Republic Commandos
(Enlarge)
"...You will be superior to your more common brethren. For you are a commando, an elite unit, something truly special." - Taun We, Overseer of the cloning facilities on Kamino
(Enlarge)
Not long after the Kaminoans began developing the Clones in secret, the idea of a special forces unit was conceived as being fundamental in this new Army. The mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett, the genetic template for the clones, recognized the fact that regular kaminoan combat training wouldn't be sufficient enough in certain environments and situations. Subsequently, he requested a special batch of clones to be trained by him personally. It was reluctantly agreed upon, but the first prototypes were nothing more than disappointing, which lowered the Kaminoans' expectations of a second batch being more effective. Therefore, they compromised with Fett: He would train his batch as commandos while the Kaminoans tried their own methods.
(Enlarge)
Clone commandos were trained in live-fire exercises, giving them a sense of the reality of combat long before the regular clones. Anti-terrorist training was conducted in a building nicknamed the Killing House. Though many commandos failed to survive their exercises, the rest learned rapidly, allowing them to become better soldiers. However, the the loss of fellow squadmates was felt by any commando who lost a vod—a brother. The commandos also experienced near-death torture to train them in resisting interrogation, and many clones were left mentally scarred from the experience.
(Enlarge)
The commandos were heavily armed with an array of weapons and technology that were often vital to the success of their missions. They had at their disposal an impressive arsenal of blasters, sniper rifles, and anti-armor launchers, all part of the configurable DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System. They also carried either DC-15s side arm blasters, or shotguns. Wearing advanced Katarn commando armor, clone commandos were the ultimate soldiers. Because the armor was silvery-gray, the other clone troops called them "shiny boys".[16] However, some squads would put special colors on their armor, or a number of dots on the left breast armor pad to symbolize rank and position in the hierarchy of the squad. Other squads would opt for improved camouflage, as was the case with Omega Squad, which wore matte black armor, and Yayax Squad, who wore gray splinter camouflage.
(Enlarge)
(Enlarge)
When the Clone Wars erupted between the reigning Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the clone commandos had just completed a decade of training and were prepared for deployment into Republic service. The Kaminoans' efforts to breed a special forces unit resulted in a number of small, operational squads, each capable of carrying out self-contained or campaign-augmenting missions. They were also highly trained and fiercely cohesive, yet capable of carrying out a variety of mission profiles.
(Enlarge)
Trained from birth to be unflinching loyal and to obey all legal orders without question, the clones executed Order 66, thus resulting in the immediate deaths of thousands of Jedi throughout the galaxy.
"...You will be superior to your more common brethren. For you are a commando, an elite unit, something truly special." - Taun We, Overseer of the cloning facilities on Kamino
The republic commandos, also known as clone commandos and later Imperial commandos, were elite soldiers in service of the Grand Army of the Republic and subsequently the stormtrooper legions. Often working in groups of four, clone commandos were assigned to carry out covert operations too precarious for regular clone troopers. Covert infiltration, sabotage, demolition and assassination were standard tasks for the clone commandos.
(Enlarge)
Not long after the Kaminoans began developing the Clones in secret, the idea of a special forces unit was conceived as being fundamental in this new Army. The mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett, the genetic template for the clones, recognized the fact that regular kaminoan combat training wouldn't be sufficient enough in certain environments and situations. Subsequently, he requested a special batch of clones to be trained by him personally. It was reluctantly agreed upon, but the first prototypes were nothing more than disappointing, which lowered the Kaminoans' expectations of a second batch being more effective. Therefore, they compromised with Fett: He would train his batch as commandos while the Kaminoans tried their own methods.
The first batches of clone commandos were separated into squads, also known as "pods", of four clones each, resembling the native aiwha hunting pods from Kamino. In addition to being subjected to the computerized flash-training program, the commando squads were divided amongst the Cuy'val Dar, a group of professional mercenaries brought to Kamino in secret and hired to train the commandos in a variety of ways, such as teamwork, infiltration methods, demolition techniques, assassination and much more. The majority of the trainers were Mandalorians, such as Kal Skirata and Walon Vau; the rest were mercenaries of different backgrounds. Although Fett's Cuy'val Dar were primarily responsible for the commandos' training, Kaminoan scientists personally oversaw the development of their creations as well.
(Enlarge)
Clone commandos were trained in live-fire exercises, giving them a sense of the reality of combat long before the regular clones. Anti-terrorist training was conducted in a building nicknamed the Killing House. Though many commandos failed to survive their exercises, the rest learned rapidly, allowing them to become better soldiers. However, the the loss of fellow squadmates was felt by any commando who lost a vod—a brother. The commandos also experienced near-death torture to train them in resisting interrogation, and many clones were left mentally scarred from the experience.
By the end of the commandos' training, the Kaminoans were very pleased with the results. Although unfit to fight on the battlefield as infantry soldiers, nor capable of performing complete solo operations like their contemporary ARC troopers, the clone commandos nevertheless demonstrated themselves as a new breed of warriors that few could challenge. Neither the regular clone troopers or even the elite ARC troopers could match the clone commandos in organization and team-work. Despite the fact that many commandos were indoctrinated in Mandalorian culture and regarded each other as brothers, the Kaminoans were impressed enough to dub their experiment a complete success.
