Heavy Weapons Squads provide the organic, Company-level fire-support to the Imperial Army's infantry units. Trained in the use of both individual and crew served weapons, these men are common targets for enemy gunners and starfighters, so they must be strong not just of mind but of spirit.
These squads are organized along the same lines of a regular line squad, but they also carry two to three heavy weapons. In some units, these include missile and rocket launchers, light artillery peices, marksmen's rifles and other weapons. More typically, they consist of two, some times three, medium or heavy repeating blasters, with two medium repeaters being the most common. In some equipment-strapped sectors, heavy weapons squads are equipped with three or four light repeating blasters (by stripping these weapons from line squads), with the rest of the team carrying either a marksman's rifle or a grenade launcher.
While on paper they are usually organized into heavy weapons or heavy repulsor platoons, these squads are often directly attached to platoons in line, drop, or scout companies for firepower.
When a heavy weapon's specialist reaches the top 2% in his field, he is often transferred to special missions command. These squads are still supplying heavy firepower, but in conjunction with elite sharpshooter and engineer details. While they are listed as a heavy weapons squad, it is not unusual for at least some of the personnel to be sharpshooters. At this level, instead of heaving two weapons, it is not at all uncommon to find a third medium repeating blaster.