Bulk cruiser
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
A bulk cruiser was an aging capital ship design that combined attributes of both warships and cargo haulers. They saw service in both Imperial and Alliance navies.
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[edit] Characteristics
Several different models existed, like the Neutron Star- and Battle Horn-classes, but the overall design was relatively the same, with an armament of thirty quad laser cannons (ten forward, ten to the left, and ten to the right), and two forward tractor beam projectors.
[edit] History
Produced right after the Clone Wars, these ships were among some of the most common designs seen in space, although most were modified, due to their stock design being prone to breakdowns, slow speed and expensive refueling. The term is used to describe a number of ships that fit the general characteristics.
Modifications to the ships to make them more battleworthy were often seen as useless by Alliance commanders. Instead, most were converted into carrier cruisers, with extensive docking bays and repair facilities. The crews were told to stay out of any serious engagements and rely upon their starfighter squadrons as their primary weapons. Bulk cruisers that were converted into carriers were capable of carrying three squadrons of fighters. Other ships were kept as escorts for Alliance convoys.
The Empire and various corporations kept bulk cruisers as patrol vessels, guarding systems where important corporate assets were to be found. In addition, these ships were used to track down Rebel ships and combat pirate-attacks on convoys.
[edit] Known models
[edit] Behind the scenes
- Han Solo mentioned outrunning bulk cruisers in A New Hope. West End Games took that remark and built an RPG profile on these ships.
[edit] Appearances
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (First mentioned)
- Star Wars: X-wing Alliance
- Star Wars: Rebellion
- Star Wars 107: All Together Now
- X-wing: Rogue Squadron
- X-wing: The Krytos Trap
- Dark Force Rising
- Young Jedi Knights: The Lost Ones
- Star by Star
