AT-AT Walker Speed Analyzed

[@darklion118]

I dont know if I saw an AT-AT galloping at me I would be pretty terrified.

[@brandonthesteele]

That's a hilarious image. I'd be laughing all the way to getting squished.

[@AlexSDU]

@@brandonthesteele imagine no more, mate. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmjdfZWdjaqfqaM

[@davfree9732]

Maybe it has a canter mode. Or deplorable skates.

[@BierBart12]

I had a nightmare that had a headless AT-AT galloping after me as a kid.

[@AlexSDU]

@@BierBart12 😂😂😂

[@ginsengaddict]

The AT-AT seems more like it was designed to be used against heavy, entrenched targets, rather than moving ones. It's meant for killing bases, not armies.

[@minorsalaam]

A bunker buster of sorts

[@madogthefirst]

I see it like a heavy breakthrough weapon system kinda like a Tiger I. Its job is to cause a breakthrough and let lighter faster units exploit the gap. As an added bonus it makes a good bunker buster.

[@luisangelmonrealhernandez2732]

Kv 2

[@andrewholdaway813]

Ha that would be its worst move ever. Lumbering monstrosities with minimal armament v massive cannon with every terrain feature ranged in, hidden in concealed impenetrable bunkers. Good luck with that.

[@korkee1111]

@@andrewholdaway813 Sounds like the literal battle on Hoth.

[@Attelino]

Maybe it has a "gallop" mode when it's empty? I think that'd look hilarious :D

[@Robobagpiper]

The AT-ATs galloping would indeed be odd. But what is most astonishing is when their commanders do dressage on the parade field.

[@Xandros999]

I like to imagine the AT-AT is more mobile than it lets on. For example we see one turning to shoot a passing speeder.

[@casbot71]

Footage of *AT-AT's in gallop mode* enjoy. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmjdfZWdjaqfqaM

[@crgkevin6542]

Well, the storyboard animation for Empire has one bunny-hopping in the background... It only keeps pace with the others however, so not terribly fast either. I really want to see an ATAT doing parade dressage now though!

[@ColinPaddock]

casbott Oh god! That was gold!

[@muninrob]

Abrams Tanks don't drive at their max of 45 MpH in combat either - the AT AT is probably moving slower than it's max so the crew can shoot more accurately.

[@Pynaegan]

...not to mention the ground troops sweeping ahead looking for "booby traps" along with the AT-STs.

[@WaxxyOne]

Also, looking at the amount of jostling going on in the main body when it's at "full gallop," it's likely any troops on board would be thrown all over the place. The maximum speed is likely reserved for mostly empty walkers where the need to get into position quickly is more important than bringing soldiers along.

[@jonskowitz]

As we said back in the day, "The gun is stabilized; the crew is not"

[@Woody-nc1ru]

Makes sense to me. Ive gotten rides from the Navy's HSP's, the militarized 40' Fountain's. Yeah its neat doing 50-60knots in rough seas until the 3rd or 4th hit. Your kidneys go down to your ass, plus your holding on for dear life! Everybody is yelling to slow the fuck down....

[@w4rr10r11]

this is what i was thinking. the slow speed we see is more than likely it's assault speed while it would have used it's top speed to reach the base before attacking.

[@greensun5998]

60kph with a wide walking gait, I don't think the troops inside would be in any state to fight after that.

[@ericzaiz8358]

To be fair going 60 in a modern AFV while off roading isn't fun either.

[@onebigchaz]

If they can compensate for thousands of g's of acceleration in spacecraft, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to do the same for a dozen or so g's on a galloping walker...

[@Akm72]

On the other hand the crew in the cockpit don't seem to be affected by rapid swings of the head either, so they're probably using artificial gravity to compensate for the acceleration forces.

[@keithsimonh]

Ever seen an elephant charge? You don't want to ride it.

[@QuestionableObject]

They'd have to use their helmets as vomit buckets lmao

[@TheZoltan-42]

They can actually do 60kmh. They tried it once. It turned the crew into a protein shake.

[@schwarzerritter5724]

Artificial gravity exists in Star Wars, so it can be used to compensate for any effects galloping has on the crew.

[@Luca-ok6sw]

@@schwarzerritter5724 you don’t even need artificial gravity, I think that even with our modern technology you can make so that where there is the crew it’s stabilized

[@AGrayPhantom]

I'm curious even _how_ an AT-AT can move at that pace 🤔

[@TheZoltan-42]

@@schwarzerritter5724 Could be, but why would they put it for normal walk? They don't have ion thrusters either although it could make them walk faster :D Plus, if you look at the internal shots, you will see that their bodies move at each step. There is clearly no artificial dampening there.

[@TheZoltan-42]

@@Luca-ok6sw You wouldn't need, but if you look at them in the films, they are clearly not built that way.

[@mitwhitgaming7722]

I always thought, "what was the point of these things if they're so slow?" But then I realized, before the Rebels figured out how to trip them, these things were basically indestructible moving fortresses!

[@Tayvin4042]

You'd think tripping them would be the *first* idea, given how long those legs are. I know it was my idea when I first saw the film, and I was 5 when I first saw it.

[@StuartLugsden]

Mit Whit Gaming Then they made the AT-M6 which took care of those problems.

[@Shapes_Quality_Control]

Almost like the whole first act of Empire was meant to sell toys.......

[@MathMasterism]

That can only fire in one direction.

[@DrewLSsix]

Angus Jameson Two low mounted ball turrets would have solved that problem, perhaps a single long barrel ion cannon suspended between them🤔

[@shykorustotora]

To be fair, Eckhartsladder and a few other KZbinrs have gone into the Battle of Hoth scene very in depth according to Legends and Hoth was considered rough terrain. On the way to the Rebel Base, they actually lost a few AT-ATs due to the terrain so it makes sense they would move slower and more cautiously from then on. Also, their primary goal was to destroy the shield generator, thin the Rebel forces for ground assault and deploy troops. This meant they weren't empty and so couldn't go max speed even if they wanted to. Not only that, the Empire was well aware that the Rebel Base didn't have the required firepower to take down the AT-ATs (minus look and the tow cables) so they could afford to move slower and give themselves more time for effective firing. If you move too fast, your shots aren't as accurate and you get less shots in before you're out of position. Besides the shield generator, the AT-AT isn't a very good weapon of war, better machines can inflict more damage but the AT-AT is more a psychological weapon too. Its slow, cumbersome and strides towards you fearlessly, a towering metal behemoth of incredible firepower. Its harder to make an army route if they're all laughing at your AT-AT gallop across the landscape like a gazelle TLDR; They didn't move max speed in Hoth anyway, for the same reason an M1 Abrams doesn't drive down a hostile street at 45mph PS. You yourself said in a video titled "The Truth about Asteroid Fields: Star Wars Discussion" that its bad practice to use a single example. If you looked at the AT-ATs move in say the game Empire At War as well, then you wouldn't be putting all your eggs on one "asteroid field" if you get my meaning

