The Galactic Empire | The Sith Order | The Imperial Military
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The military of the Galactic Empire was a continuation and expansion of the large Republic military built up during the Clone Wars.
The Galactic Empire was a militaristic organization which promoted interstellar order through force of arms, and the Imperial military
operated with impunity under a perpetual heightened security regime which approximated martial law. The Emperor and his Imperial
Council directly administered the military through the military government, who held both political and military authority. The military
government directed military activity, but the Imperial military itself was lead by the High Command. Members of the High Command
included Grand Admirals and Grand Generals, as well as Lord Vader, who was usually considered to be the Emperor's military proxy.

The Imperial military was broadly divided into an Army and a Navy, which were further divided into 7 specialized branches. The Navy
included the regular Navy, Navy Intelligence, and two semi-independent branches, the Naval Infantry and the Starfighter Corps. The Army
included the regular Army, Army Intelligence, and a semi-independent Operations branch, responsible for technology and engineering.
Each of these branches were subdivided into units according to a uniform system which allowed the military hierarchy to effectively
function in day-to-day operations which integrated personnel from multiple branches. This system established overarching fleets and
armies capable of operating in a single political sector of the galaxy. These fleets and armies were grouped under military districts also
called sectors, which were far larger than the political sectors, and which were an extension of the Sector Command structure instituted
by the Republic command during the Clone Wars. High Command and Sector Command primarily directed operations from Coruscant.

The Imperial military hierarchy was heavily stratified, due to the organizational requirements of this massive force with many millions
soldiers and other personnel. This was also due to the political necessity, as the Empire's military government meant that regular military
officers were also semi-political officials. As such, advancement in the officer core was the fastest means for advancing ambitions of political
power. The officers of the Imperial military were a mix of career military, political climbers, and enthusiastic supporters of the Imperial state.
Imperial military ranks were derived from the Republic military system having been significantly expanded and aggrandized.

Main Article: Ranks and Rank Insignia

THE IMPERIAL NAVY

The Imperial Navy was the ultimate form of the Republic Navy, an ancient institution which dated back to the days of the Old Republic, and
which had existed as an organization for many thousands of years. The Imperial Navy was the largest and most powerful naval force which
had ever been assembled in the history of the galaxy. The Empire held a total monopoly on starship production, a massive research and
development budget, and had access to the most advanced technology. As both an empire and a fascist state, the Empire devoted a significant
percentage of public resources to military development, and invested the largest share of this in the Navy, which is the linchpin of any
interstellar military force. Imperial Navy officers initially were the experienced and loyal survivors of the Republic's Navy at the end of
the Clone Wars. These officers were augmented and replaced over time, by both effective, proven leaders and savvy political opportunists.

Leadership
The admiralty of the Imperial Navy High Command was subordinate to the Emperor, his Imperial Council, and the military government.
Navy High Command held direct authority over the Navy, Naval Intelligence, the Naval Infantry Corps, and the Starfighter Corps.
Naval officers in the field were typically in command of overall Imperial missions, when personnel from multiple branches were involved.
Known Staff Officers







Starfleet
The Imperial Starfleet was based around thousands of huge capital ships, supplemented by tens of thousands of support vessels and starfighters.
The vast majority of Imperial starships were products of two massive state-affiliated manufacturers: Kuat Drive Yards and Sienar Systems.
Capital Ships


Escort Ships

Support Ships





Starbases
The Empire maintained starbases wherever they were considered strategically useful or advantageous.


