The following is a list ofstarships,cruisers,battleships, and otherspacecraft in theStar Wars films, books, and video games.
Within thefictional universe of theStar Wars setting, there are a wide variety of different spacecraft defined by their role and type. Among the many civilian spacecraft are cargo freighters, passenger transports, diplomatic couriers, personal shuttles andescape pods.Warships likewise come in many shapes and sizes, from small patrol ships and troop transports to largecapital ships likeStar Destroyers and other battleships.[1]Starfighters also feature prominently in the setting.
Many fictional technologies are incorporated intoStar Wars starships, fantastical devices developed over the millennia of the setting's history.Hyperdrives provides forfaster-than-light travel between stars at instantaneous speeds, though traveling uncharted routes can be dangerous.Sublight engines allow spacecraft to get clear of a planet'sgravitational well in minutes and travel interplanetary distances easily. For travel within planetary atmospheres or for taking off and landing,anti-gravity devices known asrepulsorlifts are used. Other gravity-manipulation technologies includetractor beams to grab onto objects and acceleration compensators to protect passengers from highg-forces. Protective barriers calleddeflector shields defend against threats, while many ships carrydifferent types of weaponry.[2][3][4]
The Death Star is the Empire's battle station which has the ability to use a kyber-crystal powered laser to destroy entire planets. It appears throughout theStar Wars franchise, particularly the original trilogy.
TheExecutor serves asDarth Vader'sflagship during the events ofThe Empire Strikes Back, leading the Death Squadron against the Rebel Alliance onHoth and in pursuit of theMillennium Falcon. It features again inReturn of the Jedi where, during the final space battle, it is destroyed after an RZ-1 A-wing crashes into the command bridge, causing theExecutor to lose control and be destroyed as thesecond Death Star's gravity pulls the flagship into its surface.[5][6]
ForThe Empire Strikes Back,George Lucas wanted theExecutor to be so massive it made the previousStar Destroyers appear tiny. A six-foot model of theExecutor was constructed which had over 150,000 individual lights in it. According to chief model maker Lorne Peterson, the ship was originally scaled to appear 16 miles long, though later sources would amend this figure to almost 12 miles.[7]
According to in-universeStar Wars sources, theExecutor is thelead ship of a new class of Star Dreadnoughts; the term "Super Star Destroyer" is a colloquialism applied to any ship larger than a standard Imperial Star Destroyer. At 19,000 m (62,000 ft) long, the ship bristles with thousands ofturbolasers, ion cannons, missile launchers and tractor beams. It similarly carries more than a thousand ships, includingTIE fighters.[5][6]
| Home One | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) |
| Information | |
| Affiliation | Rebel Alliance |
| Made by | Mon Calamari Shipyards[8][9] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class | Star Cruiser[8][9] |
| Armaments |
|
| Defenses |
|
| Propulsion | |
| Length | 1,300 m (4,300 ft)[8][9] |
| Population volume |
|
Home One made its theatrical appearance inReturn of the Jedi asAdmiral Ackbar's flagship during theBattle of Endor. According to the old Expanded Universe (nowStar Wars Legends) material, theGalactic Empire occupied the planet ofMon Cala. After the Empire destroyed three floating cities to pacify the planet, the peacefulMon Calamari converted their passenger liners and deep space exploration cruisers into warships, driving the Imperials from their homeworld prior to theBattle of Yavin.[12] In the current canon storyline, Darth Vader successfully subjugates Mon Cala, leading to a mass exodus of city-ships from Mon Cala. This fleet would later be commanded byAdmiral Raddus and Admiral Ackbar and join the Rebel Alliance.[13][14]
The franchise's books, comics, and video games from Legends describe and depict other Mon Calamari cruisers and successor designs, such as the MC80BMon Remonda in theStar Wars: X-wing novels, the MC90 star cruiserGalactic Voyager, theMediator-class battle cruisers, andViscount-class Star Defenders (which were meant to be the answer to theExecutor-class Super Star Destroyers) inR.A. Salvatore'sVector Prime.[15] In the current Star Wars canon, other Mon Calamari cruiser designs include the MC75Profundity and the MC85Raddus.
Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) created two Mon Calamari cruiser designs: the cylindrical "flying cigar"Home One command ship and a "winged" model identified in the Expanded Universe as theLiberty.[16] The "winged" model would have its wings removed and thrusters modified to portray another subtype.[17] The ships were designed to be as aesthetically different from theImperial Star Destroyers as possible, although the filming crew disliked the "pickle ships" due to the models' unflattering angles.[18] Internal neon lights provided lighting, and detail was painted on by using thesecond Death Star model's exposed framework as a makeshiftfrisket.[18] The model's design, as well as that of other Mon Calamari cruisers to appear in the film, was a collaborative effort betweenGeorge Lucas,Nilo Rodis-Jamero, andJoe Johnston.[7]
As described inStar Wars reference material, the in-universe origin ofHome One is as a deep space exploration ship constructed onMon Cala, part of the MC80 line of Star Cruisers. Although no two Mon Calamari ships look exactly alike, all share the same elongated, bulbous form which makes them appear to have been grown rather than constructed. When the Mon Calamari join the Rebel Alliance, these ships are extensively modified with increased armoring, stronger shields, and more powerful weapons, such that they become a match for Imperial Star Destroyers.[8][9]
With its heavy armor plates, triple-strength shields, and twenty hangar bays,Home One functions as both abattleship andcarrier in addition to its role asflagship. Like other Mon Calamari cruisers,Home One originally included numerous water-filled passageways, but these are drained and modified so that non-amphibious species could make use of them. However, the ship's controls and displays are designed specifically for Mon Calamari physiology, requiring the command crew to be entirely Mon Calamari. The blisters that cover the ship in a seemingly haphazard manner contain various equipment such as sensor arrays or recessed weapon batteries. Some are actually detachable ships in their own right which can be used to attack or escape, although Admiral Ackbar prefers to keep them docked.[8][9]
InReturn of the Jedi (1983), Admiral Ackbar (Timothy M. Rose) leads the Rebels during theBattle of Endor from the flagship, earning it the moniker Headquarters Frigate. While other Mon Calamari cruisers like theLiberty are destroyed by thesecond Death Star's superlaser,Home One survives.[8][9][19]Home One again acts as Ackbar's command vessel a year later when the Empire makes itslast stand in orbit aboveJakku and will, decades later, continue to serve as part of theResistance fleet.[8][9]
A 1994Micro Machines three-pack included a winged Mon Calamari cruiser toy, and a 1996 three-pack included the other variety.[20][21]Hasbro in 2003 planned to release a Mon Calamari cruiser as part of its Action Fleet collection but they cancelled the line before producing it.[22]Decipher andWizards of the Coast published Mon Calamari cruiser cards for theStar Wars Customizable Card Game andStar Wars Trading Card Game, respectively.[23][24] In 2006, Wizards of the Coast created a Mon Calamari Star Defender miniature as part of itsStar Wars Miniatures Starship Battles game.[25] Mon Calamari cruisers are player-controllable units inLucasArts'Empire at Warreal-time strategy.[26]Fantasy Flight Games'sStar Wars: Armada, a table top miniatures game released on March 27, 2015, adds several Mon Calamari cruisers to the Rebel side in the expansions, including the MC80Home One, MC80Liberty, MC75Profundity, and MC30c Frigate.[16]
Imperial landing craft (orSentinel-class landing craft) were designed for the Special Edition release ofStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and created entirely withCGI. However, they first appeared in products of theStar Wars: Shadows of the Empire multimedia campaign.[27] According to in-universe sources, the primary mission for Sentinel-class craft is deploying Imperial military forces from orbit onto a planet, though it can be used for other missions including short-range scouting, cargo transport andclose air support. Heavily armored and equipped with powerfuldeflector shields, Imperial landers carry eight laser cannons, two concussion missile launchers, two blaster cannons and an ion cannon turret. As a troop transport it can carry 54stormtroopers into battle, or carry vehicles via cargo pod installed on its underside.[28][29]
Lambda-class T4a shuttles first appeared inStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, and were later added to the Special Edition release ofThe Empire Strikes Back.Joe Johnston,Ralph McQuarrie, andNilo Rodis-Jamero borrowed elements from the skyhopper designed byColin Cantwell forA New Hope when refining the shuttle's appearance.[30] Earlier versions were boxy, boat-like, or hadTIE fighter-like components.[30]Industrial Light and Magic's modelmakers made two shooting models, althoughCGI versions were used for the craft's Special Edition appearance inThe Empire Strikes Back.[30] TheTheta-class shuttle inRevenge of the Sith was designed to appear like a predecessor to the Lambda class.[31] ALambda-class shuttle makes a cameo appearance during the docking sequence ofInara Serra's shuttle in "Serenity", the pilot episode ofJoss Whedon'sFirefly.[32]
According to reference material,Lambda-class shuttles are one of the most common vessels in the Imperial navy and can be configured for a number of roles, including cargo transport, troop carrier, or diplomatic courier. It is a popular personal transport for high-ranking Imperial officials as its armament, reinforced hull anddeflector shielding allow it to travel safely even without an escort. It was also rumored by Imperial officials that the Emperor himself used a highly modified Lambda-class shuttle, which was allegedly equipped with a cloaking device.[33][34] The shuttle is propelled by twoion engines while ahyperdrive allows for long-distance journeys. At 20 m (66 ft) long, the shuttle can carry up to 20 passengers in standard configuration or up to 80 metric tons (176,370lbs) of cargo. A crew of two to six pilot the shuttle in a forwardcockpit, which in an emergency can jettison from the main body of the vehicle; not all 20 passengers can fit in the cockpit however, so the most senior personnel are given priority to escape.[33][34] For armament theLambda-class shuttle is equipped with two Taim & Bak KX5 double blaster cannons on the folding wings, two forward-mounted Taim & Bak GA-60s double laser cannons, and a rear-mounted ArMek R-Z0 retractable double blaster cannon.[34]
TheImperial-class Star Destroyers make their first theatrical appearance in theStar Wars (1977) and feature throughout the franchise. They are described as the chief warship of the Galactic Empire and act as the mobile headquarters for many high-ranking Imperial officers. Nearly 1,600 m (5,200 ft) long, these ships feature heavy armament, carry dozens of vessels includingTIE Fighters, and transport thousands ofStormtroopers as they hunt down Rebel targets and instill fear in the civilian populace. However, at theBattle of Endor, they prove vulnerable to fleets of skilled Rebel pilots.[35]The Force Awakens (2015) showcases the Graveyard of Ships onJakku, described as the final resting place for many Imperial Star Destroyers when the Empire made theirlast stand against theNew Republic.[36]
TheMillennium Falcon is a highly modified YT-1300F light freighter captained by smugglerHan Solo (Harrison Ford) and hisWookieefirst mate,Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew).
