Star Destroyer
Star Destroyers are capital ships that feature in Star Wars.
Contents |
History
Star Destroyers were a class of massive capital warships that were developed in the galaxy far, far away. Their origins were traced to the time of the Clone Wars where the Galactic Republic developed the Venator-class Star Destroyer. These Republic Navy ships were deployed for use against the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the galactic conflict. At the conclusion of the war, the Republic was reformed into the first Galactic Empire with the Imperial-class Star Destroyers being built upon the strengths of their predecessors. Emperor Palpatine came to order a massive military build-up that was used to crush any dissent and bring systems that had been beyond the reach of Republic law under Imperial rule. For planet after planet across the galaxy, Imperial Star Destroyers became symbols of the new order.
A fleet of Star Destroyers were assembled as a battle group under the command of Grand Admiral Thrawn who had been tasked with destroying the nascent Rebel Alliance. The Seventh Fleet was involved in the blockade of the planet Atollon that was the site of the Phoenix Cells Chopper Base. An interdictor was used to prevent the Rebels from escaping and the enemy were forced to ground back to Atollon. The Rebel base was protected by a shield with an orbital bombardment being used to break it as a sign of the Empire's might after which ground forces were deployed. Despite the advantage, the Rebels managed to escape due to a combination of the enemy bringing in Mandalorian allies and the intervention of the Force-entity known as the Bendu. The Phoenix Cell largely managed to escape though their recent losses made them reconsider any attempt at engaging in open warfare against the Empire.
Weapons of terror, they were dangerous by themselves and even moreso in groups, dwarfed in might only by the Super Star Destroyer Executor. A Star Destroyer, the Terror, chased down and captured Princess Leia's ship, the Tantive IV, near Tatooine; the ships were also used to hunt down escaping Rebel ships following the Battle of Hoth, and participated in the decisive Battle of Endor.
Within the Unknown Regions, the remnants of the Empire formed the First Order where they continued to build their forces in secret. Despite treaties, the Order continued to build larger Star Destroyers with them building the new Resurgent class Star Destroyers for their naval forces.
More than two dozen First Order Star Destroyers joined in the pursuit of the Resistance fleet.
During this time, a transmission was broadcast into the galaxy that was seemingly the returned Emperor Palpatine. This resulted in Supreme Leader Snoke searching for the source of the broadcast where he managed to track it to the hidden Sith world of Exegol. Once there, he discovered that Palpatine had survived the Death Star II and had escaped to the planet where he had built a secret army. This included a fleet of new Star Destroyers that were part of his Final Order. Emperor Palpatine offered this force to Kylo Ren if he brought Rey to him after which he began his search for the last living Jedi. During this time, the Resistance came to learn of this force and began their search for Exegol in order to destroy the Star Destroyer fleet before it could be unleashed on the galaxy.
Overview
In appearance, a Star Destroyer was an intergalactic capital ship that possessed a distinctive wedge-shaped form.
They were effective in ship-to-ship combat but also served as starfighter carriers and troop transports.
There were various models of Star Destroyers that included:
- Acclamator class :
- Venator class :
- Victory class :
- Imperial class :
- Resurgent class : built on the wedge-shaped warships of the Empire with them boasting more efficient turbolasers that were powered by kyber crystals and were also able to launch starfighters even more quickly than their predecessors.
- Xyston class : massive battleships that were modelled on the Imperial era Star Destroyers with them being equipped with belly-mounted superlasers able to destroy a planet.
- Super Star Destroyer : among the largest and most powerful vessels within the Imperial fleet. Their smooth hulls showed an arrowhead profile where the centre of the hull rested on an island of habitable space. Weapon emplacements covered the layered city-like surface. Meanwhile, a trapezoidal command tower stood near the aft end of the island that was capped by two geodesic communication and deflection domes. The underside was filled with a network of engineering and its superstructure with thirteen colossal engine thrusters propelling the immense craft through space.
Notes
- Star Destroyers were created by George Lucas where they made their first appearance in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.
Alternate Versions
- In Star Wars Legends, Star Destroyers appeared in the setting of the former Star Wars Expanded Universe. Various types of Star Destroyers were shown to had been created including the earlier Victory-class Star Destroyers. During the Legacy era, the Empire had developed the new Pellaeon-class Star Destroyers.
In other media
Video games
- In Star Wars: Empire at War, Star Destroyers were playable units in the real-time strategy game where they were among the space forces for the Galactic Empire faction.
- In Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption, Star Destroyers appeared again as playable units in the sequel real-time strategy game where they were among the space forces for the Galactic Empire faction.
- In Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Star Destroyers appeared in the setting of the action video game. Several were shown during the Empire's invasion of the planet Kashyyyk.
- In Star Wars: The Old Republic, Star Destroyers appeared in the setting of the MMORPG. They were shown to had been developed by the ancient Sith Empire thousands of years ago during their war against the Galactic Republic.
- In Star Wars: Battlefront, Star Destroyers appear in the setting of the video game.
- In Star Wars: Battlefront II, Star Destroyers appear in the setting of the video game.
Appearances
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope:
- Star Wars: Episode V - Empire Strikes Back:
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi:
- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens:
- Star Wars: Rebels:
- Rogue One:
- Solo: A Star Wars Story:
- Star Wars: Resistance:
- Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi:
- Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker:
