The D5-Mantis Patrol Craft represented a rare and high-end starship design during the period of the Cold War. Its purpose was to satisfy the requirements typically associated with much larger capital ships. One such craft was famously piloted by the individual known as the Hunter.
Specifically engineered for combat situations, the D5-Mantis, with its uncommon, compact structure, stood out as a premier patrol craft. Its design aimed to rival and fulfill the operational needs of significantly larger starships, for example, Interdictor-class cruisers.
This particular vessel incorporated a trio of retractable armament foils, each equipped with its own dedicated power source. This feature allowed the craft to safely deploy weaponry usually reserved for larger vessels. Furthermore, these foils could be retracted to substantially decrease the ship's overall profile, enabling it to land or dock in more restricted spaces than many other ships. Consequently, a notable number of D5-Mantis patrol craft could be densely packed inside carrier ships, presenting a potentially devastating surprise for opposing forces.
The engineering team behind the D5-Mantis also heavily emphasized a space-efficient vertical interior layout to maximize usable volume. The vessel's reduced bulkhead sizes allowed for larger, more open areas and simplified maintenance procedures.
The D5-Mantis Patrol Craft was originally conceived as the signature starship for the bounty hunter character class within the LucasArts video game, Star Wars: The Old Republic. Its initial mention occurred in the novel The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance, where it was incorrectly identified as a "Kuat D7".