DP20 gunship
The DP20 gunship, also designated as the DP20 Frigate or simply the DP20, and popularly known as the Corellian Gunship, represented a warship design produced by the Corellian Engineering Corporation. It served the Galactic Republic, the Galactic Empire, and significantly, the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
Characteristics
The DP20 Frigate, commonly called the "Corellian Gunship," was a frigate type built by the Corellian Engineering Corporation with a price tag of 3,200,000 credits. Its hull consisted of three hull segments connected by a reinforced, multi-decked central corridor. Featuring a linear configuration, it possessed a cockpit in the shape of a truncated cone. The DP20 was fitted with an unusually large ionization reactor, granting it considerable speed. It also had a class 2 primary hyperdrive system and a class 16 secondary system.
DP20 Frigates boasted advanced targeting computers and substantial shielding. It included a long-range sensor array along with a navigation computer. DP20s were heavily armed, carrying eight turret-mounted twin light turbolaser batteries, six retractable turret-mounted quad laser cannons, and four fast-loading concussion missile launchers (two port, two starboard) capable of engaging starfighters, enemy patrol boats, and corvettes. In battle, DP20s maintained balanced shields against starfighters but focused them against the direction of enemy attacks. It required a crew of ninety-one officers and personnel and could operate independently for eight months.
Role
The DP20 Frigate was engineered as a dedicated military vessel. During the Clone Wars, it supported the Republic Navy as a countermeasure to the growing number of droid starfighters and pirate groups. Its targeting capabilities and weaponry enabled it to serve in both anti-starfighter and anti-capital ship roles, while during the Imperial Era, Imperial DP20s were relegated to service in remote and unimportant regions.
History
The DP20 Frigate was originally built for the Galactic Republic and saw action during the Clone Wars as part of the Republic Navy, frequently deployed against pirate forces and droid starfighters. However, following the establishment of the Galactic Empire, the majority of these vessels were decommissioned by the Imperial Quartermaster Corps and sent to ship graveyards for scrapping. The few DP20s that remained in the Empire's service were then assigned to far-flung sectors of the galaxy. This abundance of vessels destined for scrap often resulted in their acquisition by the Rebel Alliance and other independent factions.
By 0 ABY, the Alliance deployed at least two DP20s shortly before the Imperial Siege on Tureen VII. These DP20s accompanied an EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate carrying members of Alliance High Command, specifically Commander-in-Chief Mon Mothma, General Jan Dodonna, and Admiral Gial Ackbar. Later, a DP20 Frigate was positioned within the Alliance Fleet above the planet Hoth during the construction of Echo Base.
During the war, the Galactic Empire set a trap in a starship junkyard by spreading false information about a DP20 Frigate awaiting decommissioning and vulnerable to theft. However, the DP20 concealed a squad of elite [stormtroopers](/article/stormtrooper] in shielded compartments, ready to ambush any would-be shipjackers. On another occasion, a DP20 Frigate participated in a battle where its rebel captain was assassinated by an Imperial double agent, leading to chaos aboard the ship after the agent escaped the bridge.
When Admiral Ackbar sought to reinforce his forces for the impending assault on the Galactic Empire's second Death Star above Endor, the former Baron Administrator of Cloud City, Lando Calrissian, introduced him to various individuals willing to join the fight, including a group of Alderaanian exiles who possessed four DP20 Frigates. These four gunships ultimately participated in the Battle of Endor, where the Alliance secured a pivotal victory against the Empire.
Behind the scenes
The DP20 Frigate made its debut in the 2016 canon Marvel comic Star Wars (2015) 23, authored by Jason Aaron with artwork by Jorge Molina. The scene depicting the Alliance fleet with two DP20s appears to be inspired by a similar scene from the Star Wars Legends video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II.
The DP20 Frigate received formal identification in Star Wars: The Rebel Files, a reference book and boxed set released in 2017 and written by Daniel Wallace.
The DP20 frigate initially appeared in Star Wars Legends within the Marvel comic Star Wars (1977) 12, published in 1978, with writing credits attributed to Archie Goodwin and artwork by Carmine Infantino.