Assault shuttle
An assault shuttle was a type of Dalek shuttle used by the Imperial Daleks loyal to Davros.
Characteristics
A modular design, the assault shuttle could hold up to six Daleks and had heavy ground defences while having an unguarded service hatch on the top of the hull. Beneath the hatch was a control room where a Dalek was connected into the system. (PROSE: Dalek Combat Training Manual, TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)
The inside of the four bottom engine thrusters [that also acted as landing gear] emitted a bright green hue when observed up close. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks) The assault shuttle also had two forward facing doors that swing open when deploying ground forces. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)
The Imperial assault shuttle also had two antennae like protrusions sticking out on the very top of the main area of the main bridge section [although it is unknown as to what purpose these serve]. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)
Interior
The main bridge of an Imperial Dalek assault shuttle was somewhat cramped, grimey, yet had a very dimly lit interior. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks) In the middle of the bridge section, there was a control chair for a single Dalek to occupy, which most likely served as control circut center for the pilot to operate and be able to control the ship. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks) There was also a forward facing view screen. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks) Behind the chair, there was also a grill hatch like section [with a sliding door] which also served as the only way in or out of the main bridge section. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)
History
Whilst Dalek shuttles used by the original Imperial Daleks loyal to the Emperor Dalek were saucer-shaped like the Imperial Dalek battle cruiser. On Spiridon, Davros' Rebel Daleks' fielded their own distinct type of shuttle. After Davros successfully usurped the Emperor Dalek (COMIC: Emperor of the Daleks!) his Rebel Daleks became the new Imperial Daleks while the former Imperial Daleks became Renegade Daleks.
During the Shoreditch Incident, the Imperial Daleks' assault shuttle was docked on the Dalek Mothership and left through a hatch on the ship's underside. In November 1963, Imperial Daleks used a single Dalek Shuttle to reach Earth to find the Hand of Omega for their emperor, Davros, before the Renegade Daleks did for the Dalek Supreme. The shuttle's crew had manage to capture the Hand of Omega and quickly took of and headed of towards the Dalek Mothership where it finally docked. When the Seventh Doctor tricked Davro's into using the Hand of Omega, the device headed towards Skaro and completely vaporized it before head back towards the Imperial Dalek Mothership, destroying it and presumably the assault shuttle as well. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)
Triva
- A small miniature filming model [used for the space scenes and mothership docking scene] as well as a full scaled version of the Imperial Dalek Assault Shuttle [used for the landing operation, which also included a fully detailed main bridge] were built for "Remembrance of the Daleks".
- It remains completely unknown as to who actually designed and built both the filming miniature model and full scale live sized prop version of the Imperial Dalek Assault Shuttle, and it also remains unknown as to what exactly happen to both props after filming.
