Drag to rotate · scroll or pinch to zoom
Star Destroyer · Galactic Republic
Venator-class Star Destroyer
The Republic's Jedi cruiser: a 1.1-kilometre carrier and warship that launches fighters and gunships.
- Model
- Venator-class Republic attack cruiser
- Maker
- Kuat Drive Yards
- Length
- 1,137 m
- Width
- 548 m
- Height
- 268 m
- Crew
- About 7,400
- Hyperdrive
- class 1, backup: class 15
- Shields
- yes
- Armament
- 8 heavy dual turbolaser turrets · 2 medium dual turbolaser cannons · 4 heavy proton torpedo tubes · 6 tractor beam projectors · Point-defence laser cannons
Galactic RepublicJedi OrderGalactic EmpireCompare on the scale
Overview
The Venator-class Star Destroyer is the anchor of the Republic's fleet in the Clone Wars. Officially a Republic attack cruiser and better known as the Jedi cruiser, it is a Kuat Drive Yards design that works as both a warship and a fighter carrier[1][2][3].
At 1,137 metres long, 548 metres wide and 268 metres tall, it carries starfighters, LAAT gunships and AT-TE walkers on a large flight deck in the forward hull, and it is armed with heavy turbolaser turrets and proton torpedo tubes[2][6][7].
Jedi serving as generals in the war make Venators their flagships, which is how the type gets its nickname[3]. Anakin Skywalker flies his flag on the Resolute and Obi-Wan Kenobi on the Negotiator[4], and Venators fill the Republic fleet in the opening battle of Revenge of the Sith[8].
Length 1,137 m
Width 548 m
How it flies and fights
The Venator keeps the dagger-wedge shape of the Acclamator-class assault ship and the Imperial Star Destroyer: a long, flat hull with a bridge tower at the stern[6]. Eight heavy dual turbolaser turrets and two medium dual turbolaser cannons supply the main firepower, backed by four proton torpedo tubes and point-defence laser cannons[6][7].
What sets it apart is the flight deck. Starfighters, LAAT gunships and AT-TE walkers launch from a large hangar in the forward hull, so a single Venator can open a battle in space and land an army on the ground[2][6]. Its crew numbers about 7,400, from officers to pilots and enlisted crew[6].
Who flew it
Anakin Skywalker
Commander
Used the Venator Resolute as his flagship through much of the Clone Wars, commanding clone troops and fighter squadrons from its bridge[4].
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Commander
Commanded the cruiser Negotiator, which chased General Grievous's warship, the Malevolence, during the Kaliida Shoals mission[4].
Wullf Yularen
Captain
Admiral who captained the Resolute under Anakin Skywalker; droid fighters strafed its bridge at Ryloth and wounded him[5].
Ahsoka Tano
Commander
Served aboard the Resolute as Anakin's Padawan and later led assaults from its bridge alongside Captain Rex[11].
Captain Rex
Commander
A 501st clone captain whose troops were based on the Resolute, serving alongside Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano[11].
Edmon Rampart
Commander
A vice admiral who commanded the Venator VZ-114 in The Bad Batch, using it for operations at Kamino[1].
Chronicle
Key moments in the ship's life, in story order. Spoilers stay hidden until you mark the title as watched in the timeline.
-
≈ 22 BBY
Venators enter service early in the Clone Wars as fleet anchors and fighter carriers. Jedi generals use them as flagships, and the nickname 'Jedi cruiser' sticks[3].
-
22 BBY
Wullf Yularen's Jedi cruiser takes part in the Battle of Christophsis, one of the first big fleet actions of the war[5].
-
22 BBY
The Resolute helps break the Separatist blockade of Ryloth. Droid fighters strafe its bridge and wound Admiral Yularen[5].
-
22 BBY
Anakin briefs Shadow Squadron aboard the Resolute before the strike on the Malevolence, while Obi-Wan's Negotiator pursues General Grievous's warship[4].
-
19 BBY
Episode III — Revenge of the Sith
Venator-class cruisers fill the Republic fleet in the opening space battle over Coruscant, their first appearance in a film[8].
