Interdictor vessel

"EMPIRE HAS ORDERED A SYSTEMWIDE BLOCKADE TO SEIZE REBEL SPIES. INTERDICTOR CRUISERS EN ROUTE. ALL SHIPS THAT DEPART PRIOR TO IMPERIAL INSPECTION WILL BE NOTED."

- Message from R2-D2

Interdictor vessels, also known as Interdictor cruisers, were general terms for a type of starship employed by the Galactic Empire with the technology to generate a gravity well, which had the capability to pull vessels out of hyperspace as well as preventing them from entering it. Interdictor vessels could be from various starship classes, ranging from frigates to Star Destroyers.

CC-7700 frigate
A frigate that was an updated version of the Detainer CC-2200.

Detainer CC-2200 interdictor cruiser
These cruisers had stubby wing like projections, each of which housing four gravity well projectors. They were thickly armored and had downsloping bows.

Interdictor-class Star Destroyer
The Interdictor-class Star Destroyer, also known as an Immobilizer 418 cruiser, was a 600-meter long cruiser armed with 20 laser cannons and a complement of 24 TIE fighters. It possessed four spherical gravity well projectors on its sharp-bowed hull, and vaguely resembled an Imperial Star Destroyer. In 14 BBY, it was considered a state-of-the-art design. It was originally developed as part of the Deep Core Security Zone, although it was later used for various other purposes, such as against the early rebel movement. One hemispherical projector was more than enough to pull a ship from hyperspace, while the others could be used to block possible hyperspace routes for escape. These projectors were vulnerable, however, as they could explode when exposed to enough firepower. This in turn could compromise the entire ship.

History
Interdictor vessels were in use with the Imperial Navy as early as 14 BBY. During the Berch Teller campaign, Vice Admiral Dodd Rancit suggested that Interdictors be used to pull Moff Wilhuff Tarkin's ship, the Carrion Spike, out of hyperspace after it had been hijacked by an insurgent group.

A prototype Interdictor-class under Admiral Brom Titus underwent testing in the Del Zennis system in 4 BBY. It pulled a rebel CR90 corvette out of hyperspace, which had been responding to a distress call in the system, capturing its crew, which included Commander Jun Sato and Ezra Bridger. This Star Destroyer was later destroyed by Captain Rex and Kanan Jarrus.

Two other Interdictors were also part of the fleet of Grand Admiral Thrawn at the Battle of Atollon in 2 BBY, where they were used to great effect against the combined forces of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, preventing the Rebel fleet from leaving the system. The first, under the command of Admiral Kassius Konstantine, was destroyed when Commander Sato rammed it with the Phoenix Nest carrier, while the second was incapacitated through the efforts of Bridger as well as the warriors of Clan Wren, who repeatedly blasted the ship's Gravity well projectors to cause its destruction.

In 0 ABY, production of the Interdictor-class was discontinued due to its vulnerabilities, though they continued to be used throughout the galaxy due to their large numbers. One managed to pull Luke Skywalker out of hyperspace into the Daalang system after he managed to free a high-priority asset from the Imperial cause. However due to the ships frequent use against Alliance raiding groups, Luke Skywalker was able to form an attack strategy against the ship, ultimately destroying the vessel by splitting it in half with a Utheel Rockcrusher Compact Seismic Charge.

The Immobilizer Glaciate participated in the Battle of Jakku, during which it was infiltrated and captured by the New Republic operatives acting on General Carlist Rieekan's orders.

Behind the scenes
The concept of the Galactic Empire disabling vessels' hyperspace capabilities using Interdictor vessels first appeared in the Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game 1989 supplement Imperial Sourcebook and later used in Heir to the Empire, a 1991 novel by Timothy Zahn that was the first in a trilogy featuring events set several years after the conclusion of the final film of the original trilogy. While this trilogy is now considered part of the franchise known as Star Wars Legends and no longer canon, Interdictor vessels were featured in novels such as Tarkin and Heir to the Jedi, which are considered part of a new continuity of canon.

Appearances

 * Tarkin
 * Star Wars Rebels: Steps Into Shadow
 * Heir to the Jedi
 * Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure
 * "The Levers of Power"&mdash;The Rise of the Empire
 * The Legends of Luke Skywalker
 * "The Levers of Power"&mdash;The Rise of the Empire
 * The Legends of Luke Skywalker