[@pubcle]

I do disagree somewhat on effectiveness. They're essentially high accuracy artillery (accurate enough to shoot fighters out of the air in a single shot) against inferior opposition with highly armored troop transport capabilities. They have their place and role, yes an Imperial M-2 Hovertank would generally be more mobile and dangerous but the elevation of the AT-AT allows it to make it's accurate shots and it's armor means anything short of a turbolasers arrangement is going to struggle to damage it. You can argue it inefficient but within the context of it's use I think it fulfills a decent point to support infantry and other vehicles as a terrifying elevated artillery position. Otherwise

[@bobclark5197]

Such "rough terrain" that a guy in a winter flight suit and heavy boots can jog across it...

[@NareshSinghOctagon]

@@bobclark5197 ,like how a man can jog through a muddy field easier then a car which is slipping in the same mud.

[@CalebS1330]

If we compare them to tanks then their slow speed is a huge tactical disadvantage, but if instead we compare them to artillery then their speed makes more sense. Tanks often outpace infantry support to operate on their own, but artillery is typically stationary and requires infantry support. Having artillery that is A: capable of firing while being moved with the infantry, B: capable of seeing over terrain features enabling direct fire, and C: nearly indestructible provided they have infantry support that can deal with smaller harassing units gives the empire a huge advantage. They were probably designed to have a similar walking speed as humans to reinforce this codependency, neither will outpace the other. Hoth is a classic example of being a victim of your own success in warfare: the rebel ground forces collapsed so quickly that the stormtroopers rushed ahead of their artillery support and left the AT-AT's unguarded. It's not the fault of the AT-AT'S designer that the empire's leadership is overconfident and incompetent and uses them in ways that they weren't built for.

[@williammagoffin9324]

Ah, so it's like the Matilda II tank, designed to keep pace with leg infantry but no faster. That would make sense if the Empire didn't have a way to rapidly move infantry across the battlefield as was the case in WWII, but I kind of doubt that. Armies today have figured out how to make their infantry and artillery sufficiently mobile to keep up with tanks, the US Army has the M1 Abrams Tank, M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and M109 Self Propelled Gun that can all move at roughly the same speed to allow an armored force to bring both their infantry and artillery with them. I don't see any reason why the Empire wouldn't have either speeder based or track/wheel based armored vehicles (hell there isn't any reason why they couldn't make a vehicle with both anti-grav speeder system and tracks or wheels... now that's truly 'all-terrain') capable of both transporting infantry and providing fire support that could operate together in the same tactical formation.

[@thefirstprimariscatosicari6870]

Except for the fact artillery can be mounted on much more mobile chassis. Infact most modern artillery is self propelled, except for some smaller pieces like mortars, because those are supposed to be moved by the infantry.

[@WesMordine]

The original comment is sound. Thank you! The ATs are artillery. The AT-M6 is a mobile cannon. AT-STs are the fast tank units.

[@pwnmeisterage]

And yet when artillery was really needed vs the big Rebel-base blast door on Crait the ("improved") AT-AT walkers didn't have enough firepower - they (along with a bunch of TIE fighters and other vehicles) were only the escorts for a "superlaser siege canon". Even so, the walkers _just barely_ provided enough firepower to fight off a ragtag band of desperate Rebels equipped only with obsolete junk. (Indeed, the only reason the siege canon wasn't destroyed involved certain treacherous Rebel "heroics").

[@WesMordine]

@@pwnmeisterage it was a big-ass door!

[@sir_chris]

"I guess today is a good day to die. Prepare for JOGGING SPEED!" Great analysis though.

[@OmegaStudios321]

I remember the AT-AT catching up to Luke's crashed Snowspeeder pretty quickly, I always thought that while the AT-ATs looked slow, they could catch up on you, sort of like a cliche horror villain or something

[@Shapes_Quality_Control]

RubikPanda I think it’s the whole “real time” vs “reel time” thing.

[@Tempusverum]

Trains will do that. They’re so big, from a distance they look slow. Then they’re on top of you, and it’s a blur

[@fobbitoperator3620]

Yeah, kind of like that goofy optical illusion you get, when you witness a C-5 Galaxy at top speed. You'd swear you could get out & run faster that it, especially on your way to the shitter at 9:17 pm on Taco Tuesday!

[@evlkenevl2721]

Exactly like a horror villain. Which means if you get chased by an AT-AT, never hide in the shed or run into the woods. They will already be there.

[@robertg.2111]

They don't need fast, they get dropped near their objective, and kill their way to target slowly... Walking speed is pretty terrifying, if you can't stop it.

[@nessanderson6460]

- every animal humans have decided to hunt

[@dastardlybadger]

I remember a novel making just that point. These things are predominantly meant to terrify whoever they're going against, slowly and inevitably bearing down on them. Which is a good way of explaining their unnecessary size.

[@shorewall]

Luke walked up to one and took it down trivially. If the rebels had walked up to the AT-ATs, they would have had better odds.

[@thehearsglow]

But also, they are easy target for something that can deal with such armor. Let's say torpedoes (which rebels did not have there if recall correctly). Even watched Henry look on why longer legs are better, I cannot see AT-AT more than an Empire try to mimic its predecessor. Maybe it's all about its look. It does look like metal dog in a silly way. There not much visible defense on it, compared to the predecessor, which had a back cockpit (I believe?) and cannons in all directions. Also. I saw it walking vertically, which I cannot imagine AT-AT doing. And rivers. Well, I would choose to walk silently under river to surprise enemy on another shore, than standing above river on a longer leg.

[@DS-tv2fi]

That reminds me of a hilarious WW1 tactical blunder. Basically, the guy in charge of the Canadian forces decided that after an artillery bombardment they should just walk across no man’s land. It goes about as well as you’d expect.

[@MattsCollection]

Robot chicken had AT-ATs drag racing.

[@RJALEXANDER777]

Ha! I knew I'd seen a clip of AT AT's galloping somewhere. Thanks for reminding me of that.

[@leafgreensniper13]

thats canon to me

[@PantsuMann]

@@leafgreensniper13 Especially Boba.

