Dut Kol: “This "pathetic scrap-heap" just saved ten systems from Sith domination in under a week.”
―Imperial Moff Jarrdus and Dut Kol exchange words during the Second Supreme War Council, 12 ABY
The League Defense Armada, also known as the LDA, referred to by ILFS citizens as the Armada and the Fleet, and by outsiders as Kol's armada, was the official naval arm of the Independent League of Free Systems. Formed in 3 ABY as called for in the Constitution of the Confederation, the initial base of the LDA was made up of the remnants of various CIS holdout fleets, large pirate fleets, regional militias and defense taskforces, and turncoats from both the Rebel and Imperial navies. Ultimately, the LDA developed its own independent naval tradition.
Though Dut Kol, serving as President and therefore Supreme Commander of the LDA, was able enough as a strategist, he rarely commanded the Armada in person. The first time he led ships into a confrontation was in 8 ABY when the Imperial Civil War threatened to spill over into the borders of the ILFS; in a show of force, he led a large fleet of capital ships to defend ILFS interests and send a final refusal to Imperial diplomats for aid in their war. The next time he led his forces in battle was in 12 ABY, after the ILFS entered the Galactic Civil War.
The League Defense Armada was unique in its composition, combining use of Old Republic, Confederacy of Independent Systems, Imperial, Rebel/Galactic Federation, and original designs. All ships – whether refitted older vessels, upgraded and altered ships currently common, or entirely new designs – were supplied by the Sluis Van Star Corporation, a nationalized portion of Rendili StarDrive incorporated shortly after the founding of the ILFS.
History[]
Formation[]
Buildup[]
Cold war with the Sith[]
Entering the Galactic Civil War[]
Organization and leadership[]
Fleets as of 12 ABY[]
The following is a list of the major units of the LDA as of 12 ABY as they stood several days prior to the destruction of Atravis II, effectively signaling the ILFS' entrance into the Galactic Civil War.
- Home Defense Starfleet—Sluis Van
- Supreme Commander Dut Kol
- Western Reaches Reaction Force—Tosste
- Fleet Admiral Tallum Meith
- Central Reaction Force—Sevarcos
- Vice Admiral Alda Keam (Human)
- 1st Fleet—Darkknell
- Admiral U'rtas Jamakall (Human)
- 10th Defense Fleet—Reuss VIII
- Admiral Phov Bewii (Rodian)
- 14th Fleet—Lok
- Fleet Dar Va'fotu (Bothan)
- Reserve Immediate Reaction Force—Vohai
- Vice Admiral Mesan Kerr (Bith)
Ships[]
By as early as 6 ABY, every vessel in ILFS space had been repurposed for use in the League Defense Armada. Older vessels had been thoroughly modernized and refitted to be equipped with standardized weapons and strikecraft. New and upgraded designs to vessels used by both the Empire and the Galactic Federation were quickly employed. Examples of the wide variety of ships employed by the LDA included the Defender-class star frigate, an extensively-modified and upgraded Munificent-class star frigate with greatly enhanced shields, improved weaponry, and the ability to carry a small squadron of starfighters, and the Warrior assault bomber, a design based on the TIE Bomber boasting a shield generator, a hyperdrive, larger storage bays allowing for increased payloads, and an improved defensive armament.
Ranks[]
Enlisted:
- Second Cadet
- First Cadet
- Chief Cadet
- Master Cadet
Officers:
- Warrant Officer second class
- Warrant Officer first class
- Chief Warrant Officer
- Ensign
- Junior Lieutenant
- Chief Lieutenant
- Lieutenant Commander
- Commander
- Captain
Flag officers:
- Commodore
- Vice Admiral
- Admiral
- Fleet Admiral
- Grand Admiral
- Supreme Commander