Rex's platoon

Rex's platoon of the 501st Legion served in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Part of a deployed 501st battalion, the platoon was part of the Grand Army of the Republic's offensive on the planet Umbara, and participated in the initial landing of the battle.

As the battle progressed further towards the planet's capital, Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, the 501st's revered leader, was relieved by Jedi General Pong Krell after he was called back to Coruscant. Krell wasted no time in deploying the platoon on a march down the main road to the capital city, a move protested by Clone Captain Rex, who also led the unit. Nonetheless, they followed orders, which led to a deadly ambush from Umbaran Militia, causing numerous casualties and the forced retreat of the platoon.

As the 501st progressed further into Umbaran territory, Krell ordered the platoon, along with the rest of the 501st, to advance through a narrow gorge towards an airbase, a vital target for the Republic due to its capability to supply starfighters to the joint Confederacy and Umbaran defensive efforts. The decision was met with some resistance, as members of the platoon voiced their concern about Krell's full-frontal attack method, which barely constituted as a tactic at all.

Concerns aside, the platoon, backed by the rest of the legion, advanced into Umbaran territory. They were met with heavy resistance by Impeding Assault Tanks and mobile heavy cannons, but due to the rebellious actions of platoon members Hardcase and Fives, the clone forces were able to repel the attacks using the Umbaran's own technology against them, as the two troopers managed to commandeer and haphazardly perform deadly strafing runs on the Umbaran tanks.

Text and facts from the “Rex's platoon” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.