Devastator/Legends

The Devastator was an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer of the Imperial Navy famous for its participation in the capture of the Tantive IV and as Darth Vader's flagship for a time.

Characteristics
At some point in its service life, the Devastator was structurally altered from its original design to hold an increased amount of armament and munitions.

History


In 7 BBY, the Devastator was serving with Darth Vader's personal fleet. When a secret biological weapons research laboratory on Falleen required containment, Vader ordered the Devastator to bombard the surface with turbolaser fire, despite Captain Bolvan's preference for a ground assault.

By 0 BBY, the Devastator was acting as Lord Tion's flagship in his campaign against Rebel outposts. Under Tion, the Devastator also participated in the pacification of Ralltiir.

Following Tion's death, Vader raised his flag on the Devastator and began his pursuit of the Rebel who had stolen the plans to the first Death Star. Vader caught the Tantive IV at Toprawa and chased it to Tatooine, where it was successfully captured by the Devastator. Vader quickly dispatched a TIE boarding craft filled with the troops of the 501st Legion, and boarded the Tantive IV. Later the crew of the Devastator attached a portable accessway to the corvette.

During those events, Blue Squadron of the Anchorhead Base moved to intercept it. Rookie One and Ru Murleen were called from Kolaador and joined with Thurlow Harris against the Devastator. They intercepted the TIE/ln starfighters moving against them while Rookie One destroyed the Star Destroyer's emplacement cannons, destroyed its shield generators and managed to damage its bridge.

It was the Devastator forces, including the famed 501st Legion, that defeated the Rebel forces on Tatooine and gave chase to the fleeing Millennium Falcon. Captain Mulchive Wermis served Vader as the vessel's captain throughout this time period and in the following months, during the blockade of the Gordian Reach, the Battle of Ultaar, and other missions.

The next year, the vessel served in the Blockade of Kashyyyk.

Later history and destruction
When the Executor completed construction, Vader transferred his flag, but the Devastator remained a part of his roving, Rebel-hunting Death Squadron. Prior to the completion of the Executor, the vessel was commanded by Captain Nevik. Agent Sollaine, head of the Imperial Security Bureau and Vader's rival, commandeered the ship to track down undercover Rebel spies. Nevik and Sollaine came to a clash of opinion, Sollaine believing the agents to be on Corulag while Nevik believed they were on Alfestril. Sollaine executed Nevik to have his way, but Vader intercepted the vessel at Corulag and killed Sollaine for executing Nevik. Around 2 ABY an ISB captain Jeffren Brek arrived to Devastator to present a report to his superior, General Nevar. Devastator had participated at the Battle of Hoth under command of an unnamed captain as part of the Death Squadron. It was finally destroyed during the events of the Battle of Endor, apparently under concentrated starfighter attack.

Behind the scenes
Although the Devastator was Vader's flagship prior to the Operation: Skyhook, the authors of X-wing: The Official Strategy Guide mention that Vader was on Immortal.

A Devastator appears in the game Star Wars: X-wing Alliance, but it is an Imperial II-class Star Destroyer. Whether it is a blooper, or a different ship altogether, the limited context doesn't allow to decide.

In Star Wars: Empire at War the Devastator is called Allecto, as are many other Destroyers.

In Death Star, the Devastator is, at one point, mistakenly identified as a Super Star Destroyer.

Non-canon stories
In the non-canon story Tantive IV, originally published in Star Wars Manga: Black issue of Tokyopop's Star Wars Manga, the Devastator mistakenly captures Tantive V over Tatooine, a decoy ship masquerading as Tantive IV and manned entirely by Gungans. Vader soon realizes the mistake and captures the real Tantive IV less than an hour later.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Death Star
 * Star Wars: Empire: Darklighter
 * Star Wars Journal: The Fight for Justice
 * Hammertong: The Tale of the "Tonnika Sisters"
 * Star Wars radio drama
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novel
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope junior novel
 * Empire Blues: The Devaronian's Tale
 * Star Wars 1
 * R2-D2's Mission: A Little Hero's Journey
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars: Rebel Assault
 * Shadows of the Empire novel
 * The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * The Mandalorian Armor
 * Slave Ship
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * The Mandalorian Armor
 * Slave Ship

Non-canon appearances

 * Tag & Bink Are Dead
 * Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope
 * Trooper
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Tantive IV
 * Star Wars: Visions of the Blade

Notes and references
Devastator Devastator Devastator