Assault Frigate Mark I

As the Rebel Alliance began to acquire Galactic Republic-era Rendili StarDrive Dreadnaught-class starships, it found the required 16,000-being crew to be difficult to manage and procure, yet they were in desperate need of warships.

After equipping Dreadnaughts with droids and automated systems to reduce the crew requirement to 5,000 beings, thus rendering the ships usable, Rebel engineers began modifying Dreadnaughts to allow for greater speed and efficiency while retaining the original weapon systems. The final product was only recognizable as a descendant of the Dreadnaught-class by the nose of the ship. Most of the internal structure was exposed to space, while a dorsal and ventral fin provided added maneuverability. The modifications resulted in greater fuel efficiency.

These modifications removed the internal docking capacity of the Dreadnaught-class, but the ships were equipped with 20 umbilical docking fixtures like those on the EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate. Unlike the Nebulon escort frigate, however, these docking fixtures could not carry other ships through hyperspace. In addition, the assault frigate carried a modified assault shuttle on its back, which was secured in a manner that allowed it to be carried in hyperspace.

The assault frigate had more weapon emplacements than the original Dreadnaught, but the turbolasers had a shorter range and slower fire rate due to the increased demand on the main power system. The removal of large quantities of hull plating reduced the ship's durability, but slightly stronger shields partially compensated for this.

The Assault Frigates generally had one prong at the bow, but variants were equipped with split bows.

Around 1 BBY, a twin-pronged variant Assault Frigate fought in the Rebel Alliance's assault on Kamino. The ship reverted from hyperspace along with the rest of the Alliance Fleet ships to face three Imperial Star Destroyers.

Few of the ships were retrofitted by the time of the Battle of Endor, but their effectiveness meant that the class had no reported losses.

Assault frigates first saw combat around the time of the assault on Kashyyyk of the Galactic Civil War. They served as a mainstay of the New Republic Defense Fleet in the years following the Battle of Endor.

The frigate was tweaked into the Assault Frigate Mark II, and although the Mk. I remained in operation, the Mk. II production line failed.

The refits were expensive and time-consuming, but the Assault Frigate was considered a very effective combat warship. Though these warships were unique to the Rebellion/New Republic, the Empire made efforts to acquire them—a rather ironic reversal of fortune.

The name of this ship class is a proper noun as well as a description of the vessel type. To alleviate the potential confusion, Imperial forces commonly referred to the ship as the New Republic assault frigates or Rebel assault frigates.

One Mark I frigate was used to make up a secret retreat in 137 ABY.

The Assault Frigate Mark I included in Starship Battles, published in 2006, presents a different image of the Assault frigate, featuring a slimmer shape overall, as well as two forward hull sections that look identical to that of a Nebulon-B frigate and are arranged in the same manner as the Nebulon-B2. Starships of the Galaxy Saga Edition, published in 2007, also presents this style of Assault Frigate.

The Wii version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II depicts the Salvation as a ship of this latter type. However, the PS3 and Xbox versions, as well as the novel and comic adaptations, depict the Salvation as a Nebulon-B Frigate. In the PC, PS3 and Xbox versions of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, an Assault Frigate as depicted by Wizards of the Coast escorts the Salvation.

• The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook
• Heir to the Empire Sourcebook
• The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook, Second Edition
• Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised
• The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
• The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
• Endgame
• Star Wars: Rebellion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
• Star Wars Encyclopedia
• Star Wars: Behind the Magic
• Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
• The Official Star Wars Fact File5
• Starships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II: Prima Official Game Guide
• The Essential Guide to Warfare