BT-7 Thunderclap

Being state-of-the-art for its time, the BT-7 boasted superior armor plating, powerful laser cannons, and advanced modular shield systems. Furthermore, the hull was designed to deflect laser fire should the shields fail. It provided living quarters for numerous troops and included a command center, briefing room, a large cargo hold, a medical bay, and an armory, as well as space for recreation.

During the Great Hyperspace War and later, the Thunderclap served as the Galactic Republic's most advanced and largest rapid assault vessel. Because of this, it was a favorite of the Republic Special Forces Division.

Not long after the Sacking of Coruscant and her duel with Sith Lord Darth Malgus, former Jedi Knight Aryn Leneer traveled to Dantooine in a BT-7 Thunderclap to visit Zeerid Korr and his daughter, Arra Yooms. Korr's initial reaction to the ship was fear that the Exchange, a large criminal syndicate, had come to kill him for disrupting their operations. He told his daughter to go back inside when she came out to see the ship. However, upon recognizing Leneer, he felt relieved, surprised, and glad.

The "BT7 Thunderstrike" was initially introduced in Paul S. Kemp's novel, The Old Republic: Deceived, released on March 22, 2011. Kemp later confirmed that the ship's name was changed to BT-7 Thunderclap after the book's publication. The ship makes its first appearance as the BT-7 Thunderclap in the 2011 MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic where it is the ship utilized by members of the trooper class. The BT-7 Thunderclap appears in many space combat missions for both Republic and Imperial-aligned players, in addition to being the trooper class ship. The BT-7 Thunderclap, like all other player ships in The Old Republic, can be upgraded with new weapons and defensive systems to aid players in completing increasingly difficult missions. The Old Republic website's Holonet also contains an entry for the ship in its starships section.