The YT-1300 Corellian light freighter, manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation, was essentially a giant "forklift" designed totug around giant container ships. As one of the most successful designs in history, the appeal of the vessel is not its basic equipment, but its modular ability to take an extraordinary amount of modifications and alterations. But the downside is the cockpit being placed on the right side makes it extremely hard to pilot correctly. Its popularity among freighter captains throughout the galaxy guaranteed commercial operation in the galaxy during the final days of the Galactic Republic and the reign of the Galactic Empire.
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) receives aprosthetic hand aboard theRedemption, a modified Nebulon-B escort frigate, at the conclusion ofStar Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.[37] A Nebulon-B medical frigate is part of theRebel Alliance fleet at the Battle of Endor inReturn of the Jedi. Expanded Universe material states that relatively affordable Nebulon-B frigates, which are effective at engagingstarfighters, are used by both the Rebellion and theGalactic Empire.[37] The frigates appear in severalLucasArts titles, including theX-Wingflight simulators series,Empire at Warreal-time strategy game, andStar Wars: Battlefront, as well as episodes "Zero Hour" and "Secret Cargo" ofStar Wars Rebels.
Industrial Light & Magic's Nilo Rodis-Jamero andJoe Johnston created the frigate late during work onThe Empire Strikes Back, with the design following a suggestion by George Lucas that it be based on anoutboard motor.[38] The model was produced in a short time with limited financial access; it was primarily built from components left over from previouskitbashing exercises, including battleship hulls and artillery pieces.[38] The resulting model was 247 centimetres (97 in) long, 99 centimetres (39 in) tall, and included a "window" where a still from the scene in the medical bay could be inserted for filming.[38][39]
Following the completion of filming, Lucas decided to revisit the end of the movie to better establish the characters' final locations, requiring a section of the frigate to be built that corresponded to the scale of the 2-foot (0.61 m)Millennium Falcon model.[38] The model was originally referred to as theRebel starcruiser orRebel cruiser, but during filming ofReturn of the Jedi, it was renamedRebel Medical Frigate after the cruiser name was used for theMon Calamari cruisers.[38][39]
According to in-universe sources, the EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate is a versatile design which can be modified to fulfill a variety of different roles, from long-range scouting to search-and-rescue missions. When fully armed, the 300 m (980 ft)-long frigate is equipped with twelveturbolasers, twelve laser cannons, and a pair oftractor beam projectors, and can carry a full squadron of starfighters. The design is most famous for serving as medical frigates, with full-service hospital facilities and a capacity for 700 patients.[40][41]
GR-75 medium transports are a class of ship which first appears inThe Empire Strikes Back during the evacuation of Echo Base onHoth, and have made appearances in other media. Only 90 m (300 ft) long, these ships are described inStar Wars sources as largely consisting of a thick outer hull with its interior entirely open for modular cargo pods. These are held in place by amagnetic shield and allows the transport to accommodate 19,000 metric tons (42,000,000 lb) of cargo. Cheap and easy to maintain, these transports are only equipped with four twin laser cannons and minimal deflector shields, though some are retrofitted for combat.[42][43]
Slave I is the starship used bybounty hunterBoba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch) inThe Empire Strikes Back andThe Mandalorian (in which Boba is played byTemuera Morrison), and by his fatherJango Fett (also played by Morrison) inAttack of the Clones. The ship's design is said to resemble the shape of astreet lamp.[44] However, the actual inspiration for the shape of the ship was a radar dish, according to Nilo Rodis-Jamero, the assistant art director and visual effects creator onThe Empire Strikes Back. Rodis-Jamero created the initial design after seeingJoe Johnston's ideas forBoba Fett, and states that "the original design I had was round, but when you looked at it from the side, it became elliptical...George [Lucas] thought it was elliptical, so that's what it became." He goes on to say that "[w]hen building the ship atILM, someone looked at the street lamps and pointed out that they looked like Boba's ship. So everyone began to think that was where I got the idea for the design."[45] Its appearance in the original release ofThe Empire Strikes Back was realized by a combination ofmatte paintings and a 69-centimeter (27 in) model.[46]
According to in-universe reference material,Slave I is a modifiedFirespray-31-class patrol craft produced by Kuat Systems Engineering. Unique in design, theFirespray-31-class has a distinct engine cluster on which the ship rests when landed, but when in flight the ship rotates 90 degrees so that the top-mounted cockpit faces forward.[47] The ship'sartificial gravity similarly reorients depending on the flight mode, while the rotating stabilizer fins on either side carryrepulsorlifts to assist with landing. The class only saw limited production, as it was considered too heavily armed for civilian use, too underpowered for Kuat's home fleet, and too reliable for post-sale maintenance business.[48] Jango Fett chose the vessel for, among other reasons, its anonymous appearance, but heavily modified it with additional weaponry, expanded crew quarters and more secure (and less humane) prisoner cabinets.[48]
After inheritingSlave I from his father, Boba Fett made additional modifications to the vessel. These include a secret (and stolen) military sensor-jamming andcloaking device that enables the ship to disappear from most sensor systems, immobilizing bunks for up to six prisoners, and even more weaponry. Armaments include 2 Borstel GN-40 twin rotatingblaster cannons, 2 Dymek HM-8concussion missile launchers, a Brugiss C/Inion cannon, a Phylon F1tractor beam projector, and 2 Arakyd AA/SLproton torpedo launchers.[49]
In June 2021, the nameSlave 1 was dropped byDisney and instead the vessel was referred to simply as "Boba Fett's Starship", starting with the introduction of a newLEGO model set. Jens Kronvold Frederiksen and Michael Lee Stockwell of LEGO Star Wars confirmed this change had come from Disney although no reason was given. Ethan Anderston of/Film theorized the decision might have been due to Disney not wanting to merchandize products with the word "slave" in them. Although questioning such a decision, he noted it was not the first time LEGO had not called their models after their proper names.[50] A day after this reveal, a petition was started onChange.org to rename the ship back to its original name; within the first two days it had received over 1,500 digital signatures. Mark Anthony Smith, the actor who stood in as Boba Fett for theSpecial Edition version ofStar Wars: A New Hope, also voiced his displeasure at the name change.[51][52][53] In episode 4 ofThe Book of Boba Fett, the ship is referred to as "Firespray" by Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison), representing the first live-action mention of its new name. Joshua Fox ofScreen Rant noted it made sense that Disney would not want the series' principal character's ship to have a name with negative connotations. He also noted they had done something similar in 2016 when they renamed the "Slave Leia" outfit to "Huttslayer."[54]
TheTantive IV, identified in source material as a CR90 Corellian corvette, first appears in the opening scene of the originalStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, commanded byPrincess Leia (Carrie Fisher) as she tries to escape fromDarth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones) aboard hisImperial Star Destroyer.[55] Her adoptive fatherBail Organa (Jimmy Smits) is seen using a similar vessel during the prequel movieRevenge of the Sith, identified in source material as the CR70 modelTantive III.[56] Corellian corvettes, also known asRebel Blockade Runners for their powerful engine array and ability to outrun customs vessels, are manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation.[57][55]
