Venator III-class Star Destroyer

After the fall of the Galactic Empire, and the establishment of the First Order, many Empire warships found their way into the First Order Navy during their early years (though the New Republic will end up having them scrap roughly 60% of their acquired capital ships especially Star Destroyers). Some of these acquired warships were the Venator II-class Star Destroyer notably the Venator II-classes from 125th and 123rd Squadrons. Further luck of the First Order came when the New Republic deemed the Venator II-class not that high of a threat in the possibility the First Order would try to finish what the Empire started (they never had the intent) and as a result of this low threat level, only 8 Venator II-classes where sent to the scrap yards.

In the following years, and as the First Order grew in strength, and number, the Venator II-class Star Destroyer was starting to show it's age. As a result, the "Venator II-class modernization program" was launched to modernize these old warships into true First Order warships.

The first modification was to the engines where the old ones that dated back to the first Venator-class were scrapped, and replaced by two engines from scrapped Imperial-class Star Destroyers. Further modifications where to the ship's shielding, armor thickness and some of the weapons placements. The ship's armor thickness was increased (though this limited hanger space), shielding was boosted to the level of other First Order capital ships and advanced gyroscopes where installed. These modifications resulted in a ship with slow sub-light speed, but a high degree of pivoting motion along with strong armor and shielding, just like most other First Order capital ships.

In regards to weapons, the dorsal pair of octuple heavy turbolaser turrets were removed and replaced by a pair of octuple heavy ion turrets and 19 trench mounted duel light turbolaser turrets where added. By 31 ABY the First Order had modified all 16 Venator II-classes, as well as a further 4 surviving ships from the 122nd Squadron resulting in 20 Venator III-class Star Destroyer in service.