The MC80A Home One Type Heavy Star Cruiser, also known as the MC80 Home One type Star Cruiser or the MC80 Command Cruiser, represented one of several MC80 Star Cruiser designs originating from the shipyards of the Mon Calamari. Initially deployed as civilian ships before the onset of the Galactic Civil War, these vessels underwent significant modifications by the Rebel Alliance to fulfill the roles of both command ship and battleship within the Alliance Fleet.
While the MC80 Liberty type Star Cruiser was the more prevalent MC80 variant, the Home One type arguably stood out as the most iconic Rebel capital ship design. This distinction stemmed from its role as the class of both the Home One and the Independence, both of which served as flagships for Admiral Ackbar during numerous pivotal battles.
Mon Calamari vessels were unique, each designed and built with individual specifications. However, extensive refitting and modifications for combat standardized them over time. Although most ships were 1.2 km long, some reached 1.4 km or more.
Even the Home One and its related vessels displayed a consistent design: cylindrical hulls, a tapered bow, midships hangar bays, and a bulbous stern housing ten substantial sublight thrusters, consisting of four M8.0-StarDrive main engines and six M4.5-StarDrive maneuvering engines.
Originally intended for deep-space exploration, the Home One featured expansive panoramic viewports that were later removed during its conversion into a warship. This modification likely applied to its sister ships as well.
The Home One was considered the largest Star Cruiser within the Rebel Alliance fleet assembled for the Battle of Endor, suggesting potential variations in size and tonnage among the sister ships. Collectively, these ships were arguably the most significant capital ships within the Rebellion, functioning as both command ships and battleships. In standard classifications, all MC80s were designated as cruisers in one system and capital ships in another.
A typical Home One type ship had a crew of 5,402, 78 gunners, and could carry 1,200 troops. The Home One and its sister ship, the Independence, shared a minimum operational crew of 1,230.
The number of starfighters varied; the Home One supposedly carried ten squadrons, while the Independence later carried only two squadrons of X-wings under the New Republic. Whether the hangar facilities were uniform across all ships remains unclear, though three known vessels featured a large starboard-side hangar. Variations in internal design might have affected cargo capacity, which was 20,000 metric tons on the Home One.
Compared to the Liberty type, the Home One types had more armor and weapons, making them rarer. Standard armament included 36 turbolasers, 36 heavy ion cannons, and six tractor beam projectors. Unlike the Executor, Home One types did not have point defense laser systems, as their turbolasers' tracking capabilities were sufficient for targeting and destroying smaller craft and starfighters. Their turbolasers could also bombard planets, though this was rarely done.
The Home One boasted heavy hull armor and strong shields, comparable to an Imperial-class Star Destroyer. However, it was described as having the heaviest armor and weaponry in the Rebel fleet at the Battle of Endor, implying that other ships of the same subclass were less protected.
The commanding officer could sit in a chair attached to a swiveling robotic arm, overseeing both the bridge crew and a panoramic view of space. The bridge included a CS-Mark 12 holoprojector table in the briefing room, used by crew members to monitor battles.
Like most early Mon Cal cruisers, the Home One retained its original, species-specific bridge control systems. Consequently, while the crew came from various species within the Rebellion, the command crew consisted entirely of Mon Calamari. However, there is some evidence that at least one ship of this class was modified for a human command crew.
The Alliance used at least seven Home One type ships, with three identified by name: the Home One, the Independence, and the Defiance. All entered military service early in the Galactic Civil War, prior to the Battle of Yavin.
As previously noted, the Home One was initially a deep-space exploration vessel. When the Mon Calamari joined the Rebellion, it was among the first ships militarized, chosen by Ackbar as his flagship. Its sister ships likely had similar pre-war roles and were refitted for war around the same time, achieving similar prominence in Rebel service.
While all Mon Cal vessels provided valuable capital-ship firepower to the under-resourced Rebel Alliance, the Home One type specifically served as high-level command ships. At least two of the three known ships acted as mobile headquarters for the Alliance High Command.
The Independence served in this capacity before the Battle of Yavin, and the Home One from the Battle of Hoth onward. The Defiance, the third known ship, was less directly connected to the High Command and primarily served as Admiral Nammo's flagship, though it may have occasionally served as the fleet command ship closest to the Rebel leadership, such as in the Anoat sector after the Battle of Hoth.
During the Battle of Endor, the _Home One_s contributed their firepower as the largest Rebel capital ships in the offensive fleet. The Independence was used as a communications ship, the Defiance was positioned in the rearguard, and Ackbar commanded from the Home One. General Crix Madine also commanded a division from a similar ship, possibly the Independence. However, at least one cruiser of this type was destroyed during the battle, becoming the second victim of the second Death Star's superlaser. After Endor, the Defiance hunted down rogue Imperial forces.
In the New Republic's early years, the type remained in front-line service as command ships. Ackbar used the Independence as his flagship at the Battle of Brentaal IV, and the Home One led the fleet at the Seizure of Coruscant, the Battle of Bilbringi, and the Battle of Ciutric.
Around 10 ABY, newer warships, such as MC90 Star Cruisers, superseded these veteran ships as fleet command platforms. Ackbar first transferred his flag to a new MC90, the Defiance, and later to the Galactic Voyager. However, at the Second Battle of Champala and the Battle of Anx Minor in 18 ABY, Ackbar commanded from the Super Star Destroyer Guardian.
Despite this, the older vessels continued their service. The Home One served as a squadron command ship in 11 ABY and remained in commission as the Supreme Commander's personal flagship until 23 ABY. The Independence was still active in the early years of the Yuuzhan Vong War, commanding a patrol force near Mon Calamari.
Continuity inconsistencies regarding the Home One and its sister ships are discussed here.