Also known asSeparatist Frigates, these vessels made their theatrical appearance inStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and feature inClone Wars-related media. The design of these and other Separatist vessels was done specifically to reverse the visual iconography of the originalStar Wars trilogy by having "good guy" ships be triangular and "bad guy" ships be smoother and more organic. UnusedJoe Johnston designs of Rebel ships fromReturn of the Jedi were used as inspiration byRevenge of the Sith concept artists in creating the Banking Clan frigate and other vessels.[58]
According to in-universe material, theseMunificent-class Star Frigates are built by Hoersch-Kessel Drive Inc. on behalf of the InterGalactic Banking Clan for the Separatist cause.[59] Forming the bulk of the Separatist fleet during the war, these frigates fill the dual role of combat and communications ships, using powerful antennae to coordinate fleet actions utilizingfaster-than-light hyperwaves to communicate anywhere within the galaxy or jam enemy sensors and communications.[60]
Official sources give their length as 825 m (2,707 ft), a width of 426 m (1,398 ft) and height of 243 m (797 ft). However they require only a small crew of 200battle droids to operate, with a storage capacity of up to 150,000 additional battle droids for boarding actions or ground assaults.[59][60] In battle, these frigates' armaments make them grossly overpowered for their size.[59] Each is armed with two forward-facing heavyturbolaser cannons which at full power can blast-melt an ice-moon 1,000 km (620 mi) in diameter; two long-rangeion cannons; 26 twin turbolaser cannons; 20 light turbolaser turrets; and 38 point-defense laser cannons.[60]
These spacecraft made their theatrical appearance inRevenge of the Sith in addition to other Clone Wars-related media as a capital ship used by Separatist forces. As with other Separatist spacecraft, the design of these destroyers was based on unused concept art for Rebel capital ships fromReturn of the Jedi.[61]
Officially referred to asRecusant-class light destroyers in background material, their in-universe origin comes fromMon Calamari plans that were stolen byQuarren Separatists and jointly manufactured by the Commerce Guild and Techno Union.[62] These ships measure 1,187 m (3,894 ft) long, 157 m (515 ft) wide and 163 m (535 ft) high. Because they are primarily controlled viadroid brain, they require a crew of only 300 battle droids to operate, with storage space for an additional 40,000 battle droids.[62] Their diverse armament includes a prow heavyturbolaser cannon, 4 heavy turbolaser cannons, 6 heavy turbolaser turrets, 5 turbolaser cannons, 30 dual laser cannons, 12 dual light laser cannons, and 60 point-defense light laser cannons. However their effectiveness in battle comes from overwhelming numbers, as between four and sixRecusant-class ships are needed to outgun aVenator Star Destroyer.[60] Their only true weakness is the single-minded nature of their droid brain, although the lack of self-preservation means they are not above deliberately ramming their target in order to destroy it.[60]
Darth Tyranus, also known as Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), reachesCoruscant near the end ofStar Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones aboard aPunworcca 116-class interstellar sloop, better known as a "solar sailer", built by the Huppla Pasa Tisc Shipwright Collective. The ship, which also appears multiple times inStar Wars: The Clone Wars, is equipped with asolar sail which was originally part of the concept for theNaboo royal starship inStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. However the model was redesigned to reflect the harsher environment ofGeonosis and the insectoidGeonosians, resembling both a beetle and a butterfly.[63][64] Originally it was to have separate pilot and passenger compartments, but during production this was altered and a forward cockpit bubble was added when it was determined there was a need for a shot of Dooku sitting next to his pilot. It is somewhat similar to the privateAntonov An-2 plane in real life.[63][64] During filming ofAttack of the Clones, a full-size model of the sailer was built in order to stage thelightsaber duel between Count Dooku andYoda (Frank Oz).[64]
According toStar Wars canon sources, the solar sailer is a luxurious yacht commissioned by Dooku from his allies on Geonosis prior to the outbreak of theClone Wars. While only 16.7 m (55 ft) long, it is surprisingly spacious with room for Dooku's databook library and fast with a Class 1.5hyperdrive. Instead of carrying fuel, the sailer deploys a 100 m (330 ft) wide sail which collects interstellar energy and channels it directly to the engines. To defend it from attack, the vessel is equipped with eighty-fourtractor/repulsor beam projectors.[65][66]
Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker travel to Naboo aboard a H-type Nubian yacht inAttack of the Clones. The transport's design is partly based on anocean liner.[67]
General Grievous's flagship inRevenge of the Sith is theInvisible Hand, appearing in the film's opening space battle above the planetCoruscant. WithSupreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) held prisoner aboard the ship,Jedi KnightsObi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) andAnakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) launch a rescue mission to save him, boarding the ship where they confront and ultimately defeatCount Dooku (Christopher Lee). With theInvisible Hand crippled in the battle,General Grievous flees aboard an escape pod asAnakin andObi Wan successfully guide half the ship to anemergency landing on Coruscant.
George Lucas had a personal hand in the design of the ship, including the addition of the raised spire in which Obi-Wan, Anakin and Count Dooku have their duel. The raised spire also helped differentiate the command ship from the other capital ships over Coruscant. While the ship was completelyCGI, unlike similarly modeled ships for the film it needed a complex interior that was fully mapped out for the various set pieces which take place during the movie. Once the floor plans were approved, they were constructed as both CG and actual rooms, with multiple large-scale sets for the actors to perform in. More sets of rooms aboard the ship were built than seen in the final film; several "serial-type escapades" were cut from the final release. Other sets, built inside a mount that could rotate them, were used to depict the vessel's collapse.[68][69]
TheInvisible Hand is described according to in-universe references as aProvidence-class carrier/destroyer, a classification representing the dreadnought's dual roles in planetary domination.[70] Manufactured by the Free Dac Volunteers Engineering Corps, the vessel is 1,088 m (3,570 ft) long, 198 m (650 ft) wide and 347 m (1,138 ft) high. Given its size theInvisible Hand can store up to 1.5 millionbattle droids but only requires a crew of 600 to operate.[71] TheInvisible Hand can unleash tremendous damage with 14 quadturbolaser cannons, each of which at maximum output is equivalent to amagnitude-10 earthquake; 2 heavyion cannons; 34 dual laser cannons; 12 point-defense ion cannons, and 102proton torpedo launchers.[71] Its hangars have been extensively modified from otherProvidence-class vessels, allowing the battleship to carry 120 fighters (a mixture ofVulture droids andTri-fighters), 160MTTs and 280 other ground vehicles includingAATs,Hailfire droids andHoming spider droids.[71]Providence-class ships are equipped with a main upper sensor tower and a secondary ventral sensor pod,[72] but on theInvisible Hand the main communication/sensor pod is refitted into a lofty sanctum for Count Dooku from which he broadcasts spiritual propaganda to divide the galaxy.[71]
Also known as the Naboo Diplomatic Cruiser, this ship makes its theatrical appearance in the opening scene ofStar Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The ship is seen being escorted byNaboo N-1 starfighters, carrying SenatorPadmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) toCoruscant for an important vote on the Military Creation Act. After coming to rest on a landing pad, the ship is blown up in an assassination attempt on Senator Amidala's life, though she escapes unharmed.
