Biker Scouts ARE Stormtroopers.

I know that the title of this thread probably seems self-evident, but what I mean to do is not reinforce the concept that "Biker Scouts" are a specialized type of Stormtrooper, but rather to try and prove that they're actually regular Stormtroopers, but in temperate infantry armour.

First of all, I would theorize that the classic, all-white trooper armour is meant to be used by the Stormies/Marines mainly in ship-to-ship boarding engagements (Clone Troopers don't count) and maybe guard details. The reason for making this assumption is that the first Stormies we see in dedicated ground-assault mode are the Snowtroopers on Hoth, and they've got considerably less armour than a regular Stormie, most likely for increased freedom of movement for negotiating the rough terrain that one always encounters on planetside infantry ops.

Their armour consists of an open-faced helmet with breath shield, torso body armour, and shoulder pauldrons and wrist-guards, considerably fewer pieces than a Stormie on fleet duty.

Now, the objection might be made that the Sandtroopers of Tatooine are actually stationed there at Mos Eisley, but I would think that these troopers are actually from Vader's Star Destroyer and part of the landing party that he sends down to search for the droids, which is why they're wearing regular Stormie armour rather than specialized desert togs, with the addition of shoulder pauldrons for identification in the field, and backpacks.

Now, at Endor, my thinking is that what have come to have been identified as "Biker Scouts" are actually Stormies wearing the more stripped-down Imperial-issue armour for field operations in temperate regions, considering the fact that they're armoured only on the upper body for greater freedom of movement and their helmet viewplates have been expanded to allow for greater vision. Problematically, though, they should have been wearing green or camoflauged armour like their clone predecessors, but weren't, in yet another of those little lapses of judgement that tend to spoil the believability of RotJ so badly.

While white armour is perfectly suitable for fleet Stormies (witness the interior of the Tantive IV) in a boarding party or on a quick recon planetside, and it works admirably to camoflage the Snowtroopers, they apparently decided to throw all that away and give the Endor infantry Stormies white armour as well, even though, unlike the previous films' ground-based Imperials, it makes them stick out like sore thumbs, especially incongruous given that they have drab, more or less camoflauged speeder bikes.

Now, no doubt this messes up the existing EU and continuity, but it seems quite logical from my point of view.

 

"their helmet viewplates have been expanded to allow for greater vision"

and in the trivia game I played I learned that their helmets were designes after kamikaze pilots who just have to look in front of them, without peripheral vision

and yes, every SW source is quite contrary to your theory, because they're simply Scout Troopers, but that shouldn't stop theories. Just sayin.

 

They seem to do pretty well despite that. I don't think I could manage to maneuver a speeder bike through such a densely packed forest even without a helmet.

However, the blinder-type extensions on their headgear are hinged and can be moved back for better vision, or presumably, removed entirely. They might also function as additional armour (ala Commander Bacara).

 

I would say that the Biker Scouts are more specialized than the Snow/Desert troops. They operate in small groups and are focused on reconnaisance, probably for extended periods of time to gather information. The Snow troops have more in common with regular stormies. They STORM the Echo Base, they are shock troops. They just wear specialized armor due to atmospheric conditions. Same for the Desert troops. They patrol and ask questions. They are a police force. But at the end of the day, they're all Stormtroopers. The REAL question is, are TIE pilots and Walker drivers considered very specialized Stormies?

 

A possibility.
Disputed though, by the fact that there are a great number of regular armored Stormtroopers. If the "scout" armor is just a temprate world version, then all troops would be assigned to it.

It's more likely that the Scout Troopers are regular troopers that have recieved advanced training in the recon role.

 

The only reason the scout troopers wear that armor is to drive the speeder bikes easier.

 

The helmet aerodynamics aren't very good, but I guess it does keep the glare down to a minimum. The shin-holster is awesome, IMHO.

 

It's not about the aerodynamics, but more about helping the scout navigate obstacles at high speeds.

 

1. Shut up tree dodger. Get some REAL armour.
2. I dont think Ive evver seen a tree dodger perform even CLOSE to one of the EMporers finest (stormtroopers).
3. Well, at least you aint a rebel. Good job, just try to outride the farm boy whose never even used a bike before next time.