[@EmCeeDrue]

"General Veers, report on the Attack!" "Uhhh..." [Places dixie cup over Hologram]

[@erickuo2786]

those AT-AT are moving at a speed of 100km/h +

[@movieguyproductions4865]

All I can think about in this video is that one shot from empire where the Walker quickly shoots down an air speeder by basically flicking the wrist that is it's neck

[@errantknight-f2z]

That's a great scene

[@Dack.howaboutyou]

Yeah that is a scary sight to behold. Makes you wonder if it was a lucky shot or a truly well trained gunner... and then you do the background research and find out it was probably 'the elite gunner theory'. ;)

[@Rogue284]

Yeah, I always thought that 60 kph was rather fishy. To be fair to the Hoth walkers, they were un unstable and uneven terrain, so moving too fast would have been dangerous. 25 kph might be a reasonable speed for an AT-AT on flat terrain and pushing itself to the limit, creating increased wear and tear on its components and resulting in more likely breakdowns. Walkers are already somewhat maintenance intensive compared to many other forms of vehicles and the AT-AT is very tall and top heavy, making high speeds even more dangerous. That's why the empire has other walkers like AT-PTs and AT-STs, etc. to do the fast stuff while the AT-ATs destroy the hard targets. The main advantage of walkers is their ability to physically penetrate energy shields and navigate difficult terrain. Typically AT-ATs only have to travel a relatively short distance because they are generally landed just outside the shields and penetrate inside, wiping out defenses as they go, a process that takes time to do thoroughly so the AT-ATs themselves don't really need to be all that fast, it's not their battlefield role. They're a battering ram, basically, something to knock the door down into the castle, and while it has its weaknesses it's very efficient at that.

[@jdstreeter]

ALSO HOW FAST CAN THEY MOVE WHILE FIRING? MAYBE THEY NEED TO GO SLOWER FOR THE GUNNERS. JUST SPITBALLING.

[@Shapes_Quality_Control]

If they are moving that slowly because of the terrain then perhaps the moniker “All-Terrain” should not be applied to this ridiculous machine.

[@ryanbarker5217]

seems the hoth terrain isn't that difficult to navigate, though. it's relatively flat and despite being snow-covered the ground is solid. we know it's not ice. of course it's moving this slow for drama's sake, but i always thought about 20 MPH would have been a fair estimate.

[@optimisticallyskeptical1842]

The role of a battering ram is good strategy, but they should have landed fewer of them with a wider range of support vehicles to accompany them. It does meet the rule of cool even if it is a little immersion-breaking.

[@deathsheir2035]

M1A1 Abrams Tank has a combat speed of 10mph, but a maximum speed 45mph. The Slower 10mph is necessary, because at 45mph, you're not hitting much of anything that that gun, because your stabilization can't keep up. So the AT-AT walker, could easily be in a similar boat, the slower speed is their combat speed (stable for the guns to make accurate fire), but able to move faster, when not in combat, when weapon stabilization is a non-issue. Also @The Cinema Cowboy: All terrain, doesn't mean "can move quickly through any terrain" it means "able to traverse any terrain." For something to be all terrain, it needs to be able to move on rocks, snow, sand, mud, etc., without getting stuck. AT-AT seems to be doing a good job, not getting stuck in the snow and ice, so that's a pass. AT-AT was also at the Battle of Endor, on the Forest Moon, which means it is also able to traverse heavily wooded areas. Another pass. In Rogue One, we see them on beaches, which means sand, which means another pass. Show me one terrain the AT-AT cannot traverse, and then I will agree with you the name "All Terrain" needs to be removed.

[@wexfordbuccos_7161]

My one reservation about this is, (and this could simply be an oversight by the movie crew.) is when looking over the AT-AT’s drivers shoulders, you can see them catching up to the rebels running away as they’re being killed by AT-AT weapons systems. The AT-AT appears much faster with the over the shoulder shot Edit: you can see what I’m saying here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH3ZoaaQoLGgfJo 6:35

[@Dack.howaboutyou]

Yeah... I sort of agree, but, well, in brief: i could also see those troops being totally exhausted by the "iron endurance of the Empire war machine" chasing them across that incredibly difficult, cold terrain for quite some distance. After having a bit of a firefight before having to evac+take off running for their lives as well. Just breathing in such cold weather, not to mention carrying gear and trying to avoid being shot in the back, would make it extremely difficult to maintain high run speeds for the average soldier i would imagine.

[@H3zzard]

60km/h is only possible when the Commander of the AT-AT issues the "Go go Imperial Rollerskates!" order.

[@H0kies95]

we’re gonna have to go right to…ludicrous speed!

[@pwnmeisterage]

I'm sure that if Disney can design some sort of "AT-SK8" armored skatewalker as a cool-looking toy then we'll see plenty of them on screen in future Star Wars films/series.

[@chibani-]

@@H0kies95 thank you,you made my day happier :)

[@waaaaaaah5135]

Go Go Imperial Pizza Cutter!

[@KenobiSon]

Many military combat vehicles have two rated speeds. Combat and Travel speed. Our M1A1 Abrams MBT can move at 45mph, but hitting something at that speed is less likely then at 10mph. Also, the AT-AT is a four lagged walker. Just like any four lagged animal. When a horse walks it walks like an AT-AT, but then it picks up speed it changes it's pattern from one lag at a time to two at a time. If the AT-AT changed it's stepping pattern from "one, two left side then, one two right side." to a two at a time like "Left front and right back, then right front and left back" it would be much faster, but less stable for accurate fire. Limiting the AT-AT walker to it's combat walking pattern isn't fair.

[@aralornwolf3140]

