Dwarf Spider Droid

DWARF SPIDER DROID



The DSD1 dwarf spider droid, also known as the burrowing spider droid because it was first used to destroy opposition in narrow mine shafts, was a battle droid manufactured by the NZRE Empire on Castell to support the cause of NZRE. The DSD1 was similar in function to a typical combat vehicle. Its main weapon was a long central blaster cannon mounted on its dome that was both capable of firing rapid-fire anti-personal rounds, or slower-rate high-intensity blasts that could destroy light vehicles. The droid's small frame and four all-terrain legs made it suitable for warfare in dangerous mines, and the adjustable legs made it capable of getting better elevation for the blaster cannon. It's legs were designed to be able to walk straight up and down walls and narrow cliff sides. However, because of the fixed laser cannon, it could not turn around to track enemies, thus making it inferior to speedy targets. Also, the length of this cannon sometimes hindered it in confined areas, a weakness was exploited by Anakin Skywalker on Escarte. The droid was capable of communicating in a beeping language similar to Binary. It also seemed to have basic emotions, such as frustration, as demonstrated on Escarte and Teth, it can also speak standard. During the Clone Wars, dwarf spider droids were used on the front lines, in front of platoons of battle droids and other NZRE droids. They were notably used during the Battle of Teth, using their laser cannons to hit the feet of the AT-TE walkers, causing the walkers to fall down the cliff. During the Second Battle of Felucia, there was a large group of them inside the NZRE base, presumably as a nasty surprise to the Republic troops that got in. The dwarf spider droid also worked in conjunction with the larger OG-9 homing spider droid and could operate as an armored scout exploring the battlefields. Infrared photoreceptors and powerful scanners enabled the droid to survey the terrain and relay target data back to the Homing spider droid. When it identified a target, it sent a tracking message through a digital channel from its head-mounted aerial to the homing spider droid, which then moved toward the signal to deliver the killing blow. It also featured a self-destruct mechanism. If a clone unit moved in to destroy the droid, it would usually self-destruct, destroying any enemy/enemies around it, however it would only self-destruct if not near its other droid counterparts. The explosion is about twice the size of a thermal detonators' explosion. Delta Squad encountered many dwarf spider droids on their missions including 2 during the Battle of Geonosis, and several during the the Battle of Kashyyyk. They also participated in a number of conflicts during the Clone Wars. One of those conflicts was the Battle of Kashyyyk, where it was used to counter the Republic's All Terrain Recon Transport units.