AT-AT underbelly armour

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-19 08:21pm

Just an interesting observation from TESB. Not sure if anyone's noticed this before, but it is a widely held belief that AT-AT underbelly armour is extremely weak because Luke cut through it so easily.

One small problem: he didn't. If you carefully watch that scene, he does not cut through anything; he hits some kind of control device and you can see the hatch slide open on its own. Watch that scene carefully.

Just something to keep in mind the next time somebody talks about feeble AT-AT underbelly armour. The principal evidence used in support of this claim is being misrepresented.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-04-19 08:30pm

Not that it matters even if he did cut through it. Lightsabers seem to have the ability to cut through just about any SW-tech armor--witness the blast door melting scene in TPM or Luke's plan to use his lightsaber to disable the captured capital ships at Sluis Van in Heir to the Empire.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2004-04-19 08:34pm

I'd always seen this sequence in the manner you described; Luke slices at the belly of the AT-AT, and the hatch opens momentarily later. I didn't think anyone had argued that he saber had cut a perfectly square hole

I actually imagine this is either a maintanance hatch (since it leads to something explosive) or an escape hatch for emergencies. Strange place for it, though, right next to the drive train.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-19 08:39pm

Stark wrote:I'd always seen this sequence in the manner you described; Luke slices at the belly of the AT-AT, and the hatch opens momentarily later. I didn't think anyone had argued that he saber had cut a perfectly square hole

Some people have been pretending that the lightsabre vapourized part of the hatch which then basically blew up.

I actually imagine this is either a maintanance hatch (since it leads to something explosive) or an escape hatch for emergencies. Strange place for it, though, right next to the drive train.

Maybe it's some kind of overpressure release port.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2004-04-19 08:47pm

Darth Wong wrote:
Stark wrote:I'd always seen this sequence in the manner you described; Luke slices at the belly of the AT-AT, and the hatch opens momentarily later. I didn't think anyone had argued that he saber had cut a perfectly square hole
Some people have been pretending that the lightsabre vapourized part of the hatch which then basically blew up.

Oh yeah, like all those *other* times that happens.

Darth Wong wrote:
I actually imagine this is either a maintanance hatch (since it leads to something explosive) or an escape hatch for emergencies. Strange place for it, though, right next to the drive train.
Maybe it's some kind of overpressure release port.

That would explain the chain of explosions, since it'd blast into either the engine or the crew compartment. That makes the whole scene a bit less George Lucas PG; thinking about everyone aboard being suddenly cooked alive by an exposion.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » 2004-04-19 09:21pm

I had always assumed that Luke had destroyed a latch that forced open a service vent. Anyone who thinks he cut a hole in the armor is on drugs.

Incidentally, does anyone know what the thickness of the AT-AT armor is?

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2004-04-19 11:44pm

I first noticed it way back in 1997 when I saw the Special Edition ESB in the theatre. Before that I never noticed it and was one of the people who thought he actually just cut a small chunk in a weak spot of the underbelly.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-04-20 12:37am

Darth Wong wrote:Just an interesting observation from TESB. Not sure if anyone's noticed this before, but it is a widely held belief that AT-AT underbelly armour is extremely weak because Luke cut through it so easily.

One small problem: he didn't. If you carefully watch that scene, he does not cut through anything; he hits some kind of control device and you can see the hatch slide open on its own. Watch that scene carefully.

Just something to keep in mind the next time somebody talks about feeble AT-AT underbelly armour. The principal evidence used in support of this claim is being misrepresented.

You mean people had failed to notice this? I noticed when I first watched the movie at ten years old.

NhikRath · Post by **NhikRath** » 2004-04-20 01:42am

But you fail to not assume that the entire AT-AT structure is made of explosive latches that once hit in the proper location explode and fly open. This obviously means that hitting the right spot on an AT-AT would cause a domino-effect of latches exploding and opening all over the AT-AT's hull, eventually resulting in the entire machine coming apart into a pile of loose playing cards.