Of course, not every clone was adept in every skill. Hence why there were often specialized clones in each squad, with some specializing in sniping, medical duties, squad leaders or even demolitions and ordnance.
(Enlarge)
The commandos were heavily armed with an array of weapons and technology that were often vital to the success of their missions. They had at their disposal an impressive arsenal of blasters, sniper rifles, and anti-armor launchers, all part of the configurable DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System. They also carried either DC-15s side arm blasters, or shotguns. Wearing advanced Katarn commando armor, clone commandos were the ultimate soldiers. Because the armor was silvery-gray, the other clone troops called them "shiny boys".[16] However, some squads would put special colors on their armor, or a number of dots on the left breast armor pad to symbolize rank and position in the hierarchy of the squad. Other squads would opt for improved camouflage, as was the case with Omega Squad, which wore matte black armor, and Yayax Squad, who wore gray splinter camouflage.
In basic training, the commandos would be instructed in the use of the DC17m, but the weapon system was often swapped with another that suited the particular needs of the squad at that time. The Katarn-class armor, which was standard for the commandos, would also be outfitted with a retractable vibroblade for close range melee combat. Next to their standard-issue weaponry, exotic weapons were also regularly employed. Examples being the LJ-50 Consussion rifle and ACPAG ray blaster.
It was also commonplace for squads to carry with them the E-web weapon system. It was heavy and cumbersome and required set-up in several parts to be operable. In the regular army, the gun would be operated by 2 troopers, but the commandos' training allowed only for one.
(Enlarge)
The standard color of the Katarn armor worn by Republic commandos was silver-gray, regardless of rank. However, an experiment by the Kaminoans allowed for one squad, Delta Squad, to paint their armor as they saw fit and to test its effects on morale in combat. Delta Squad's superior performance during the Battle of Geonosis would pave the way for all other commando squads to paint their armor as well. Some commandos decorated their armor to their individual tastes or according to rank, while others, such as Omega Squad, ordered identical suits of matte black stealth armor, as they found the regular armor was easily spotted when crossing an open field.
(Enlarge)
When the Clone Wars erupted between the reigning Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the clone commandos had just completed a decade of training and were prepared for deployment into Republic service. The Kaminoans' efforts to breed a special forces unit resulted in a number of small, operational squads, each capable of carrying out self-contained or campaign-augmenting missions. They were also highly trained and fiercely cohesive, yet capable of carrying out a variety of mission profiles.
As the Clone Wars began with its first battle on the Separatist world Geonosis, the clone commandos were among of the first units deployed onto the battlefield, undertaking stealth missions to disrupt and destroy droid factories; Delta Squad was responsible for assassinating Geonosian Lieutenant Sun Fac. However, due to the fact that the Jedi had not yet been prepared to lead an army, nor could they distinguish clone commandos from regular infantry troops, roughly fifty percent of the commandos died in the first battle. Despite their training as elite soldiers, the commandos were unfit to perform the role of the infantry-based clone troopers. In the aftermath of the battle, squads that survived intact were kept together, such as Delta Squad, while surviving commandos from various squads were merged together, thus creating new units like Omega Squad. Over the course of the Clone Wars, the commandos were set to work in various other flash-points across the galaxy, wreaking havoc on the Separatist forces
(Enlarge)
Trained from birth to be unflinching loyal and to obey all legal orders without question, the clones executed Order 66, thus resulting in the immediate deaths of thousands of Jedi throughout the galaxy.
After Palpatine declared himself Emperor shortly afterward, the 25,000 year-old Galactic Republic ceased to exist, clearing the way for the rise of the Galactic Empire. Among the many changes that were enacted to reflect the Emperor's New Order, the Grand Army of the Republic was soon reorganized into the Imperial Army and Stormtrooper Corps respectively, the clone troopers were re-designated as Imperial stormtroopers, and the Republic commandos were rechristened as Imperial Commandos.
However, not all of the Republic commandos chose to obey Order 66. A small minority of commandos disregarded the command from the highest level of Republic authority, either out of sympathy for the Jedi Order or due to different personal reasons. With the exception of IC-1136 and IC-1309, the remaining commandos of Omega Squad fled in exile to Mandalore. Due to the subversive influence of Sergeant Kal Skirata (one of the mandalorians summoned by Jango Fett) , and having been indoctrinated into Mandalorian culture, Omega Squad's commandos had been harboring thoughts of desertion for some time prior to Order 66. Instead of serving Emperor Palpatine, they opted to start a new life on Mandalore while also living as fugitives. Also, the Republic commandos of Ion Team regarded Order 66 as an invalid command and refused to execute their Jedi officer Roan Shryne. But unlike the deserters who retreated into hiding on Mandalore, Ion Team was unable to escape from the Empire. With the newly-christened 501st Legion behind him, Darth Vader confronted Ion Team and personally killed two of its members; the remaining two commandos were captured alive by the 501st stormtroopers.
The remainder of the commandos were inducted into the 501st legion and served in mixed squads of clone wars veterans and newly bred stormtroopers. One such unit was the Imperial squad 40.
But due to the accelerated cloning process, the combat effectiveness of the commando squads was reduced drastically and they couldn't retain the respect they demanded decades before.
stuff
| |
