Republic Navy

The Republic Navy, also referred to as the Republic fleet, was the military naval force of the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. The Navy served to transport the clone army across the galaxy while also engaging in ship-to-ship combat with the Separatist navy. Following the end of the war and the formation of the Galactic Empire, the Republic Navy transitioned into the Imperial Navy.

Background
The Republic Navy was the naval branch of the military forces of the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars against the Confederacy of Independent Systems. With a fleet of warships at its disposal, the Navy supported the Republic war effort by ferrying clone troopers across the galaxy as well as engaging in ship-to-ship combat with the Separatist navy. Among its naval assets was the Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ship. In addition to role as a battle ship, the Acclamator-class was a transport vessel with a carrying capacity of 16,000 troopers.

The formation of the Republic Navy also led to the introduction of a line of wedge-shaped capital ships known as Star Destroyers, beginning with the Venator-class Star Destroyer. Like the Acclamators, the Venator-class was a combat vessel and troop transport. It was also designed to be more versatile, allowing for Venators to be used as carriers for starfighter operations as well.

A force of clone navigation officers assisted in crewing the Navy's arsenal of warships. As part of a wartime bargain between the Office of the Chancellor and the Jedi Order, a cadre of non-clone veteran officers were assigned to work alongside the newly-appointed Jedi Generals.

History
The Republic Navy held a proud naval tradition that dated back thousands of years to the foundation of the Galactic Republic.

The Clone Wars begin
The Republic Navy participated in the Battle of Geonosis, the first battle of the Clone Wars, twenty-two years before the Battle of Yavin. Acclamator-class warships and Low Altitude Assault Transports were used to carry troops and vehicles on the planet, in an effort to help Jedi forces repel the Separatist Droid Army. Following the Republic victory on Geonosis, the Grand Army and its naval counterpart were presented on Coruscant to Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine and several members of the Galactic Senate, who witnessed clone regiments boarding Acclamators in preparation for deployment.

Some time after the Battle of Geonosis, in the Battle of Christophsis Venator-class Star Destroyers were deployed instead of Acclamator-class ships, engaging Separatist battleships that were blockading the planet. A stealth ship prototype was tested in the battle and managed to destroy Admiral Trench's flagship, the Invincible. In the next battle on the planet of Teth squadrons of V-19 Torrent starfighters operated together with Jedi starfighters.

Subsequent campaigns
"As the bulk of our fleets are engaged on the frontlines, we’ll be on our own."

- Admiral Yularen

In the Mission to Rugosa Jedi General Yoda traveled aboard a Republic frigate. The Separatist superweapon known as the Malevolence destroyed a group of Pelta-class frigates, used as medical transports by the Republic. Afterwards, Jedi General Anakin Skywalker led a squadron of BTL-B Y-wings with the purpose of destroying the Malevolence, but he initially failed, succeeding only in boarding the ship. Nu-class transports were employed in several battles in this period, such as on Christophsis, Ryloth, the Rishi moon, Vassek's third moon and Florrum. General Skywalker often used a G9 Rigger-class light freighter named Twilight since the Battle of Teth, in which he stole the ship.

In the Battle of Malastare the Republic used many starfighters to bomb Separatist ground forces marching against them, consisting of Y-wings and ARC-170 starfighters. In the Second Battle of Geonosis, the Republic deployed a great amount of naval forces, again using the Low Altitude Assault Transport carriers deployed in the rescue of the Jedi team in the first battle. Additionally, Pelta-class frigates were deployed to help the injured troopers. In the Battle of Saleucami, after the capture of Eeth Koth, Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi's fleet included for the first time an Arquitrens-class light cruiser. The battle also used a Eta-class shuttle for the first time. Large naval forces were employed in the Defense of Kamino, when General Grievous struck the clones' home, including ARC-170 and Y-wing starfighters and Venator-class, Acclamator-class and Arquitens-class ships. These kinds of ships were also used in the Battle of Sullust. Later, modified LAAT/i's were deployed in the Battle of Lola Sayu to evacuate a Jedi rescue team run to save Jedi General Even Piell.

The Clone Wars end
Since the Battle of Umbara, Republic had used Clone Z-95 starfighters as its main starfighter forces. A large group of naval forces surrounded the space station Valor during the Republic strategy conference. Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano piloted Eta-2 Actis-class interceptors in the Defense of Cato Neimoidia; this kind of starfighter was used by Jedi often in the last part of the Clone Wars. A large formation of Republic capital ships attacked the space station surrounding the world of Ringo Vinda, including ARC-170, Y-wing and Clone Z-95 starfighters, a Jedi ambassador shuttle, a Nu-class shuttle, Republic frigates, Arquitens-class, Acclamator-class and Venator-class capital ships. The gunship Havoc Marauder was used by Clone Force 99 in the Battle for Anaxes and the Mission to Skako Minor in the final years of the war.

Organization
The Republic Navy was the naval branch of the Republic military. During the early phase of the Clone Wars, the Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ship served as a troop carrier. Likewise, the Venator-class Star Destroyer served as a transport for clone troopers, but was also designed for ship-to-ship combat. Additionally, the Venator-class contained a large flight deck capable of holding numerous Republic starfighters.

The Navy supported it the Grand Army of the Republic with gunships and starfighters. The Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry gunship was utilized as a transport vessel for infantry units. The Low Altitude Assault Transport/carrier, a variant model of the LAAT/i, could be used to transport a single AT-TE walker. Both versions of the gunship were also capable of providing air support for ground units.

Assault ships

 * Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships

Cruisers and Corvettes

 * Arquitens-class light cruisers
 * Consular-class cruisers
 * Consular-class cruisers
 * CR90 corvette
 * Paladin-class corvette
 * Stealth ship

Escape craft

 * Escape pods
 * Salon pods
 * Republic escape pods

Freighters

 * G9 Rigger-class light freighter

Frigates
The Republic Navy utilizied at least one type of frigate known as the Pelta-class frigate

Gunships

 * Havoc Marauder
 * Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantrys
 * Space gunships
 * Low Altitude Assault Transport carriers

Shuttles

 * Eta-class shuttles
 * Nu-class transports
 * Republic medical shuttle
 * T-6 shuttles
 * Theta-class T-2c shuttles

Space stations
The Republic Navy utilized many space stations such as the Haven-class medical stations, Regalia Station and Space Station Valor

Star Destroyers
The Republic Navy utilized at least two variation of Star Destroyers. The Venator-class and Victory-class Star Destroyers.

Starfighters
As part of the Republic Starfighter Corps, the Republic navy deployed a variety of starfighters. Such starfighters included interceptors such as the Delta-7, Delta-7B Aethersprite-class light interceptors and the Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptors. starfigher-bombers such as the BTL-B variant of the Y-wing starfighter, and other starfighters such as the Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing, ARC-170, V-19 and the Clone Wars version of the Z-95 Headhunters.

Non-canon appearances

 * Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes