The E-11 blaster rifle is a fictional weapon from the Star Wars saga. It was used in all three films of the original trilogy.
The standard blaster of the Imperial stormtrooper, the BlasTech E-11 rifle combined lethality with an excellent aim in a compact design (look Fidelity below). The E-11's plasma gas cartridges allowed for over 500 shots, while the weapon's powercells could last for 100.
Stormtroopers carried E-11 rifles throughout the Galactic Civil War. The design was based on that of the DC-15 series of blaster rifles and pistols favoured by the Republic clone troopers. Stormtroopers also used a short-range combat pistol at times.
The basic E-11 is 438 mm long (folded), and weighs 2.6 kilograms. The powercell housing opens on the left side of the action housing, above the trigger, giving the E11 a very low profile (useful when shooting prone or from a barricade).
All moving and/or metal parts are fitted with a corrosion-proof, vacuum-rated, dry lubricant. The top of the receiver has a universal, quick detach sight rail, which comes from the factory mounted with a light, ring reticle, 2x optical scope. The basic, three piece folding stock rides along the left side, under the powercell.
Fidelity
In the Star Wars movies, Stormtroopers appear to find it very hard to hit a target (see Stormtrooper effect). This is sometimes justified by blaming it on their rifles. Indeed the rifle appears in the Star Wars: Dark Forces series as one of the availiable weapons for the player. It becomes obvious there that it is very hard to hit a target with it since the shots cannot be fixed. If this is indeed the explanation, the Stormtrooper effect is explained internally, but remains unclear why a Galactic Empire would issue its troops such a weapon.
Trivia
The E-11 prop is built around a Sterling submachine gun.
See also
