The Clone Wars depicted a variety of weapons on both sides of the conflict. Yet, some vehicles are not used or do not appear very much. Why is that so? Some reasons include suitability for combat and budget decisions.
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Why Were Some Vehicles Not Used in the Clone Wars?
A recent Reddit Star Wars discussion wondered why some seemingly powerful Separatist vehicles were not used in the movies. Since they appear threatening, it would have made sense to deploy them against the Republic and its clone forces.
The OG-9 homing spider droid is the main vehicle shown above. This four-legged battle droid was manufactured by Baktoid Armor Workshop to be used in the Invasion of Naboo and the ensuing Clone Wars. It actually was shown briefly in the First Battle of Geonosis, so we do witness some of its potential.
As reviewed in this video, the homing spider droid could wipe out “rows of clone infantry” with its “homing laser that could sweep through the battlefront.” Deadly indeed, so the question is really why was this vehicle not used more? One reason is that the homing spider droid was not fully suitable for the type of combat in the Clone Wars.
This vehicle, as one Reddit post from above explains, “was more of an artillery piece” that did not work well against “closer infantry units.” Although it had deadly firepower, it may have been restricted by the close combat conditions and was so powerful it could have wiped out too many of the Separatist troops.
Similarly, the TX-130 Saber-class fighter tank was not depicted at all in the movies because it may not have been effective in the mass battles of the Clone Wars. However, this Republic vehicle was a hovertank with two heavy laser cannons designed by Rothana Heavy Engineering for maneuverability and firepower. Wookieepeidia indicates that it was used in the First Battle of Geonosis, but it really appeared in the Imperial Heist and Battlefront II video games.
This breakdown of the TX-130 reveals how it is a maneuverable and fast vehicle, which could have helped in the movie battles. Yet, we find out that mass production was not ready at the beginning of the Clone Wars, which would have restricted its involvement. The ones used in Geonosis were only prototypes.
The IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tank, in contrast, was probably not used on-screen very much because of budget constraints. This vehicle had long-range missiles and twin auto-blasters that could have aided the Separatists. But, as this discussion indicates, the IG-227 was probably cut out to trim costs.
To clarify, the IG-227 did make an appearance in Attack of the Clones, but it gets more screen time in video games like Battlefront II and Galactic Defense.
Other Vehicles That Were Not Shown Much
A previous discussion points out three vehicles that make brief appearances in Revenge of the Sith, only to fall by the wayside on screen.
First, the All Terrain Attack Pod or AT-AP was a “tripedal pod walker” suitable for long-range artillery purposes. The Republic deployed it toward the end of the Clone Wars, and it lived on into the Imperial era. Like the vehicles above, it resides more in video games.
Second, the AT-OT or All Terrain Open Transport has a similar trajectory. As an “eight-legged walker”, it was deployed to transport clone troopers in the Battle of Felucia. This vehicle was relegated to the mobile video game Galactic Defense.
And third, the UT-AT or “Trident” was a repulsorcraft that may have fallen to the wayside because of its redundancy as an artillery and transport vehicle. It garnered even less recognition than the AT-AP and AT-OT.
Vehicles Not Shown Much in the Clone Wars
We have several vehicles that did not get shown very much or at all in the Clone Wars. The reasons come down to combat suitability, production levels, movie budgets, and too much overlap in weaponry.