-
19 BBY
Episode III — Revenge of the Sith
Spoiler from Episode III — Revenge of the SithShowyou've watched it
At the end of Revenge of the Sith, Darth Vader and Governor Tarkin watch the first Death Star framework take shape from a Venator-type Star Destroyer[9].
-
≈ 19 BBY
Spoiler from The Bad BatchShowyou've watched it
Under the new Empire, Vice Admiral Rampart uses a Venator at Kamino to secure cloning technology and bury evidence of where the clone army was made[1].
-
≈ 19 BBY
Decommissioned Venators sit as scrap on Bracca. Clone Force 99 raids one for weapons and intelligence[10].
Where it flew
- ChristophsisWullf Yularen's Jedi cruiser fights in the Battle of Christophsis.
- RylothThe Resolute leads the fight over Ryloth, and droid fighters strafe its bridge.
- CoruscantVenator-class cruisers fill the Republic fleet in the space battle that opens Revenge of the Sith.
- GeonosisAdmiral Wullf Yularen, captain of the Resolute, takes part in the Republic's battle at Geonosis.
- KaminoVice Admiral Rampart's Venator operates over Kamino in The Bad Batch.
Where to see the Venator-class Star Destroyer
Films, series and games with the Venator-class Star Destroyer, in story order.
The Clone Wars (2008 movie)Animated movie · 2008Anakin Skywalker and his new Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, must rescue Jabba the Hutt's kidnapped son.
The Clone WarsAnimated series · 2008–2020Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and the clone troopers fight across the galaxy in the war between the Republic and the Separatists.
Episode III — Revenge of the SithMovie · 2005The Clone Wars come to an end, and Anakin Skywalker's turn to the dark side changes the galaxy forever.
The Bad BatchAnimated series · 2021–2024Clone Force 99, a squad of “defective” clones, refuses to serve the Empire and goes its own way.
Variants
Venator in later service
In later years some Venators keep flying as warships, among them the VZ-114 at Kamino, while others are scrapped on Bracca or passed to private fleets and flight schools[7].
Behind the scenes
- The Venator was designed as a stepping stone between the Acclamator-class assault ship of Attack of the Clones and the Imperial Star Destroyer of the original films, so it keeps the dagger-wedge profile of both[6].
- Interior shots of Venator bridges reused the set built for the bridge of the Imperial Star Destroyer, which gives the two ships the same look from the inside[6].
- Concept artist Ryan Church painted a Venator-class ship launching fighters over Cato Neimoidia, one of the pieces of concept art made for Revenge of the Sith[12].
Did you know
- The 'Jedi cruiser' nickname exists because Jedi who were pressed into wartime service as generals used Venators as their flagships[3].
- The Venator is a proto-Star Destroyer: a forerunner of the Imperial Star Destroyer that would follow it[8].
- Official LEGO Ultimate Collector Series set 75367 recreates the Venator at about 109 centimetres long, from 5,374 pieces[8].
Venator-class Star Destroyer: questions and answers
How big is a Venator-class Star Destroyer?
A Venator is 1,137 metres long, 548 metres wide and 268 metres tall — more than three Eiffel Towers laid end to end[6]. Its crew numbers about 7,400 officers, pilots and enlisted crew[6].
Same fleet
Sources
- Venator-class Star Destroyer - StarWars.com Databank
- Republic Attack Cruiser - StarWars.com Databank
- Imperial Star Destroyer History Gallery - StarWars.com
- Shadow of Malevolence Episode Gallery - StarWars.com
- Wullf Yularen - StarWars.com Databank
- Star Destroyer - Wikipedia
- Venator-class Star Destroyer - Wookieepedia
- Lego Star Wars Ucs Venator Class Republic Attack Cruiser — StarWars.com
- Unidentified Venator-class Star Destroyer (Death Star) — Wookieepedia
- Unidentified Venator-class Star Destroyer (Clone Force 99) — Wookieepedia
- starwars.com
- Ryan Church (concept artist) — Wikipedia
- Venator-class Star Destroyer — Wookieepedia