Yes, it's not fair. All vehicles have multiple speeds; combat speed, "cruise" speed, and "sprint" speed. There have been many discussions on the AT-AT and other vehicles. I've come up with my own classification of Imperial Walkers around their role as shown in Star Wars Force Commander RTS. AT-PT The AT-PT (All Terrain-Personal Transport) is what I call a dual role vehicle. It acts a mobile command post for infantry formations as well as a Light Assault Vehicle. It's best used in urban settings where the AT-ST can't fit between buildings and against infantry. It has enough fire power to destroy enemy strong points as long as the infantry are capable of keeping anti-vehicle weapons from being used. AT-ST The AT-ST (All Terrain-Scout Transport) is the equivalent of a battle tank. It has twin turbolasers, a laser cannon, and a concussion missile launcher. It's designed to scout the flanks of AT-ATs for infantry and light vehicles, destroying any they encounters. It's also capable of taking out hardened bunkers and anti-vehicle turrets. It's really misnamed. AT-AT The AT-AT (All Terrain-Armoured Transport) is designed to do one thing, frontal assault on enemy positions, especially fortified bases. It's vulnerable to being flanked and can't defend itself from air strikes. It has two blaster cannons and two Class II heavy laser cannons. It's using the weapon systems of a ship unlike the AT-ST which is using the weapons found on mere fighters. It has several Speeder Bikes and carries a couple of platoons of Storm troopers. The speeder bikes are really the scouts for imperial forces. *Shrugs* Edit: As others have said, it's really the Imperial equivalent of Heavy Artillery with the added bonus of being able to transport troops and can defend itself from other vehicles. AT-AA The game is the only place I've seen the AT-AA (All Terrain-Anti-Air). They have one purpose, to destroy fighters, shuttles and other aircraft. The only reason they were included was the designers of the game realized that the walkers were vulnerable to Torpedoes by X-Wings/Y-Wings and with their speed makes it possible for them to attack their flanks unhindered. Why use Imperial Walkers when you could use Infantry and Tie Fighters/Bombers to achieve victory, right? That's what happens when the people making movies design vehicles for aesthetics instead of their practicality, lol. Source for specifics on AT-AT and AT-ST: Star Wars Incredible Cross Sections Published in 1998 by DK Publishing Inc. (Yes, it's totally not cannon now, lol.)

[@Tank50us]

It would make sense for the ATAT to do exactly this. Sure, it can move faster, but it becomes less stable when doing so, and more power has to be directed to the stabilization equipment needed to keep the thing upright. But once they get close to combat distance, they slow down, put that power to the weapon systems, and start their slow methodical imperial march of death and destruction.

[@michaelguth4007]

The AT-AT is supposed to be an armored troop transport. If this thing goes into gallop, this will be a hell of a ride for the passengers... and they will not be in a condition to fight when arrived...

[@roguishpaladin]

@@michaelguth4007 If you put some sort of dampener inside it to minimize the jostle and also consider that troops are expendable to the empire, I think it's still feasible. This is a universe where their tech allows for launching into space with basically no effect on cockpit personnel and jumping to lightspeed exerting a small amount of pressure back into your chair, after all.

[@Mtaalas]

Apologetics in action... trying to make excuses for the fact that wiki's full of crap and this whole thing is sci-fi fantasy anyway that doesn't make any sense anyway... just stop.

[@radishdalek]

Perhaps the reason they are going slow is that they are on snow and ice which may give way. A slower / shorter gait might allow it to recover better if it puts a foot wrong.

[@theot.2869]

Rogue One kinda ruined that explanation

[@tTaseric]

@@theot.2869 There weren't any AT-ATs in Rogue One, What you're seeing is an AT-ACT, designed to carry cargo, They're smaller and have less armour.

[@theot.2869]

@@tTaseric I am aware of that, but they still moved in the exact same manner as the AT-AT's. Also, AT-ACT's are taller than the AT-AT's, not smaller.

[@tTaseric]

@@theot.2869 oof

[@DrewLSsix]

Still doesn’t cover the ground shown in this video, 60kph would be unrealistic at best.

[@RodCornholio]

Clearly the Empire's contractor padded the performance data. Vader's gonna Force choke someone for this.

[@ATATChat]

*I was summoned* To be honest...im a pretty slow walker myself.

[@StuartLugsden]

lol

[@kylebookout1789]

A surprise but a... Lol.

[@ATATChat]

@@kylebookout1789 yo bud!

[@kylebookout1789]

@@ATATChat hey bro bro!

[@JIMvc2]

FBI OPEN UP!! lol

[@PacesIII]

I just imagine someone in front of the ATAT bracing for impact yelling, "Noooooo...!" for an extraordinary length of time.

[@okboomahfromblackrod2939]

"Sir i believe this things are wrapping cables around our legs,Should we stop?"..."We are a walker,if we stop, we are nothing"

[@lordgargamel4124]

Why do you KZbinrs do this? “ Is there something im missing, let me know” Dude you know your not missing anything. Your analysis is spot on. This just gives people shit to argue about. Its been mentioned several times that the AT-AT,s are not practical means of travel. They just look and sound really cool. Their a nice concept. Thats all.

[@nomar5spaulding]

I'll toss my comment in here now I guess. First off, I want to toot my own horn a bit. I'm not an actual expert, nor do I have personal experience, but I am basically an "expert layman" or an "amateur expert" as it were in the field of armored vehicles. With that in mind, I want to point out two things. Thing #TheFirst: Top speed of an armored vehicle is almost always only possible on a road. Tracked vehicles also wear their tracks out very, very fast from high speed driving or driving on paved roads (when I say high speed driving, don't think 60kph either. Think more like above 25 or 30kph). Given how the AT-AT legs seem to work I would expect any high speed operation would probably wear out the mechanical parts in the legs pretty fast, and even more than a tracked vehicle the AT-AT would have to really slow down going across country. Thing #TheSecond: Top speed isn't that important for armored vehicles anyway. It is useful in road marches, but most of the time armored vehicles are transported by other vehicles specifically meant to haul them. This is done for a host of reasons. It is usually faster, more economical, and it saves the wear and tear on the complex and expensive fighting machine and transfers said wear into something like a truck or a train. These types of movements are called "operational movements" The Empire has a special shuttle transport for AT-ATs and it is pretty reasonable that they would use this transporter to conduct operational moments of the AT-AT. What we see them do at Hoth is land their AT-ATs at a safe location, but as close to their objectives as possible. From there the AT-ATs walk into battle. Movements in battle, or in preparation for battle are known as "tactical movements." In the words of Harry Yeide, who is an author, historian, and expert on US use of armor, "tactical moments almost always take place at very low speeds." This particular comment was in reference to the famous speed of the American M-18 Hellcat tank destroyer. The M-18 is frequently praised for its very high top speed of 60mph (yes, mph), but that speed was of very dubious tactical value. Mr. Yeide pointed out that he only knew of 1 time where the impressive speed of the M-18 made any difference. That 1 occasion was during the Battle of the Bulge were a large number of M-18s were able to drive very quickly to Bastonge before it was completely surrounded. These M-18s were crucial to the defenders ability to hold off many German armored attacks and without the M-18s ability to make a very rapid operational movement it is likely that the Germans would have taken Bastonge and wiped out the 101st Airborne Division. TLDR: The speed would probably not actually be that important in battle, and the Empire would probably just use the AT-AT shuttles to move the walkers out of battles and into positions where they could join battles quickly.

[@indigoyarkindell968]

yup, this is spot on.

