Consular-class cruiser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Star Wars craft | |
| Consular-class Cruiser | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Corellian Engineering Corporation |
| Specification | Consular-class cruiser |
| Type | Cruiser |
| Length | 115 meters |
| Weapons | None (later retrofitted with various weapon systems during Clone Wars |
| Shield | N/A |
| Hull | N/A |
| Crew | 8 (1 captain, 2 co-pilots, 2 communications officers, 3 engineers) |
| Top Speed | |
| Troop Capacity | N\A (is not a military vessel) |
| Affiliation | Galactic Republic |
| Cargo Capacity | 550 metric tons |
| Passengers | 16 |
In the fictional Star Wars galaxy, the Consular-class cruiser (colloquially known as simply the "Republic Cruiser") is a vessel designed and produced by the Corellian Engineering Corporation and used by the Galactic Republic for diplomatic missions.
Consular-class cruisers are 115 meters long, and therefore considered capital ships. A crew of eight is normally used, consisting of a captain, two co-pilots, two communications officers, and three engineers. However, the ship is capable of operating with a skeleton crew of just two pilots, with droids handling any of the other duties onboard. These skeleton crews are often used on important and secretive missions, where a smaller crew would mean more security and less chance of espionage. Such a crew was used on the Radiant VII when Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi traveled aboard that ship to meet with the Trade Federation leaders blockading Naboo.
The Consular-class has a cargo capacity of 550 metric tons and can carry up to 16 passengers. The cruiser was also equipped with a special salon pod near the front of the vessel, which served as a secure meeting area where important negotiations could take place. The pods could be customized for use by various alien species, and were capable of ejecting from the ship should an attack or other emergency occur. Each pod was equipped with its own life support system, sensors, and engine system, so that the diplomatic party onboard could escape to safety.
Contents |
[edit] Diplomatic Immunity
All diplomatic vessels operating within the Republic have highly-visible red markings of some kind to indicate their diplomatic immunity and neutrality. It is a generally-accepted rule that these vessels are not to be attacked by anyone under any circumstances. Ships originating from the galactic capital world of Coruscant are designated by having almost their entire hull painted red, with the Radiant VII being an example.
[edit] The Clone Wars
Being diplomatic vessels, Consular-class cruisers were designed without any weapon systems. However, with the outbreak of the Clone Wars, most were retrofitted with laser cannons for self-defense purposes. Many of these ships were also pressed into service with the Galactic Republic Navy, with turbolaser turrets and concussion missile launchers added on to make them capable combat vessels.
[edit] The Galactic Civil War and Beyond
The Consular-class cruiser was a direct predecessor of the CR90 Corellian Corvette, which would gradually replace the Consular-class as the standard diplomatic vessel of the Republic in its waning years. Unlike its predecessor, the CR90 was armed and very easy to modify, and quickly became one of the most widely-used ships in the galaxy.
The Consular-class was phased out of the Imperial Navy after the Clone Wars, but many continued to operate around the galaxy during and after the Galactic Civil War as transports for merchants, smugglers, pirates, and the Rebel Alliance.
