The first Death Star battlestation
- "Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battlestation."
- ―Grand Moff Tarkin
A battlestation, or battle station, was a term used for any space station armed for combat.
Characteristics
A battle station was often defined as a combat spacecraft that used its primary power generation facilities for combat purposes rather than propulsion. The station could be either orbital or self-propelled like a starship.[1] Large capital ships were usually regarded as a type of battle station.[2] An alternative term for the largest battlestations was battle planetoid.
Battle stations were designed for various purposes, including defensive and offensive combat. Defensive battle stations bulked up on shield generators, sensor systems, defensive fighters and evacuation transports. Offensive battlestations were fitted with offensive weapons-batteries, starfighter and bomber squadrons as well as anti-ship defenses such as point-defense cannons. The battle station hangars were often large enough to handle smaller capital ships in addition to the fighters and transports. Combat stations were known to keep a larger-than-average amount of combat troops onboard, and were often utilitarian in design.[2]
Different types of battle stations were often separated by their mobility. Mobile battlestations, such as large capital ships, could traverse interstellar space and attack distant targets. Immobile stations were usually situated in orbit of a world and used for planetary defense or logistical support. Terrestrial stations were built on or around asteroids and planetary objects and usually required less volatile reactor cores than space-faring battle stations.[2]
The largest battle stations were often designed with city-like structures on their surfaces. These structures mimicked terrestrial cities in order to make life more comfortable for the crew. Restaurants, shops and apartment buildings could be utilized even on the most militaristic of stations.[3][2] The station commanders and high-ranking officers often had their own stylish dwellings and there was usually space for visiting diplomats.[2]
Travel onboard the enclosed battle station cities was often done with turbolifts, landspeeders or in the rare cases of massive cities, through shuttle taxis that flew from one hangar to another.[2]
Known classes
- Alliance Space Station
- Armored defense platform
- Bavos-I military space platform
- Bavos-II military space platform
- Cardan-class space station
- Death Star
- Derilyn Space Defense Platform
- Expeditionary Battle Planetoid
- FireStar-class orbital defense station
- Galaxy Gun
- Golan space defense platform
- Grade III battle station
- Military Command Station
- Shadow Academy
Appearances
Sources
- Heir to the Empire Sourcebook
- The Last Command Sourcebook
- The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
- Death Star Technical Companion
- Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi
- The Far Orbit Project
- Hideouts & Strongholds
- Star Wars: Rebellion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
- Planets of the Galaxy, Volume Three
- The Essential Guide to Characters
- Who's Who: Imperial Grand Admirals
- The Essential Chronology
- The New Essential Guide to Characters
- Handbook 3: Dark Empire
- The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
- Starships of the Galaxy (2001)
- The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
Ministry of Science Continues Hypermatter Studies — HoloNet News Vol. 531 #50 (content now obsolete; backup link)- Revenge of the Sith: Incredible Cross-Sections
- Byss and the Deep Core
- The New Essential Chronology
- The Jedi Academy Sourcebook
- The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
- The Dark Side Sourcebook
- Death Star Designer
- Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force
- Star Wars: Complete Cross-Sections
- Starships of the Galaxy (Saga Edition)
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Galaxy at War
- Muunilinst in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Superlaser in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