[@shorewall]

Good points, but it still doesn't change how overrated the AT-ATs are. :D

[@gzuzsavz]

the Sherman Tanks used speed often, they could move faster than the German machines could swivel their turrets, thus getting behind them for the kill shot. K..so unless these AT-AT's walked 10,000 miles (lol), those shuttles bringing them down were in range of the Ion Cannon. That could've been used to either pop the shuttles in descent, or the AT-AT's themselves on the ground..plus with X-Wing, A-Wing etc torpedoes destroying any that slipped past.. unlikely, but unlikely happens in war, daily.

[@SaberKittyZero]

My tank in war thunder has been sitting at 0-5kph for the last 5 minutes as I'm peaking and watching/shooting people. I guess in reality the max speed for a churchill was really only 5kph.

[@zoro115-s6b]

@@gzuzsavz Old comment but Fury is not a good source on tank warfare. Outrunning a tank's turret traverse is only possible at extremely close ranges that are highly abnormal in tank warfare, and even then it's a highly dubious tactic. The sherman's speed had advantages but outrunning an enemy's turret was not one of them.

[@Pongowl]

It is common knowledge that AT-ATs wear heelies in the back for max speed.

[@TheMugHoarder]

Something I noticed is that ATATs were never really deployed alone. The faster and agile ATSTs were typically deployed alongside the walkers as a means the meeting the speed demands.

[@jamiesworkshop3198]

Hats off to the stop motion animators!!! Your work is still being analyzed 35 years later. Great job!!!!

[@anulovlos]

This is like measuring the speed of a Sherman tank (max speed ~45kph depending on variant) based on the assault on the forest we see in Fury. Your speed measurement is correct and the method is sound, however we're watching the walkers in action against a fixed position. The top speed is likely a controlled test, like it was with the Sherman: unloaded, no cargo, no troops, and without any additional equipment, on level ground with good traction. In combat, it'll probably never be in a situation where it can meet that max speed.

[@thefirstprimariscatosicari6870]

Most tanks can reach their top speeds quite handly, mostly because they often have rpm governors to give them a longer life time and spare power, so they never reach their potential top speed, but surely reach their effective top speeds. There are video of modern tanks running around at 70 kph on mud.

[@anulovlos]

This reinforces my point, though. Operational weapons systems in combat are not going to be going their paper-maximum speed.

[@MadManchou]

@@anulovlos What Cato Sicarius said is that listed top speed *is* for a vehicle in combat conditions (which is also why you will generally have on-road speed and off-road speed ; and the engines are bridled in such a way as to make this top speed achievable and sustainable. Also, a ground vehicle's top speed practically isn't affected by its weight ; that is, unless the weight becomes too high for the suspension *or* the ground pressure becomes too high for the surface and the vehicle literally sinks.

[@Derpy-qg9hn]

@@MadManchou Mech speeds might be more weight-dependent, considering the torso ends up moving in a wave-like arc after a certain speed, while tanks.. y'know, don't do that.

[@MadManchou]

@@Derpy-qg9hn It probably depends on the construction and the way the legs move more than just having legs (AT-TEs I should think should be able to achieve quite a good speed while always keeping half their legs on the ground (like some insects)). Having tall legs below the body however means any sort of fast movement has to provide acceleration for a "jump" (or step), and in that case, the higher the weight the greater the vertical acceleration that has to be provided ; all in all, beind in an AT-AT at anything above movie-speed would likely be insanely uncomfortable and require high quality seat-belts.

[@jonsimpson6240]

Early heavy tanks were designed to move at infantry speeds, the movie has stormtroopers moving up with the walkers right?

[@shorewall]

Does it? Why didn't they stop Luke?

[@jonsimpson6240]

@@shorewall i haven't seen the film for quite a while and may be confusing it with the battlefront games. But without seeing the movie again I would suggest that the stormtroopers saw the atat crush Luke's speeder and missed him climbing up after? Realistically I don't know.

[@Dack.howaboutyou]

if by "with" you mean "inside", then the answer is "Yes", but afaik there is no footage showing Empire infantry on the ground, outside, on Hoth. Which to me makes a lot of sense for the "main approach lanes" or "flat areas" the Empire may have chosen as the best approach to take with their 'walkers'; knowing that the Rebels would also put extra defenses in directions/places where the Empire was likely to try to come at them, why risk your troops in the open when you can carry them as far as possible inside a heavily armored gun-platform... right up to the point where you lower quickly to the ground and open the main hatch to disgorge all your troops at once [after clearing the immediate area of obvious danger and hopefully having the 'walkers' travel through/across an area before either stepping back a bit or circling behind some cover to unload, one might insuring that there was no more danger of things like hidden mine fields & other traps set at the location where you drop the troops]. The height/long-legged design might also be an adaptation to attempt to keep the armored-troop-carrying-compartment safe from damage caused by things like mines & traps that were set off from ground level under the 'walker' as well. So there are all sorts of reasons i can see for things potentially going exactly the way we saw it on screen if it was to be attempted in "reality". -just my 2c ;)

[@jonsimpson6240]

@@Dack.howaboutyou I think I might be blending my memory of the movie and the battlefront games...

[@Dack.howaboutyou]

@@jonsimpson6240 :) i've got that game on my to-do list right now actually, thanks for reminding me! Also i must correct myself since we don't actually get any view [that i am aware of] with Empire troops in or near any AT-AT on Hoth; just the pilots+commander inside the head of an AT-AT, and you said specifically Stormtroopers, which category i imagine does not count the vehicle crew, although i'm open to being corrected/wrong there. in RotJ though, we can surmise that the guys who brought Luke to Vader were in that particular AT-AT which came to the landing platform under-walkway docking/hatch-port thingie on Endor].

[@worlds3061]

Who would win ? A band of rebels Or Big walking robot doggo

[@iammonke9203]

Vio Raissa one unfunny meme

[@vinodkumaraug]

Some guy with asthma

[@PizzaHutAsuka]

00:47 this math only works out if you dont factor in the bigger luke theory

[@shorewall]

He's 8 feet tall! :D

[@heavythefatty9942]

What about the at-ats in star wars battlefront 2? there they walk faster then in the movies

[@naisagathefirstdestronmand8559]

They also consistently walk at around 30 kph in Empire at War, or maybe even 60 kph. Regardless, they do walk faster than you would think in EaW, and consistently keep that speed (while still being the slowest thing too).

[@blastech4095]

@@naisagathefirstdestronmand8559 It looks like the AT-AT manages between 1 and 1.33 strides forward each second in Empire at War. If each stride were up to ten meters, then their actual speed would be equal to or less than 36 KM/hour to 48 KM/hour. Still not close to that 60 kph figure but considerably faster than the movies & cartoons. The estimates I made were based on a video on KZbin called "Star Wars Empire At War AT-AT Assault (Quick Skirmish) "

[@naisagathefirstdestronmand8559]

@@blastech4095 I forget which maps they are, but there are many urban maps that have clear flat ground. I can try and make a video showing it if that would help. And get a ground level pov.

