Blaster (Star Wars)
Template:SW-in-universe In the fictional Star Wars universe, the most common weapon is the blaster. This category of plasma-converting laser-firing rayguns includes various handheld pistols, mounted rifles, and other powerful weapons.
Behind the scenes
Most of the blasters used in the Star Wars movies are existing real world firearms redressed to appear exotic and futuristic. Many of these firearms are modified to fire blank cartridges in order to provide a muzzle-flash on-camera; laser bolts are animated in post-production.[1]
Description
The blaster pistol is the standard ranged weapon of military personnel and civilians in the galaxy. Blasters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, delivering a wide variety of damage and range capabilities. There are three main types of blaster features within the Star Wars Universe:
- Blaster pistol - small weapon that is usually easy to conceal, usable in one hand, and semi-automatic
- Blaster rifle - any of various shouldered weapons that may range from large, long-distance sidearms to carbines and military rifles
- Blast/blaster cannon - a bulky handheld blaster that fires large, high-powered bolts or multiple bolts at once
Technology
The basic blaster technology of intensifying a beam of energy into a deadly bolt is scalable, and largely the same despite the differences in weapon types and sizes. The interior mechanisms of a tiny hold-out blaster, a blaster pistol, a large blaster rifle, and a turbolaser cannon are based on the same theories and principles. A squeeze of a trigger emits volatile blaster gas into a conversion chamber, where it is excited by energy from the weapon's power source. The agitated gas is then funneled through the actuating blaster module, where it is processed into an intense particle or plasma projectile. A prismatic crystal focuses the beam, and passes it through a refinement chamber which galvanizes the beam into its final bolt shaped like a cone, similar to the shape of the ballistic coefficient.
Examples of blasters
A-280 blaster rifle
The BlasTech A-280 blaster rifle is the standard-issue blaster rifle among the soldiers of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic. The A-280 blaster rifle was seen in the hands of Rebel Alliance soldiers during the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, as well as in the hands of Rebel Alliance commandos during the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi.
The BlasTech A-280 blaster rifle prop that was seen in The Empire Strikes Back was built from the World War II-era German Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle. The A-280 blaster rifles that were seen in the hands of the Rebel Alliance commandos in Return of the Jedi appeared to be a mixture of the original A-280 blaster rifles from The Empire Strikes Back and A-280s that were built from parts and components from the M-16/AR-15 series rifles, especially parts and components from Colt Commando rifles.
DH-17 blaster pistol
The BlasTech DH-17 is a weapon used by both the Imperial Navy and Rebel Alliance/New Republic Navy officers. It is primarily designed for ship use, where it can pierce blaster armor although not a ship's hull.
DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle
The BlasTech DLT-19 is the standard-issue heavy blaster rifle carried by Imperial stormtroopers based on Tatooine. Due to its farther shooting range it is known to be used as an anti-aircraft weapon to shoot down such vehicles as the swoop bike, or even light airspeeders. The DLT-19 is based on the German MG-34/MG-42 machine gun.
E-11 blaster rifle
In the films, the E-11 prop was made from the British Sterling submachine gun.
The E-11 blaster rifle is the standard-issue weapon for Imperial stormtrooper in the film series.
DC-15
The DC-15 blaster rifle is a common weapon used by the Republic clone troopers. This was seen being carried by a majority of clone troopers in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
Further reading
- Sansweet, Stephen J. (1998). Star Wars Encyclopedia. The Ballantine Publishing Group. ISBN 0-345-40227-8.
- Slavicsek, Bill, Collins, Andy, and Wiker, JD (2002). Revised Core Rulebook (Star Wars Roleplaying Game). Lucas Books. ISBN 0-7869-2876-X.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Grubb, Jeff and Stephens, Owen K.C. (2002). Arms and Equipment Guide (Star Wars Roleplaying Game). Lucas Books. ISBN 0-7869-2782-8.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Stephens, Owen K. C. (2001). Starships of the Galaxy (Star Wars Roleplaying Game). Lucas Books. ISBN 0-7869-1859-4.
- [1]Wookipedia]]
References
- ^ citation needed
External links
- The Parts of Star Wars - a detailed website on the weapons of the Star Wars saga