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==History==
 
==History==
{{Quote|But these instruments of destructive have their weaknesses as well. High power consumption, low maneuverability; complex redundant system design, large crew requirements, tactical disadvantages against small starfighters - luckily for the [[galaxy]], these ships are not unstoppable, though they come closer than any other weapon in recorded history…|[[Commander]] [[Elpfel]].|Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook - Special Edition}}
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{{Quote|But these instruments of destruction have their weaknesses as well. High power consumption, low maneuverability; complex redundant system design, large crew requirements, tactical disadvantages against small starfighters - luckily for the [[galaxy]], these ships are not unstoppable, though they come closer than any other weapon in recorded history…|[[Commander]] [[Elpfel]].|Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook - Special Edition}}
 
[[File:Venator-SWE.jpg|left|thumb|250px|''Venator''-class Star Destroyers were the primary capital ship of the Republic during the Clone Wars]]
 
[[File:Venator-SWE.jpg|left|thumb|250px|''Venator''-class Star Destroyers were the primary capital ship of the Republic during the Clone Wars]]
 
Ships of this class were typically designed for [[space warfare|fleet warfare]], often positioned in armadas stationed in high orbit around a strategic planet. They usually formed the primary attack groups in most fleets. There were, however, a few exceptions to the typical definition. For example, the [[Sienar Fleet Systems]] [[GAT-12 Skipray Blastboat]] was considered a capital ship because of its heavy armament, despite being a mere twenty five meters in length and operating primarily in the role of a heavy assault [[starfighter]].
 
Ships of this class were typically designed for [[space warfare|fleet warfare]], often positioned in armadas stationed in high orbit around a strategic planet. They usually formed the primary attack groups in most fleets. There were, however, a few exceptions to the typical definition. For example, the [[Sienar Fleet Systems]] [[GAT-12 Skipray Blastboat]] was considered a capital ship because of its heavy armament, despite being a mere twenty five meters in length and operating primarily in the role of a heavy assault [[starfighter]].
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==Classification==
 
==Classification==
   
Following the [[Anaxes War College System]] captial ships were divided into seven main classifications.
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Following the [[Anaxes War College System]] capital ships were divided into seven main classifications.
   
*[[Corvette]]s: Ships of roughly 100 - 200 meters length
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*[[Corvette]]s: Ships of roughly 100 - 200 meters length<ref name="Warfare">''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''</ref>
**[[CR70 corvette]]
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**[[CR70 corvette]]<ref name="Warfare" />
**[[CR90 corvette]]
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**[[CR90 corvette]]<ref name="Stele">''[[The Stele Chronicles]]''</ref>
*[[Frigate]]s: Ships of roughly 200 - 400 meters length
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*[[Frigate]]s: Ships of roughly 200 - 400 meters length<ref name="Warfare" />
  +
**[[Vigil-class corvette|''Vigil''-class corvette]]
**[[EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate]]
 
**[[Lancer-class frigate]]
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**[[EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate]]<ref name="Warfare" />
  +
**[[Lancer-class frigate|''Lancer''-class frigate]]<ref name="Imp">[[Imperial Sourcebook (Second Edition)|''Imperial Sourcebook'' (Second Edition)]]</ref>
*[[Cruiser]]s: Ships of roughly 400 - 600 meters length
 
**[[Carrack-class light cruiser]]
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**[[MC40a light cruiser]]<ref name="TIE">''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]''</ref>
 
*[[Cruiser]]s: Ships of roughly 400 - 600 meters length<ref name="Warfare" />
**[[MC40a light cruiser]]
 
  +
**[[Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser|''Dreadnaught''-class heavy cruiser]]<ref name="Warfare" />
*[[Heavy Cruiser]]s: Ships of roughly 600 - 1000 meters length
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*[[Heavy Cruiser]]s: Ships of roughly 600 - 1000 meters length<ref name="Warfare" />
**[[Acclamator-class assault ship]]
 
  +
**[[Acclamator-class assault ship|''Acclamator''-class assault ship]]<ref name="Warfare" />
**[[Victory-class Star Destroyer]]
 
  +
**[[Victory-class Star Destroyer|''Victory''-class Star Destroyer]]<ref name="TIE">''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]''</ref>
*[[Star Destroyer]]s: Ships of roughly 1000 -2000 meters length
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*[[Star Destroyer]]s: Ships of roughly 1000 -2000 meters length<ref name="Warfare" />
**[[Venator-class Star Destroyer]]
 
  +
**[[Venator-class Star Destroyer|''Venator''-class Star Destroyer]]<ref name="Cross">''[[Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections]]''</ref>
**[[Imperial-class Star Destroyer]]
 
  +
**[[Imperial-class Star Destroyer|''Imperial''-class Star Destroyer]]<ref name="Warfare" />
*[[Battlecruiser]]s: Ships of roughly 2000 - 5000 meters length
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*[[Battlecruiser]]s: Ships of roughly 2000 - 5000 meters length<ref name="Warfare" />
**[[Bulwark-class battle cruiser]]
 
  +
**[[Bulwark Mark III]]<ref name="CSWE">''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''</ref>
*[[Dreadnaught]]s: All ships over 5000 meters length
 
  +
**[[Praetor Mark II-class battlecruiser|''Praetor II''-class Star Battlecruiser]]<ref name="Warfare" />
**[[Executor-class Star Dreadnought]]
 
 
*[[Dreadnaught]]s: All ships over 5000 meters length<ref name="Warfare" />
**[[Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyer]]
 
