Interdictor-class Star Destroyer

The Interdictor-class Star Destroyer was Kuat Drive Yards’s answer to Sienar Fleet Systems’s well known Immobilizer 418 Interdictor Cruiser. Much like Sienar, Kuat based their interdictor design on the hull of a prior ship - in this case the Imperator-class Star Destroyer Mark I. The Interdictor Star Destroyer’s claim to fame is that it fills the Empire’s need for a more powerful interdictor. Unlike the Immobilizer 418, the Interdictor Star Destroyer is more than capable of defending itself against large capital ships. It is commonly called a Dominator-class Star Destroyer since the Dominator was one of the first prototypes, but this is not an official designation for the ship.

Because the gravity wells require so much power, half of the Imperator Mark I’s turbolasers and ion cannons had to be removed to power the new design. In addition the tractor beams were reduced by eight and the ship’s fighter compliment was reduced by two squadrons to make room for the massive gravity wells. The gravity wells are such a drain on power that the Interdictor Star Destroyer’s shield strength is also weaker than its base ship - although still quite powerful.

The Interdictor Star Destroyer is much more versatile than its Sienar counterpart, able to combine the might of a Star Destroyer with the power to keep ships from escaping into hyperspace. As such it is frequently employed to great effect on its own ambushing enemy convoys and destroying them.

The first Interdictor Star Destroyers saw action after the Battle of Yavin, but weren’t commonly used since Imperial Command decided to rely on the much cheaper Immobilizer 418. With the destruction of the second Death Star, now that it has became more important for the Empire to maximize its resources, the Interdictor Star Destroyer has grown in popularity thanks to its durability in combat. They are still not nearly as numerous as the Immobilizer 418, but the ships can be found in fleets across the Empire.