The ship's design was inspired by theB-2 Spirit stealth bomber.[73] While the cruiser was entirelyCGI, for filming purposes a full-size set of the landing pad was built for the actors with adigital matte painting inserted to create the background. Pyrotechnics were used in the filming of the scene, though the majority of the explosion was created with CGI by visual effects art directorAlex Jaeger.[74]
Background material on the Diplomatic Cruiser state that it was designed in the wake of theInvasion of Naboo to address shortcomings in the previousJ-type 327 starship. Still unarmed and covered in shinychromium plating, it is nevertheless faster and better shielded, with additional back-up drives in case the main Class 0.7hyperdrive fails. At 39 m (128 ft) long, the vessel's spacious interiors are designed with comfort in mind for fourVIPs, six bodyguards and a crew of five. The leading edge of its wing also feature four recharging sockets for N-1 starfighters to dock with the ship.[75][76]
The Naboo Royal Starship features prominently inStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as the ship that QueenPadmé Amidala (Natalie Portman),Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) andQui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) use to escape from theTrade Federation blockade ofNaboo. After arriving onTatooine where they free youngAnakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), the heroes continue aboard the Royal Starship toCoruscant, before finally using it to return to Naboo and free the planet from the Trade Federation's occupation in a climactic battle.
An early design depicted the ship powered by a solar sail; when Lucas called for a sleeker look, designerDoug Chiang drew inspiration from 1950s hood ornaments.[77] According to Chiang, the design of the queen's ship was to exemplify Theedian technology the same way theSpace Shuttle exemplified the power of technology in America. A thirty-inch, highly detailed model of the ship was built, then sliced into one-inch sections and scanned in order to create a digital model. To reduce the amount ofCGI work on the film and get more realistic footage of the ship under natural lighting, a larger ten-foot model was also created for filming scenes of the ship when landed.[78]
According to in-universe material, the Naboo Royal Starship was meant to be a visual representation of the glory of Naboo. A modified J-type 327 Nubian starship, the vessel's unique spaceframe was handcrafted by the Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corp. and its decorative plating of royalchromium – reserved only for Naboo's monarch – was hand-polished and crafted by artisans. Lacking weaponry, the 76 m (249 ft)-long ship featured state-of-the-artdeflector shields and a cohort ofastromech droids to make emergency repairs. One drawback was that its high-performance T-14hyperdrive, while easy to acquire on many civilized worlds, could be harder to find on more remote planets. After Senator Amidala's death, the ship is taken by Darth Sidious and given to Darth Vader to use as he sees fit.[79][80] Vader retrofits the starship with an armament of ion charges and uses it following the destruction of the Death Star at the Battle of Yavin.[citation needed]
Padmé Amidala travels to Mustafar aboard a Naboo star skiff inStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith to confront Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) after he turns to thedark side. Designer Ryan Church sketched the ship to appear "supercharged".[81] Only the ship's boarding ramp was built full scale; some footage was altered from material used inAttack of the Clones.[81] The ship is designed to be reminiscent of the "rocket ships" seen in pulp science-fiction.[82]
Neimoidian shuttles first appear inThe Phantom Menace and are seen throughout the prequel trilogy andClone Wars television series. Their design is based on a Trade Federation landing ship, turned vertically and altered to be more insectoid and less symmetrical. They are also used by the otherSeparatist leaders, such as Nuvo Vindi and Wat Tambor.[83]Star Wars lore refers to these vessels asSheathipede-class transport shuttles built by the insect-like Charrian species, especially popular with the Neimoidians but used by many worlds associated with the Separatist cause. Intended for short-range diplomatic missions, these 20 m (66 ft)-long shuttles feature powerful communication arrays and are unarmed but can be modified for combat. Some also incorporate an automatic pilot, allowing for a more expansive passenger compartment.[84][85] A heavily modifiedSheathipede-class shuttle named thePhantom II was obtained by the Spectres during a mission to Agamar, as a replacement for the originalPhantom following its destruction.[86]
Republic assault ships of theAcclamator-class first appear inAttack of the Clones. These ships, originally called "Jeditroop transports ", demonstrate a connection to the original trilogy'sStar Destroyers through their triangular hulls.[87] According toStar Wars reference material, these assault ships were built by Rothana Heavy Engineering to serve as theRepublic's primary troop transport at the start of theClone Wars, with a secondary offensive role in space battles. Their secret construction was initiated byDarth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) under false orders from theJedi High Council as part his plan to take control of the galaxy.[88][89]
Republic assault ships measure at 752 m (2,467 ft) long, 460 m (1,510 ft) wide and 183 m (600 ft) in depth.[90] With a crew of 700, they can carry up to 16,000clone troopers and support personnel, along with heavy vehicles includingLAAT gunships,AT-TE walkers andSPHA artillery.[88][90] Unlike many otherStar Wars vessels of similar size they can conduct both ground and water landings, allowing them to deploy troops and vehicles directly into battle.[88][89] Their armament includes 12 quadturbolaser turrets, 24 laser cannons, and 4 heavy strategic missile/torpedo launchers. This weaponry allows them to conduct a range oforbital bombardments, from surgical strikes in support of ground forces to "Base Delta Zero" fleet bombardments which melt the upper crust of a planet's surface.[90]
Republic attack cruisers, formally known asVenator-class Star Destroyers, made their first theatrical appearance in the opening space battle ofRevenge of the Sith and have appeared throughout theStar Wars franchise. Described in-universe as large and powerful battleships of theRepublic Navy, attack cruisers are 1,137 m (3,730 ft) long with a crew of 7,400 and powerfully armed with eight heavy dualturbolaser turrets, two medium dual turbolaser turrets, fifty-two point-defense laser cannons, four heavyproton torpedo launchers and sixtractor beam projectors. A 500 m (1,600 ft)-long flight deck is built directly into the ship's prow with bow doors, allowing a quick exit for the vessel's complement of 420 starfighters, fortyLAAT gunships and twenty-fourAT-TEs. After the Republic's victory, these cruisers continued to serve under theGalactic Empire.[91][66]
TheConsular-class Republic CruiserRadiant VII is the first vessel seen inThe Phantom Menace.Jedi knightsQui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) andObi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) travel aboard theRadiant VII on their mission to end theTrade Federation's blockade of the planetNaboo. After docking with the Federation's Droid Control Ship, theRadiant VII is destroyed to prevent the Jedi from escaping.[92]
Originally, theRadiant VII was going to be sleek like mostOld Republic ships depicted in theStar Wars prequel trilogy. However, Lucas suggested a design similar to the ships in the original trilogy;Doug Chiang and theLucasfilm art department responded with a design similar to theTantive IV model created forStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Several antennae were added to focus attention to the cockpit during the opening sequence ofThe Phantom Menace.[93] For filming the destruction of theRadiant VII, the crew built a gigantic seven-foot model and rigged it with pyrotechnics, around which was constructed a to-scale hangar. This use of practical special effects allowed for pieces of the exploding model to interact with the surrounding environment without having to utilizeCGI resources.[94]
Consular-class Republic Cruisers like theRadiant VII are "instantly recognizable throughout the galaxy" according to theStar Wars Databank.[92] Built by the Corellian Engineering Corporation, these Republic Cruisers are generally unarmed and feature a red color scheme as a symbol of neutrality and "diplomatic immunity".[95] At 115 m (377 ft) long, their features include strongdeflector shields, three powerful Dyne 577 radial atomizer engines and a Longe Voltrans tri-arc CD-3.2hyperdrive forfaster-than-light travel. Underneath the bridge is an interchangeable diplomatic salon pod which can eject from the cruiser in an emergency.[96] During theClone Wars, many Republic Cruisers undergo the Charger c70 retrofit to becomeRepublic Frigates. Slightly longer at 139 m (456 ft), these vessels are retrofitted with additional armor plating, a twin laser cannon and five twinturbolaser cannon turrets.[97]
