Super Star Destroyer

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Super Star Destroyer

Super Star Destroyer (SSD) was a term used byImperial,Rebel,New Republic andGalactic Alliance personnel for many dagger-shapedwarship classes larger thanStar Destroyers, ranging fromStar Cruiser toStar Dreadnought models.

It was often used concurrently with the termSuper-class Star Destroyer, both of which capitalized on the general "Star Destroyer" term, which, after getting popular exposure throughout theClone Wars, came to symbolize weapons that in people's minds could destroy entire star systems.

Darth Vader'scommand ship, theExecutor, was a Super Star Destroyer and one of the most famous Imperial vessels fielded, as was the even deadlierEclipse, which served as one ofEmperorPalpatine'sflagships.

Characteristics[]

The term "Super Star Destroyer" described some of the largest warships ever designed and fielded, and covered various warship classes that served primarily ascommand ships. All the known models were at least several kilometers long in order to support their increasingly heavy power generators and armaments.^[15] In at least one ship classification system, SSDs were regarded as large enough to be counted asspace stations rather than regular starships.^[16] In large part due to their immense size, Super Star Destroyers required a crew of at least 280,000 to operate. One of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance,Mon Mothma, admitted when learning this that it would pose a dilemma if the Rebel Alliance did manage to capture one intact: they wouldn't have enough personnel to operate it.^[17]

The largest known models were usually fitted with extensive command and control suites^[2] which could handle far more naval forces than previous command stations, such as the Old Republic'sRepublic command ships of theKrath Holy Crusade^[18] or theInexpugnable-class tactical command ships of theMandalorian Wars.^[19]Like most other starship production lines, different ships within the same class were often subject to different specifications in terms of armament, crew and support vessels, based on their intended focus and roles.^[9][16]

Super Star Destroyers were on par with or larger than most other navies' ships-of-the-line, like theTrade Federation'sLucrehulk-class battleships or theSubjugator-class heavy cruisers of theCIS.^[15][20]As command ships, SSDs like theExecutor-class were capable of projecting power across entireOversectors and served as command ships forgalaxy-spanning campaigns.^[5][6] They were good expressions of theTarkin Doctrine, which argued that galactic peace could be achieved by developing the ability to project overwhelming firepower against any enemy, rendering all resistance futile before it even began.^[2]

History[]

Origin[]

For tens of thousands of years, heavy warships were part of the Republic Navy's strategy for space combat. Large ships fought in theAlsakan Conflicts and theOld Sith Wars. They became obsolete at some point after3000 BBY, when fleet doctrine shifted to groups of smaller-scalecruisers that combined their firepower and were more maneuverable. These new designs were armed with better weapons and more powerful shields than the olderbattlecruisers andbattleships.^[21]

However, by the centuries prior to the Clone Wars, heavy warships had gained prominence again. The first modern design that would be lumped into the Super Star Destroyer category was theProcurator-class Star Battlecruiser, built two centuries before the Clone Wars. It spawned a series of increasingly large warship designs and went on to have many different models in its own production line.^[4]

Large vessels like theProcurator were used for generations by private defensive fleets fielded by rich, industrialized star sectors.^[4][8]Kuat,Corellia, andHumbarine were but three of the industrialized Core sectors that could afford to build such behemoths, which were fitted withhyperdrives with limited range to highlight their defensive purposes in the relative peace of the time.^[22]

While a member of theTechno Union, the shipyards of Kuat began to experiment further in this period with warship designs that eclipsed previous generations.^[8] Two decades prior to theClone Wars, the shipyard unveiled theMandator-class, a type of design that would fill out the modern dreadnought category in the Anaxes War College System.^[4]

During the Clone Wars, heavy warship classes like the Star Battlecruisers and Star Dreadnoughts were used by the resurgentRepublic Navy,^[23] as large defense vessels. Some battlecruisers were refitted to lead task forces on raids deep into Separatist territory.^[4]

In the aftermath of the wars, the newly created Galactic Empire began an unprecedented research and development program for a new generation of heavy warship designs,^[4][24] creating vessels that would bear the colloquial term Super Star Destroyer.^[4]

Super Star Destroyer production was sometimes helped along by innovations in other areas. The Clone Wars saw the development of theCardan-class space station series, which came to have some influence on the structuring of future naval projects, including the Super Star Destroyers and theDeath Starbattle stations.^[25]

A few months after the end of the Clone Wars, theSarlacc Project was begun. It sought to develop a new, heavy Imperialcommand ship. This vessel, an early prototype for a new generation of dreadnoughts, was 12 kilometers in length and meant to be filled with weapons. It was destroyed by early rebel elements before it could be completed.^[24]Despite such an early setback, larger and more refined Star Dreadnought designs were eventually produced, notably theExecutor-class^[26] andEclipse-class.^[4][27]

