Broadside-class cruiser kdb-1
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| Broadside-class cruiser kdb-1 | |
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| Model |
Broadside-class cruiser kdb-1 |
| Class | |
| Technical specifications | |
| Length |
500 meters[1] |
| Armament |
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The Broadside-class cruiser kdb-1, also known as the Broadside-class corvette, was an Imperial capital warship.
Contents |
[edit] Characteristics
The Broadside-class shared a common hull design with the Gladiator-class Star Destroyer.[7] Designed for long-range engagements, this ship had unimpressive acceleration and maneuverability, light armor, two turbolasers, and launchers.[2]
Early models were armed with expensive diamond boron missiles that could be used to deadly effect against formations of tightly-packed ships. The range of the missiles made them very useful in long-range attacks.[2] These weapons were replaced by more economical concussion missiles in later models, though some of the cruisers still kept their lethal armament.[1]
[edit] History
The Broadside-class was first produced by Kuat Drive Yards in the early days of the Galactic Civil War. It was conceived as a long-range missile ship, and was based on the Gladiator-class.[7] The design was stripped of passenger compartments, the hangar bays were turned into torpedo bays and the vessel lost some of its armor. Due to the lack of self-sufficiency, the Broadside-class was redesignated as a "cruiser" instead of a "Star Destroyer". [7]
Kuat engineers also decided that great maneuverability was not necessary for the class,[1] thus leaving the Broadside slower than the Gladiator.[7] This was the cause of its vulnerability to other capital warships, and as a result ships of this class were in practice almost never deployed without an escort.[1] However, its missiles proved lethal against fighter squadrons and small space stations.[2]
In addition to its design-problems, a number of Broadsides were stolen or otherwise acquired by the Zann Consortium during the Civil War.[6]
[edit] Behind the scenes
This type of ship has many similarities to the Demolisher, a Star Destroyer that appeared in the Star Wars: Droids episode "The Pirates of Tarnoonga". In The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide, the two designs were given an in-universe connection.
There is some debate in the online community as to the actual size of the Broadside-class. Concept art made available by the game designers suggested that they envisaged a size of around 50-60 meters in length, comparable to small picket cruisers like the Guardian-class light cruiser, but the StarWars.com Databank established the canonical size of the vessel to be 500 meters long, placing them within the standard cruiser category.
[edit] Appearances
- Star Wars: Empire at War (First appearance)
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
[edit] Sources
Broadside missile cruiser in the Databank
- The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide
[edit] Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Broadside missile cruiser in the Databank
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Star Wars: Empire at War
- ↑ West End Games
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast
- ↑ Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