Darth Maul pilots aSith infiltrator, namedScimitar, inThe Phantom Menace. Its design includes elements of theTIE interceptor andLambda-class shuttle.[98] The vehicle has been made into toys byHasbro andGaloob and models kits byLego[99] andErtl. TheScimitar is identified by in-universe sources as a heavily modified Star Courier manufactured by Republic Sienar Systems, supposedly designed by Raith Sienar himself under orders fromDarth Sidious. Following Maul's presumed death during the Battle of Naboo, it was appropriated by Sidious and used during the Clone Wars and Galactic Civil War. The ship's distinctively long prow, giving it a length of 26.5 m (87 ft), houses an experimental full-effectcloaking device that can make it invisible on command. Beneath the invisibility field generator are storage compartments forprobe droids, aspeeder bike and other equipment. TheScimitar also incorporates an experimental high-temperatureion engine system which necessitates large radiator panels that fold inward for landings, and is well-armed with six low-profilelaser cannons and aproton torpedo launcher.[100]
Techno Union Starships made their theatrical appearance inAttack of the Clones during theBattle of Geonosis as theSeparatist droid army attempts to hold off theclone troopers of theGalactic Republic. Background material on the ship class describes it as a common sight in theStar Wars universe, 220 m (720 ft) long with a Class 1hyperdrive and six large rocket thrusters, but ineffective as a combatant with only two laser cannon batteries. Its lack ofrepulsorlifts gives it limited maneuverability within a planet's atmosphere and the large fuel stores for its rockets are a glaring weakness that can be exploited during the battle.[101] Of the 286 Techno Union starships at the Battle of Geonosis, 169 escape.[102]
EmperorPalpatine (Ian McDiarmid) travels aboard aTheta-class shuttle inRevenge of the Sith. The ship was designed to appear like a predecessor to theLambda-class shuttle.[31] Only the shuttle's boarding ramp was built for filming.[31] Reference material describes this shuttle from an in-universe perspective as being as being upgraded by the finest starship technicians in the galaxy to meet Emperor Palpatine's needs. These upgrades include far stronger protective shields than normal; two quad laser cannons and an aft laser cannon that can be controlled by a single pilot without the four optional crew members; sensor masks which make the shuttle appear empty to conventional scanners; and a hyperwave reflector like those used by the Jedi to provide instant communication across the galaxy. Originally manufactured by Cygnus Spaceworks, key design personnel would be lured to Sienar Fleet Systems, where they would design craft with similar configurations for the Empire in years to come.[103]
Trade FederationLucrehulk-class battleships appear in thePrequel trilogy and various other Star Wars media. Lucas called for these ships to have a "saucer" look with a distinct front and rear, achieved by placing the engines on one side of the ship and the antennae and docking bays on the other.[104]
InThe Phantom Menace a fleet of these ships enforces a blockade of the planetNaboo, one of which (identified in background material as theVuutun Palaa[105]) serves as the Droid Control Ship at the center of the movie's climactic battle. To capture the Droid Control Ship's destruction, a 1/800 scale model was created and blown up using specially designedpyrotechnic material to simulate a believably massive explosion, and filmed at 340 frames per second to get enough frames for the cut. A second scale model of the ship's hangar was created and mapped out for the scene whereAnakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) accidentally flies hisstarfighter inside the ship.[106]
In-universe, these vessels were originallyLucrehulk-class LH-3210 cargo freighters manufactured by Hoersch-Kessel Drive Inc. that the Trade Federation secretly modified into warships to build up their armed forces. At 3,170 m (10,400 ft) in diameter, each massive battleship can carry an entire army: 6,250Armored Assault Tanks, 550Multi-Troop Transports, 1,500 troop carriers, 50C-9979 Landing Craft, 1,500Vulture droids and over 329,000 B1Battle Droids.[105][96][107] The crew is similarly large with 60 supervisors, 3,000 droid crew and 200,000 maintenance droids.[107] To destroy enemy starfighters trying to attack its transports, each converted battleship is equipped with 42 quad laser emplacements on rotating mounts to hide the ships' military nature. While helping to conceal the Trade Federations' military build-up, the limited coverage of these weapons leaves significant blind spots vulnerable to attack.[107] A small number of these battleships are further modified as Droid Control Ships and featured additional communications and computer systems to operate the Trade Federation's droid armies; destroying a Droid Control Ship will disable all droids under its command.[105][96][107]
During theClone Wars, manyLucrehulk-class freighters are more extensively retrofitted to increase their armament over what was carried during theBattle of Naboo.[107] These Separatist battleships had 185 quad laser batteries, 520 assault laser cannons, and 51 turbolasers.[105] However, blind spots remain in the armament's coverage which leave vulnerable angles thatRepublic ships can exploit.[105][107] After the end of the Clone Wars,Lucrehulk-class battleships are acquired by various groups, including the Rebel Alliance, which uses one as a flight school.[citation needed]
Trade Federation Landing Ships transport the Trade Federation's invasion forces to Naboo's surface inThe Phantom Menace and have appeared in other Star Wars media. Although initial designs were reminiscent ofdirigibles, the final design is based on adragonfly.[108] George Lucas likened the ship's similarity to abiplane.[108] In addition to digital models, an eight-foot-wide scale model of the lander was built to film scenes of these craft landing on Naboo's surface. Another larger-scale model of the lander's doorway was built to film scenes of Trade Federation vehicles exiting the craft.[64]
Formally known within the setting as a C-9979 Landing Craft, this vessel has an imposing wingspan of 370 m (1,210 ft) which is used to store a tremendous number of vehicles: 114Armored Assault Tanks, 11Multi-troop transports and 28 troop carriers.[109][110][111] Deploying a full load of vehicles is a complex process which can take up to 45 minutes to complete as they exit the vessel via large deployment doors. These doors include perimeter field sensors which detectland mines and other hazards.[109] Powerful tensor field generators bind the removable wings to the vessel while "repulsorlifts" keep them from sagging under their own weight. Manufactured for the Trade Federation by Haor Chall Engineering, the 210 m (690 ft)-long craft has a crew of 88battle droids. In addition to piloting the landing craft and manning its weaponry, these droids also run maintenance and repair shops which service the onboard attack force.[109] Another 361 battle droids can also be carried on board in storage. For self-defense the landing craft is equipped withdeflector shields and is armed with two pairs of wingtip laser cannons and four turret-mounted laser cannons.[109][110][111]
TheAnodyne is one of theResistance capital ships which make their first theatrical appearance inStar Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). As with other Resistance ships, theAnodyne was meant to resemble an updated version of a previous ship, in this case theRebel Medical Frigate.[112] According to production designer Kevin Jenkins, such iterations are meant to evoke the developments that took place between the earlierSecond World War &Korean War and the laterCold War.[113]
As described in reference material, theAnodyne is a Nebulon-C frigate originally manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards to serve theNew Republic. This line of ships fulfills the same roles as the previous Nebulon-B frigates but are much larger with a length of 549 m (1,801 ft), width of 195 m (640 ft) and height of 322 m (1,056 ft). As part of the Resistance fleet, theAnodyne acts as a hospital ship with surgical suites,intensive care units, medical laboratories and recovery wards. The conversion to this role left its military capabilities intact however, allowing it to carry a full wing of starfighters along with ten heavy turbolasers, six point-defense turrets, and two proton torpedo launchers. Thanks to modifications by Resistance engineers, theAnodyne is heavily automated, allowing a skeleton crew of 170 to operate it; such a small crew is easily transferred to theRaddus before theSupremacy destroys the ship.[114]
TheBestoon Legacy was a WTK-85A interstellar transport that made its theatrical appearance inStar Wars: The Force Awakens, albeit in a flashback by Rey. TheBestoon Legacy was owned by a Sith assassin named Ochi of Bestoon, who was hired by Darth Sidious to kidnap Rey, due to her father Dathan being his son, so he could use her.
TheEravana was aBaleen-class heavy freighter piloted byHan Solo andChewbacca after losing the Falcon. Appearing inStar Wars: The Force Awakens, Han was smuggling three rathars, when two syndicates, the Guavian Death Gang and Kanjiklub, to whom Han was indebted.