[@blastech4095]

@@naisagathefirstdestronmand8559 Yeah that might make a better example of it :) searching YT didn't return many great results

[@newdefsys]

I always thought that riding in an AT-AT would simply beat you to pieces

[@battlesheep2552]

I think the AT-AT is perfectly designed for what they're meant for, which is situations like the Battle of Hoth. There for when the enemy is hiding behind a planetary shield, so you drop the AT-ATs at the edge, have them move through the shield (which they can because they have legs instead of repulsorlifts), and blow up the generator so the Empire can use it's massive navy to take out the base.

[@yeetleskeet854]

I think it comes down to power shunting. Like how TIE Fighter can shunt all power into the thruster and then immediately shunt it into the laser cannons. I think what we are seeing is an ATAT is shunting all its power to weapons in order to effectively annihilate the enemy defenses and also to add to this that speed isn't even needed at this point since the enemy is right in front of it.

[@Sistros]

I love the things you come up with Henry, a true nerd =) In real world or even in star wars universe your arguments are very plausible, besides that, and ignoring "real mechanics", in that particular moment/battle, I would say the AT-ATs are going at that speed in order to maintain formation and cover fire for each other as well as to traverse the dangerous Hoth ground. My humble and quick analysis of it. Super curious to see your and Ecks battle of dreadnoughts =)

[@alexmaclean6132]

Yeah I know old thread, but lets get nerdy baby. Yes you definitely missed something, you actually played the shot that indicates a faster than running speed. When the rebel lines break and theres a camera shot from the AT-AT view screen you can clearly see it overtaking the running away rebels. Like other commentators have stated, they are likely engaging at slower speeds to make it easier to aim.

[@timothyjseitz]

Their on an ice planet so ice thickness might be different in different spots, they might be analyzing this stuff and deciding where to step based on the computer information. Moving fast on a flat, solid ground might be possible, I suspect the AT-AT might carry a large supply of ammo for its weapons or a good number of troops that could be deployed.

[@flyboymike111357]

Anyone else imagining Mayfield cracking jokes, like "Oh, man, that just looks wrong. Like an AT-AT (pronounced @-@) at flank speed. Sheesh!"

[@grand-dadmiral]

Why walk with an AT-AT, when you can gallop? Cheers, love! The cavalry's here!

[@Akm72]

Maybe they lose a lot of weapon accuracy at top speed.

[@Toon_Lucario]

It gets on two legs and runs at you like Officer Earl

[@Kobrar44]

The 60kmph figure is for when you cut its legs and it falls forward.

[@richardched6085]

I also recall the ESB Radio Drama having the AT-ATs "Slow to combat mode" indicating that they were going much faster before entering weapons range of Outpost Beta.

[@thepurespartanify]

I think you are missing something: Tanks dont really use their max speed often unless travelling, in need to get out of somewhere, or showing off. In real life, the M1 often intentionally goes walking speed with security of soldiers or marines nearby for defense from things that get under the turret's angles of fire. The walkers were in a combat scenario, aiming and shooting while walking which likely isnt easy even with systems to keep it steady due to the elevation the guns are put at. Moreover, you dont want to run ahead of your troops nor behind them either. In their style of assault they were all fairly close to each other to keep pace and ensure their firepower was in a battle line style of attack-- maximizing the fire put onto the rebels. Alternatively, you could just rush the rebels and watch ATATs trip over trenches, turrets, and get destroyed by a squadron of snowspeeders they were too eager to attack

[@Kjf365]

One other important thing to note is that going slower adds to the fear factor which is part of its design. Something that can and wants to kill you but is in no rush to is infinitely more terrifying than something that will appear in your face and give you adrenaline.

[@shorewall]

What a terrible design.

[@Kjf365]

@@shorewall How was any of that bad design? This was all positives.

[@dennisrichards2540]

I always looked at AT-AT's like infantry support vehicles, armoured highup platforms with a good veiw of the battlefield, it would make sense that their speed would match foot soldiers to some degree so they wouldn't find themselves too far forward and vunerable to Ambush/traps etc.

[@LoneWolf20213]

What about the AT-TE How fast can that actually move

[@Shapes_Quality_Control]

leon fierce I bet they are slower but a great deal better designed.

[@jedigecko06]

I can see it now. Bounding along like a kangaroo...

[@sternencolonel7328]

they are also listed at 60km/h

[@BierBart12]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKOpen-rZrWDo8k Someone built an actual walking lego one. I can't really imagine it moving much faster than this, though they are a little bit faster in the Clone Wars game for Gamecube.

[@richardched6085]

In some other shots we see the Snowspeeder in comparison making the AT-AT appear Much larger. Around 60+ Meters tall!

[@greebo6549]

Rebels see AT-AT in the distance Retreat... Run away, run away... Nope, I'll pack up and all my stuff first then walk away.

[@termeownator]

Love that you use the proper pronunciation. When I hear "At, at" like the English words it irks me to no end... I mean, what do they call chicken walkers? At Ests? Great video by the way, love your stuff...

[@DoubleADwarf]

I always figured it was pure intimidation. They didn't have to move fast, because up to that point, nobody could take one down. The sight of one of these huge armored _things_ lumbering toward your base, with artillery that could knock down buildings from kilometers away and filled with troops besides, was probably a calculated display meant to break the Rebel forces' resolve. If there are that many Walkers headed toward your base, the fight is lost, it's just a matter of when you figure that out. And remember, even if they figured out how to take one of them down, the Battle of Hoth was still a rebel loss.

[@dannyawesome8759]

Maybe its walking so slow because it shoots while walking? Because like if you go like 30-60 kmh with and AT-AT the "head" would just go up and down and the blasters would not hit anything.. Just a thought tho

[@maestro-zq8gu]

I suppose if they bent their legs backwards like a dog or horse, they could get some extra speed.

[@0rdmantell]

Congratulations on the GeekTyrant article today! I hope it brings more recognition to your work on your channel. I wonder why it took them 5 months to find this video.

[@ochiamu]

I really liked this video. Please consider doing the AT-ST as well! I always liked the design and utility of it

[@TN-3953]

Since the AT-AT's movement and gait were based on that of elephants, I can only imagine that at their max speed they would be "charging" like an elephant would. However moving at this speed likely wouldn't be viable over unstable terrain like Hoth's permafrost, and wouldn't allow the gunners to accurately fire the weapons.

