Separatist supply ship

The Separatist supply ship, also known as the Separatist support ship or the Separatist transport, was a massive transport and supply ship utilized by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. Originally a corporate vessel, the supply ship was adapted to compensate for the inadequate cargo capacities of other craft in the Confederate Navy, particularly the Lucrehulk-class battleship. The supply ship was over one thousand meters wide and housed several hangar bays, which could accommodate multiple C-9979 landing craft to transport the battle droid infantry of the Separatist Droid Army to battlefields across the galaxy. Being able to store over five million metric tons of cargo, it was primarily used for arms and resupply shipments to the organic defense armies in the Confederate military, often supporting planetary campaigns from orbit. It was armed with point-defense laser cannons and could be crewed by B1 battle droids overseen by a T-series tactical droid.

During the lengthy Battle of Umbara of 21 BBY, the Confederacy provided a Separatist supply ship to the Umbaran militia, which used the transport to reopen supply lines to the capital city following the Galactic Republic's capture of an Umbaran airbase. The supply ship sustained the capital's defenses until the craft was infiltrated and destroyed by a trio of clone trooper–commandeered Umbaran starfighters, leading to the capital's fall to the Grand Army of the Republic. A number of supply ships were involved in the Confederacy's massive blockade of Serenno, the headquarters of Head of State Count Dooku, while General Grievous used a pair of supply ships to support his invasion of Dathomir. Dooku also enlisted a pair of supply ships to supplement his invasion of Scipio, the headquarters of the InterGalactic Banking Clan.

Characteristics
Initially a corporate vessel, the Separatist supply ship was converted as a model of transport craft by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. It was 908.78 meters long and 910.35 meters tall, while its armored hull and barbell shape afforded a width of 1257.32 meters.[1] It was armed with point-defense laser cannons[1] but also relied upon other ships for protection.[6] Its body housed a number of hangar bays, which could carry multiple C-9979 landing craft, each of which had a wingspan of 149 meters and a twenty-four-meter height.[3] The main hangar, accessible via an aft entry, was located in the midsection of the ship's starboard hemisphere and was equipped with ceiling cranes and other equipment for cargo loading and storage. At the end of the main hangar was the ship's reactor core room, which was protected from outside access by ray shielding.[6]

The Separatist supply ship was painted with the blue livery of the Confederacy, as well as with a Confederate roundel on both sides of its hull.[6] It had an overall cargo capacity upward of five million metric tons.[4] It was equipped with a hyperdrive.[2] The transport could be commanded by a single T-series tactical droid, while B1 battle droids made up the bridge team as well as the main hangar's cargo supply crew.

Role
The Separatist supply ship served as a heavy transport in the Confederate Navy during the Clone Wars,[1] fulfilling the Confederacy's needs by compensating for the insufficient cargo capacity of other craft such as the Lucrehulk-class battleship.[7] Originally a corporate transport, the supply ship was converted for wartime service in the Confederate Navy,[1] proving to be a more dedicated cargo carrier than other vessels.[7] It became a valuable combat asset during lengthy conflicts due to its massive size and capacity, which allowed it to serve as a transport for C-9979 landing craft and their troops, the battle droids of the Separatist Droid Army.[3] Yet it primarily contributed to the Separatist war machine by supplying arms, power supplies, and other matériel—for example, long-range missiles—to organic defense armies like the Umbaran militia.[1] Supply ships could be employed in campaigns from orbit, providing weaponry and supplies to ground forces on the planetary surface, while their isolated position in space would allow them to be defended by warships of the Confederate Navy.