In the Galactic Empire, a division could consist of 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers and could be led by a general[12] or a colonel.[1] An Imperial armored division could consist of All Terrain Defense Turret artillery walkers, swamp troopers, wet-weather gear stormtroopers, Imperial medics, and Imperial ground crew, with logistical support from Y-45 armored transport haulers and aerial support by TIE fighters.[4] Other armored divisions used All Terrain Armored Transports, All Terrain Defense Pods, K79-S80 Imperial Troop Transports, and stormtroopers. Such a division could be attached to an Imperial numbered fleet and led by the fleet's commander.[9]
[]
Naval divisions were part of the Galactic Empire's Imperial Navy Order of Battle, and contained multiple ships. An Imperial Navy admiral had the authority to assemble multiple divisions.[13] The Rebel Alliance Navy also utilized numbered naval divisions, which consisted of various types of different starships such as frigates, corvettes, transports,[14] and cruisers.[15] In the Alliance Navy, a division could be led by a general,[14] a commodore,[16] or a naval commander.[14] Alliance divisions could have starfighter squadrons.[14]
History[]
Republic Era[]
- "A division of Republic troops was to arrive yesterday, but the evacuations caused by the collapsing star in the Bunka system waylaid them."
- ―Poli Dapatian
While it was active in the Republic Era, the Trade Federation Droid Army deployed Armored Assault Tanks which formed the frontline of the Trade Federation's armored infantry divisions. The Droid Army subsequently participated in the Invasion of Naboo, deploying its vast military, including Armored Assault Tanks.[6] The Judicial Forces of the Galactic Republic served as the Republic's premier peacekeeping force towards the end of the Republic Era.[18] When the Ontothon government joined the Republic, a division of Republic soldiers was meant to arrive on the planet at the request of the local constabulary. The division was waylaid when a star collapsed in the Bunka system and they were needed to aid with evacuations.[17]
Clone Wars[]
Separatist armored divisions participated in the Battle of Christophsis.
During the Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatist Alliance, both factions deployed ground divisions in the conflict. Pressed into Separatist service,[6] tank divisions were deployed against the Jedi and Galactic Republic during the conflict,[7] with these armored divisions containing Armored Assault Tanks that overpowered opposition on many Republic planets,[6] There were multiple divisions within the Republic's Grand Army.[11]
In the first year of the Clone Wars, 22 BBY,[19] several Separatist armored divisions consisting of Armored Assault Tank Mk Is participated in the Battle of Christophsis during the invasion.[6] The Separatist presence was under the overall command of General Whorm Loathsom, and his units fought against Republici forces led by Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. Ultimately, Separatist forces were defeated.[20] That same year, the 224th Clone Division[21] and its Mud Jumpers fought in the Battle of Mimban against Separatist forces alongside units of the 501st Legion.[22]
In 21 BBY,[19] less than a standard year after the First Battle of Geonosis[23] that sparked the Clone Wars,[24] the 212th Recon Division, which was organized under[11] the 7th Sky Corps'[25] 212th Attack Battalion, was deployed alongside the 501st Legion, the 41st Elite Corps, and a special operations battalion. The 212th consisted of Advanced Recon Force Scout Troopers and was deployed alongside All Terrain Tactical Enforcers from LAAT/i gunships and LAAT carriers.[26]
Tanks belonging to clone tank divisions during the Second Battle of Felucia.
Clone tank divisions participated in the Second Battle of Felucia[8] in 20 BBY,[19] and were supported by the 104th Battalion and the 501st Legion. A Republic tank squadron was part of one of these clone tank divisions.[8] A Republic division undertook a mission to Aleen after a series of groundquakes rocked the planet alongside the 104th Battalion. Secret agents of Republic Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine were among the medical staff.[27] Later, the Umbaran Militia, which allied itself with the Separatists during the Clone Wars, also deployed tank divisions against the Galactic Republic during the Battle of Umbara. During the campaign, three Umbaran tank divisions protected an airbase near the Umbaran capital city, but were ultimately defeated when Republic forces conquered the base.[28]
The 332nd was formed late in the Clone Wars and active under Clone Commander Rex.
In 19 BBY,[19] the Republic 332nd Division[29] was created after the 501st Legion was split into two forces. The 332nd Division participated in the Siege of Mandalore, and consisted of the 332nd Company and other units who were equipped with standard 501st colors and the standard white. The 332nd Division was led by Clone Commander Rex. It consisted of other clone troopers, including fellow clone trooper officers, such as Clone Lieutenant Jesse and Clone Captain Vaughn, and an Advanced Recon Commando in the form of Jesse.[10] Additionally, the Grand Army of the Republic deployed the 181st Armor Division during the Clone Wars, which consisted of clone troopers with green markings and vehicles. The 181st's arsenal allowed it to conduct safe transport in harsh environments and reinforce Republic regiments that were stuck in remote locations.[11]
Imperial Era[]
Early deployments[]
The 224th Imperial Armored Division participated in the Mimban Campaign.
