Imperial II-class Star Destroyer/Legends


 * For general information about the Imperial-series Star Destroyers, see the article on the Imperial I-class Star Destroyers.

Imperial II-class Star Destroyer "Sir, the odds of surviving a direct assault on an Imperial Star Destroyer&mdash;"

- C-3PO

The Imperial II-class Star Destroyer, also known as the Imperial II-class Destroyer, was a Star Destroyer model built with a heavily reinforced hull, stronger shields than the Mk.I model, and greater firepower.

Characteristics


Several differences existed between the Imperial Mk.I and II, including the replacement of the tractor beam targeting array between the command tower's sensor globes with a communications tower.

The prominent twin turbolaser and ion cannon turrets flanking the surface of the Mk.I Star Destroyer were also replaced with batteries of eight-barreled guns in unarmored barbette mountings.

Other new features included two parallel "claws" for grappling smaller starships placed in the ventral secondary docking bay, an option for gunners to eject from their station if it was about to be destroyed, and the transparisteel viewports on the main bridge being able to resist an impact of a concussion missile (even the missiles launched from a Victory I-class Star Destroyer).

These warships were robust enough to stay operational after being hit by all the ion cannons of an Executor-class Star Dreadnought during a broadside exchange.

History
The first ships of this class began to appear in service several months after the Battle of Yavin. During the final years of the Galactic Empire under Emperor Palpatine's rule, this starship was instrumental in the implementation of the Tarkin Doctrine. This class remained in service for a significant length of time, despite more advanced starship designs being available. These warships were considered advanced or simply extremely powerful even during the Yuuzhan Vong War, being used for both offensive and defensive roles in critical missions.

A variant of the Imperial II-class, the Interdictor Star Destroyer, featured gravity well projectors to prevent nearby vehicles from using their hyperdrives.

Behind the scenes



 * The most prominent weapons on the second Star Destroyer model which appears in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi are eight barbette mountings, each mounting eight gun-barrels, which are arranged in rows of four on either side of the superstructure.


 * Numerous Expanded Universe sources cite the armament of the Imperial II as consisting of 50 turbolasers, 50 heavy turbolasers or turbolaser batteries, and 20 ion cannon.


 * At present, there is no canon source defining how the visible guns on the model relate to the armament stated in secondary sources, but the most likely estimation is that they correspond to weapons-distribution similar to earlier models like the Imperial I-class and the Venator-class. The guns on each side of the superstructure would then be the heaviest.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars: TIE Fighter
 * Star Wars: X-wing Alliance
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
 * X-wing: Rogue Squadron
 * X-wing: Wedge's Gamble
 * X-wing: The Krytos Trap
 * X-wing: The Bacta War
 * X-wing: Wraith Squadron
 * X-wing: Iron Fist
 * X-wing: Solo Command
 * X-wing: Isard's Revenge
 * Dark Empire
 * ''I, Jedi
 * X-wing: Starfighters of Adumar
 * Specter of the Past
 * Vision of the Future
 * Vector Prime
 * Dark Tide II: Ruin
 * Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial
 * ''Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream
 * ''Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand
 * Force Heretic I: Remnant
 * ''Force Heretic III: Reunion
 * The Final Prophecy
 * The Unifying Force