The Anaxes War College System was a system for starship classification. It was established during the Clone Wars by the Republic Navy War College at Anaxes and subsequently used by the successive galactic governments.^[1]

HistoryEdit

The Anaxes War College System replaced the classification system that had been used since the Ruusan Reformations. This system had become ineffective, because its largest classification was the 600 meter cruiser, while many warships were much longer.^[1]

Some disagreed with the use of Star Destroyer as a classification, feeling that it was an unfair recognition of Kuat Drive Yards, who commonly used the term for their own ships. It was ultimately included, however, as, by the time of the Clone Wars, many warships not made by KDY were referred to as Star Destroyers.^[1]

DescriptionEdit

According to this system, capital ships were divided into seven main classifications.^[1]

• Corvettes: Ships of roughly 100 - 200 meters length
  • Example: CR90 corvette, Marauder-class corvette
• Frigates: Ships of roughly 200 - 400 meters length
  • Example: Corona-class frigate, EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate
• Cruisers: Ships of roughly 400 - 600 meters length
  • Example: Belarus-class medium cruiser, Broadside-class cruiser kdb-1
• Heavy Cruisers: Ships of roughly 600 - 1000 meters length
  • Example: Acclamator-class assault ship, Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser
• Star Destroyers: Ships of roughly 1000 -2000 meters length
  • Example: Imperial-class Star Destroyer, Nebula-class Star Destroyer
• Battlecruisers: Ships of roughly 2000 - 5000 meters length
  • Example: Bulwark-class battle cruiser, Praetor Mark II-class battlecruiser

(Small battlecruiser models were classed as "Star Cruisers", to separate them from larger ships of the type, but this classification was recognized by few as an actual part of the system.)^[1]

• Dreadnaughts: All ships over 5000 meters length
  • Example: Executor-class Star Dreadnought, Kor Chokk grand cruiser

An abreviated version of the system was also created, with three classifications—gunship, cruiser, and battleship.^[1]

Use of the system on individual designsEdit

Despite the limits on dimensions, the system could sometimes move ship designs up or down in classification, depending on their armament and intended role.

Examples:

• The Carrack-class light cruiser, which would fall into the Frigate classification with its length of just 350 meters. Due to its armament and role, however, it was moved up into the Cruiser category.
• The Secutor-class Star Destroyer, a fleet carrier, was classified as a Star Destroyer due to its relatively light armament and focus on starfighter power, despite being 2200 meters long, the same length as the contemporary Allegiance-class battlecruiser.^[2]
• The Subjugator-class heavy cruiser was classified as a Dreadnought, due to its revolutionary ion cannons. Packed into a 4845 meter superstructure, the design would otherwise have been comparable to a large battlecruiser.^[3][1]

Behind the scenesEdit

This classification system was invented by author Jason Fry to help explain some of the contradictory systems used in Star Wars lore previously. He previewed some of the classifications in Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Incredible Vehicles, a book released over six months prior to The Essential Guide to Warfare.^[4]

SourcesEdit

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Incredible Vehicles
• The Essential Guide to Warfare
• Jason Fry's tumblr account - EG to Warfare: Endnotes Pt. 7.

Notes and referencesEdit