TheExecutor-class became a highly sought after command ship, and the creation of the lead vessel and other members of the class was mired by political intrigue and misinformation campaigns. When the Imperial Navy requested funds for construction of theExecutor, it forged a profile on the vessel, calling it aSuper-class Star Destroyer and making it out to be less than half its intended size, on par with the earlierMandator- andMandator II-classes.^[4] This was done to avoid arousing suspicion in theImperial Senate about the true nature of the design^[2][26] as well as to capitalize on the popularity of the dagger-shaped Star Destroyer class, which dated back to the Clone Wars.^[9] The Emperor's ultimate plan for these vessels was to have one Super Star Destroyer per sector, to serve as a command ship for Imperial forces stationed at the sector.^[17]

The term was shortened to "Super Star Destroyer," and both it and the fake designation ofSuper-class remained in colloquial use long after the real name and designation had been revealed and the first vessel made operational.^[28][29][30]

As these vessels came to play a greater role in naval doctrine, some officers and military planners derided the battlecruisers and dreadnoughts as a wasteful budgetary expense. They derisively referred to all the designs as Super Star Destroyers and argued that vessels at Star Destroyer scale and smaller were the only things needed to keep the Empire safe. With the advent and subsequent destruction of the first Death Star, the Navy reluctantly adopted SSDs as a viable and cheaper alternative. Due to their increased effectiveness as terror weapons, dreadnought production was prioritized over battlecruiser designs.^[4]

Battlecruisers like thePraetor-class survived the transition into the Galactic Empire, but continued in limited service during the Galactic Civil War.^[8] Battlecruisers were hampered by their relative inflexibility compared to Star Destroyers and the lack of heavier firepower compared to the dreadnought models.^[4] ThePraetor-class, for one, was considered outright outdated.^[8]

"Super Star Destroyer" and "Super-class" later carried over to other warship designs in the following decades, with even the Rebel Alliance referring to anything bigger than a Star Destroyer by these terms.^[5][26] Beyond the colloquialisms, many SSDs were referred to as "star dreadnoughts" as well, contrasting the usage of "star cruiser" (lowercase) to refer to Star Destroyers.^[9]

Early Imperial production[]

Before theBattle of Yavin, most Super Star Destroyer dreadnought production lines were still undergoing construction,^[31] and the few partially constructed ships were only used as command centers^[27][32] At least one Super Star Destroyer was also put in dry dock in thefirstDeath Star some time before itsdestruction in0 ABY.

Once the Empire realized the threat posed by an organized rebellion with the downfall of the first Death Star, the Super Star Destroyers began to be mass-produced, with an averageMoff orSector Group Commander estimated to have one or more such superweapons in their arsenal throughout the course of theGalactic Civil War, bringing the total number of ships up to thousands.^[6]TheExecutor-class alone was believed to have had over 20 ships to its name, their combined bulk equating to that of thousands of individual Star Destroyers. Such heavy warships served both as sector as well as regional command centers^[33] with individual ships kept off the records as black projects, sent into theUnknown Regions for secret missions, or stationed at hidden sites as additional assets.^[4]

In addition to mass-production, influential individuals could afford customized designs at the height of the Empire. TheDark Jedi andInquisitorJerec hadKuat Drive Yards build a grandioseflagship for himself, replacing hisImperial-class Star Destroyer as a sign of his growing ambitions.^[34] This vessel became the lead ship ofits own class of dreadnoughts in addition to other dreadnought designs being produced during this period.^[4]

Overall, despite consisting of several classes with multiple models in each category, each Super Star Destroyer production line was relatively short, compared to the prolific Star Destroyers.^[4]There were still enough active ships around the time of theBattle of Hoth to make Rebel personnel also refer to them by the general term of Super Star Destroyer.^[5][35]

While conventional armaments were designed for most ships, the twoEclipse-class dreadnoughts had asuperlaser as their primary weapon. The bulk of these twoSuper-class Star Destroyers^[36] was built around each ship's reactor and support systems, making them the most powerful conventional warships in history, and causing the design to attract unwanted attention from criminal third parties.^[37]

Their construction took almost over a decade, with the Emperor's downfall leading to delays and shifts in logistics. They were estimated to be powerful enough to allow whoever controlled them a real chance at taking power in the galaxy. This also made them high-profile targets by both theRebel Alliance and, later, theNew Republic.^[9]As a symbol of its status, theEclipse was escorted bysmaller Super Star Destroyers during theBattle of Pinnacle Base.^[38][39]

After Endor[]