Making its theatrical appearance inStar Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), theFulminatrix arrives at the planet D'Qar whilst the Resistance fleet attempts to evacuate from their base. In creating the vessel, design supervisor Kevin Jenkins revealed that he and directorRian Johnson went through several iterations in post-production before deciding on a design featuring big guns.[115]
TheFulminatrix is stated byStar Wars sources to be a model of siege dreadnought manufactured for the First Order by Kuat-Entralla Engingeering. The vessel carries two orbital bombardment autocannons powerful enough to punch through planetary shields along with twenty-six dorsal point-defense turret, six tractor beam projectors, and TIE fighters. Its commander, Captain Moden Canady, is a veteran Imperial Star Destroyer captain described as appreciative of his youthful crew's fervor but dismayed by their inexperience. Although theFulminatrix wipes out the Resistance base on D'Qar, it is destroyed byResistance bombers before it can turn its autocannons on the fleet.[116][117]
Joe Pappalardo ofPopular Mechanics said the design of theFulminatrix made a little more sense than the standard Imperial Star Destroyer by being more symmetrical with the removal of the superstructure. However, he argued that its delta wing shape still serves no purpose, and that its use of two cannons for bombardment gives it a restrictedfield of fire. A more sensible design he argues would be to use missiles ordrones, as it would represent how the real world had moved on from powerful-but-inaccurate artillery toprecision-guided munitions.[118]
| Raddus | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) |
| Information | |
| Affiliation | Resistance |
| Made by | Mon Calamari Shipyards/Corellian Engineering Corporation[10][11] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class | Star Cruiser[10][11] |
| Armaments | |
| Defenses | |
| Propulsion | |
| Length | 3,438 m (11,280 ft)[10][11] |
| Width | 707 m (2,320 ft)[10][11] |
| Height | 462 m (1,516 ft)[10][11] |
| Population volume |
|
TheRaddus was based on earlyRalph McQuarrie drawings, being inspired by the cruisers appearing inReturn of the Jedi but not an exact copy. As with the creation of the previous Mon Calamari cruisers, the organic design of theRaddus was meant to contrast with the rigidity of First Order ships.[112]
According to Star Wars literature, theRaddus was an MC85 Star Cruiser which was originally named theDawn of Tranquility and served in theNew Republic's home fleet. However, it was decommissioned early, partly as a cost-cutting measure, partly to conform to the disarmament treaties. When theResistance acquires the ship,Admiral Gial Ackbar requests it be renamed in honor ofAdmiral Raddus who died during theBattle of Scarif. It serves as the mobile headquarters forGeneral Leia and symbol of the Resistance's struggle against theFirst Order.[10][11]
Reference material describes the MC85 line of Star Cruisers as being a collaborative effort betweenMon Cala andCorellia to create ships more accommodating to non-amphibious species. Among the advanced technology incorporated into the design was an experimental deflector shield system, capable of absorbing immense damage which would destroy other vessels, along with both a primary command bridge and ventral emergency bridge.[10][11] As they struggle to recruit enough organic beings, the Resistance has augmented their capital ships with increased automation so that their skeleton crews can effectively control them.[114]
TheRaddus serves as the flagship of the Resistance task force fleeingD'Qar as depicted inStar Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). When a First Order fleet, led by theSupremacy, successfully track them through hyperspace, the Resistance continues to flee in realspace. Under continual bombardment by theSupremacy, eventually only theRaddus remains of the task force, but with fuel running low a plan is hatched to escape aboard cloaked U-55 Orbital Loadlifters to nearbyCrait. Unfortunately they are betrayed byDJ (Benicio del Toro) and, with theSupremacy firing on the helpless shuttles,Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern) decides to turn theRaddus around and ram theSupremacy at lightspeed. The resulting collision destroys theRaddus but also a significant portion of the First Order fleet as theSupremacy is split in two.[10][11]
Ben Lindbergh ofThe Ringer cites the hyperspace ramming scene with theRaddus (labeled the "Holdo maneuver") as the film's most indelible moment, but also its most controversial to the rest of the setting. "The Holdo maneuver is a little like the walker-guts gambit onThe Walking Dead; the first time we saw characters slather themselves in zombie intestines and lurch through a horde undetected, it was thrilling, but every subsequent time that a character has faced a similar threat andhasn’t done that, we’ve wondered why." He relates the discussions this scene has elicited within theStar Wars fandom and the various theories to explain why the maneuver worked but hasn't been used elsewhere.[119]
David Miller ofScreen Rant also highlights the controversy of this scene and contrasts with earlierStar Wars Legends continuity, where in the comicRace for Survival theExecutor was rammed by three Imperial Star Destroyers coming out of hyperspace and only suffered the loss of its shields.[120] InThe Rise of Skywalker it is stated that the Holdo maneuver only has a "one-in-a-million chance" of working, but Craig Elvy considers this an unsatisfactory explanation as it reduces Holdo's sacrifice to just "cheap, dumb luck."[121]
Ben Hardwick ofComic Book Resources believes the explanation that makes the most sense for why the Holdo maneuver worked depends on the fact that within theStar Wars setting, hyperspace travel involves transitioning into an alternate dimension where ships can travel faster than the speed of light. In the brief window before making the transition, the ship would be traveling just below the speed of light. Thus Holdo timed theRaddus to ram theSupremacy at just the right moment.[122]
TheNight Buzzard was anOubliette-class transport) used by the Knights of Ren as their primary mode of transportation.
TheNinka is one of theResistance capital ships which make their first theatrical appearance inStar Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). According to production designer Rich Heinrichs, the ship was meant to resemble the earlierRebel Blockade Runner as an update on the recognizable design.[112]
Background literature describes theNinka, originally commanded by Vice Admiral Holdo before she took command of the Resistance fleet, as part of a class of heavily armed corvettes manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation. Measuring 316.05 m (1,036.9 ft) long by 242.53 m (795.7 ft) wide and 88.69 m (291.0 ft) high, it is meant to break through planetary sieges and other obstacles in order to destroy hardened ground targets. Towards this goal it carries additional armor plating to survive head-on attacks and is armed with two heavy turbolaser turrets, four point-defense turrets, three heavy plasma bombs with an explosive yield of 100megatons, and eight heavy ordnance pods. As theNinka only required a skeleton crew of 23 thanks to automation augmentation, they were all easily able to transfer to theRaddus before their ship was destroyed by theSupremacy.[10][114]
Introduced inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, theXyston-class Star Destroyer, colloquially known as the Sith Star Destroyer, is a Star Destroyer variant built by the Sith Eternal's automated shipyards on the hidden planet ofExegol during and well after the Galactic Civil War. Outwardly, they resemble larger versions of theImperial-I class used previously by the Galactic Empire, but were distinguished by an axial superlaser powered by bled kyber crystals, which was powerful enough to destroy a planet. These Star Destroyers also possessed hyperdrives and deflector shields, but were unable to activate either on Exegol due to its turbulent and electrically-charged atmosphere, and required a navigation signal from a navigation tower to leave the planet. Additionally, the superlaser was directly tied to the ship's reactor, resulting in the destruction of the entire ship if one or the other were destroyed.
Introduced inStar Wars: The Last Jedi, theSupremacy, disparagingly nicknamed "Snoke'sboudoir" is aMega-class Star Dreadnought that served as the mobile capital of the First Order and the only ship of its line. Built at a staggering cost in the Unknown Regions, the existence of theSupremacy was a rumor to Resistance members until it finally revealed itself following the destruction of Starkiller Base. TheSupremacy's wingspan measured at 60 km wide, making it the largest ship in galactic history and dwarfing even the Empire'sExecutor-class Star Dreadnoughts, and was able to dock up to eightResurgent-class Star Destroyers at a time - two internally and six externally. The ship also had the fastest known hyperdrive rated at class 0.3 - faster than that of theMillennium Falcon, and was able to track ships through hyperspace with a hyperspace tracker.
U-55 Orbital Loadlifters make their theatrical appearance inStar Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), being used by the Resistance to transport people and material. The shuttles' design was meant to suggest therebel transports fromThe Empire Strikes Back but underwent a significant revision during the design process when directorRian Johnson thought it was too cluttered, stating "I need windows. It's a bus." Because of the window design a full-scale model of the shuttle was built, which could be split in half to accommodate filming. Production designer Kevin Jenkins specifically took inspiration from2001: A Space Odyssey when designing the interior look of the shuttle because many of that film's art directors had also worked on the originalStar Wars movie.[123]
Star Wars sources describe U-55 Orbital Loadlifters as the latest in a line of versatile and reliable shuttlecraft found throughout the galaxy. Manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems, U-55s measure 22.63 m (74.2 ft) long by 12.34 m (40.5 ft) wide and 5.15 m (16.9 ft) high. Each shuttle has a crew of two pilots, one engineer, and can carry up to 60 passengers. Being slow and unarmed, Resistance loadlifters are jury-rigged with a prototype baffler system designed byRose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), described as a "poor being'scloak" that was adopted throughout the fleet. This technology plays a central role in the Resistance's attempt to escape from theRaddus, but when they are betrayed and the shuttles detected, only six of the original thirty U-55s are able to reachCrait.[10][124]
TheVigil makes its theatrical appearance inStar Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) as one of the four capital ships making up the Resistance fleet. The ship is described inStar Wars literature as a cargo frigate, a hybrid design meant to haul goods while carrying a basic defensive package of four laser cannons and two tractor beam projectors. During the events of the film, theVigil and its crew of twenty-six are commanded by Vice Admiral Joris and carries vital Resistance supplies. Unfortunately, the ship is never meant for serious battle, and it is quickly destroyed by theSupremacy as the Resistance flees D'Qar.[10][125]
TheCantwell-class Arrestor cruiser is an Imperial cruiser class used by the Galactic Empire's Department of Imperial Justice and the Imperial Navy. It made its first appearance inSolo: A Star Wars Story (2018) in a recruitment film and was intended to make a full appearance in the movie. The final cut of the movie did not include the scene and was included in home media releases as a deleted scene, with the craft not making a full appearance until theeleventh episode of the first season ofAndor (2022), where one attempted to trapLuthen Rael's Fondor Haulcraft but it instead escaped using its countermeasures. The cruiser takes its name fromColin Cantwell, who initially pitched the designs for theImperial-class Star Destroyer inStar Wars (1977), which were rejected in favor of its current design.[126]
The cruiser bears similarities to Imperial Star Destroyers, being arrow-shaped in design though its hull is an inverted arrow shape. It features three powerful, dish-shaped tractor beam projectors used to trap vessels and steer traffic away from construction zones. TheCantwell also features two large docking bays located on its port and starboard sides, which hosts two squadrons composed of twelve TIE fighters each.