[@andrewgilbertson5672]

The answer to the dilemma of walker top speed is clear; the Star Wars universe uses the Imperial Kilometer, based on the Imperial meter, which is much shorter than the metric system we use on Earth. ;-)

[@DecidedlyNinja]

Which makes the underwhelming atmospheric speeds of starfighters much worse. X-Wings would be about as fast as WWI biplanes, which actually seems about right.

[@TheDeathMongrel]

They probably use a different walking pattern when walking much faster, like a horse changes when prancing, cantering or galloping. Not saying it's going to get up to the max speed listed on the site either, but odds are it's not just a matter of faster/slower. With regard to your question on them moving so slowly being useful--IMHO they're herding the rebels, making sure most of the ones on the ground, are running away/dying in front of them. After all, you see what happens when someone gets underneath, gets a grappling ride to the underbelly, and has a bit of revenge. Of course, if it were my AT-AT, it would have a couple of those popup/dropdown guns like on the Falcon.

[@AiRJacobs]

The fastest I've seen an AT-AT move was in Empire At War. Robot Chicken doesn't count.

[@BierBart12]

The speed they move at in that game actually looks like it's between 30-40km/h.

[@Dylanschillin]

"that's pretty much the average walking speed of a person" have you been in public? you can walk that fast comfortably but most people seem to wanna sandbag everyone

[@tyree9055]

As an experienced Imperial AT-AT driver, our primary concerns are following orders and keeping the guns upright (as well as pointed in the right direction). All else are secondary considerations. The AT-AT's primary traits are good firepower and armor, but it suffers from poor handling and maneuverability. Since nearly everything on the battlefield can move faster than us, we rely upon our long range to defeat them before they get too close. Once they close the distance, our Stormtrooper's superior firepower wins the day. The only downside to them is when you have to relieve yourself (it's a long way down) and trying to mount up in a hurry. Our Commander requested jet packs for us but we haven't heard from him since...

[@torydavis10]

Clearly a small bomb bay door in the cabin is cheaper, faster, and just plain more pleasant in foul weather than a jetpack.

[@timothypryor7952]

The main point of the AT-AT moving slowly was so it could be used both as a psychological weapon of terror and as a mobile artillery platform to soften a target up for the impending attack of storm troopers those walkers tend to carry. Please see standard Imperial military doctrine for more details.

[@triforcefx]

Maybe the 60kph is just what the speedometer says. There's plenty of vehicles today that can't achieve the speedometer max speed even with ideal conditions. Or it's Empire propaganda... "You want to rebel? No problem, we'll just send our super fast, super powerful AT-ATs after you"

[@HG-jy3bl]

The reason it looks wonky is because the sped up footage is still a walking gait. Now imagine that if not in battle, the AT-ATs were able to stride/run two legs at a time. Think mechanically of how animals change their gait with their speed. I'd only assume a walker would do the same.

[@JingIeFett]

That's what I was thinking too. In running mode it would move differently and do stuff like lean forward a bit, crouch slightly so its legs can go farther, etc.

[@Wh40kFinatic]

That 60 KPH actually came from a re-print of Incredible Cross-Sections, where in the back it lists all the vehicles' specs.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

And all of those 'stats' are complete BS.

[@konserwowy1092]

Much, much earlier. My copy of Star Wars RPG Second Edition from 1992 lists 60 kp/h.

[@robbyf5885]

"It's in combat mode you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder!" -Empire AT-AT Supplier

[@mitchellhayward6492]

I remember the first time I saw 60kph, and I remember thinking it sounded way too generous

[@andrewgilbertson5672]

Awesome. This is what I love about your channel- questions I never thought to ask about Star Trek and Star Wars, that I immediately love seeing the answer for. :-)

[@luvz2reed]

Hamill is 5'-8" as a base height. Keep in mind he's wearing boots and a helmet. This means the AT-ATs are larger than your estimate, which means they are traveling further than estimated in the same time. Probably not significantly, but somewhat.

[@ByteSizeTech]

I'll be fun... they were stop-motion animations done with tiny models on a film set, that's why they look that way. :)

[@StuartLugsden]

I know this isn't related but, how is that Battle of the dreadnoughts animation coming?

[@ECHenry]

Pretty sure that will be released soon! Stay tuned for news from EckhartsLadder.

[@StuartLugsden]

@@ECHenry Cool, good to know.

[@MistahFox]

If they're moving at walking speed, there is actually real-world precedent for that. In World War 2, Britain didn't have 'heavy tanks', they had infantry tanks. Their only purpose was to stay with the infantry, as slow as jogging speed so they could cover the infantry in any way they can. That's what the Churchill was, and having such a low gear ratio meant it could have a ton of armor without inhibiting its function.

[@Centurian128]

I think that the higher speed it for getting to the combat zone. Speed can be an asset in combat but accuracy generally suffers because of it. Not to mention that the Empire was more interested in looking intimidating rather than being combat effective.

[@planetphatness]

They destroyed the base, they were effective enough.

[@blastech4095]

Excellent video. Subscribed & rang the bell :) Cool content

[@tTaseric]

Tarkin Doctrine at it's finest

[@jonathonfreeman9233]

Walkers were definitely more ground support and siege vehicles as opposed to all purpose tanks. I.e. fleet drops them in outside the target where they can smash it apart for any circumstance where orbital bombardment wouldn't work. As such, it doesn't need anything greater than a lumbering speed. Just enough to keep up with infantry, tanks, and other ground forces. Which, it is worth noting that the empire had plenty of those (tanks, infantry, etc, general purpose stuff). I always figured these things were stored until the Empire needed a really big honkin' sledge hammer to invite themselves in for dinner.

[@Pynaegan]

If we want to get knit picky, look how slow the "speeders" are flying!

[@TheInfurnos]

Same thing crossed my mind if they are only moving 3mph , by the looks of the speeders they shouldn't be able to maintain lift and crash due to stall speed. Unless they are anti-gravity or something. (was it really speeders vrs them on Hoth? thought that was some sort of actual space craft fighter not a (land-speeder).

[@Pynaegan]

@@TheInfurnos They're "speeders" and just about anything that "flies" in Star Wars uses "repulsor lift" technology so "lift" isn't an issue. Damn few ships in Star wars could work in the real world based on physics alone.

[@mrsejd3446]

if you think about it AT-AT's shouldn't walk too fast because 1. they want to shoot at their enemies and not step on them 2. they need to move pretty slowly so they can aim more accurately

[@BumbleCrumble1072]

But Robot Chicken showed us that that can sprint.

