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Providence-class carrier/destroyer

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Providence-class carrier/destroyer
Production information
Manufacturer
Model

Providence-class carrier/destroyer

Class

Carrier/destroyer

Cost

Not available for sale[1]

Technical specifications
Length

1,088 meters[2]

Width

198 meters[2]

Height/depth

374 meters[2]

Maximum acceleration

2,500G[2]

Maximum speed (atmosphere)

1,050 km/h[1]

Engine unit(s)

4 Nubian Creveld-4 radial ion drives[2]

Hyperdrive rating
  • Class 1.5[1]
  • Backup: Class 10[1]
Power output

Peak: 1,08 × 1024 W[2]

Power plant

Hypermatter annihilation reactor[2]

Shielding

Equipped

Navigation system

Navicomputer[1]

Armament
  • Quad turbolaser battery[1]
  • Dual laser cannon batteries (3)[1]
  • Heavy ion cannons[1]
  • Point-defense ion cannon battery[1]
  • Proton torpedo launcher batteries (8)[1]
    • 2,800 proton torpedoes[1]
Complement

Landing craft/shuttles (8)[1]

Crew

22,350[1]

Passengers

48,247[1]

Cargo capacity

29,000 tons[1]

Consumables

1 year[1]

Usage
Era(s)
Affiliation
[Source]

The Providence-class carrier/destroyer, also known as the Trade Federation cruiser, was a capital starship used by the CIS Navy during the Clone Wars. It was originally produced and used by the Trade Federation, hence the nickname.[5]

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

[edit] Dimensions

A Separatist flak gun battery onboard the Invisible Hand.

Designed by the Quarren Free Dac Volunteers Engineering Corps, the rounded, pseudo-organic aesthetic, influenced by the planet Dac, would be echoed in the design of the later Mon Calamari Star Cruisers. The ships were operated by 600 droids although commanded by sentient officers.[2]

Providence-class ships were massive, cylindrical 1,088-meter-long warships with a pointed nose that tapered towards the superstructure. Rising from the stern portion of the vessel, was an elongated main communications and sensor pod.[2] The ships, like all Mon Calamari and Quarren designs, were meant to land on water in case of emergencies.[1]

[edit] Modular compartments

Providence-class ships featured modular compartments which made the vessels very easy to modify. This made it possible to easily upgrade the propulsion systems or weaponry of a given ship, as well as making it possible to convert the ships into starfighter carriers, or other variations. The Invisible Hand was one example of a heavily modified Providence-class ship.[1]

[edit] Offensive and defensive systems

The surface of Providence-class ships were covered with numerous heavy weapons emplacements. Modified vessels such as the Invisible Hand included fourteen turret-mounted quad turbolasers, thirty-four dual laser cannons, two capital-scale ion cannons, twelve point-defense ion cannons, and 102 proton torpedo tubes.[2]

The reactors onboard each vessel produced so much power, even their point-defense ion cannons were each capable of delivering enough heat per shot to rival a 4.8 megaton bomb. This weaponry and armor made them capable of taking on Victory and Venator-class Star Destroyers.[2]

[edit] Propulsion systems

Emergency booster engines firing up (top); blast shields in the process of closing over the thrusters (bottom).

Along with thick and extensive hullplating unusual for most small- and medium-sized CIS warships, and a network of heavy combat shield generators, the ships relied on four Creveld-4 radial ion drive units for sublight propulsion and featured an advanced Class 1.5 hyperdrive. Standard vessels had their sterns filled with reactors and thrusters, while some ships were modified to allow for bigger hangar space.[2]

The thrusters could be arranged to provide different emergency settings, the main one using blast shields to redirect the ion particles exiting the thusters, and provide a breaking thrust which slowed the ship's movement during an atmospheric descent.[2] A similar setting utilized emergency booster engines to slow the ship.[3] In addition to thrusters, a Providence-class ship could utilize airbrake panels that lined the ship, to slow descent in an atmosphere.[2]

[edit] Main bridge

The Providence-class command center was located at the front of the vessel, similar to the Recusant-class light destroyer. The ship commander was seated in the middle of the bridge, surrounded by control stations on all sides, manned by OOM pilot battle droids or living crew members. In case of a breach in the bridge windows, shield doors could be activated to seal off the affected area.[3]

[edit] History

A Providence-class destroyer with two Hardcell-class transports.

The Providence-class destroyers were built on the Quarren-colonized world of Pammant. Their construction served to hide the more secretive building of the massive Subjugator-class heavy cruisers.[1]

When the Quarren allied with the Confederacy, Providence-class ships became the heart of the Separatist starfleet, using their firepower to combat Republic cruisers and acting as point ships for planetary blockades, bombardments, and invasions. They proved problematic to other Republic capital ships, such as the Venator and Victory-class Star Destroyers.

Providences would be used extensively in Confederate offensives in the late Clone Wars, and would be present at several Separatist conquests.[6] During this time, the most famous vessel of the Providence-class was a modified specimen named Invisible Hand, which served as flagship for General Grievous.[3]

At least one heavily modified Providence-class vessel, Rebel One, later operated in the Rebel Alliance Fleet.[4]

[edit] Behind the scenes

On the commentary track for Revenge of the Sith, Lucas refers to Grievous's ship as a "Star Destroyer". This might be an indication that the distinction between destroyers in the Galactic Republic/Empire and similar ships in other fleets is simply a case of semantics.

The craft loosely resembles the shape of real-life zeppelins and other airships. This is further brought out during one transition scene in Episode III when the Invisible Hand passes, as the sound effect for it's motors resemble the engines on some airships.

[edit] Appearances

Providence-class carrier/destroyers invade an unknown planet.

[edit] Non-canon appearances

[edit] Sources

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 The Clone Wars Campaign Guide
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 Revenge of the Sith: Incredible Cross-Sections
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Star Wars Rebellion: My Brother, My Enemy
  5. ↑  Trade Federation cruiser in the Databank
  6. ↑ Star Wars: Clone Wars
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