  +
**[[Executor-class Star Dreadnought|''Executor''-class Star Dreadnought]]<ref name="Warfare" />
  +
**[[Eclipse-class dreadnought|''Eclipse''-class dreadnought]]<ref name="Starships">[[Starships of the Galaxy (Saga Edition)|''Starships of the Galaxy'' (Saga Edition)]]</ref>
   
However ships could sometimes be moved up or down in classifaction, depending on their armament and intended role. As an example you could name the [[Carrack-class light cruiser]], which would fall into Frigate classification with its length of just 350 meters. But due to it's armament and role, it was sometimes moved up into the cruiser category.<ref>[[Jason Fry]]: [[The Essential Guide to Warfare]], page 33, [[Del Rey]], 2012</ref>
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However ships could sometimes be moved up or down in classifaction, depending on their armament and intended role. As an example, the [[Carrack-class light cruiser|''Carrack''-class light cruiser]] would fall into Frigate classification with its length of just 350 meters, but due to its armament and role, it was sometimes moved up into the cruiser category.<ref>''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''</ref>
  +
  +
==Appearances==
  +
*''[[Strike Force: Shantipole]]''
  +
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|text=''Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook''|story=The Weekly Luncheon|stext=''The Weekly Luncheon''}} {{Mo}}
   
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 
{{Imagecat|Images of capital ships}}
 
{{Imagecat|Images of capital ships}}
  +
*''[[Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook]]''
 
*''[[Starships of the Galaxy (2001)|Starships of the Galaxy]]''
 
*''[[Starships of the Galaxy (2001)|Starships of the Galaxy]]''
 
*''[[The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels]]''
 
*''[[The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels]]''
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*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/Mesop7|text=Message to Spacers 7|int=Message to Spacers}}
 
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/Mesop7|text=Message to Spacers 7|int=Message to Spacers}}
 
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/Mesop8|text=Message to Spacers 8|int=Message to Spacers}}
 
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/Mesop8|text=Message to Spacers 8|int=Message to Spacers}}
*{{Wizards|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/Mesop9|text=Message to Spacers 9|int=Message to Spacers}}
+
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/Mesop9|text=Message to Spacers 9|int=Message to Spacers}}
 
*''[[The Unknown Regions]]''
 
*''[[The Unknown Regions]]''
 
*''[[The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force (real-life book)|The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force]]''
 
*''[[The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force (real-life book)|The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force]]''
 
*''[[Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side (real-life book)|Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side]]''
 
*''[[Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side (real-life book)|Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side]]''
 
*{{DB|character|admiralackbar|Admiral Ackbar}}
 
*{{DB|character|admiralackbar|Admiral Ackbar}}
  +
*''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''
  +
*''[[Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook]]''
  +
*''[[Suns of Fortune]]''
 
*{{SWE|technology|ywing|Y-wing starfighter}}
 
*{{SWE|technology|ywing|Y-wing starfighter}}
   
 
==External links==
 
===External links===
 
 
*{{WP|Capital Ship}}
 
*{{WP|Capital Ship}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
  +
{{Reflist}}
 
<references />
 
   
 
{{Interlang
 
{{Interlang
  +
|de=Großkampfschiff
 
|es=Nave capital
 
|es=Nave capital
  +
|ru=Крупный корабль
 
}}
 
}}
   

Revision as of 23:55, 19 August 2014

Click here for Wookieepedia's article on the Canon version of this subject.  This article covers the Legends version of this subject. 
Capital size chart

Size comparison of various capital ships

"Capital starships serve many functions: exploration, transportation, tourism, and – especially in recent times – war."
Commander Elpfel, commanding officer of the Mon Calamari cruiser Wavesong.[src]

Capital ship was a general term that referred to any armed military starship that had a length greater than one hundred meters. Ships of this class ranged from small and nimble corvettes like the Corellian Engineering Corporation CR90 corvette to titanic Star Dreadnoughts, such as the Kuat Drive Yards Eclipse.

History

"But these instruments of destruction have their weaknesses as well. High power consumption, low maneuverability; complex redundant system design, large crew requirements, tactical disadvantages against small starfighters - luckily for the galaxy, these ships are not unstoppable, though they come closer than any other weapon in recorded history…"
Commander Elpfel.[src]
File:Venator-SWE.jpg

Venator-class Star Destroyers were the primary capital ship of the Republic during the Clone Wars

Ships of this class were typically designed for fleet warfare, often positioned in armadas stationed in high orbit around a strategic planet. They usually formed the primary attack groups in most fleets. There were, however, a few exceptions to the typical definition. For example, the Sienar Fleet Systems GAT-12 Skipray Blastboat was considered a capital ship because of its heavy armament, despite being a mere twenty five meters in length and operating primarily in the role of a heavy assault starfighter.

These vessels were commonly fitted with ship-to-ship and anti-fighter defensive weaponry, ranging from heavy ion cannons to turbolaser turrets. Many capital ship classes also served as carriers and were able to deploy starfighters, landing craft, and other resources as required.

Given their size, capital ships employed relatively numerous crews, employing in some instances thousands of beings. An example was the Imperial-class Star Destroyer, which was 1,600 meters long and required a crew of 37,000 to operate at full efficiency. There were also examples that utilized a much smaller number of active personnel, whether by means of advanced control systems or simply necessity, as in the cases of the Katana fleet and the Errant Venture, respectively.

Classification

Following the Anaxes War College System capital ships were divided into seven main classifications.

However ships could sometimes be moved up or down in classifaction, depending on their armament and intended role. As an example, the Carrack-class light cruiser would fall into Frigate classification with its length of just 350 meters, but due to its armament and role, it was sometimes moved up into the cruiser category.[8]

Appearances

Sources

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External links

Notes and references

In other languages