T-47 airspeeder

The T-47 airspeeder was a popular model of airspeeder manufactured by Incom Corporation. Designed for industrial cargo hauling, the T-47 was commonly adapted for combat duty. The Alliance to Restore the Republic made heavy use of modified T-47s, including adapting them for cold-weather duty dubbed "snowspeeders".

Description[]

Original specifications[]

Manufactured by Incom Corporation, the T-47 was a basic airspeeder model. Designed for operation inside a planetary atmosphere, the T-47 was intended to be used for industrial cargo hauling,^[5] shipyard towing,^[6] personal transportation, and courier duties.^[4] The craft was crewed by a pilot and cargo manager. The forward-facing pilot controlled the craft, while the rear-facing cargo manager was responsible for using the airspeeder's power harpoon launcher. The power harpoon could launch a durasteel tow cable that was attached to cargo modules.^[5]

It employed a conventional^[5] and reliable Karydee KD49 repulsorlift drive unit paired with a Incom Corporation 5i.2 high-powered ion drive afterburner. As with the majority of Incom's products, the T-47 was designed with end-user modification in mind due to the varied nature of the galaxy's industrial and commercial economies. As such, the craft generated a large amount of power, employed a modular design philosophy, had a number of redundant electrical systems,^[2] and included universal power couplings and modular data input.^[6] Because of these features, the T-47 could handle the weight and power demands of aftermarket modifications. Incom sold a number of modification packages themselves, and others were produced by smaller manufacturers.^[2]

Combat modifications[]

Officially, Incom Corporation denied any rumors that the T-47 was being used in a combat capacity using aftermarket modifications. Nevertheless, several paramilitary and insurgent groups were known to have modified the T-47 for combat duty.^[2]

When the Alliance to Restore the Republic began adapting the vehicles for combat duty, their first task was to arm the craft with twin laser cannons. The cargo manager position was converted into a dedicated gunner seat. The gunner used computerized targeting systems and holographic projection displays and controlled both the forward-facing laser cannons and the rear-mounted harpoon gun, although the pilot was capable of taking control of the lasers.^[5] Armor plating was added to the T-47, although the speeder lacked any shields.^[5]

History[]

A T-47 airspeeder modified as a snowspeeder

Incom's T-47 was a popular airspeeder throughout the galaxy, favored by young pilots.^[4] During the early Galactic Civil War, the Alliance to Restore the Republic modified a number of T-47s for combat service. T-47s were deployed to the planet Dantooine and other worlds to perform reconnaissance.^[5]

When the Alliance relocated to the ice planet Hoth, Rebel technicians worked to adapt the T-47s stationed at Echo Base to operate in cold weather. After further extensive modifications, the T-47s were successfully deployed on Hoth, becoming known as "snowspeeders."^[5] Following the Battle of Hoth, the T-47 continued to be used by the Rebel Alliance and the harpoon-and-tow cable tactic was employed in other battles, including the Battle of Kothlis.^[7]

Variants[]

Further modifications were made to the T-47s, adapting them for specific environments.^[5]

Snowspeeder[]

Main article: Snowspeeder

The snowspeeder was a modified version of Incom Corporation's T-47 airspeeder. Adapted by the Alliance to Restore the Republic for combat duty on the ice planet Hoth, snowspeeders were integral to the Alliance's defence of Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth.^[1]

Sandspeeder[]

Main article: T-47 sandspeeder

The T-47 sandspeeder was a variant of the Incom T-47 airspeeder utilized by the Alliance to Restore the Republic in desert conditions during the Galactic Civil War.^[8]

Swampspeeder[]

Main article: Swampspeeder

Swampspeeders were T-47 airspeeders adapted to serve in swampy environments or swamp planets by the Alliance to Restore the Republic.^[5]

Skyspeeder[]

Main article: Skyspeeder (airspeeder)

Skyspeeders were T-47 airspeeders adapted to serve in high-altitude environments by the Alliance to Restore the Republic.^[5]

Aquaspeeder[]

Main article: Combat Aquaspeeder

Hydrospeare Corporation's Combat Aquaspeeder was an aquatic design based on the T-47 airspeeder. As a part of the "modification packages" from Hydrospeare, the company's Design Team Beta took the Incom design and made it aquatic.^[9]

Behind the scenes[]

Kenner had planned to make a desert-based version of the T-47 airspeeder called the Sandspeeder, colored orange and red, although the toy's production had been cancelled.^[10]