Providence-class carrier/destroyer

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

Characteristics
Designed by the Quarren Free Dac Volunteers Engineering Corps, the rounded, pseudo-organic aesthetic echoed the influence of Mon Calamari upon the design of the later produced Mon Calamari Star Cruisers. The ships were operated by 600 droids although commanded by sentient officers.

Providence-class ships were massive, cylindrical 1,088-meter-long warships with a pointed nose that tapered towards the superstructure. The surface of Providence-class ships were covered with heavy weapons emplacements including 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. This weaponry and armor made them capable of even taking on Star Destroyers.



Along with thick hull plating and heavy combat shields, the ships relied on four Creveld-4 radial ion drive units for sublight propulsion and featured an advanced Class 1.5 hyperdrive.

While a destroyer in firepower, the Providence-class was also a carrier with a compliment of 120 tri-droid fighters and 120 Vulture starfighters, along with 1.5 million deactivated B1 battle droids, 160 Multi Troop Transports, and 280 droid vehicles including Armored Assault Tanks, Hailfire droids, OG-9 homing spider droids, LM-432 crab droids and NR-N99 Persuader-class droid enforcers.

It should be noted that these complement stats were for Invisible Hand, a modified Providence destroyer with enlarged carrier capacity. The stock vessels would not carry as many vehicles or troops.

History
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.

At least one heavily modified Providence-class vessel later operated in the Rebel Alliance Navy.

Behind the scenes

 * In Star Wars: Clone Wars and Star Wars: Battlefront II, it appears that the Separatist Coruscant invasion fleet included more than one Providence. The movie only showed one Providence destroyer clearly&mdash;Invisible Hand.


 * This would indicate that most or all of the other Providences were destroyed or had retreated earlier on in the battle, leaving Invisible Hand with an escort of lesser ships towards the end. However, this is disputed, as there is no other source that shows that there were hundreds of other Providence cruisers at the battle in addition to Invisible Hand.


 * On the commentary track for RotS, 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.

Appearances



 * Heroes on Both Sides
 * Star Wars: Obsession
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * "Chapter 22"
 * "Chapter 23"
 * "Chapter 25"
 * Evasive Action: Reversal of Fortune
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Rebellion: My Brother, My Enemy