Venator-class Star Destroyer
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Additional Assets
Venator-class Star Destroyer
Production information
Designer
Manufacturer
Model
Type
Cost
Technical specifications
Width
Height/depth
Maximum acceleration
Engine unit(s)
Hyperdrive range
Power output
Power plant
Shielding
Sensor systems
Targeting systems
Navigation system
Armament
Complement
Crew
Usage
Availability
Role(s)
- "The Separatists are also on the run. We managed to save most of our troops."
"How? It looked like they were rolling right over us."
"That's how."
"Whoa!" - ―AdmiralErel Kersos and Dr.Kornell Divini upon seeing theResolution[19]
TheVenator-class Star Destroyer,[2] also known as theVenator-class Destroyer,[20]Republic attack cruiser,[8]Jedi cruiser,[21] and laterImperial attack cruiser,[22] was aKuat Drive Yardscapital ship used extensively by theGalactic Republic during the later parts of theClone Wars, as well as by theGalactic Empire.
Characteristics[]
Dimensions[]
Left to right: Hangar areas, mainhypermatterreactor core,hyperdrive and an auxiliary reactor.
A stock ship was 1,137 meters long, making it one of the largest capital ships capable of atmospheric operations, landing onplanets to load and unloadtroops and vehicles.[2]
TheVenator-class was born from the success of theAcclamator-class assault ship and was designed byLira Blissex for the purpose of serving as a medium-sized, versatile multi-rolewarship.[2]
Roles[]
While designed primarily for ship-to-ship combat,[8] theVenator had secondary roles ranging fromstarfightercarrier, to militarytransport andbattleship escort. The expanded carrier role made theVenator-class popular amongstJedistarfighter aces.[2]
As a popular multi-role warship of theRepublic Navy, theVenator was considered heavily armed and armored enough to lead assaults on Rim worlds likeUtapau as well as fast enough to chase downblockade runners.[2]Due to being relatively less self-sufficient than other ships in the fleet, theVenator-class often relied upon supply lines to aid long-range campaigns.[1]
These vessels also sported the red color of diplomatic immunity all Republic ships sported; by the beginning of the Galactic Empire, the hulls were deprived of this symbol of the Republic, giving them a dull Imperial-gray appearance.[5]
Offensive and defensive systems[]
The armament of a singleVenator-classStar Destroyer consisted of eight dualDBY-827 heavy turbolaser turrets, two medium dualturbolaser cannons, fifty-two point-defense duallaser cannons,[5] and fourproton torpedo tubes.[2]
TheVenator-class's eight heavy dual turbolaser turrets were its main weapons and had two tracking modes. In its precise, long-range tracking mode, the DBY-827 could hit a target vessel at a range of ten light minutes. During close-range fights, the turrets could rotate in three seconds with their fast-tracking mode.[2] In terms of firepower, these weapons rivaled the main battery on the laterImperial I-class Star Destroyers.
The DBY-827 had seven different power settings. This allowed theVenator'spilots andgunners to select a range of destruction, from a small strike to a vaporizing blow. As a true warship, theVenator-class Star Destroyer could divert almost all of its reactor output to its heavy turbolasers when needed. As a result of this, a flotilla ofVenators could break through the shields of aTrade Federationbattleship with ease.[2]
At the suggestion ofAnakin Skywalker, a heavySPHA turbolaser cannon was installed within the ventralhangar bay of someVenator-class ships of theOpen Circle Fleet. These weapons were meant to protect the Star Destroyers while they opened their long ventral doors to thearmy complement bays.[2] They would be used to considerable effect during theBattle of Coruscant.[5]
Propulsion systems[]
The engine units of a Venator.
Venators were equipped with powerful engines, a Class 1hyperdrive with an effective range of 60,000light-years. Its main reactor could annihilate up to 40,000 tons ofhypermatter fuel per second, producing at maximum 3.6 × 1024 watts of power.[2] This power was routed to four primary thrusters, two secondary thrusters and four tertiary thrusters, with five on either side of the hyperdrive mounting.
