The Endurance class featured a substantially redesigned hull when compared to its Nebula-class predecessor.
A carrier denoted a form of military starship with a design specifically oriented towards transporting smaller starships. These were typically distinguished from a warship, which is any vessel optimized as an independent weapons platform.
The category of carrier can be broadly separated into two classifications: those specifically designed as carriers, often with limited armaments and weaker defenses, and warships that also possessed a significant capacity to transport starfighters.
During the Clone Wars period, the Venator-class Star Destroyer functioned as both a destroyer and a carrier. Conversely, the Victory-class Star Destroyer was primarily utilized as a destroyer, possessing a relatively small fighter complement for its size. This pattern of utilizing similar hull designs, but creating distinct carrier and destroyer variants, was continued in the New Republic's New Class Modernization Program. The Endurance-class fleet carrier shared a hull design with the Nebula-class Star Destroyer.
Carriers were frequently employed as command ships because of their advanced communication and coordination systems. During the Black Fleet Crisis, the New Republic's Fifth Fleet used an Endurance-class carrier as its flagship. Conversely, the Galactic Empire utilized separate Super Star Destroyers for command and carrier roles.
EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigates and Strike-class medium cruisers typically carried a limited number of fighters. Moreover, certain other vessels, like Corellian corvettes, could be modified to accommodate a small contingent of fighters. Carrack-class light cruisers lacked an internal hangar, so an external rack was added to carry up to five TIE fighters for reconnaissance or courier missions.
The carrier concept was not exclusive to the Republic, Empire, or New Republic; the Ssi-ruuk and the Yuuzhan Vong, among others, had their own comparable carrier equivalents.
A Yuuzhan Vong carrier variant, with an approximate length of 800 meters.
The 700-meter Defender class was initially conceived for the Defender program during the early years of the New Republic, but was subsequently incorporated into the New Class Modernization Program and further refined. Its design also served as the foundation for the Majestic-class heavy cruiser, with its hull being used as a base.
This 500-meter Imperial support carrier design was capable of carrying as many as 72 starfighters, similar to the Imperial-class Star Destroyer.
The 1,600-meter Galactic class was based on earlier Star Destroyer designs, but featured increased mass and extensive carrier facilities. It could accommodate multiple fighter squadrons.
This particular escort carrier design was exclusively used by storm commandos during the Galactic Civil War. This craft featured a large central hangar, as well as several heavy cannons along its hull.
This vessel bore resemblance to an enlarged EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate, and its hull was lined with multiple hangars.
This was a heavy warship class manufactured by the Mon Calamari in the time leading up to the Second Galactic Civil War.
This 750-meter carrier was operated by the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium, and it could house landing craft within its twelve launch bays.
The 1,088-meter Providence class possessed an extensive hangar system located along its sides. On modified vessels like the Invisible Hand, this system was further expanded.
The 2,200-meter Secutor-class Star Destroyer functioned as both a combat vessel and a carrier. While its size would typically classify it as a Battlecruiser according to the Anaxes War College System, its relatively limited firepower, coupled with its carrier capabilities, placed it within the Star Destroyer designation.