Starfighter Corps

The Imperial Starfighter Corps was an independently operating branch of the Imperial Navy, which maintained its own facilities, personnel, and
equipment. It was originally the same branch as the Naval Infantry, as both had been the same branch in the Republic during the Clone Wars.
It was established as a separate branch to better facilitate its planet-based operations which were largely in concert with the Imperial Army.
The Starfighter Corps and Naval Infantry used the blue-based insignia of the Navy, but used rank titles corresponding to those of the Army.
Known Staff Officers


Starfighters and Aerofighters



Naval Infantry Corps

The Imperial Naval Infantry was an independently operating branch of the Imperial Navy which was the direct descendant of the Republic's clone army,
although clones were gradually phased out in favor of enlisted and conscripted soldiers. It was originally the same branch as the Starfighter Corps,
as both had been the same branch in the Republic during the Clone Wars. The Naval Infantry were the Empire's 'space marines', sometimes informally
called the 'Stormtrooper Corps', although that is an improper name since many kinds of Imperial Army soldiers are also called 'stormtroopers'.
The Naval Infantry was principally tasked with defense on board ships and stations, boarding operations, temporary planetary deployments and
offensive actions, and any surface operations which were ordered by the Navy or had been placed under naval jurisdiction. The Naval Infantry,
like the Starfighter Corps, used the blue-based insignia of the Navy, but used rank titles corresponding to those of the Army.
Known Staff Officers



Known Clone Staff Officers


THE IMPERIAL ARMY

The Imperial Army was formed out of the Grand Army of the Republic in 7958 (19 BBY), inheriting both its leadership and strategic
command, as well as large formations of clone troopers and equipment. This army was quickly augmented and expanded with
non-clone volunteers, who soon outnumbered the clones. The clones were eventually phased out altogether, as the Army continued
to expand. Within a decade of Imperial rule, the Army included large numbers of conscripts. Its troop strength numbered in the many
millions. Most officers were career military with proven records, however the Army was also staffed by politically-minded opportunists.

Leadership
The general staff of the Imperial Army High Command was subordinate to the Emperor, his Imperial Council, and the military government.
Army High Command held direct authority over the Army, Army Intelligence, and the semi-independent Army Operations branch.
Army officers in the field led most permanent planet-based Forces, as well as offensive ground operations, and were often in command
of formations which included units from other branches of the Imperial Military, including sometimes naval resources and personnel.
Known Staff Officers








Organization
The Imperial Army was divided into 20 Sector Armies, which were massive groupings of Army resources spread across huge regions
of the galaxy. Each Sector Army was divided into Corps, subdivided into Legions and Divisions, which were somewhat approximate in
size, however the different classification probably indicated some difference in composition. Legions and Divisions were divided into
Regiments, divided into Brigades and Battalions. Battalions were subdivided into Sections, which were divided into Squads.
Known Units




Forces
There were many varieties of Imperial troopers with specialized training and equipment. The majority of Army troopers, as well as
those of the Naval Infantry, were often referred to as stormtroopers, even when that designation was not technically correct.
The Imperial Army utilized a variety of combat vehicles, weapons, and droids, much of which was highly advanced.
Infantry



Recon Droids

Repulsor Craft


Walkers

Assault Craft


IMPERIAL OPERATIONS

The Operations branch were the combat engineers and technical service of the Imperial military, and was responsible for military
research and development, as well as construction, engineering, and maintenance. Its technicians were usually found working
within units of all other branches, including aboard Navy vessels and starbases. High-ranking Operations officers were also
sometimes placed in command of joint units, but usually only where Operations activity is the primary mission.

Leadership
The Director (or Directors) of Operations was a Marshal-level rank subordinate to Imperial High Command, and thus also to
the military government and ultimately the Emperor and his Imperial Council. High-ranking Operations officers were often part
of the personal staff of top-level military leaders, or in charge of large operations within their purview. Operations officers were
usually advanced based on qualifications and effectiveness, however like all branches of the Imperial military, promotion within
Operations was often a means for political advancement, especially for those whose expertise was more technical than military.
Known Staff Officers



Products
Operations was responsible for engineering and production of various technology, in addition to maintaining the equipment produced
by the private sector which the Imperial military primarily used. Most technology known to be produced exclusively by the Operations
branch were specialized droids and device components. They were the principal builders of both Death Star battlestations, in conjunction
with Imperial Army Intelligence, Sienar Systems, and Kuat Drive Yards. Known products of Imperial Operations:
Droids

Battlestations

Prefabricated Facilities