R2-SHW

"Admiral, this is Blue Leader standing by."

―Antoc Merrick calls in for him and R2-SHW^[4]

R2-SHW was an R2 series astromech droid that served in the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War against the Galactic Empire. In 1 BBY, it flew in a T-65B X-wing starfighter with General Antoc Merrick, the leader of Blue Squadron, during the Battle of Scarif, in which the Alliance engaged the Empire above the planet Scarif in order to try and steal the plans to the Death Star superweapon.

During the fighting, Merrick and R2-SHW were among the members of Blue Squadron who made it through a Shield Gate above Scarif to support rebel forces on the surface of the planet. While fighting beneath the shield, R2-SHW and Merrick perished when their starfighter was shot down by an TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter.

Biography[]

Scrambled for Scarif[]

"Blue Squadron, get to the surface before they close that gate."

―Raddus —

Listen (file info)^[4]

R2-SHW was an R2 series astromech droid^[3] that flew as part of the Starfighter Corps of the Alliance to Restore the Republic's Navy during its war against the reigning Galactic Empire. The astromech droid was part of^[4] the Massassi Group, a portion of the rebel forces who were based in the Great Temple on the moon of Yavin 4.^[6] In 1 BBY,^[1] the forces at the temple were scrambled to fly to the planet Scarif and support a group of rebels there who were attempting to steal the plans to the Empire's Death Star superweapon from an Imperial compound. R2-SHW was loaded into an T-65B X-wing starfighter that was being flown by General Antoc Merrick, with the pair using the callsign Blue Leader and leading Blue Squadron. Merrick and R2-SHW jumped out of hyperspace with the rest of the Alliance fleet above Scarif, where an Imperial fleet guarded the world above a planetary shield only breachable through a Shield Gate.^[4]

R2-SHW-RO — R2-SHW flew with Antoc Merrick at the Battle of Scarif.

Shortly after their arrival, Admiral Raddus, leader of the Alliance fleet, ordered Blue Squadron to get through the gate and support the rebels on the surface below. Merrick and R2-SHW then dived toward the gate with the rest of their squadron as the Imperials began to close it. Their fighter was one of thirteen that made it through the gate before it shut, with other squadron members crashing or being trapped outside the shield.^[4]

Beached[]

"General, behind you!"

―A Blue Squadron pilot warns Merrick of him and R2-SHW's impending doom^[4]

R2-SHW-Hasbro — R2-SHW served in the Rebel Alliance's Blue Squadron.

Inside the shield, Merrick and R2-SHW's fighter reached a group of rebels under attack by All Terrain Armored Cargo Transports and managed to destroy one of the Imperial walkers. Blue Squadron then continued attacking walkers until Merrick ordered its UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft to begin deploying troopers onto the beaches, at which point he and the other X-wing starfighters began providing aerial cover. After a TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter began chasing one of the other Blue Squadron fighters, Merrick and R2-SHW managed to destroy the TIE.^[4]

Alongside another Blue Squadron fighter, they then attacked a trio of TIE/sk x1s escorting a TIE/rp Reaper attack lander. The TIEs destroyed Merrick's wingmate while the general destroyed one of their number in return, but a trio of the TIE/sk x1s then pursued Merrick and R2-SHW and shot down their X-wing, killing the pair when the fighter crashed into the beach and exploded. The Alliance ultimately managed to successfully steal the plans, but sustained heavy casualties in doing so.^[4]

Characteristics[]

R2-SHW had red and black paneling on its body, as well as silver and black paneling on its dome, and a black sensor.^[3] As an R-series R2 unit, it was manufactured by Industrial Automaton^[2] and stood 0.96 meters (3 ft, 2 in) tall.^[5]

Behind the scenes[]

R2-SHW first appeared in the 2016 Anthology Series film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The droid was not identified in the film,^[4] but received a name in 2022 with the announcement of a figure of the droid being released in 2023 as part of the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection line of action figures made by Hasbro Inc.^[3]