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Imperial Military Uniforms

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There are several basic types of uniform in the Imperial Forces and related organisations. Most of the uniforms in the films are easy to identify with particular roles within a branch of service. The uniforms detailed in these pages should not be regarded as the only Imperial military uniforms in existence; rather they are the only uniforms seen so far.

Realistically, each type of personnel must have more than one set of standard attire, for diverse working conditions. The diversity of Imperial military dress might not be as great as that of a nuclear age military force, since Imperial design and technology seem to emphasis all-purpose modularity, but there must at least be airtight, non-airtight, combat and casual versions of the common uniforms. The uniforms on display during the assembly to receive the Emperor aboard the second Death Star were the familiar operational costumes, which suggests that the Imperial Forces do not have distinct ceremonial dress. However a stormtrooper does not always wear his armoured spacesuit, and nor do high officers always wear the comfortable attire suited to the clinical and safe environment of a starship bridge or garrison command centre. A naval crewman who normally wears casual overalls on deck is likely to at least add a helmet and other gear before undertaking emergency work in vacuum or hard radiation zones. Army troops deployed in hostile climates are likely to fit their helmets with olive-grey hood-masks similar to the white versions worn by the stormtroopers who fought on Hoth.

The Imperial Army is responsible for holding territory on all the worlds of the Galactic Empire. The Imperial Navy provides the Army with transport and ensures the security of space against the Empire's enemies. Stormtroopers are the Empire's marines: elite troops trained for unswerving loyalty for efficient fighting in support of both Army and Navy. The Imperial Security Bureau is an intelligence and security organisation which also takes overt action to encourage the populace and military personnel to remain obedient to Imperial policy and ideals. It is an important branch of the political organisation known as COMPNOR - Commission for the Preservation of the New Order. Imperial Intelligence exists in competition with the ISB. It is a more secretive organisation which concentrates on incisive analysis and more subtle espionage methods.

Imperial Navy

• Naval Officer: Grand Admiral [dress uniform]
  • White trousers and double-breasted tunic.
  • Golden epaulets. (Controversial: present in novels but absent in comics! Optional?)
  • White cap optional?
  • Black belt with silver buckle; no utility boxes; no holster.
  • Short-sleeved white gloves. Optional?
  • Black boots.
  • Badge of rank squares at left breast.
  • No rank code cylinders.
    Images: [Zaarin, a Grand Admiral pretender.]
• Naval Officer [service uniform]
  • Olive-grey trousers and double-breasted tunic.
  • Olive-grey cap may be optional for senior officers.
  • Black belt with silver buckle; no utility boxes.
  • Short-sleeved black gloves. Optional?
  • Black boots.
  • Badge of rank squares at left breast.
  • Rank code cylinders in pockets at either shoulder.
  • Usually no blaster holster.
    Images: [ Admiral Ozzel.]
• Naval Subofficer (NCO)
  • Black trousers and double-breasted tunic.
  • Black cap.
  • Shoulder emblems absent.
  • Black belt with silver buckle and two or four utility boxes.
  • Long-sleeved black gloves.
  • No rank badge. Rank code cylinders sometimes present.
  • Usually no blaster holster.
    Images: [beside stormtrooper] [ordering stormtroopers & naval guards]
• Naval Guard (junior NCO)
  • Black trousers and double-breasted tunic.
  • Long-sleeved black gloves.
  • Black open blast helmet.
  • Black belt with silver buckle, two or zero utility boxes and holster.
  • Black boots.
    Images: [Shot.] [Standing guard.]
• Naval Guard
  • Black trousers and single-breasted tunic.
  • Silver Imperial emblem at shoulders.
  • Long-sleeved black gloves.
  • Black open blast helmet.
  • Black belt with silver buckle and holster.
  • Black boots.
    Images: [traffic monitoring] [*] [*] [bunker operations] [*] [*]
• Gunnery Crewman
  • Black overalls.
  • White Imperial Emblem at each shoulder sleeve.
  • Black enclosed targeting-computer helmet with one white Imperial Emblem.
  • Black belt with utility boxes.
  • Black boots.
    Images: [activating a superlaser] [*] [*]
• Technician/Specialist
  • Light grey overalls.
  • Black cap.
  • Silver Imperial Emblem on sleeve at each shoulder.
  • Broad pocket at right shoulder may contain tools or rating cylinders.
  • Utility belt.
  • No holster.
    Images: [two scanner technicians.] [2] [at attention for the Emperor.]
• Crewman (sailor)
  • Light grey overalls.
  • Olive cap.
  • Silver Imperial Emblem on sleeve at each shoulder.
  • Broad pocket at right shoulder may contain tools or rating cylinders.
  • Utility belt.
  • No holster.
    Images: [helmsman] [*] [*]