The main engine room had several vertical power cylinders littering the room, with walkways on different levels providing access to onboard personnel.[23]
Complement[]
Despite possessing powerful weaponry and being on par with theVictory-class, theVenator-class was designed with an additional starfighter carrier role in mind. Itshangars were far larger than those on other Star Destroyers like theVictory-class.[2]
Prior to the formation of the Galactic Empire, a typical Republic Venator carried a complement of 420 fighters: 192V-wing orV-19 Torrent starfighters, 192Eta-2Actis-class interceptors, and at least 36ARC-170 starfighters. The ship also typically maintained a variety ofshuttles in its hangars. Since it was capable of entering a planet's atmosphere and landing on its surface, the pre-ImperialVenator-class had a standard complement of 40LAAT/igunships and 24 militarywalkers for planetary operations.[2]
In addition to a standard ventral hangar bay, the bow of a Venator could open up to reveal a half kilometer long dorsal flight deck. This flight deck enabled theVenator-class to rapidly launch hundreds of fighters. However, the slow opening and closing of the armored bow doors could leave the ship extremely vulnerable.[2]
Although strong shielding was used to compensate for this weakness, this design aspect would be entirely omitted from later Star Destroyer designs, such as theImperator/Imperial-class. On ships in theOpen Circle Fleet, aSPHA turbolaser cannon was positioned near the ventral hangar opening for the purpose of protecting the ship along the ventral arc. TheVenator-class also had hangar-openings on its port and starboard side. These were used to dock withspace stations, mooring towers, and largerstarships, for the purpose of transferring troops and materials.[2]
Command tower[]
The bridge of an ImperialVenator-class Star Destroyer.
Because of its carrier role, theVenator-class featured a novel dual bridge tower design. The port tower was the starfighter command bridge, while the starboard tower served as a standard helm and command bridge. On future designs, this dual bridge design was also employed.[2]A similar dual-tower design was also seen on theSecutor-class Star Destroyer,[7] and theMaelstrom-class battlecruiser.[24]
The command bridge was designed with dual crew pits where operators would be stationed to control the ship's various functions. Officers would patrol walkways above and have a panoramic view to the outside.[5] This bridge design would become a standard feature on most Imperial warships.[25]
On top of each tower was ahyperwave communications and scanner module. Its function was similar to the scanner globes on theImperial-class and other KDY vessels, but it had a flat shape.[2] Flagships inVenator flotillas had red-painted conning towers to separate them from others.[26]
History[]
Republic origin[]
- "That's a Star Destroyer.Venator-class."
- ―Barriss Offee[19]
AVenator-class Star Destroyer present for theBattle of Mon Cala
TheVenator-class Star Destroyer was designed and constructed byKuat Drive Yards.[2] Such vessels were built in various shipyards such as theAllanteen Six shipyards.[27] TheVenator-class shared some design-characteristics with awarship class that served in theMandalorian Neo-Crusader fleet during theMandalorian Wars against theRepublic thousands of years before theClone Wars.[28] In738 BBY, during theMandalorian Excision, Republic forces used ships with a similar design.[29] By the time of theStark Hyperspace War, a predecessor to the later Venator-class was already in use with theOutland Regions Security Force, whichArmand Isard's brother served on. It was destroyed whenIaco Stark'sNavicomputer Virus caused it to emerge fromhyperspace in the middle of a star.[30]
Venator-class Star Destroyers were deployed in many battles during the Clone Wars, most notably during the Battle of Coruscant when upwards of a thousand such ships helped protect the capital,[31] and played pivotal roles in the repulsion of theCIS forces and the rescue ofSupreme ChancellorPalpatine.[5] During the war, they were also commonly referred to as Jedi cruisers due to their widespread use as flagships by theJedi generals of the Republic.[21] Separatist forces categorized this kind of vessel as Cruiser-class, to contrast the Escort-class designation for smaller vessels, like theArquitens-class andConsular-class.[32]
These warships were fast enough to pursueblockade runners, while also being large enough to lead independent operations, such as theBattle of Cato Neimoidia,Battle of Kashyyyk, and theBattle of Utapau. They could be used to land troops onplanetary surfaces, and serve as escorts for larger battleships, but their primary role was as mainline cruisers and starfighter carriers.[2][33]
As ships of the line, they were often grouped in lines of three to four ships.[34]
Imperial period and beyond[]
By the end of the Clone Wars, it had become the most popular capital ship of the Republic, although shortly after the formation of theNew Order, it was eclipsed by designs inspired by theVictory-class.[2] Despite this,Venators were used to great effect in the early years of the Empire.[35] In the Empire, these ships were stripped of the colorful markings of the Republic models.[22] At least twoVenators were involved in pursuing the L-4000 smuggler shipUhumele alongside a contingent of fighter squadrons.[7]
Venator-class Star Destroyers of theGalactic Empire.