PS - Sarcasm.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-04-20 01:50am

Rogue 9 wrote:You mean people had failed to notice this? I noticed when I first watched the movie at ten years old.

I noticed it the first time I saw it, too. I guess people aren't that observant when they watch films.

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2004-04-20 02:14am

Looking back on the scene from my old 1987 ESB tape, I find it hard NOT to notice the hatch now.

For whatever reason though I just never picked up on it as a kid till I saw the Special Edition in the theatre.

The only reason I can think is that it might be because the hatch slides open pretty fast and its not very big. The most noticeable things in the scene are Luke dangling there and the lightsabre causing the explosion, the hatch is small and just sorta slides open quickly without any noise.

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-04-20 08:18am

I'm pretty sure I brought this up in one of The Great Hoth Battle Debates of yore. He cuts a lock on a hatch, that's all.

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2004-04-20 10:06am

............ Interesting............................

I always thought it was just a hatch he cut through.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2004-04-20 11:00am

I can't believe people actually think he cut through the belly of the AT-AT. That is just astonishing to me.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-04-20 03:54pm

Indeed. I would have said something had I known people had missed that fairly obvious fact.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-04-20 04:51pm

I've always seen it as him cutting a lock on a latch.

Not that it matters even if he did cut through it. Lightsabers seem to have the ability to cut through just about any SW-tech armor--witness the blast door melting scene in TPM

He was stood there for a good two minutes without really getting all that far though.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-04-20 05:00pm

Zac Naloen wrote: He was stood there for a good two minutes without really getting all that far though.

Qui-Gon vapourpised the locking mechanism of the 1st door, they where still getting through and the Nemodians had to close the emergancy blast doors. thats a lot to metal to be cutting through.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-04-20 05:01pm

Lord Pounder wrote:
Zac Naloen wrote: He was stood there for a good two minutes without really getting all that far though.
Qui-Gon vapourpised the locking mechanism of the 1st door, they where still getting through and the Nemodians had to close the emergancy blast doors. thats a lot to metal to be cutting through.

yeh, AT-AT armour must be atleast as thick though.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-04-20 05:03pm

Yeah and if Luke wasn't hanging from the belly in such an awkward position i'm sure he might have taken a shoot at the, however as luck would have it the service hatch was there providing an easier opportunity.

Crazedwraith · Post by **Crazedwraith** » 2004-04-20 05:12pm

Lord Pounder wrote:
Zac Naloen wrote: He was stood there for a good two minutes without really getting all that far though.
Qui-Gon vapourpised the locking mechanism of the 1st door, they where still getting through and the Nemodians had to close the emergancy blast doors. thats a lot to metal to be cutting through.

iirc Qui-Gon was just cuting himself a hole when the blast doors closed not trying to cut any locks.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-04-20 05:21pm

Just before Gunray orders the blast doors closed we definately see a large chunk of molten metal fall off, also in a circular door where would you put the locking mechanism?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-04-21 12:32am

Darth Wong wrote: Maybe it's some kind of overpressure release port.

More likely it's an escape hatch in case the walker is knocked out of action, as i remember it the hatch was big enough for that. For a long time tanks had them in the bottom for just such purposes, though more recently they've been discarded because they increase vulnerability to mines and because no one really wanted to crawl out under a tank that's probably burning. With an AT-AT however you'd want to be able to reach the ground if its disabled standing up, or falls over on its side.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-04-21 12:50am

No, I think it's too small. Maybe a person can slip through, but they'd risk getting stuck, especially in armour.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-04-21 01:04pm

If I remember correctly, it was probably three feet by two. Quite large enough to squeeze out of.

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2004-04-21 01:38pm

More than likely that door a simple maintanance hatch. Given its location, next to the engine, that seems to be the best option. Also given the results, it is good evidence for it being such a hatch. The cascading explosions tends to confirm that it is a hatch for some type of access to the engine/reactor.. Since an AT-At seems to generallty be designed to fall onto its belly this would be a bad place to put a escape hatch anyway.

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