Model: Imperial Escort Carrier

Manufacturer: Kuat Drive Yards

Designation: Heavy Starfighter/Shuttle Carrier

Length: 501 meters

Crew: 3,505

Troops: 800

Cargo Capacity: 500 metric tons

Consumables: 9 months

Hyperdrive Multiplier: x1

Hyperdrive Backup: x12

Speed: 12 MGLT

Hull: 912 RU

Shields: 1,600 SBD

Weapons: 10 Twin Laser Cannons

Onboard Craft: 72 TIE Series Fighters and 6 Light Transports.

 

The need for a TIE escort carrier became apparent after the Battle of Ton-Falk. In that battle, two Imperial frigates and a Dreadnaught were lost due to, as Naval Command reported, "inadequate TIE support". Son the Navy commissioned Kuat Drive Yards to construct a vessel that would serve the specific function of carrying TIE fighters into battle.

The main duties of escort carriers are to augment the starfighter strength of the fleet they are attached to, and to transport non-hyperspace support shuttles from system to system. Box-like and inelegant in appearance, KDY's escort carrier preforms these missions admirably.

Each carrier bases an entire TIE wing, of 72 fighters, in its cavernous bays. Imperial policy mandates that at least one TIE Bomber and two TIE Interceptor squadrons be included in the mix. Additional bays carries up to 6 Shuttles or Transports.

While carriers are equipped with protective weaponry, they are not considered combat vessels. They do not engage enemy targets and try to stay as far from the actual battle as possible.

Other missions that carries regularly preform include augmenting the power of Imperial garrison bases. While the garrison quells planetary problems, the carrier assumes a stationary position orbit over the planet. From this position, the carrier's TIE series fighters can blanket the world to provide support from above.