The Destroyer served the Galactic Empire as a compact, water-based repulsorcraft, primarily designed for engaging and eliminating enemy ships and coastal fortifications.
The distinctive clamshell design of the destroyer housed potent, close-quarters pummels.
To facilitate close-range engagements, this craft was equipped with heavier armor compared to other vessel types. Their primary function was anti-ship combat, where they could swiftly penetrate the hulls of even the largest cruisers. Enhancements could be made to increase both their armament and armor protection.
During the Reytha campaign in 0 ABY, Darth Vader deployed destroyers under his direct control.
The video game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, released in 2001, and its 2002 expansion, Clone Campaigns, feature the Destroyer. Players can construct them during the Galactic Empire campaign or in multiplayer mode. Notably, early concept designs of the Imperial Destroyer within the game's data showcase a cannon instead of the in-game pummel, potentially suggesting that these destroyer-type vehicles were originally conceived as ranged combat units during earlier phases of development.