The Hover Tank

Stats

Model: Unknown
Affiliation: Trade Federation
Status: Hovering tank used during ground battle on Naboo
Crew: Unknown
Weapon: Unknown
A
©1997 LucasFilm Ltd.

The Facts

Nothing official has been said about this craft, but pictures of it have appeared on the Official Star Wars Site. Click on the thumbnail below to see one of the official pictures from www.starwars.com.


Early Script References

An "air tank" is mentioned twice in the 1974 rough draft of Star Wars:
"...four gleaming stardestroyers scream low overhead in an impressive barrel-roll formation. As the sound of the spacecraft resonates throughout the glass canyon of the Plaza, the group of dignitaries return their attention to the parade of Imperial shock troops, and giant air tanks (which ride magically two to three feet above the ground)."
And also:
"Governor Hoedaack, General Vader walk down a boarding ramp to an observation deck overlooking the conquered city of Gordon. They are followed by a number of aides and officers from the Imperial fleet. Below them air tanks and other military equipment and supplies are being unloaded."

George Smaragdis sent this shot in:

Spy Reports

UNNAMED SOURCE: The battle tank is used by computer-generated battle droids to attack Naboo and capture the palace there. The tank has a red emblem on its side, which was apparently removed in the pictures released on the Official Star Wars Site. The emblem looks something like this, to the best of the source's memory:

Tank symbol

This undoctored picture of the tank also appeared in EMPIRE magazine. A red emblem can clearly be seen on the side:

Thanks to Gavin McCarthy, Martin Laverdure, and others for pointing this out to us!


Size Comparisons with Other Ep. 1 Vehicles (and Falcon & 747) sent by anonymous source

MODE: The tank has been nicknamed "The Fat Boy" at ILM.

Our Speculation

TINMAN: SPOILERS (highlight the text to read it):

From what I have heard, it looks like the air tank will be used by the Nimoudians to attack Naboo, and controlled by the Nimoudians' battle droids.

THE FORCE.NET