Guardian-class light cruiser

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The Guardian-class light cruiser, also known as Guardian-class Customs corvette,^[2] was an Inter-System Customs Vessel used primarily by the Galactic Empire.

Contents 1 Characteristics 2 History 3 Appearances 4 Sources 5 Notes and references

[edit] Characteristics

These cruisers were quick, tough, hard-hitting ships which were intended to patrol remote systems without the immediate fear of destruction. The Guardian-class was quite capable of handling common freighter and smuggler traffic, however, it was not well equipped for boarding actions as it lacked space for a boarding party.

Guardian cruisers were totally outclassed when deployed against capital ships. These ships could be outfitted with external docking racks to carry TIE Fighters; however, this modification reduced the Guardian-class's maneuverability.

[edit] History

In the Empire's formative years, this type of downscaled warship was designed by Sienar Fleet Systems to patrol remote sectors.^[3] The Guardian-class became one of the three main ship classes employed by Imperial Customs, and was thus a common Imperial system patrol craft.

Guardians, which were in service from before the Battle of Nar Shaddaa,^[2] were a common sight in lightly populated, isolated systems where the Galactic Empire needed to maintain a presence without underwriting the expense of assigning a larger vessel to patrol duty. Also, these light cruisers often patrolled with corvette or frigate support.

These ships also saw use outside the Imperial military. The privately owned station known as "The Wheel", a gambling haven located in the Besh Gorgon System employed ten of these cruisers for traffic control duty in its security forces. Political entities such as the House Pelagia in the Tapani sector maintained these ships as well. One such ship was the Reprise^[4].

The Guardian 344-class light cruiser was made by Sienar Fleet Systems to succeed the Guardian-class. It addressed the previous cruiser's lack of space for a boarding party. It is known that some 344s fell into pirate hands, an example would be The Last Thing owned by Dorok Zalaster.^[1]

Like the Guardian 344, pirates such as Shanto Dhil acquired Guardian-class cruisers as well. Dhil's Guardian light cruiser, The Avatar's Needle liked to pose as an Imperial vessel in order to get close enough to bacta transports to steal their cargo.^[5]

[edit] Appearances

• The Hutt Gambit
• Shadows in the Force

[edit] Sources

• Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition
• Planets of the Galaxy, Volume Three
• The Star Wars Planets Collection
• Lords of the Expanse
• Tapani Sector Instant Adventures
• Pirates & Privateers
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game Revised Core Rulebook
•  "Talnar's Rescue" - Star Wars Gamer 5
• Revenge of the Sith: Incredible Cross-Sections
• Star Wars: Complete Cross-Sections
• The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia

[edit] Notes and references

Sienar spacecraft classes
Transports Lambda-class T-4a shuttle - Martial-class shuttle - Mu-class Model 1 Shuttle - Mu-class Model 2 Shuttle - Sentinel-class landing craft - Scimitar - TIE lander - TIE/sh shuttle - WR-542 Shooting Star Patrol ships Guardian-class light cruiser - IPV-1 Patrol Craft - Warden-class light cruiser Frigates Enforcer-class picket cruiser - Immobilizer 418 cruiser - Interdictor-class Cruiser - Vindicator-class heavy cruiser Battleships Sienar Battleship