Imperial Patrol Frigate

This starship was actually a revamped EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate. Approximately one-third of its decks were eliminated during the modification process, which resulted in a reduction of the required crew by roughly half. The original two laser cannons that faced the rear were removed and replaced with tow winches. These winches were utilized to deploy an optional 30,000-meter sensor net, which could perform omni-directional scans covering several light-hours around the vessel.

A crew of three individuals—a towmaster and two sensor technicians—operated this net from a gondola that trailed far behind the frigate. The towmaster needed specialized training to manage the sensor net, as its control was exceedingly complex. This complexity stemmed from the potential for the lines to tangle, shred, or detach from the ship because of maneuvering stress. Consequently, the frigate's speed was limited while the sensor net was deployed. Furthermore, the net had to be either retracted or abandoned before the ship could enter hyperspace.

The sensor net itself was an impressive technological achievement, incorporating a multitude of sophisticated sensors, including dedicated energy receptors, crystal gravfield traps, and hyperspace signal interceptors. These sensors enabled the vessel to detect cloaked ships, ships entering or exiting hyperspace within its operational range, and even ships traveling through local hyperspace, provided they were of sufficient size. Upon detecting a ship in hyperspace, the patrol frigate would calculate probable trajectories, and the crew would then relay this information to base, triggering an alert.

In addition to its ship detection capabilities, the sensors could also identify any and all hyperspace transmissions, including HoloNet communications. However, the task of decoding these highly secure transmissions was typically delegated to the Imperial Intelligence Signal Branch.