[@TaisharEnder]

Josh Evans and jump and leap and pose and generally not help win the battle lol. Also you can put troopers in the back and guarantee a smoothie will come out when the race is over.

[@macker33]

Well if the AT-ATs are performing infantry support then it makes sense that they are travelling at low speed, also low speed is a more stable firing platform.

[@ShotDownInFlames2]

That is a very good comment: infantry support is their mission. And they fire from an elevated position.

[@akumaking1]

Can you estimate the speed of the AT-TE?

[@russellharrell2747]

AT-ATs (and AT-STs) might not have been the primary ground assault vehicles of the empire, but merely what vehicles worked for a specific mission. The walkers of the AT series would be ‘grounded’ like the battle droids of TPM and could thus walk right through the Rebel’s shield, something that repulsive tanks or perhaps even tracked or wheeled vehicles were unable to do. The walkers were also ‘all terrain’ vehicles, stating they could traverse the widest possible variety of terrain and presumably operate in all environments. Hoth’s climate is very difficult to adapt to for most technology and vehicles, with the rebels needed a lot of time to get their T-47 speeders working even during daylight temperatures. The Empire has no time to prepare any of their vehicles for the assault due to Ozzel bringing the fleet out of hyperspace too close to the system. It’s possible the probe droid’s transmission included environmental data but the tech that transmission was only a fragment as stated in the film, probably denying the Empire any good intel on current conditions on Hoth, and leaving them with only past survey data to work with. To sum up, the slow troop transport walkers that would be best left behind friendly lines were the only vehicles available that could be used in the assault, even lacking air support due to the hash conditions at Echo Base. The Empire May have indeed possessed far more capable vehicles for front line warfare but we never got a chance to see them other than the scout walkers and speeders on Endor, a heavily forested world that probably prevented the deployment of more powerful and defensive equipment.

[@originalbestdadofgaming]

0:13 I always thought in this shot that the walkers could literally outrun the rebels

[@YellowpowR]

When is the U.S. gonna drop the imperial system and adopt Luke units already?

[@perfectionbox]

star wars... a universe full of big antigrav vehicles, but AT-ATs are used instead. wtf?

[@theencolony5595]

Large repulsorlift vehicles (such as the AAT, a smaller assault tank) use incredible amounts of energy and waste heat, and something the size of an AT-AT would require a sizable reactor attached, and would likely char/melt the ground underneath

[@woolfoma]

Antigrav jammer. Much like hyper-drives, everything crazy advanced has an Achilles heel. Good old steel (and its more powerful counterparts) never refused to work because someone created a "mass shadow" or whatever.

[@Zavakar]

@@theencolony5595 what about the MTT those were pretty damn big

[@theencolony5595]

@@Zavakar true, and in lots of games that have them, you can actually see the heat radiating underneath them

[@casbot71]

It would be relatively easy and cheap for another military force to design a _smaller, cheaper_ wheeled or tracked vehicle that could shrug off fire from at AT-AT and *one shot* one. That's without even considering running rings round that *plodding Walker* and getting out of its field of fire and staying there. Imagine if the Corellians or Incom decided to make a specific counter for AT-AT's, let alone the Mon Calamari… they've seen hermit crabs. Actually *Incom* already make a counter to the AT-AT, it's called the X- Wing.

[@captainrgd1565]

You should do Starfleet communicators!

[@rominkivela9351]

Reb Grunt: Sir, we have incoming Imperials... Reb Officer: Ok, so what've they got? RG: Uh... 3 Imperial walkers galloping at us sir. RO: AT-STs? Bring out the rocket launchers then. RG: Uh, sir? These are AT-ATs... Meanwhile in the AT-AT cabin: bonkbonkbonkbonkbonkbonkbonkbonkbonkbonk

[@magnuscamper]

The AT-AT walker design is as ridiculous as Emperor Palpatine's Surgical Reconstruction Center.

[@jumbo4billion]

I've fallen and I can't get up

[@petermay6235]

That moment when you realize every Imperial weapon is designed around intimidation over combat effectiveness

[@Pouk3D]

You can't measure in Luke units with his arms raised up.

[@MistahFox]

If we look for a historical example, then the Churchill tank fits quite nicely. It's role as an infantry tank meant it was supposed to fight alongside the infantry and never outpace them, so it was intentionally limited via gearing to never outpace an infantryman jogging. This insane torque meant the designers could keep adding armor without it slowing down, and it could also climb hills unreasonably well. If the AT-AT is intentionally slowed down so it always fights alongside the infantry, then it probably wouldn't do so bad in combat if it only was used in sieges.

[@ProPatriaRO]

Star wars isn't renowned for it's machine practicality.

[@augustsawzak5401]

It is renowned for its coolness though

[@ProPatriaRO]

@@augustsawzak5401 i have to admit the TIE fighter is one sexy craft. AT-ATs were never my cup of tea.

[@augustsawzak5401]

@@ProPatriaRO the stop motion on the AT-ATs looks wonky, but that shot where you see them through the binoculars is pretty sick

[@ProPatriaRO]

@@augustsawzak5401 first time i saw that, i thought man, that thing will be a magnet for every enemy aircraft and anti-armor gun withing 20km. Also, no fighter support.

[@paulomr445]

2:40 AT AT approaching slowly. 3:05 AT AT will arrive sooner than we thought. 2:47 AT AT is approaching at alarming speeds 2:55 AT AT approaching too fast losing track

[@666wurm]

It‘s a stupid design. Too slow, too easy to topple, too big of a target.

[@planetphatness]

I’m guessing they’re meant to be intimidating

[@Palmerrip]

I do have a theory that the AT-AT moves quickly up to their objective. And slow to a battle pace to maximize the terror to the enemy. It is a walking gun platform and intended to smash and subdue defenses.

[@T33K3SS3LCH3N]

Anyone knowing about the engineering history of tanks also knows why walkers are such a silly idea. Wheels (with or without tracks) are far more efficient than legs, and yet tanks were always pushed to the edge of their reliability and fuel consumption. A walker would be simultaneously much weaker armed and armoured, much less fuel efficient, slower, and less mechanically reliable. Now for urban warfare a two legged walker may become an option to use cover and traverse terrain better, but there is no chance for stuff like AT AT to superseed tanks in the open.

[@jumbo4billion]

Also, they don't like they would be very handy in areas that aren't flat.

[@Turambar3791]

This is when Legolas should say something like "Didn't you listen nothing about what Obi Wan said? All depends of our point of view"

[@ralpho37]

Very cool video! We do see AT-AT’s moving at a roughly 30 km/h pace in video games and it looks very natural.

[@LordKalte]

When was the last time you went to max speed with your car?