The Derriphan-class battleship functioned as the primary capital ship utilized by the ancient Sith Empire. During that era, most Sith Lords included these warships within their fleets.
Although considered relatively diminutive, sluggish, and awkward by contemporary galactic standards, the Sith battleships were among the most potent and intimidating warships of their time, even lacking shields. Reportedly, one such vessel could only be overwhelmed by the combined firepower of six major Republic warships, owing to its formidable armor, and even then, it managed to severely damage or destroy at least one of its attackers.
Ludo Kressh deployed a small flotilla of these battleships in an assault against his adversary, Naga Sadow. Subsequently, Sadow himself would initiate his invasion of Republic territory, relying on Derriphan-class battleships as his primary combat vessels.
Prior to the Great Hyperspace War, approximately one hundred battleships were constructed, with only a single vessel surviving the conflict's conclusion. Naga Sadow sacrificed the remainder of his fleet to facilitate his retreat during the Republic's counteroffensive. He concealed his flagship on the fourth moon of Yavin, where it remained hidden for a millennium until its rediscovery and subsequent utilization by the Sith Lord Exar Kun.
Following Kun's downfall, the Sith Empire under the command of Lords Darth Revan and Darth Malak uncovered the design schematics and produced additional units, employing the colossal Star Forge. Although effective against the Republic's frigates, they suffered substantial losses due to their lack of shielding.