 

I have real armour. Mandalorian armour is superior to anything you pathetic drones will ever see in your short, cannon-fodder lives.

A derrogatory comment directed at your less heavily-armoured brothers, I assume.

Thanks. I think.

The fact that we see clone troopers operating in large numbers in an infantry/light infantry capacity while wearing the precursor to the RotJ armour would seem to help comfirm my theory. It can also be rationalised that there was already a small garrison of infantry troopers (biker scouts) in place at Endor, and that the Emperor simply dropped a large number of fleet troopers (in their space armour) down to to help defend the shield generator.

However, I'd put the presence of fleet Stormies down as most likely being the result of a lack of insight on the part of the directors, as I would the presence of Imperial officers on the ground without helmets or body armour.

 

The Scout troopers have flexible and light armor and are skilled with bikes.

 

So too, apparently, the Snowtroopers.

 

If Scout Troopers are just light-infantry Stormtroopers, then why is the only thing we see them doing is riding speeder bikes?

 

Just because some U.S. army troops ride motorcycles doesn't neccessarily mean that they're going to be wearing a totally different uniform.

Anyway, that's not the only thing we see them doing. There're a few on foot and a squad hanging around the generator. Like QM said, I think that they're the garrison, and all of the fleet Stormies in their space armor were dropped in to supplement them without an armor change (stupid Imperials!). Besides, the battle of Kashyyk backs up QM's theory nicely.

 

Biker Scouts are Stormtroopers who have special training for Scouting and Reconnaissance missions. Their armor is different becuase it suits their needs better than a snowtrooper or regular stormtrooper's armor would.

 

I've heard the exact same theory stipulated about the Snowtroopers, but it's not logical, because the Imperials could have had no way of knowing that the Rebels would have been hiding out on an ice planet, and therefore bring specialist arctic troops.

I think that, besides riding bikes, the "Scout" armour is very well adapted for the needs of an infantry soldier. Bigger view-plate for better vision, long-range comm-link, a sort of built-in backpack, a boot holster (possibly the niftiest thing in Star Wars since Boba Fett), and no armour on their upper bodies to help them to run and maneuver more easily, something that most likely would not be a concern if they were merely biker scouts.

Now if only they were camoflaged...

 

In my opinion,one of the biggest upgrades with the Scout Trooper over the Stormtrooper.Is the fact that they have pouches to hold equipment.But regardless,that didn't help them against the Ewoks.

 

Considering we found out that all the stormtroopers are clones of Jango Fett, I find it unlikely that the Empire would actually go through all the trouble of training specialists, since the operating mechanic they use seems to be "overwhelming numbers."

 

Exactly.

 

There is no question that various troops have undergone specialized training. Some pilot fighters, some pilot gunships, some are biker scouts, some drive light mechs, some drive large mechs, some drive gigantic artillery walkers, some drive insanely large wheeled tanks, some are infantry, some are intelligence, some are medics, some are officers... the list goes on.

They are clones of Jango Fett, but they are not born with all this knowledge, and the clones don't have the time to learn how to operate every piece of military machinery the Republic/Empire has. If you don't think the Stormtroopers are clones, and that they are conscripts, same thing applies. You can't send a trooper through basic training, then teach them how to drive a tank, patch up a wound, fly a jet, fix a radio, operate an artillery piece, analyze a stolen map, knife fight, scuba dive, jump out of a plane, and shoot someone from 500 meters away. Of course they recieve specialized training.

 

However, that doesn't change the fact that the biker scout armor seems to be a lot better adapted for planetside operations than the fleet Stormies'.

 

I agree. I was just making the point that they aren't just Stormtroopers who are on bikes - they have a specialization. They are still Stormtroopers, but you wouldn't use them to storm a ship like in ANH, unless they were the only troops available.

 

But my point is that they're not neccessarily on bikes- they're infantry.

 

True. They are ALL infantry first and foremost.

 

Right, and I don't think you'd use fleet Stormies to fight a ground battle unless they were the only troops available.