Eventually, more robust vessels such as theImperator- andTector-class became favored, and theVenator and its variants were phased out.[2] This was partially due to its over-reliance on starfighters, as it went against the prevailingTarkin Doctrine and due to its prominent position in the Republic Navy, which the Empire attempted to distance itself from.[36]
This led to even more fringe groups obtainingVenators, as well as several ImperialMoffs, who used them in their private defense fleets,[36] and for their various militias.[37] TheMandalorianSupreme Strategist commanded aVenator Star Destroyer during the early years of theGalactic Civil War. It was destroyed during anengagement aboveMandalore with aZann Consortium fleet.[15]
TheImperial Navy used severalVenators as flight schools for military pilots, alongside severalImperial-class Star Destroyers and capturedLucrehulk-class battleships. TheVensenor was a notable vessel that served in this role.[7] ImperialVenators were also used as part of the security cordon for theSanctuary Pipeline to theEndor system during the construction of theDeath Star II.[38]
At least oneVenator served in AdmiralDaala'sMaw Irregular Fleet in40 ABY[17] to44 ABY.[39] At least two were used in theEvacuation of Dac in137 ABY, with one transformed into a drone ship and fitted with an ion pulse to distract the Sith-Imperial fleet.[18]
Behind the scenes[]
Venator-class Star Destroyer profile shots.
The engine room of theVenator-class is modeled after the Gravity Control System of theSDF-1 Macross from the firstMacross anime series.[40]
InStar Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections, theVenator-class is described both as serving the part of a destroyer escorting larger Republic battleships, and described as a battleship itself (the latter in the section on theInvisible Hand). This is most likely a reference to different classification systems being in use, one of which labels Star Destroyers like theVictory- andVenator-classes being medium-sized destroyers, while another labels them as battleships.
In the same book, theUtapauns are said to use "downscaled" warships, such as theDreadnaught-class heavy cruiser. This explains why theDreadnaught-class is often referenced as a cruiser rather than afrigate (even when many were rebuilt intoassault frigates), despite being smaller than both the Empire's Star Destroyers and their Star Cruisers. A similar system would be described byNew Republic scholars as the Imperial Classification System in many of theWest End Games sourcebooks.
In the early development ofStar Wars: Empire at War, theVenator-class was seen in at least one or two promotional screenshots. It was then featured in the demo but was cut from the final game, though it can be modded back into the game completely. The unit was eventually included inEmpire at War's expansion packForces of Corruption and can be purchased in the game's Skirmish free-play mode; it is not available, however, in story-related scenarios.
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
- LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
- "Evil Eyes" —Star Wars Manga: Black
- Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace(LEGO model only)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
- LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 film
LEGOStar Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 onLEGO'sofficial website(backup link) (original link is obsolete)- LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
Sources[]
Notes and references[]
- Related categories:
- Venator-class Star Destroyers
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- Venator-class Star Destroyers