How Were AT-AT Walkers Transported to Different Planets?

Quick trivia for my audience, which walker from the Empire holds the title for the largest in size?

The answer is ready in 3…2…1!

It’s the AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport), standing at a jaw-dropping height of 22.5 meters (about 74 feet) and weighing around 1,020 metric tons.

Here’s another question, with something that massive, how did the Empire manage to transport AT-ATs to the battlefield?

If you’re still unsure about the answer, don’t worry—I found out while playing Star Wars: Battlefront 2, and I’m excited to share the explanation with you!

Gozanti Cruisers Were the Empire’s AT-AT Transport Solution

While playing Star Wars: Battlefront 2, I caught a detail during the Hoth battle that I hadn’t noticed before. 

A Gozanti Cruiser swoops in, carrying a single AT-AT, and drops it right onto the battlefield.

Or take the Battle of Naboo in Star Wars: Battlefront 2—another moment where you can see how the Empire moved their AT-ATs into action. 

In the very first scene of the ground battle, you’ll spot a Gozanti Cruiser carrying not just one, but two AT-ATs.

However, before I was not so believe in the details in the video games so I have to search up and look what I found.

According to StarWars.fandom, “A Gozanti-class cruiser was capable of carrying two models of this AT-AT variant.” Honestly, that’s all the convincing I needed to see the Gozanti as the Empire’s go-to transport solution.

What’s even cooler is that the Gozanti isn’t just limited to AT-ATs—it’s versatile enough to transport TIE fighters, troops, and other cargo across the galaxy. 

How Gozanti Cruisers Handle AT-AT Transport

Here is something interesting I found while looking into how the Gozanti cruiser carries an AT-AT. Underneath the cruiser, there are four docking clamps that securely attach TIE fighters or AT-ATs for transportation.

Besides Gozanti, the Empire Uses Y-85 Titan to Deploy AT-ATs

The Y-85 Titan dropship was a massive, bulky transport ship used by the Galactic Empire to deploy AT-AT walkers directly into battle. It was designed specifically for heavy lifting, capable of delivering multiple assault walkers onto the battlefield with ease.

The coolest example I’ve found of the Y-85 in action is from Star Wars: Empire at War, the RTS game where you can see it deploying walkers onto the battlefield.

A Look Inside the Imperial Gozanti-Class Cruiser

So far, we know the Empire had two main ways of transporting AT-ATs: the Gozanti-class cruiser and the Y-85 Titan dropship. Now let’s take a closer look at the Gozanti-class cruiser and break down exactly how the Empire used it to move these massive walkers into battle.

At 63.8 meters long and 32 meters wide, the Gozanti-class cruiser clearly isn’t the largest or most intimidating ship in the Imperial fleet—but it’s all about versatility. And that becomes clear the moment you take a look inside.

Upon the bridge, you’ll find a simple but effective command layout. The cockpit has seats for a pilot and co-pilot, with additional stations for communications and navigation. Nothing fancy—just functional. These ships weren’t made to lead fleets; they were made to get missions done quietly and efficiently. Most Gozantis have a small crew of 6 to 12 personnel, depending on the mission, and every station inside is designed to be operated with minimal manpower.

If you look at the image below, you can spot the layout of the bridge section. Right behind the cockpit are the pilots’ control stations, followed by a shared refresher marked as (2). Behind that is the captain’s quarters (3), and next to that sits the engineering room (4). On the opposite side, you’ll see the briefing room (5), the armory(6), security storage(7), and finally, a medical room(8).

In the middle section of the cruiser, the ship features ten crew cabins (2). Alongside them are a galley and lounge area (1) for meals and downtime. Toward the rear, you’ll find a shared refresher with laundry facilities (3), as well as the communications room (4).

All the way at the bottom of the cruiser is where things get interesting—this is the section that shows how the Gozanti actually carries AT-ATs or TIE Fighters.

Starting at the front, there’s the droid stable and maintenance area (1), followed by two airlocks (2) and a passenger elevator (3) for vertical access between decks. Tucked into the corner is a tech workshop and storage area (4), along with the standard escape pod (5), because no Star Wars ship would be complete without one.

Right after that, you’ll find the cargo hatch and exterior-mounted tractor beam system (6), used for loading and deploying walkers or starfighters. Just inside is the main cargo bay (7), where gear, supplies, or walk-in cargo can be managed and prepped for deployment. The tractor beam control panel (8) sits nearby, giving the crew full control over loading and release procedures.

When it comes to transporting heavy war machines across the galaxy, the Gozanti uses a modular docking system (9), specifically designed for either TIE starfighter access modules or AT-AT deployment clamps. Depending on the configuration, the Gozanti can carry up to four TIE Fighters or a maximum of two AT-ATs locked in underneath the hull, ready to be dropped into battle.

Inside Y-85 Titan 

If the Gozanti-class cruiser is the Empire’s Swiss Army knife, the Y-85 Titan is its flying sledgehammer. This massive dropship was designed for one thing: getting big, heavy walkers like the AT-AT straight into battle.

This cutaway of the Y-85 Titan says it all: this thing was built to carry war machines—and nothing else. It’s basically a giant flying garage for walkers, with everything inside focused on rapid deployment and brute-force logistics.

At the front, you’ve got the cockpit, where the pilots command the ship and coordinate drop procedures. Below that are forward twin laser cannons, not heavy enough to take on capital ships, but more than enough to clear a landing zone or defend against low-flying enemies.

Inside, the real action happens in the walker bay. You’ll see AT-ATs stowed in vertical racks, already loaded with troops and equipment so they’re ready to roll the second they hit the ground. They’re unloaded through a floor hatch, which drops them straight into the battlefield without delay.

Next to them, there are rotating racks for AT-STs, letting the Titan mix lighter scout walkers into the drop depending on the mission. It’s a smart use of space—and proof that the Empire didn’t mess around when it came to assault planning.

Holding it all up are massive repulsor units at the rear, which keep this beast stable even while hauling multiple walkers through planetary gravity. These units are critical, especially when making atmospheric drops in rough terrain or combat zones.