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Why didn't Interdictor-class Star Destroyer see much use?

Science Fiction & Fantasy Asked by user3399 on November 9, 2020

In Star Wars, hyperspace is the main way of travel. It’s used by the Rebel Alliance both as a way to attack and to escape.

Quite understandably, the Empire created Interdictor-class Star Destroyers. Those starships where made with the sole purpose of preventing other starships to go into hyperspace.

But even though those ships exist, they barely saw any use at all, especially in battles where their presence would have changed the outcome of the war.

The most damning example that come to mind would be the Battle of Scarif. At that point, the Empire knew that a fatal weakness existed in the Death Star. So when the Rebels attacked Scarif, where the Death Star’s plan was stored, it was pretty obvious what they were aiming for. So the Empire sent a massive amount of reinforcements, which lead to the rebels getting decimated. But a Corvette still manage to escape and enter hyperspace.

All the Empire needed was one Interdictor, and the rebels would have never had a chance to win, because the plans would have never left Scarif.

Obviously, the easy answer would be that there wasn’t any Interdictor available close enough to the battle to make it in time. Which would raise another question, why was such a vital ship, that can completely corner an enemy and cut off their only escape route, not a mandatory part of any and all fleets?

Why were the Interdictor-class ships, which provided an incredible tactical advantage, almost never used?

One Answer

In canon, nearly every appearance of the Imperial Interdictor is followed by some kind of failure.

  • In Tarkin, set in 14 BBY, a prototype Interdictor is used in an attempt to stop rebels from fleeing with Grand Moff Tarkin's personal corvette, but instead pulls a small fleet out of hyperspace. It is sent back to the Corellian Engineering Corporation due to its many operational issues.
  • In the Star Wars Rebels episode "Stealth Strike," set in 4 BBY, one commanded by Brom Titus manages to pull a CR90 Corvette out of hyperspace, but is later destroyed due to two people infiltrating it in stormtrooper disguises.
  • In a later Star Wars Rebels episode, "Zero Hour," set in 3 BBY, two are used in the Battle of Atollon to prevent the rebel fleet from escaping. One is destroyed via Commander Jun Sato's ramming maneuver, and another is incapacitated when Ezra Bridger and Clan Wren destroyed its gravity well projectors.
  • By 0 BBY, when the novel Heir to the Jedi is set, the Immobilizer 418 cruiser was discontinued by the Empire due to its vulnerabilities.

This track record is evidence enough to show why the Interdictor didn't see much us. It was easily destroyed and inconsistent in its ability.

Answered by Donatello Swansino on November 9, 2020

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