TheDalkor Dagger was a modifiedNovahawk-class assault transport that appeared inStar Wars Resistance as the personal starship of Ax Tagrin.
The Fondor Haulcraft is a vessel which made its television debut during the first season ofAndor (2022). It serves as the personal transport forLuthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), the Rebel spymaster referred to as "Axis" by theImperial Security Bureau. Inepisode 11 of the first season, Luthen pilots the Fondor against aCantwell-class Arrestor cruiser in what Erik Kain ofForbes called the best dogfighting sequence sinceReturn of the Jedi. "[T]his dogfight was great not because it was the most epic or flashy or because it was a showdown between rivals with old scores to settle, but because it was a clever, expertly-crafted scene that did only what it set out to do and did it well."[127] ShowrunnerTony Gilroy explained how he worked with production designer Luke Hull and visual effects supervisor Mohen Leo to come up with the design of the ship, and how the writing for that scene in particular was a collaborative effort.[128]
The Fondor Haulcraft, simply called "the Fondor" by Luthen, is stated byStar Wars literature to be a V-21.1 Chevlex light haulcraft originally made by Fondor Yards Commercial Ventures. The Axis network spymaster has heavily modified the craft to both increase its combat capability and maintain secrecy. This includes replacing all support crew positions with a Fondordroid intelligence whose memory is wiped after every mission. The vessel's navicomputer is also triple-encrypted with a cypher based onextinct languages to which only Luthen andKleya Marki (Elizabeth Dulau) know the key. The Fondor can simulate system malfunctions convincingly enough to fool Imperial sensors while its engines are more powerful than the stock configuration. Among its offensive and defensive systems are a pair of rear-mounted ballistic chaff launchers which can fire powerlessly thanks to chemical propellants; two forward laser cannons; a hidden dorsal laser cannon turret; retractable anti-personnel laser cannons; tractor beam projector; and two tandem continuous stream particle beam emitters that functions similarly to alightsaber and is able to slice enemy starfighters.[129]
TheGhost is a starship which made its first appearance in theStar Wars Rebels television series. Owned and piloted by the gifted Twi'lek,Hera Syndulla (voiced byVanessa Marshall), it serves as "home base" for a small band ofLothal rebels during the Age of the Empire. TheGhost makes a cameo appearance inRogue One near the Great Temple of Massassi on Yavin 4. Its captain, Hera Syndulla, is briefly mentioned in the film, and its repair droid, Chopper, makes a brief appearance inside the Temple, and later participates in the Battle of Scarif.[130]Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) pretends to own a spacecraft of the same model inSolo: A Star Wars Story, during theSabacc game in which he first metLando Calrissian (Donald Glover). TheGhost later participated in major decisive battles against the Empire and its successors, notably at Endor, Jakku, and Exegol, making a cameo appearance inThe Rise of Skywalker as part of the civilian reinforcements recruited by Calrissian; it was briefly disabled when Darth Sidious attacked the fleet with Force lightning, but it was reactivated and survived the battle.
Reference material describes theGhost as a modified VCX-100 light freighter, a model of starship produced by the Corellian Engineering Corporation. At 43.9 m (144 ft) long, theGhost features a Class 2hyperdrive and a maximum atmospheric speed of 1,025 km/h (637 mph). It has four cargo holds, one in each corner of the ship, and its armament includes a dorsal laser cannon turret with 360-degree rotation, two forward laser cannons in the nose turret, and twoproton torpedo launchers. A short-range Corellian auxiliary starfighter named thePhantom doubles as the ship's third laser cannon turret when docked; its role was later filled by an extensively-modifiedSheathipede-class shuttle named thePhantom II after the original was destroyed. TheGhost earns its name by carryingelectronic countermeasures sufficient to evade Imperial sensors.[131][132]
TheHalo is a starship owned by the bounty hunter Sugi. It made its first appearance inStar Wars: The Clone Wars 2008 series. Sugi often piloted the Halo with Seripas, a diminutive alien. In theAftermath trilogy, theHalo was given to Sugi's niece Jas Emari.
The Hammerhead corvette is a ship class introduced inRogue One: A Star Wars Story, and was given a prominent role during the final space battle when one of these ships rammed a disabledImperial Star Destroyer into another. ItsCGI design was purposefully meant to be evocative of theTantive IV from the originalStar Wars film.[64] The in-universe origin for Hammerhead corvettes, formally known asSphyrna-class corvettes, is that they are an ancient line of ships built by the Corellian Engineering Corporation. Reliable and adaptable, these corvettes are 116.7 m (383 ft) long and armed with two forward and one rear dual laser cannons, but can be modified with additionalsublight engines and add-on modules. They are used by theRebel Alliance in many different roles: scout ships, tugs, transports, and even battleships.[133][134]
Rhett Allain, an associate professor of physics atSoutheastern Louisiana University, estimated in a 2017 article forWired that the Hammerhead's engines inRogue One would have had to generate2×1011 (or 200billion)Newtons ofthrust to push the Star Destroyer: 6,000 times the amount of thrust force generated by aSaturn V rocket.[135]
TheHound's Tooth is a starship owned by the bounty hunter Bossk. It made its first appearance inStar Wars Legends in the short story collectionTales of the Bounty Hunters. The craft made its first canon appearance inStar Wars: The Clone Wars. TheHound's Tooth also has an escape craft known asNashtah Pup, a modified Z-95-AF4 Headhunter.
The term Imperial Freighter refers to a type ofGozanti-class cruiser, which first appeared as a background vessel inThe Phantom Menace and has appeared in otherStar Wars media, most notably theStar Wars Rebels television series. Reference material describesGozanti-class cruisers as being manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation and used by a variety of factions, but those in Imperial service have strongerdeflector shields, quicker engines and better weaponry to deter pirates and rebels from stealing their cargo. In addition to a dorsal twin laser cannon turret and ventral heavy laser cannon turret, these 63.8 m (209 ft)-long ships can carry fourTIE fighters via extendable docking clamps.Gozanti-class Assault Carriers are equipped with magnetic docking clamps that allow them to carry a pair ofWalkers for planetary assaults.[136][137][138][139] Another variant, the IGV-55 Surveillance Vessel, is equipped with multiple listening arrays, modified sensor-dampened engines, and a computer database to store billions ofyottabytes of data.[140] A shipyard custom-configured variant called the C-ROC (Configuration-Restored Operational Capacity) was sold by CEC to the civilian market as a mid-life upgrade, with one notable ship named theBroken Horn appearing inRebels under the ownership of the Broken Horn Syndicate's leader Cikatro Vizago.
TheArquitens-class light cruiser is a vessel which first appears in the2008Clone Wars television series as well as theStar Wars Rebels television series. Source material describes it as serving theGalactic Republic during theClone Wars as a light warship, earning the nickname Jedi Light Cruiser. After the Republic's victory it continued to serve theGalactic Empire in the same capacity, though under the name Imperial Light Cruiser. Armed with four double-barrelturbolaser batteries and four quad laser turrets,Arquitens-class ships can absorb a surprising amount of damage thanks to their armored hulls and layers ofenergy shielding.[141][142]
The Imperial Interdictor is an experimental cruiser which made its first television appearance inStar Wars Rebels. The ship is described inStar Wars literature as being manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems for the Imperial Navy to help enforce planetary blockades. At 1,129 m (3,704 ft) long and with a crew of over 2,800, the Interdictor is armed with twenty quad laser cannons and can carry twenty-fourTIE Fighters. The centerpiece of the ship however is its four dome-shaped gravity well projectors which can create a powerful gravitational force that stops thehyperdrive units of nearby ships and forces them out of hyperspace. Commanded by Admiral Brom Titus, this prototype ship was destroyed by the rebels, but it proved successful enough for Sienar to create a production line ofInterdictor-class Star Destroyers with the same specifications and capabilities for continued Imperial use.[134][143]
TheJustifier wasCad Bane's personal starship used in the unfinished Clone Wars episodes, starring him and Boba Fett. TheJustifier appeared inStar Wars: The Bad Batch.
