The Crusader Mark III armor was a model of Mandalorian armor developed by the Black Sun for use by the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War.
The Crusader armors Mark II and Mark III were the two versions of the Mandalorian Crusader armors developed by the Black Sun. They shared similar technical characteristics but different appearances. The Mark III model resembled Neo-Crusader light armor developed about 4000 years prior. Crusader armors offered protection against kinetic damage as well as from energy-based weapons like blasters. A typical complete armor set comprised a helmet, a chest plate, left & right biceps, left & right bracers, gloves, a belt, leggings and boots. Crusader armors came in a wide variety of colors.
An Imperial wearing Crusader Mark III armor during the Battle of Restuss.
After the Battle of Yavin, the members of the criminal organization Black Sun realized that thanks to their fruitful collaboration with the Death Watch, a unique business opportunity presented itself. Due to advances in their armor forges working on Mandalorian technology within the Death Watch Bunker on the Forest Moon of Endor, the Black Sun realized it could create and distribute different types of battle armor to both the Galactic Empire and the Rebellion by ensuring each armor type appeared distinctly different. This positively impacted Black Sun through increased credit flow and freedom from both factions due to the raging Galactic Civil War.
Imperial troops wearing Crusader Mark III armors on Restuss.
Crusader armors were introduced around 1 ABY and the Mark III model was distributed to the Galactic Empire. It was first seen in action on Naboo's moon of Rori during the Battle of Restuss. The armor was worn by several Imperial officers such as Captain Roth and Lieutenant Wholding. In addition, a number of Crusader MK III series was distributed by the Empire during all along the Battle of Restuss. Imperial spacers who took part in the battle were awarded with battle commendations, which could then be traded to Imperial commendation officers in exchange for items such as the MK III armor or various other weaponry.
Later the same year, Emperor's Hand Mara Jade wore a Crusader Mark III armor during the Empire Day festivities on Naboo. An Imperial Crusader armor was also acquired by Major Berok Skoff of the Mos Espa Militia and used during the Battle of Mos Espa.
The Crusader Mark III armor appeared in the 2003 video game Star Wars Galaxies, a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts, prior to its closure on December 15, 2011. Crusader armors were added to the game along with the "Battle of Restuss" PvP battlefield, introduced in the "Chapter 1.1" released on June 27, 2006.
As part of the Battle of Restuss story arc, players might receive commendation items for assisting their chosen faction during the battle, which could be stacked and traded for various items such as this armor, from Commendation Officer non-player characters.