A Sentinel-class landing craft, also known as a Sentinel-class shuttle, Sentinel assault shuttle or Imperial landing craft, was a large-scale troop transport utilized by the Galactic Empire. During the early stages of the Galactic Civil War, Imperials such as Agent Alexsandr Kallus and the Grand Inquisitor utilized these transports to either deploy stormtroopers or to travel to a planet. Imperial Star Destroyers carried these shuttles.
A Sentinel-class shuttle carrying a container
Designed by Sienar Fleet Systems in the shape of its cousin, the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle, this larger, more spacious shuttle was primarily used to ferry a complement of 75 stormtroopers into battle—55 more troops than the Lambda-class. The ship featured three wings: one stationary center foil and two articulated flanking wings. The landing craft also had shielding strong enough to be able to withstand several hits from a Quasar Fire-class cruiser-carrier's turrets. They could also be modified with special containers carrying vehicles.
The shuttle also had two spotlights at the front of the craft. It had several entry points, including a front ramp, a rear ramp, and doors to the side. The interior of the ship had a main passenger section and a cockpit. In the passenger/cargo area, there were benches and harnesses on each side with a ladder to the side of the front ramp leading directly to a hatch for cockpit access. The cockpit section had four seats. The shuttle could also feature a refresher on the opposite side of the ladder.
A Sentinel-class landing craft landing on a rainy planet.
In 13 BBY, a young Han Solo, desperate to escape the planet Corellia, was recruited by the Imperial armed forces stationed on the urban world. Seeking to become one of the galaxy's greatest pilots, Solo initially applied for the Imperial Navy, believing it to be his best chance at eventually acquiring a starship he could use to rescue his lover Qi'ra, who had previously been captured by the White Worms gang. Having been given the surname "Solo" by Chief Recruitment Officer Drawd Munbrin, Han was told to report to transport ID-83, a Sentinel-class lander, en route to the Imperial Naval Academy on Carida.
A Sentinel-class shuttle was once used for transporting the Imperial cadets of the Academy for Young Imperials on the planet Lothal to a nighttime aquatic training mission.
Stormtroopers and the Grand Inquisitor took a Sentinel-class to Fort Anaxes, an old Republic military base, to either capture or eliminate the Spectres, after the rebels' successful mission to rescue a former Imperial employee. After a brief battle on the abandoned base, the Jedi Kanan Jarrus piloted the Phantom and destroyed the shuttle before running away.
Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin arrives on Lothal in a Sentinel-class shuttle
Weeks later, another one was used in the chase of the rebels and Senator Gall Trayvis.
Minister Maketh Tua of Lothal was to take a shuttle on a meeting with Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin when she was rescued by the rebels, but after she boarded it, it exploded as part of a trap set by Agent Kallus and Darth Vader, killing her.
The rebels later became notorious for stealing shuttles, such as the shuttle Lagos. Later, a rogue former clone trooper CT-7567, nicknamed Rex, and Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus used another one of these stolen shuttles during their mission to destroy the Imperial Interdictor.
A Sentinel-class shuttle was used by the Empire in an attempt to regain control of a Imperial carrier which was captured by the Spectres and members of the Free Ryloth Movement.
Sometime during the Jedha insurgency, the Guardians of the Whills Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe joined with the Partisans to steal a shuttle. Although Saw Gerrera betrayed them and tried to take the shuttle to blow up the orbiting Star Destroyer, the two Guardians were able to convince his troops to go through with the original plan—evacuating an orphanage.
Shortly before the Battle of Yavin, at least one Sentinel-class shuttle was deployed on Tatooine as the Empire searched for the droids that were in possession of the stolen Death Star plans. On the planet, the shuttle flew over the sandtroopers of Foot Patrol 7, who were sent to find the droids.
Shortly afterward, Commander Alecia Beck of the ISB used one of the shuttles to carry a squad of stormtroopers off the Vehement during the hunt for Caluan Ematt.
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