The Imperial II-class frigate, alternatively designated as the Class II frigate, represented a specific class of warship utilized by the Imperial Navy.
The Imperial II-class frigate was a type of vessel that was smaller and possessed less firepower compared to a Star Destroyer. These ships featured a pair of sizable hangars located on either side of their hull. These hangars were capable of housing a complement of TIE/LN starfighters and auxiliary craft, and could also be employed to hold suspicious vessels for inspection.
These vessels were capable of executing various operational roles, encompassing patrol duties along shipping lanes and engagements against Rebel or pirate elements. Newly graduated officers from the Imperial Academy were frequently assigned to these frigates as junior personnel. In operational contexts, they were sometimes referred to as "battle cruisers".
The Rand Ecliptic is a known example of this class, serving as Biggs Darklighter's initial assignment prior to the Battle of Yavin. A portion of its crew hijacked it after determining that the Empire's practices and the military's corrupt culture were intolerable, leading them to defect to the Rebel cause. It appears the Imperial II-class frigate had at least one variation, as a vessel resembling the Rand Ecliptic pursued Generals Jan Dodonna and Roons Sewell during Dodonna's defection, ultimately resulting in its destruction. This particular version possessed two additional secondary engines positioned on either side of the command tower's neck.