Following the Empire's collapse as a result of theBattle of Endor, it became increasingly difficult to maintain gargantuan warships, with the gradual breakdown and fracture of the Galactic Empire. Despite dozens of activebattle groups being led by SSDs immediately afterEndor, the lack of cooperation between various parts of the Empire and the gradual rise to power of the New Republic led to many Super Star Destroyers being destroyed or captured.^[9]

The focus switched to Star Destroyers or smaller vessels for the various Imperialwarlords. Former support ships like theStrike-class medium cruiser saw a renewed service period as more mainline warships in the fleets of theImperial Remnant.^[9]

The last major SSD known to have been commissioned by legitimate Imperial forces was anExecutor-class ship known as theRazor's Kiss. She was, however, destroyed by the New Republic soon after her launch fromKuat in7.5 ABY.^[40]

Over the years, the number of Super Star Destroyers dwindled as the older ships left in service were destroyed, captured, or kept in isolated Imperial enclaves. By the time Grand AdmiralThrawn took command of the Empire five years after Endor, his naval forces could not gain access to anything bigger than individual Star Destroyers.^[41] Even warlords who kept diplomatic relations with Thrawn were hesitant to throw their dreadnoughts in with his forces.^[4]

Concurrent with the warlordism, some fleet elements were recalled to theDeep Core, where scores of heavy warships became part of the "Dark Empire" ruled over by the clones ofPalpatine. Here, the resurrected Emperor plotted their use as tools of conquest for six years after Endor, unleashing them alongside his fleets ofWorld Devastators during the attempt at regaining his former glory withOperation Shadow Hand in10 and11 ABY.^[4][6]

Prior to this operation, this Dark Empire retook large portions of theCore Worlds, beginning a viciousImperial Civil War in the aftermath of the retaking of Coruscant from the New Republic. Twelve Super Star Destroyers were destroyed in the infighting, including theMandator III-class dreadnoughtsAculeus andPanthac and theExecutor-class dreadnoughtWhelm.^[4] (And a few other Super Star Destroyers including these following classes of Super Star Destroyers,Vengeance-class dreadnoughtsExecutor-class dreadnoughtsMandator III-class-class dreadnoughts)

During the rise of the resurrected Palpatine, at least four 15-kilometer-longSovereign-class Super Star Destroyers underwent construction, while the twoEclipse-class vessels were completed and fielded. These six vessels were meant to be the beginning of a new era of superlaser-armed warships, but with the destruction ofByss and the final death of the Emperor, they were all destroyed.^[6]

The power having shifted to the New Republic, the threat of SSDs decreased. Despite this, the Republic constructed a counterpart to the Empire's Super Star Destroyers, with the Mon Calamari–producedViscount-class Star Defender andMediator-class battle cruiser filling holes in the Republic's naval forces.^[42]

Apart from the Republic's new designs, several SSDs remained in the hands of foreign powers. One eight-kilometer-long SSD was observed in the fleet of theImperial Remnant during theYuuzhan Vonginvasion.^[12]

Further service[]

During the events surrounding theSwarm War, theMegador, a Super Star Destroyer equipped with sixteenengines, was used as flagship for the then-supreme commander of theGalactic Alliance Defense Force,Gilad Pellaeon.^[29]

Super Star Destroyers were known to be used in theSecond Galactic Civil War, with theMegador^[43] and theDominion^[44] participating on the side ofDarth Caedus's faction of the Galactic Alliance.At some point following the Second Galactic Civil War, heavy warships like theStar Defenders and Star Dreadnoughts were phased out of service, citing the expenses in operating the various designs.^[45]

Legacy[]

By130 ABY, the main-linePellaeon-class Star Destroyer had some of its systems partially based on achievements made with the successfulExecutor-class.^[9] The largerImperious-class Star Destroyer was based on thePellaeon and had a larger frame than the standard Star Destroyer classes of previous generations, but still shared their designation^[45] rather than be rated a battlecruiser or a dreadnought.^[4]

Designs[]

Allegiance-class battlecruiser[]

Main article:Allegiance-class battlecruiser

The 2,200 meterAllegiance-class design was a typical example of the Star Cruiser subclass of battlecruisers.^[4]Allegiances were smaller Super Star Destroyers seen in use as escorts for larger vessels like theEclipse-class. They had a design reminiscent of theImperial-class Star Destroyer, only larger.^[39] The class had a ventrally protruding reactor core and no visible launch bay.^[38]

TheAramadia[]

Main article:Aramadia (Super Star Destroyer)

TheAramadia was an Imperial SSD that was captured by theYevethans and acted as one ofNil Spaar'sflagships during theYevethan Purge in16-17 ABY. Following theBattle of N'zoth and the end of the Purge, it was towed toN'zoth and used as a museum. In top-down profile, it resembled theImperial-class Star Destroyer.^[46]