A Personal Luxury Yacht 3000 was a star yacht owned by Lando Calrissian, who owned a Personal Luxury Yacht 3000 named theLady Luck that he purchased from an Orthellin royal mistress after the Battle of Endor. The Personal Luxury Yacht 3000 first appeared in theStar Wars Legends continuity withMara Jade getting her own known as theJade's Fire. The Personal Luxury Yacht 3000 also made an appearance inStar Wars: The Clone Wars 2008 series, where Obi-Wan Kenobi purchased one while undercover with Cad Bane and Moralo Eval. The pirate captainHondo Ohnaka owned one calledFortune and Glory. TheLady Luck was introduced in the canon novelLast Shot, a tie-in toSolo: A Star Wars Story, where it was obtained under identical circumstances toLegends.
TheLancer-class pursuit craft was a starship owned byAsajj Ventress, who used one calledBanshee during her time as a bounty hunter during the Clone Wars. Because the Clone Wars series was cancelled Ventress'Banshee was inserted into theDark Disciple novel.
Years later, theLancer-class craft reappeared inStar Wars Rebels, where one was used by Ketsu Onyo, who named hers theShadow Caster to aid the Phoenix rebel cell.
TheMalevolence made its television appearance in the first season ofStar Wars: The Clone Wars as theflagship ofGeneral Grievous. Described by in-universe sources as aSubjugator-class heavy cruiser built by the Free Dac Volunteers Engineering Corp, the ship's primary weapons are two massiveion cannons. Each can unleash a devastating wave of energy that disables any ships caught by it, leaving them vulnerable to be finished off by theMalevolence's 500turbolasers. TheMalevolence is depicted in the series wiping out a fleet led byPlo Koon beforeAnakin Skywalker infiltrates and sabotages the vessel's navigation systems, causing it to slam into a moon.[141]
TheMist Hunter was a starship owned by Zuckuss and 4-LOM, two bounty hunters who first appeared inStar Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. TheMist Hunter first appeared in Star Wars Legends before coming back into Disney Canon in the Bounty Hunter comics.
TheProfundity first appears inRogue One: A Star Wars Story, leading the Rebel fleet's attack onScarif underAdmiral Raddus. It is identified inStar Wars sources as a modified MC75 star cruiser, a class ofMon Calamari buildings and exploration ships which have been repurposed for war. TheProfundity itself was the former Civic Governance tower of the city of Nystullum before joining the Mon Calamari's exodus from their homeworld, under the command of then-Mayor Raddus. At 1,204 m (3,950 ft) long, theProfundity has a crew of 3,225 and is heavily armed with twelveturbolaser cannons, fourion cannons, twentypoint-defense laser cannons, twelveproton torpedo launchers and sixtractor beam projectors. During the battle of Scarif theProfundity receives the plans to theDeath Star fromJyn Erso (Felicity Jones) before transferring them to theTantive IV docked inside it. However, with its hyperdrive disabled, theProfundity cannot escape the battle and is ultimately destroyed.[144][145]
The Punishing One was the personal starship of Dengar, a bounty hunter who first appeared inThe Empire Strikes Back. It appeared in the Star Wars Legends continuity before making its first appearance in theBounty Hunter comic series.
The ST-70 assault ship is a pre-Imperial gunship manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation and used by local militaries, and was sometimes referred to as a "Razor Crest". One ST-70 similarly named theRazor Crest was owned and piloted by theMandalorian bounty hunterDin Djarin in the Disney+ web-seriesThe Mandalorian.[146] It was destroyed byMoff Gideon's Imperial remnant during a skirmish to Tython, and was later replaced by a heavily-modified N-1 starfighter.
TheStarhawk-class is a battleship class used by the New Republic, first appearing in theAftermath trilogy of novels. The prototype called theStarhawk first appeared in the video gameStar Wars: Squadrons. It was built at the Nadiri Dockyards as part of Project Starhawk for the fledgling New Republic to engage Imperial capital ships on equal terms. TheStarhawk was assembled from scrapped parts ofImperial-class Star Destroyers, and was equipped with a tractor beam generator ten times stronger than those on a Star Destroyer. The tractor beam was able to double as a weapon and tear sections of hull plating off enemy starships, and notably was able to drag much larger ships including anExecutor-class Star Dreadnought.
TheStinger Mantis, more commonly known as theMantis, was an S-161 "Stinger" XL luxury yacht piloted by Greez Dritus inStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and later piloted byCal Kestis inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor.[citation needed]
TheTrailblazer is a rare EML-850 light freighter that first appeared inStar Wars Outlaws. It was made by the Barsha family of Corellian industrialists during the Republic Era. The ship was one of the last of its kind and was a prototype from the Clone Wars. It served as the ship of Kay Vess, who stole the ship from Sliro Barsha.
The G9Rigger-class is a model of light freighter manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation that first appeared inThe Clone Wars film. One ship called theTwilight was used as a spice freighter by Ziro the Hutt until it was stolen by Anakin Skywalker during the Battle of Teth and was kept as a pet project afterwards, continuing to use it during infiltration missions as well as making modifications to it. Towards the end of the Clone Wars, theTwilight was in a state of heavy disrepair and was destroyed by Maul's Death Watch in an attempt to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was piloting it on a mission to Mandalore at the time. The concept of Anakin being a spice freighter pilot during the Clone Wars dates back toStar Wars (1977), wherein Luke Skywalker was told by his uncle Owen Lars that his father was a navigator on a spice freighter instead of fighting during the conflict.
The YT-2400 light freighter made its first appearance inStar Wars Legends as theOutrider, the personal starship ofDash Rendar in theStar Wars: Shadows of the Empire multimedia campaign. It is a playable ship in theShadows of the Empire video game, andKenner released anOutrider toy.[147] WhileSteve Perry outlined the ship's story and role, Doug Chiang designed the ship itself.[147]
TheOutrider was digitally inserted into the Special Edition ofA New Hope.[147] It is unknown if the ship is meant to be same as the one inA New Hope. According toGary Whitta, who served as writer ofRogue One, Dash Rendar is a controversial character among Lucasfilm Story Group, which decreases the chances of the character becoming part of canon.[148]
Another YT-2400 which makes an appearance in the currentStar Wars canon isSato's Hammer, debuting in theStar Wars Rebels Season 3 episodeIron Squadron. It was piloted by Mart Mattin, who was a nephew of Rebel Commander, Jun Sato.[149] The YT-2400 is described as a popular model among both freight haulers and pirates alike inStar Wars literature. Manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation, it shares many design similarities with theYT-1300 series. It has a length of 21 m (69 ft), a Class 2Hyperdrive, and maximum atmospheric speed of 800 km/h (500 mph). The ship is protected by a dorsal and ventral double laser cannon turret, a concussion missile launcher, and two layers of armor plating.[150][151]
A number of named vessels appear only inStar Wars Legends sources, material which was brandednon-canon afterThe Walt Disney Company acquiredLucasfilm. TheEbon Hawk is a Dynamic-class freighter and Revan's ship inStar Wars: The Old Republic: Revan,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, andStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. It is designed to be reminiscent of theMillennium Falcon.[152] TheMoldy Crow is a modified Corellian HWK-290 light freighter used byKyle Katarn andJan Ors in theStar Wars: Dark Forces andStar Wars: Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight video games.[153] After it is destroyed inStar Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, it is replaced with theRaven's Claw.[citation needed] TheRogue Shadow is the ship used by Starkiller and Juno Eclipse inStar Wars: The Force Unleashed.[citation needed] TheVirago is aStarViper-class attack platform that serves asXizor's ship inShadows of the Empire. Following Xizor's death, a less powerful variant of theVirago was made for sale on the mass market; the Zann Consortium made extensive use of it as their primary starfighters and armed them with oldClone Wars-era buzz droids. Its clamshell design, styled after astealth fighter, is inspired by pulley castings.[154] TheWild Karrde is medium-sized Action VI bulk transport, freight vessel used by smuggler Talon Karrde in Timothy Zahn'sHeir to the Empire novels.[citation needed]