• Fighter Pilot [space flightsuit]
  • Black flight-suit overalls, gloves and boots.
  • Black enclosed flight-helmet with two white Imperial Emblems.
  • White Imperial Emblem at shoulder sleeves.
    Images: [closeup] [in cockpit] [alternative helmet markings]
• Starfighter Pilot [atmospheric flightsuit]
  • Black flight-suit overalls and boots.
  • Black gloves optional?
  • Black open flight-helmet.
  • Black torso armour, front and back.
    Images: [ in cockpit]
• Pilot Officer [service uniform]
  • Olive-grey (or black?) trousers and tunic.
  • Olive-grey (or black?) cap may be optional for senior officers.
  • Black belt with silver buckle; no utility boxes.
  • Short-sleeved black gloves. Optional?
  • Black boots.
  • Badge of rank squares at left breast.
  • Rank code cylinders in pockets at either shoulder.
  • Usually no blaster holster.
    Images: [Lt Tanbris] [*]
• Starfighter NCO
  • Unknown, possibly similar to naval NCO.
• Groundcrew or Technician
  • Unknown, possibly similar to enlisted naval crewman
    Images: [two scanner technicians.]

• Army Officer [service uniform]
  • Olive-grey trousers and double-breasted tunic.
  • Olive-grey cap may be optional for senior officers.
  • Black belt with silver buckle; no utility boxes.
  • Short-sleeved black gloves. Optional?
  • Black boots.
  • Badge of rank squares at left breast.
  • Rank code cylinders in pockets at either shoulder.
  • Usually no blaster holster.
    Images: [General Veers]
• Army Officer [battle dress uniform]
  • Olive-grey trousers and double-breasted tunic.
  • Olive-grey blast vest and open helmet.
  • Short-sleeved black gloves.
  • Black boots.
  • Rank squares attached to armour at left breast.
  • Black goggles.
  • Blaster and holster probable (no evidence).
    Images: [ General Veers in combat armour (front).] [back]
• Army Subofficer (NCO)
  • Possibly similar to the Naval subofficer uniform.
• Armoured Vehicle Crewman [invasion gear]
  • Grey flight-suit overalls.
  • White gloves.
  • White armoured vest and shoulder armour.
  • White enclosed flight-helmet with two red Imperial Emblems.
  • White boots.
    Images: [ helmet closeup] [ 2]
• Armoured Vehicle Crewman [garrison gear]
  • Grey overalls.
  • Silver Imperial Emblem at each shoulder.
  • Black belt with silver buckle.
  • Black gloves.
  • Grey open helmet and black goggles.
  • Black boots.
    Images: [ AT-ST crewmen.]
• Soldier [battle dress uniform]
  • Light-grey overalls.
  • Olive grey open blast helmet.
  • Combat vest armour [optional, in RPG sources].
  • Black belt with silver buckle, utility boxes and holster.
  • Long-sleeved black gloves.
  • Black boots.
  • Black goggles.

• Stormtrooper Officer [service uniform]
  • Black trousers and double-breasted tunic.
  • Black cap (may be optional for senior officers).
  • Black belt with silver buckle; zero or two utility boxes.
  • Blaster and holster optional.
  • Short-sleeved black gloves, optional?
  • Badge of rank squares at left breast.
  • Rank code cylinders in pockets at either shoulder.
    Images: [ Commander Praji]
• Stormtrooper Officer [battle dress uniform]
  • Stormtrooper armour and helmet appropriate to unit and environment.
  • When present, a coloured pauldron at right shoulder indicates rank.
  • Badge of rank squares at left breast (when pauldron absent), possibly optional.
  • Stormtrooper belt with utility boxes.
  • Blaster holster.
    Images: [ Red pauldron.] [ At roadblock.]
• Stormtrooper [battle dress uniform]
  • Stormtrooper armour and helmet appropriate to unit and environment.
  • When present, a colourless pauldron at right shoulder indicates rank.
  • Stormtrooper belt with utility boxes.
  • Blaster holster.
    Images: [blasting rebels] [at attention] [incapacitated] [wearing black pauldron] [squad of ten] [*]

• Ubiqtorate Official [service uniform]
  • Red tunic and trousers.
  • Black belt.
  • Black boots.
  • No cap.
    Images: [Ysanne Isard]
• Police Liason Officer [service uniform]
  • Black tunic; colour of trousers is unknown.
  • Black boots.
  • Insignia unknown.

• ISB Officer [service uniform]
  • Cream-white double-breasted tunic and black trousers.
  • Black cap may be optional for senior officers.
  • Black belt with silver buckle.
  • Utility boxes sometimes present.
  • Possible optional short-sleeved black gloves (not yet seen).
  • Black boots.
  • Badge of rank squares at left breast.
  • Rank code cylinders seemingly absent.
  • Usually no blaster holster.
    Images: [passing turbolift] [a pair] [*] [*] [*] [ Left of Motti.] [*]

• Officer (unclassified) [service uniform]
  • Light olive-grey double-breasted tunic.
  • Light olive-grey trousers?
  • Black cap.
  • Black belt with silver buckle and two utility boxes.
  • Short-sleeved black gloves. Optional?
  • Black boots.
  • Badge of rank squares at left breast.
  • No visible code cylinders at either shoulder.
  • No blaster holster.
    Images: [right foreground] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]

    Considering the fact that they have not yet been seen in combat, these officers probably are technical specialists of some kind: military medics, engineers and scientists. This interpretation is supported by the match between their black cap and the black cap that distinguishes enlisted naval technical crewmen from ordinary deckmen.

