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What kind of bullet would be needed to pierce an stormtrooper armour? It is acceptable to say that if ferrocrete is between steel and concrete, plasteel may be between plastic and steel? I need some ideas for a fanfic in progress.

Note: I already know the incident with an spear in the EU that didn't make a scratch and the the arrow that pierced the backpack of the scout trooper. I would thank any new info.[/i]

The information is all very contradictory, although I would say the armor is stronger than both plastic AND steel. The term is likely combining the material's elemental properties with its manufacturing techniques. I think it's a metal forged like most plastics (?). Sources say any conventional projectile weapon (slugthrowers) will have little effect and the material can even sustain indirect blaster fire. As for the scout troopers, their armor is significantly weaker than the standard marines and have larger openings for things like arrows to get through.

Wasn't there a consensus here about that it would be easier to hurt/kill the trooper by the kinetic shock through the armor than by piercing the armor itself?

I vaguely remember one species being able to pierce commando armor with their claws. That might just fall into the "EU to Disregard" pile though...

The Gand in Rogue squadron was able to punch clean through stormie armour.

Lazy Raptor wrote:I vaguely remember one species being able to pierce commando armor with their claws. That might just fall into the "EU to Disregard" pile though...

Vratix, from Thyferra. They were able to go through standard stormtrooper armor with their forearm claws. Kind of messy, but very effective. You're right, though-- it's probably "EU to Disregard", although the X-Wing books are fairly accurate as far as I can tell...

Elheru Aran wrote:although the X-Wing books are fairly accurate as far as I can tell...

They're not, which is a pity as I quite like them, despite the flaws.

X-Wings vs Star Destroyers is a bit much.

Noghri were able to cut through soft spots with vibroblades- depending on how accurate the gun is, plasteel ball bearings would be able to take down a trooper.

Sharp-kun wrote:X-Wings vs Star Destroyers is a bit much.

Not necessarily... this is Rogue Squadron we're talking about, after all! They're uberleet fliers; they know their X-Wings like the back of their hands. Also, an ISD doesn't have much in the way of AA defense (although given its size, I find it hard to believe why they wouldn't have plenty...), and IIRC, Rogue/Wraith Squadrons never actually destroyed an ISD without help. Ex: Wraith Squadron had Wraith, the Rogues and the Corellian Corvette-- forgot its name-- fighting that ISD at the end of the book.

In Bacta War, they were able to take down Lusankya mainly because they'd managed to get rid of Isard's VSD and get two of her ISD's (i don't remember what happened to the one that was left...); plus, they'd bought up a gazillion merchants, and stuffed 'em to the gills with torpedo launchers. With that kind of power, I can certainly understand how the Lusankya would've gotten pretty bad damaged, even without the X-Wings and Pash Cracken's A-Wings.

I don't think they've ever actually destroyed an SD on their own... I could be wrong, of course. But aside from the occasional implausibilities, the series is excellently written and has some great characters (especially in the Wraith Squadron trilogy).

of course, to get back on topic-- the Essential Guide to Weapons mentions "slugthrowers" being able to blast through stormtrooper armor with explosive rounds. While the Guides are more or less WEG-wank from what I've gathered from here, I do think it's possible... you'd have to use a very good explosive, though, as most modern explosive rounds really aren't all that great.

Murazor wrote:Note: I already know the incident with an spear in the EU that didn't make a scratch and the the arrow that pierced the backpack of the scout trooper. I would thank any new info.[/i]

IIRC, the incident with the spear actually chipped the armour, but no further damage.
Other source includes...
The original SW Visual Dictionary: "impervious to projectile weapons and blast shrapnel".
Tatooine Ghost: Where Tusken rifle slugs which consistently knocked whoever they hit off their feet could only kill by penetrating the body glove or helmet lenses.

I'd imagine that they can be pierced by the special slugs used by more advanced species guns. the vague descriptions in the EGWT and in Vision of the Future gave me the impression that "conventional" slugthrowers where more like Asimov's needle guns: Tiny pointed bullets that go out at high velocity, and then explode after impact with a small charge. allows swift penetration of material an then a lot of damage afterwards.