Grievous's Munificent-class star frigate (suspected Confederate space)
During the age of the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems' naval forces utilized the Munificent-class star frigate. This warship was notably employed by Kaleesh Separatist General Grievous. Following the obliteration of his previous Munificent-class star frigate during the Battle of Bothawui in 22 BBY, Grievous, alongside another Munificent, set up an ambush for Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. This occurred as the Jedi was executing a mission to sweep a Separatist-suspected outer space corridor. However, Skywalker successfully evaded Grievous and his Munificent.
Description
The Munificent-class star frigate had dimensions of 825-meter in length, 426 meters in width, and 243 meters in height. It was outfitted with a hangar bay on its port side, which accommodated its squadron of Vulture-class droid starfighters. It also had a hyperdrive generator, seven ion drive thrusters, and a pair of long-range hyperwave transceiver masts. For armament, the Munificent carried two heavy turbolaser cannons, a pair of long-range heavy ion cannons, and thirty-four twin light turbolaser cannons distributed on the port and starboard sides. The emblem representing the Confederacy of Independent Systems was displayed on both sides of the frigate's hull.
History
After the Battle of Bothawui which took place in 22 BBY during the Clone Wars fought between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker traveled to an outer rim territory suspected to be under Separatist control. Upon exiting hyperspace in this sector, Skywalker instructed his astromech droid, R3-S6, who was secretly working as a Separatist spy for the Kaleesh cyborg General Grievous, to activate the long-range scanners on his starfighter. However, the droid instead activated the fighter's tracking beacon. This signal promptly alerted Grievous, along with two Munificent-class star frigates, to Skywalker's presence. Skywalker then gave R3-S6 the order to prepare for a jump to hyperspace, but the droid detached the fighter from its hyperspace ring, which was subsequently destroyed by enemy fire, eliminating their possibility of escape.
Grievous then commanded that all available weaponry be directed at Skywalker, a decision that confused a battle droid who considered it excessive for a single fighter with no means of escape, but nevertheless complied when Grievous reiterated the order. A significant number of Vulture droid starfighters launched an assault on the Jedi. Although Skywalker managed to destroy several with his fighter's blaster cannons, R3 then disabled the cannons, along with the engines, allowing for a larger swarm of Vulture droids to surround the immobilized Jedi starfighter. However, Skywalker was rescued by his Padawan Ahsoka Tano and Clone Captain CT-7567, known as "Rex," aboard the G9 Rigger-class light freighter Twilight, who had also detected the tracking beacon and arrived to provide assistance. R3 reactivated the engines, enabling Skywalker to pilot his fighter into the cargo hold of the Twilight while it engaged the remaining vulture droids. Grievous then ordered his frigate and the other to move in close formation to prevent the Twilight's escape. However, the freighter managed to squeeze between them and jump to hyperspace, resulting in a collision between the frigates, leaving Grievous with two damaged warships and infuriated by the Republic forces' successful escape.
Behind the scenes
This particular Munificent-class star frigate made an appearance in "Downfall of a Droid," which is the sixth episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars' first season. It was originally broadcast on November 7, 2008.