Imperial II-class frigate

Class II Frigate Class II Frigates were large warships employed by the Galactic Empire.

Characteristics
These vessels had two extensive hangars on both sides of the hull, which accommedated for a number of TIE/ln starfighters. Their weapons complement is unknown.

Judging from the intended use of Rand Ecliptic, these ships could perform several tasks, such as patrolling shipping lanes and engaging Rebel or pirate forces, or simply doing support work for the Imperial Navy.

However, heavy fleet-engagement did not seem on the agenda for such ships, as supported by the fact that officers fresh out of the Imperial Academy were being assigned as junior-staff on board Rand Ecliptic.

Known ships

 * Rand Ecliptic

Behind the scenes



 * This class seem to have at least one sub-type, as a ship similar to the Rand Ecliptic chased Generals Jan Dodonna and Roons Sewell during the former's defection, and was subsequently destroyed. This variant had two extra secondary engines, perched on each side of the command tower's neck. This ship might have been a Class I Frigate.


 * In Star Wars: Empire 9, it was referred to on one page as both a "cruiser" and a "battle cruiser", while in Empires 8 and 12 it was referred to as a "frigate".


 * The explanation probably consists of several reasons:


 * The use of "cruiser" and/or "battle cruiser" as an overall term for warships bigger than 400 meters (according to WEG sources).


 * The RL historic designation of some ships as "frigates" even though they had more in common with destroyers, cruisers, or even battleships. At least two of these frigate-types were later reclassified as "cruisers" and "destroyers", respectively.


 * The Class II Frigate is shown to have extensive hangars, and yet Rand Ecliptic, the only canon Class II Frigate, supposedly only carries 16 TIE Fighters, an unusually low number for such sized hangars. It is possible that the Class II Frigate, seemingly being a patrol frigate, has large hangars to hold impounded ships, captured from pirates, smugglers and the like. This would imply equipment and devices targeted towards capture of small vessels. It is also entirely possible that Rand Ecliptic is a unique case and has had its TIE complement cut down for this patrolling venture, and that a standard Class II Frigate may carry many more TIE Fighters.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Empire: Darklighter
 * Star Wars Empire: The Short, Happy Life of Roons Sewell