TheArc Hammer[]

Main article:Arc Hammer

At least 9.6 km long, almost half as long as anExecutor-class Star Dreadnought, theArc Hammer was essentially an armedfactory ship that also served as a command ship for theDark Trooper Project. The design was very sleek compared to other Super Star Destroyers (similar only toJerec's ship), and noteworthy for a large quadruple tower structure protruding from the dorsal and ventral side in the general area of the bridge structure. Dorsal bays could launch the ship's complement ofDark troopers onto a target in a combat drop. TheArc Hammer was destroyed from within byKyle Katarn's sabotage.^[47]

Assertor-class Star Dreadnought[]

Main article:Assertor-class Star Dreadnought

The 15,000 meterAssertor-class Star Dreadnought was a heavily armed Imperial Star Dreadnought. Ships of this class sometimes led elite units that usedTIE/D Defender starfighter squadrons. Two were seen atNaval StationValidusia.

Bellator-class dreadnought[]

Main article:Bellator-class dreadnought

The 7,200 meterBellator-class dreadnought was based on the earlier Mandator and Mandator II dreadnought models and was a slightly scaled down version of them. Several vessels were seen atNaval StationValidusia. TwoBellators were viewed by the commanders of Death Squadron at a fleet gathering prior to the Battle of Hoth.^[4] At least one vessel later served in the forces of the resurrected Emperor Palpatine in10 ABY. ABellator was escorted by aStar Destroyer in orbit of Byss around this time.^[38]

Eclipse-class dreadnought[]

Main article:Eclipse-class dreadnought

TheEclipse-class was designed as flagships forEmperorPalpatine and were constructed in relative secrecy. They were 17.5 kilometers in length, with much of their interiors taken up by generators used to power the ship's main weapon, a scaled-downsuperlaser. The class's design was meant to evoke ancient seagoing warships.^[6]

Executor-class Star Dreadnought[]

Main article:Executor-class Star Dreadnought

TheExecutor-class Star Dreadnought was the first class associated with the SSD moniker.^[2] It was 19 kilometers in length, was powered by a central reactor underneath its command tower, had over 5,000 various weapons-systems,^[5] and could carry over a thousand starfighters in its multiple hangar bays.^[11] Its design was meant to overwhelm any opposition, sending the enemy into retreat or resignation by its mere presence.^[2] The class became popular within the Imperial Navy, and officers desired such ships as a status symbol.^[48] Since theSuper-class designation originated with this ship, it was often calledSuper-class Star Destroyer interchangeably with other terms.^{[2][9][49][50]}

Mandator II-class Star Dreadnaught[]

Main article:Mandator II-class Star Dreadnaught

The 8,000-meterMandator II-class Star Dreadnaught was built and fielded by KDY and the Galactic Republic. The model served in theRepublic Navy during the Clone Wars and guarded vital targets from Separatist attacks.^[4]

Mandator III-class dreadnought[]

Main article:Mandator III-class dreadnought

The 12,000-meterMandator III-class was built and fielded by the Galactic Empire. It was several kilometers longer than previous models and enlarged to carry massive armaments.^[4]

TheMegador[]

Main article:Megador

TheMegador was a sixteen-engined SSD that served in theImperial Remnant during theOrinda campaign and later on theGalactic Federation of Free Alliances.^[29] It was armed withlong-range turbolasers during the Second Galactic Civil War.^[43]

Sovereign-class Super Star Destroyer[]

Main article:Sovereign-class Super Star Destroyer

TheSovereign-class was a 15-kilometer, scaled-down version of theEclipse-class, meant for mass production. Like theEclipse, theSovereign was armed with a superlaser as its primary weapon. None of the four initial ships survived the fall of the resurrected Palpatine, and all were destroyed before completion.^[6]

Super Star Destroyer prototype[]

Main article:Super Star Destroyer prototype

This ship, developed in theSarlacc Project, was 12 kilometers long, had a central reactor, and was meant to be covered in armaments and serve as the Imperial Navy's symbolic flagship. It was destroyed while partially unfinished during theBattle of Byss. Despite its destruction, it served as a precursor to later classes, like theExecutor.^[24]

Vengeance-class dreadnought[]

Main article:Vengeance-class dreadnought

This 19,000-meter dreadnought model was used by theGalactic Empire. Several vessels participated in the prelude toOperation Shadow Hand, where at least one was destroyed during the infighting of theImperial Civil War.^[4]

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

• Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope 4
• Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi 2
• Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi 3
• Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi 4

Sources[]

Non-canon sources[]

• "Starfighters Down" —Challenge 38(Unlicensed)

Notes and references[]