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The Venator-class Star Destroyer, also known as a Republic attack cruiser or Jedi Cruiser, was a dagger-shaped capital ship used by the Galactic Republic for ship-to-ship combat, capital ship escort, and fighter carrying against the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars.[4] Having eclipsed the Republic's diplomatic frigate, the attack cruiser faced the Separatist dreadnoughts in some of the most well-known battles of the Clone Wars, including those of Sullust, Christophsis and Coruscant.[8]
Design
Hangar space
Several star fighters taking off from a Venator's main hangar passage
The Venator-classes used early in the Clone War featured a wide array of hangar space. The forward section of the Star Destroyer featured a passage down the middle, with bays for starships on either side. It was mainly accessed by large doors on top of the ship.[9] At the fore of this passage, at the bow the the ship, was a collection of hyperspace transport rings.[10] Towards the aft of the passage, doors in the floor could open, leading to a space where Consular-class cruisers could dock.[11] If no cruiser was docked, however, the space could be used by personnel to jump out of the Star Destroyer directly onto the battlefield,[12] or to deploy walkers without the need for dropships.[10] Overseeing the passage was a raised command station positioned at the aft.[13] Even further aft, Venators had two independent docking bays on their port and starboard sides, again protected by blast doors.[9]
Towards the end of the war, a different type of Venator was used. These featured much smaller doors on the dorsal side of the ship, and lacked access from the ventral side altogether, with the blast doors that previously lead to the main hangar space replaced with additional lighting, a crane and sometimes additional weaponry.[7]
Bridges
The bridge of a Venator-class
Venator-class Star Destroyers featured two bridges, with the starboard one serving as the primary command center of the ship.[14] These bridges were raised from the main body of the destroyer and provided a wide, panoramic view of the battle. However, the bridges' exposed nature made them vulnerable to attack.[14][15] The bridges featured large windows at the front, with two sunken pits behind, with a raised command walkway in between. This design would become a staple in Imperial vessels, as it gave emphasis to the command hierarchy. Further behind, a holotable sat between two sets of blast doors.[7] This could be used to communicate with other personnel and analyze ship or troop movements.[9]
Engines
Venators featured eight engines, with four distinct sizes.[7] They were powerful enough to ram the ship into a Lucrehulk-class Droid Control Ship.[15]
Landing capabilities
Venators usually required specialised landing strips to perform atmospheric landings, such as those on Coruscant,[7] with Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships performing surface landings on the battlefield due to their legs.[16] However, surface landings could occur, as exemplified during the Battle of Kashyyyk.[7]
History
The Clone Wars
Early in the war, the Separatists created the Malevolence, a heavy cruiser that could disable the electronic and power systems of a Republic attack cruiser with its powerful ion cannon.[17]
Age of the Empire
The design of the Republic attack cruiser ultimately evolved into the similarly wedge-shaped Imperial Star Destroyer, the signature battleship of the Galactic Empire.[18] As of the Campaign at Salient, during which Venator-class Star Destroyers reassigned from Telos deployed ARC-170 starfighters to assist Governor Wilhuff Tarkin and the Executrix, the vessel was considered an older-generation model.[19] However, at least one Venator-class was stationed at the Anthan Prime Orbital Dockyard a few months after the Battle of Yavin.[20]
Appearances
Sources
Admiral Coburn in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)- BNI-393 in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) (as "Jedi cruiser")
- Captain Argyus in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) (as "Jedi Cruiser")
- Clone Commander Cody in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) (as "Jedi Cruiser")
- Republic attack cruiser in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) (First identified as Republic attack cruiser)
- Ultimate Star Wars
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
- Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- Star Wars: On the Front Lines
- BNI-393 in the Databank (backup link) (as "Jedi cruiser")
- Imperial Star Destroyer in the Databank (backup link)
- Republic Attack Cruiser in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ Tarkin
- ↑
Republic attack cruiser in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Republic Attack Cruiser in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings
- ↑ Imperial Star Destroyer in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Separatist dreadnought in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Cargo of Doom"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Jedi Crash"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Gungan Attack"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Point of No Return"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Nightsisters"
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Storm Over Ryloth"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Innocents of Ryloth"
- ↑ Malevolence in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ Imperial Star Destroyer in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
- ↑ Darth Vader 9: Shadows and Secrets, Part III