• Enlisted Soldier or Army NCO [off-duty uniform] ?
  • Olive-grey trousers and single-breasted tunic.
  • Oliver-grey cap.
  • No emblem at shoulder.
  • Black belt with silver buckle and no utility boxes.
  • Gloves absent or optional.
  • No rank badge or code cylinders.
  • No blaster holster.
  • Wears black shoes rather than boots.
    Images: [striding base corridors] [*] [*] [*] [foreground near turbolift] [*] [*] [older serviceman] [*]

    The footwear is unsuited to combat conditions, so these men probably are not wearing their battledress. They're not naval crewmen or technicians, nor are they any kind of officer.

• Enlisted Crewman? (unclassified)
  • Black overalls, single-breasted top.
  • Black cap.
  • Silver Imperial Emblem on the sleeve at each shoulder.
  • Black belt with silver buckle and holster, no utility boxes.
  • Long-sleeved black gloves.
  • No rank badge or code cylinders.
    Images: [Standing at attention.] [*] [*]

    These uniforms appear to be identical to TIE pilots (officers) and naval gunners (enlisted), except that the specialised vests and helmets are absent and a black cloth cap is worn instead. E.Moody reports inspecting one of the uniforms at close range, and observes that they have pilot comlinks on the left sleeve (white, ROTJ; silver ANH).

    If it is a semi-dress uniform for pilots then it seems to contradict the representation of the pilot officer deck uniforms in the TIE Fighter computer games and X-Wing comics, which portray olive uniforms similar to those of navy and army officers. There are several less contradictory possibilities. (1) This may be a uniform for pilots in a mode of duty not seen elsewhere in the canon and literature, eg. on stand-by waiting for missions. (2) The uniform may denote a type of personnel who are specialists of a kind different from gunners and pilots. (3) They may be administrative or support personnel related to either starfighter or gunnery functions: eg. starfighter technicians. It may be noteworthy that this uniform appeared in the impromtu assembly for Lord Vader's surprise arrival at Endor, but are not seen (to date) during the larger, planned gathering for the Emperor's landing.

• Enlisted (unclassified)
  • Blue-black overalls, single-breasted top.
  • Black open helmet, cockroach brim absent or not clearly visible.
  • Black belt with silver buckle and holster, no utility boxes.
  • Long-sleeved black gloves.
  • No rank badge or code cylinders.
    Images: [Standing at attention, left of Lord Vader.]

    These men probably aren't regular naval sailors, guards or technicians, because those uniforms are already identified. They must specialists of some kind, or have mildly dangerous working conditions, otherwise they wouldn't have helmets. They don't work in vacuum, otherwise the helmet would be sealed. Since the next two types of servicemen on this side of the bay are naval (black-capped technicians, then gunners) I tentatively guess that the mysterious men are also in the Navy.

    Jason Mitchell notes that the holster implies combat/security, and the lack of belt boxes common to specialists, crew and technicians. For these reasons, he suggests that these personnel could belong to Military Police unit or a Shore Patrol unit.

Remarks:

1. Black-suited officers

One persistent point of uncertainty is the enigmatic class of officer who dress entirely in black and bear rank squares and cylinders like Army, Navy and ISB officers. There is more than one logical categorisation for these officers. In all cases, the uniform seems to indicate membership of an elite force separate from regular command. They have a fearsome reputation, as shown by the unusual alarm of New Republic leaders facing the prospect of a surviving black-uniformed Moff during the Black Fleet Crisis [Tyrant's Test pp.159,162].

Stormtrooper officers appear to be among the wearers of this uniform (eg. those associated with the capture of Tantive IV). Some were aides to Lord Vader. The recently-published STAR WARS Visual Dictionary confirms that stormtrooper officers do indeed wear the black garb, but whether they are the only officers to do so remains unsettled.

Detention block supervision and involvment in the search for the stolen Death Star plans suggest a role in security and analytic activity, perhaps as part of (or in conjunction with) Imperial Intelligence. Lieutenant Tanbris' reporting of the Yavin battle circumstances to Lord Vader may reflect a the security role, or otherwise indicates that some elite pilot officers also wear the black uniform. Black-clothed officers were also seen at a Devastator gunnery station. If these men are all stormtrooper officers then it seems that as well as serving as the marines of the Empire, stormtroopers have roles which include special political/security concerns.

2. jumpsuit / overalls

Eric Moody, who has inspected several uniforms at the Magic of Myth Smithsonian Exhibition in San Diego, observes:

It appears that almost all the jump suits worn by Imp[erial]s & Reb[el]s are the same as the orange one used by the rebel pilots, with only small changes made to the pockets. The TIE, AT-AT and perhaps a couple others have only two pockets on the leg's instead of four, and the flaps are chevron shaped instead of rectangular and the left sleave pocket has only two pen holders and a larger open area instead of the five pen holders of the Rebel pilots. (They are supposedly some sort of racing outfit.)