The Essential Guide to Force Exile/Soresu-class Fleet Defender

Soresu-class Fleet Defender

Description
The primary capital ship of the Yanibar Guard Fleet, Soresu-class Fleet Defenders were introduced as the Yanibar Guard grew during the Galactic Civil War in order to provide a counter to the Imperial Victory-class Star Destroyers prevalent in Outer Rim service. More modern and advanced than most other ships in widespread service nearby, the Soresu-class served as the primary capital ship for the Yanibar Guard for many years.

The Soresu-class remained the second largest ship in service with the Yanibar Guard even after the commissioning of the Juyo-class and served as a pivotal command vessel. Every ship had two Force Adepts skilled in the knowledge of battle meditation, in order to enhance the combat effectiveness of the fleet. With the Yanibar Guard lacking in specialized anti-starfighter ships, the Soresu, like most other Yanibar Guard ships, was equipped with point-defense laser cannon batteries.

To aid in its Fleet Defender role, the Soresu-class featured powerful sensors and targeting computers that could synchronize with other vessels of the fleet to provide accurate telemetry and concentrated fire. Also mounted on the ship was a sizable signal warfare suite capable of jamming hostile sensors, including those mounted on missiles, over a range sufficient to cover the whole fleet. Heavy armor allowed the ship to survive sustained barrages, while a formidable weapons load-out meant the ship could inflict considerable damage on opponents.

In particular, the Nighthawk stealth missile launchers allowed each Fleet Defender to launch devastating long-range attacks without advance notice. Soresu-class ships were not capable of entering atmosphere, but they were effective at orbital bombardment, especially with their complement of heavy turbolasers. Their modest troop complement allowed them to land forces to seize key terrestrial positions, ships, and spacecraft when needed. Their numbers were limited because, even with fully developed shipyards, they required nearly two full years to build.

Heavy use of automation afforded the Soresu-class with a smaller crew complement than expected for a ship of its side. Other tradeoffs made to lower personnel and consumable requirements for the resource-strapped Yanibar Guard Fleet were a small marine complement and reduced consumables.

Designed to defeat Victory-class Star Destroyers, Soresu-class Fleet Defenders were faster, better protected, and had a larger and superior fighter complement, while boasting similar armament. However, Yanibar Guard Fleet doctrine had no provision for dealing with the larger Imperial Star Destroyers—construction of a ship large enough to defeat Imperial Star Destroyers was considered, but rejected as ultimately too expensive.

History
Introduced later in the Yanibar Guard’s history, the first Soresu-class ship was not launched until 3 ABY. A large complement of Valkyrie starbombers were originally slated to be carried by each Fleet Defender, but the unreliability and cost of that frame meant that each vessel was equipped with a squadron of B-wing starfighters after the technical readouts of the fighters were acquired. Since they were only available during the Galactic Civil War, the Soresu-class did not see action in the numerous smaller conflicts and raids undertaken by the Yanibar Guard, but did feature heavily in the Battle of Yanibar and the Battle of Rishi. In the former battle, the newly-launched Soresu-class Fleet Defender and flagship of the Yanibar Guard Fleet Yoda earned its baptism of fire against the Zann Consortium. The ship took severe damage but acquitted itself well.

Refits of the Fleet Defenders took place starting in 10 ABY, with the last ship of the class receiving the upgrades straight out of shipdock. The refits upgraded the shield generator, engines, and signals warfare equipment. Another refit took place in 26 ABY to equip the vessels with important anti-Yuuzhan Vong targeting equipment and stutter-fire lasers.

Ship listing

 * Yoda (3 ABY)
 * Mace Windu (5 ABY)
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi (7 ABY)
 * Plo Koon (9 ABY)
 * Shaak Ti (11 ABY)

Appearances

 * Force Exile IV: Guardian
 * Force Exile V: Warrior