HCVw A9 turbo tank

The HCVw A9 turbo tank was part of a line of wheeled armored tanks manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards, including its larger predecessor, the HAVw A6 Juggernaut, which was used by the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. It was designed primarily as an infantry fighting vehicle, meant to carry troops into battle and protect them once deployed.

Featuring lighter armament and armor than other turbo tanks, the HCVw A9, also referred to as a Juggernaut Transport Vehicle, compensated with its higher speed and a hull optimized for deflecting energy bolts. Despite this design, Juggernauts were more than capable of crushing through fortifications and withstanding direct hits from light vehicle-launched projectiles. Structurally, it was divided into two sections; the large cargo area—which could be configured to hold either troops or prisoners—was connected to the command deck by a flexible, reinforced joint.

For weaponry, it boasted a pair of turret-mounted heavy repeating blasters for anti-personnel use and dorsal rapid-fire rotary laser cannon turrets for anti-aerial and anti-missile use. The vehicles was also equipped with four forward-mounted rapid-fire blasters and two retracting multi-tube guided missile launchers. HCVw A9s were rarely deployed alone, and instead played supporting roles in larger armored formations, alongside Juggernauts, walkers, and other fast assault vehicles.

The HCVw was used during the Clone Wars.

In 19 BBY, an HCVw tank transported the prisoners Hera Syndulla, Gobi Glie, and Serin to the Imperial Refinery on Ryloth after being arrested for smuggling weapons into the planet. This tank was also carrying Vice Admiral Edmon Rampart, Senator Orn Free Taa, as well as Captain Howzer who was guarding the two, and escorted by four BARC speeders. Cham Syndulla, Eleni Syndulla and members of Free Ryloth Movement attacked the convoy to rescue the trio of prisoners prompting Rampart to order reinforcements to be sent to assist the convoy. Their plea never got through, as Lenk had jammed their communications. The attempt ended with Hera's rescue, as she and her droid, C1-10P "Chopper," drove off on a speeder. Her rescue was at the expense of her liberators, who were captured by stormtroopers on Low Altitude Assault Transports. Rampart ordered Howzer and his men to sweep the area, adding that Hera would not get far.

HCVws were also used as prisoner transports in the Imperial labor camp on the planet Erebus, where they ferried prisoners to and from the mines. In 18 BBY, Clone Force 99 attacked and commandeered it to extract Edmon Rampart, now a prisoner, from the facility. The turbo tank was attacked by and LAATs dispatched by the prison warden, but the Clone Force were able to fight them off. Their turbo tank was however disabled and they were forced to escape Erebus on board Phee Genoa's ship, the Providence.

One HCVw A9 was used to transport Jyn Erso and Oolin Musters, Imperial prisoners of Wobani Labor Camp, to an unspecified location. En route, the A9 was ambushed and the tank's lower entrance was breached by Rebel troopers of Extraction Team Bravo, who freed Erso from captivity.

The HCVw A9 turbo tank first appeared in Gareth Edwards' 2016 anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The vehicle was identified in the corresponding visual guide for the film on the same day.

• Star Wars: Rogue One: Rebel Dossier
• Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
• Star Wars: The Rebel Files
• Star Wars Helmet Collection 62
• Star Wars Helmet Collection 62
• Starships and Speeders
• Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy