Imperial military uniforms

"But… you wear an Imperial uniform. We can make a deal…"
"This uniform doesn't matter to me anymore—and neither does money!"

―A Weequay pirate and Silam Dunerz^[1]

The Galactic Empire consolidated several large organizations into the Imperial Military apparatus, and implemented a coded set of Imperial military uniforms to make discerning an individual's affiliation a simple process.

The Imperial Service Uniforms consisted of a pair of trousers, overfold tunic, and cover, along with standard black plast-leather belt, gloves and boots. Branches received color-coded uniforms with corresponding trousers, tunic and cover, with the exclusion of COMPNOR personnel, which used black trousers and covers. These uniforms served as the core for the majority of personnel, although higher ranking Command and Line officers in each branch were given wider authority to customize their uniforms, as in the case of Ysanne Isard's red uniform. Command cylinders, as well as cover and belt discs, contained clearance, security and vital information.

Detailed Descriptions[]

MoffJerferrod-BaseSeries1 — Imperial Officer uniform

Army and Naval Officers[]

Main article: Imperial officer's uniform

Olive grey double-breasted dress tunic and trousers
Corresponding cover
Corresponding Battle Dress (Armor, Helmet and black goggles with utility buckle, black belt and duty holster)
Black leather belt with silver buckle and optional duty holster
Black leather boots (durasteel-capped)
Black leather gloves (optional)
Rank badge on left breast
Code cylinders located in pockets

Shann Childsen — Stormtrooper Officer uniform

Officers in the Stormtrooper Corps, Prison guards, and veteran TIE pilots[]

Main article: Imperial officer's uniform

Black double-breasted dress tunic and trousers
Corresponding headgear
Corresponding body armor for combat use, just like any other trooper (sometimes with the addition of colored shoulder pauldrons as high-visibility rank indicators when in field units)
Black gauntlets (optional, as seen on Death Star)
Rank badge on left breast (without armor, as seen on the Death Star and the Tantive IV, and with Snowtrooper armor, as seen during the Battle of Hoth)
Black duty belt with silver buckle and utility boxes with optional duty holster
Code cylinders located in pockets

NAVYTRP — Naval & Death Star Trooper uniforms

Death Star Troopers/Naval Troopers (SNCOs)[]

Senior Non-Commissioned Officers
Black trousers and double-breasted tunic
Black gauntlets
Black open-blast helmet
Black duty belt with silver buckle; utility boxes and holster
Black boots
Firearm-DH-17 blaster pistol (around the Battle of Yavin)

Superlaser Engineer — Imperial gunner uniform

Imperial Gunner (Enlisted)[]

Black overalls
Black gauntlets
Imperial emblem on each upper arm at the shoulder
Black enclosed targeting-computer helmet with one white Imperial Emblem on the front
Black duty belt with utility boxes

Vehicle Command Crews (VCCs) & Senior Enlisted Crewmen (NCOs)[]

Light gray single-breasted overalls
Olive cover
Battle Dress helmet with black goggles (VCCs- AT-ST Drivers at Battle of Endor)
Imperial emblem on sleeve at each shoulder
Duty belt
Vehicle Command Crews and NCOs were of any rank above corporal

NavyCrewmen — Warrant Officer & Crewman uniforms

Technicians (Warrant Officers & NCOs)[]

Light gray single-breasted overalls (NCOs)
Black single-breasted overalls (WOs) with black gauntlets (optional)
Black cover
Imperial emblem on sleeve at each shoulder
Duty belt

Behind the scenes[]

The Imperial military's various uniforms bore similarities to the uniforms utilized by Nazi Germany during World War II. George Lucas, in a commentary for Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, even acknowledged that the similarities were intentional by calling them Nazis and specifically stating regarding their uniforms that "The Nazis are basically the same costume as we used in the first film and they are designed to be very authoritarian, very empire-like." This was further verified by costume designer John Mollo, who mentioned that George Lucas specifically requested that the Imperials in general were to look "efficient, totalitarian, fascist." They also bore a further resemblance to Prussian uniforms, specifically those worn by the German Uhlans, who predated Nazi Germany.^[2]