HMP droid gunship

The HMP (Heavy Missile Platform) droid gunship, also simply known as the droid gunship, Separatist gunship, or HMP Predator, was deployed by the Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS) relatively late in the Clone Wars and was based on the design of the older Mechanized Assault Flyer. A shielded missile platform, the gunship was designed for air strikes in planetary atmospheres. Though the ship was slower and less maneuverable than smaller fighters, it made up in its heavy and powerful arsenal. HMPs were armed with two laser cannon turrets, one medium laser cannon, two light laser cannons, and 14 missiles. The gunship was able to carry a large variety of ordnance ranging from concussion bombs to torpedoes and electromagnetic pulse missiles.

Heavy Missile Platforms were developed by Baktoid Fleet Ordnance and Haor Chall Engineering for the Separatist Droid Army in response to the success of the Grand Army of the Republic's Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry gunship. The gunships saw their first major Clone Wars action around 20 BBY when four of them were deployed on the planet Onderon to fight off an army of rebels. The HMPs would later be used to escort General Grievous and a boarding party to the Republic Navy's Negotiator. The gunships would again be used during the Battle of Kashyyyk in 19 BBY. After the Republic transformed into the Galactic Empire that same year, the armies of the CIS were deactivated. However, a Geonosian named Gizor Dellso used one of these gunships to board an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer during the Battle of Mustafar. It was destroyed by the stormtroopers of the 501st Legion.

Text and facts from the “HMP droid gunship/Legends” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.