Early during the Imperial Era[1] in 19 BBY,[19] Colonel Barokki led a division which had poor performance. As a result, the Imperial officer was reprimanded directly by Emperor Palpatine.[1] Sometime between 19 BBY and 14 BBY,[30] Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader ordered Admiral Mummert with assembling naval divisions and stationing them at the Hortolo system before a deadline. Admiral Mummert was unable to deploy the starships by the deadline, as gathering the proper divisions had taken longer than believed since the ships were scattered.[13]
The 224th Imperial Armored Division participated in the Mimban Campaign[4] in 10 BBY.[19] The division's forces there consisted of All Terrain Defense Turrets, and was supported by TIE fighters and Y-45 armored transport haulers. Its infantry forces consisted of Imperial officers, swamp troopers, wet-weather gear stormtroopers, Imperial medics, and Imperial ground crew.[4] Around the same time,[31] the Vandor division,[32] located on the Imperial planet Vandor, was active and consisted of range troopers that defended Imperial 20-T Railcrawler conveyex transports that traveled between the mountains and the frontier.[4]
Galactic Civil War[]
During the Battle of Atollon[9] in 2 BBY,[19] an armored division was deployed by the Imperial 7th Fleet and consisted of several heavy battalions. These heavy battalions consisted of All Terrain Armored Transports that were bolstered by All Terrain Defense Pods and supported by Imperial Troop Transports and stormtroopers.[9] In 0 ABY,[19] Darth Vader alerted all nearby divisions shortly prior to a skirmish on Hradreek in an attempt to secure the second crossguard lightsaber belonging to the ancient Sith Lord Darth Atrius.[33] During the Galactic Civil War, the Alliance to Restore the Republic utilized divisions within their Alliance Army structure, with Alliance officers commanding the units of ground-based troops.[34]
Following the Battle of Hoth[14] in 3 ABY,[19] the Rebel Alliance Navy's structure included numbered naval divisions after the main force splintered. The divisions acted as rebel cells, and were different in their composition. The Fourth Division consisted of at least three EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigates, at least four CR90 corvettes, at least two GR-75 medium transports, and other support ships. The Fourth Division was led by Alliance officers, as well as General Leia Organa and Commander Grek. Additionally, it was supported by Green Squadron of the Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps.[14]
The Alliance Navy Fourth Division after the Battle of Hoth.
The Sixth Division was destroyed by Imperial forces,[35] and consisted of at least one CR90 corvette, a GR-75 medium transport, and starfighters.[36] The Eighth Division was also active, but was destroyed at Malastare.[14] Additionally, the Seventh Division, which consisted of the MC80A Home One Type Heavy Star Cruiser Home One, at least one EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate, at least one CR90 corvette, and a number of starfighters, was another such group.[37] The Eleventh Division consisted of another MC80A Star Cruiser.[15]
In 4 ABY,[19] A division under the command of General Valin Hess maintained between 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers, which included field operatives. Hess's division participated in the attack on Burnin Konn under Operation: Cinder, leading to the division's destruction.[12] After the Battle of Endor, defected pilot Yrica Quell believed that an ex-Imperial who arrived with another group at Traitor's Remorse was from one of the elite stormtrooper divisions, perhaps a death trooper.[38] During the Galactic Civil War between the Rebel Alliance's successor state, the New Republic, and the Empire, during the hunt for Shadow Wing, the New Republic Intelligence Agent Caern Adan eventually had an entire division of personnel under his control.[39]
New Republic Era[]
Ren's stormtrooper division in the Battle of Takodana.
By the time after the fall of the Galactic Empire and its remnants were active, Mandalorians maintained the formation of a division as part of their warrior organizational hierarchy. When Mandalorian Lady Bo-Katan Kryze participated in a mission to steal weapons from the Imperial remnant led by Moff Gideon,[40] in 9 ABY,[19] she stated for the captain of the Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser they were stealing if they could imagine what a division of Mandalorians could do.[40]
Like its Imperial predecessor,[41] the First Order also utilized infantry divisions in the First Order Army's organizational structure. During the Battle of Takodana, Kylo Ren ordered his stormtrooper division to withdraw upon the capture of Rey and the arrival of the Resistance.[42]
Appearances[]
Sources[]
Star Wars: Card Trader (Set: Base Series 1)
- Lead by Example
- Nexus of Power
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 44 (Helmets: Snowtrooper)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 80 (Helmets: Death Trooper)
- Collapse of the Republic
- "Imperial Troops" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: The Black Series (Pack: 332nd Ahsoka's Clone Trooper) (backup link)
- "Din Djarin and Other Characters of the Underworld" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- AAT Battle Tank in the Databank (backup link)
