Interdictor-class Star Destroyer/Legends

Interdictor Star Destroyer The Interdictor Star Destroyer was a variant of the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer equipped with gravity well projectors. They were used exclusively by the Empire.

Characteristics
Sienar Fleet Systems already produced an Interdictor, the Immobilizer 418 cruiser based on a 600 m Vindicator-class heavy cruiser. Though it was decently armed for its size, it was a high priority vessel that was generally unable to hold its own in combat, especially if the battle involved Imperial Star Destroyers and comparable vessels.

Kuat Drive Yards decided to produce their own Interdictor offering to rival that of SFS by using an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer hull as a base. To make room for the gravity well projectors, half of the turbolasers and ion cannons, as well as eight of the Phylon Q7 tractor beam projectors found on the original Imperial-class Star Destroyer, had to be removed. The Interdictor Star Destroyer's reduced hangar held four squadrons of TIE fighters. As such the Interdictor did not make an excellent combat destroyer.

The Interdictor Star Destroyer did not require additional support when performing patrol and customs duties. Some bold commanders such as Loka Hask even used the ship to pull armed convoys out of hyperspace and destroy them.

Nonetheless, like the Immobilizer, the gravity wells remained a major drain on the ship's main reactor. This had the potential to compromise the Dominator's defences in heavy combat. For instance, while Loka Hask's Dominator had interdicted and was destroying a New Republic Convoy, Rogue Squadron's X-wings counter-attacked by hitting Dominator with a salvo of proton torpedoes. While an Imperial Star Destroyer's shields would have easily held up against such an assault, Dominator's shields partially collapsed and the hull took some damage, prompting its commanders to call off the battle. (Rogue Squadron also successfully used this tactic on the Immobilizer 418 cruiser Aggregator which caused it to retreat.)

History


Ever since it's conception, the Interdictor played a significant role in the Empire. Commanders frequently used these ships against pirate insurrections, and small pockets of resistance. Because this ship's capabilities prevented other ships from escaping, these vessels were also extensively used in raids and invasions.

A ship of this class was used as a command ship by Lord Darth Vader in the months immediately after the Battle of Yavin, but it was destroyed above Jazbina by Rebel pilot Jal Te Gniev.

An Interdictor Star Destroyer participated in the First Battle of the Graveyard against Renegade Squadron. The Star Destroyer's gravity well projectors, which kept the Rebel fleet from fleeing, were destroyed.

In the months immediately after the Battle of Endor, ships of this class, such as Dominator and Binder, seemed to have been specifically deployed in Imperial efforts to defeat the Rebels' legendary Rogue Squadron.

By 9 ABY, Grand Admiral Thrawn's fleet at the Battle of Bilbringi included a number of Interdictor Star Destroyers. It is possible that Imperator and Wrack were also ships of this design.

Thrawn used these ships in many of his attacks in his campaign against the New Republic. Thrawn ingeniously used these crafts on multiple occasions to pull his own ships out of hyperspace, making the jump more efficient, because the incoming vessels could scramble into a situation with almost unprecedented precision.

Known ships

 * Binder
 * Dominator, commanded by Loka Hask.
 * Tory's Catcher

Behind the scenes
Whether this type of Star Destroyer was ever given a proper class name is unknown. The term "Interdictor Star Destroyer" was first used in Starships of the Galaxy, which also briefly describe it, but it is unknown if this was meant to be the class name (as in "Interdictor-class Star Destroyer"). Before that Star Wars Handbook: X-wing: Rogue Squadron said the Dominator to be a Star Destroyer and not a cruiser or any different type of ship.

It is possibly the same design as the Interdictor Dreadnaught mentioned in the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy.

Before a canonical designation was known, Curtis Saxton documented this ship class on his Star Wars Technical Commentaries website. On his site, Saxton used the provisional name "Dominator-class Star Destroyer," created after the class's first named representative, Dominator. Since then, many fans have mistakenly believed this name to be canon.

The listing of Known Ships is controversial since Binder, Contrainer, and Sentinel were labeled as Interdictors, and presumed to be Immobilizer 418 cruisers in the novels. They were drawn as Interdictor Star Destroyers in the Dark Horse comic series.

Appearances

 * Routine
 * Vader's Quest
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
 * X-wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair
 * X-wing Rogue Squadron: In the Empire's Service
 * X-wing Rogue Squadron: Mandatory Retirement
 * The Last Command
 * The Last Command comic
 * X-wing: Isard's Revenge
 * Star by Star