- "I hate spiders! Crush them like the bugs they are!"
- ―X1
The OG-9 homing spider droid, sometimes referred to as the spider walker or the Separatist spider droid, was a droid walker manufactured for anti-vehicular combat by the Commerce Guild before and during the Clone Wars.
Characteristics[]
Like the Republic's Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery walkers, it was effective against both ground-based and airborne targets and was designed to transport a large and devastating weapon throughout the battlefield. The homing spider droid's round, armored body contained a volatile reactor. If the core was breached, the reactor violently exploded.
The homing spider could cover wide areas of the battlefield with its four all-terrain legs. Because of its great height and extendable hydraulics, the walker could position its homing laser above its fellow droids at enemy targets or move to higher ground to blast at air vehicles. However, the legs were vulnerable to damage, and if just one hydraulic leg was disabled, the entire vehicle would crash to the ground. This was fairly easy to do because it was a slow vehicle. Despite its weaknesses, the homing spider could walk along the bottom of seabeds, fully submerged in water, as well as scale steep cliffs.[5]
The spider walker's chief weapon was a laser emplacement mounted atop the droid's round body. This circular dish fired a precision homing laser that could be maintained until the drone's internal power supply was finished. This sustained firepower allowed the homing spider to weaken shields, destroy armored vehicles and scythe down troop formations.[1]
An antipersonnel cannon below the walker's round body could be used for close-quarters combat, while a retractable ion cannon could be added to disable starships or other powerful vehicles. There were also weapon mounts that allowed other armaments to be fixed to the droid. Sensor equipment fitted into the homing spider, enabled it to target and keep track of moving enemy targets.[1]
Homing spider droids were distinguished by a number code alone and did not have developed personalities or long-term memory modules. Instead, they possessed an internal logic processor and military protocols for long-ranged missions, but the droids were often programmed to receive orders directly from a Central Control Computer.
History[]
- "It is fortunate that these clone troopers know no fear."
- ―Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, upon first seeing the homing spider droid
The homing spider droid was developed by Baktoid Armor Workshop prior to its dissolution by the Trade Federation not long after the Invasion of Naboo. During Baktoid's final days the company tried to sell many of its designs, and the Commerce Guild purchased several droid models, including the spider walker.
Like the other combat automata deployed by the Commerce Guild, the homing spider droids were originally developed to enforce the Guild's laws and to ensure that its customers paid their debts, as well as to protect Guild assets.[6]
The homing spider droid first appeared during the Battle of Geonosis in the service of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, where spider droids such as unit 81 fought against the Grand Army of the Republic. During that battle, they provided protection for Trade Federation Lucrehulk-class core ships and annihilated whole contingents of enemy All Terrain Tactical Enforcers, although they were subdued by LAAT/i strikes.[7]
After Geonosis, homing spider droids became common staples of Confederate armies. They were used fairly extensively in the Dark Reaper crisis early in the war, although they were often destroyed by Jedi-piloted TX-130 Saber-class fighter tanks.[8] A number of droids were used in the defense of the Commerce Guild world of Felucia,[9] and many destroyed units remained there as late as 2 BBY.[10]
Following the execution of the Separatist Council by Darth Sidious's new apprentice, Darth Vader, all droid units used by the Confederacy were de-activated.[9]
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
- LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
- LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
- LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
- Giant spiders are awesome.... on LEGO's official website (original article) (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Sith make the best pancakes on LEGO's official website (original article) (content now obsolete; backup link)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles video game
- LEGO Star Wars: Microfighters video game (Picture only)
- Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided (Depicted in painting only)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 film
Sources[]
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
- The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
- Star Wars Battlefront: Prima Official Game Guide
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary
- Star Wars Battlefront II: Prima Official Game Guide
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary (Picture only)
- Star Wars Miniatures — Bounty Hunters
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Clone Wars Campaign Guide
- Friday Feature – Game Update 12 -- Engineering Trader on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 37
- homing spider droid in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- The Essential Guide to Warfare
- Star Wars: Force Collection (Card: Commander Ponds) (Picture only)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Star Wars Battlefront II: Prima Official Game Guide
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Clone Wars Campaign Guide
- ↑ Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
- ↑ Star Wars: Clone Wars
- ↑ homing spider droid in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Complete Locations
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars video game
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game