Pelta-class frigate
The Pelta-class frigate, a frigate model that was both adaptable and saw extensive service, was produced by Kuat Drive Yards and came in several distinct configurations. During the Clone Wars conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist Alliance, these frigates played a crucial role for the Republic Navy in their wartime endeavors. The Pelta-class strike frigate was the most frequently utilized combat variant, while other versions functioned as hospital ships, such as the Pelta-class Medical Frigate, which was used to ferry injured clone troopers to medical stations for treatment in safety. Furthermore, Pelta-class Transport Frigates were used to supply ships to deliver armaments, medical supplies, and food rations.
These vessels proved indispensable for Republic operations during the Battle of Ryloth and the Battle of Christophsis, where Pelta-class frigates were deployed as blockade runners, supply carriers, and medcenters. In the latter capacity, several medical frigates took part in the evacuation of the Republic Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, which became a target of the Separatist heavy cruiser Malevolence, captained by Supreme Commander of the Droid Army General Grievous. In the second year of the Clone Wars, Geonosian brain worms infected clone troopers of Tango Company who were aboard the Pelta-class Medical Frigate TB-73. Following the sabotage of the Venator-class Star Destroyer Endurance, a frigate assisted in the recovery and rescue efforts. During the mercy mission to Aleen, Pelta-class frigates also functioned as supply ships. Jedi Master Kelleran Beq utilized the Pelta-class frigate Athylia for the training of Jedi Initiates.
During the rule of the Galactic Empire, the nascent Rebel Alliance employed Pelta-class frigates as medcenters, with some being refitted to include turbolasers. The Pelta-class vessel Phoenix Home acted as the command ship for the rebel Phoenix Cell until its destruction at the hands of Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader during the Siege of Lothal. Rebels significantly modified Pelta-class frigates into Pelta-class Assault Ships and Pelta-class Command Cruisers. Many Pelta-class frigates later served in the Citizens' Fleet against the Sith Eternal's fleet, known as the Final Order. These frigates participated in the Battle of Exegol, which led to the Sith Eternal's defeat and sparked a galactic uprising directed at the First Order.
Characteristics
The frigate model known as the Pelta-class was built by Kuat Drive Yards, measuring 282 meters in length and requiring a crew of 900 individuals. It was outfitted with both a deflector shield generator and a Class 2 hyperdrive. During the early rebellion against the Galactic Empire, the emerging Alliance to Restore the Republic made modifications to Pelta-class frigates by adding turbolasers and point-defense laser cannons to enable them to perform a wider range of functions. The Alliance also developed modified versions of the standard Pelta-class frigate, known as Pelta-class Assault Ships and Pelta-class Command Cruisers. The hull of the Pelta-class Assault Ships was equipped with weaponry, allowing the ship to broadside enemy vessels. Each Pelta-class frigate was equipped with sixteen escape pods, and some models could be equipped with Republic escape pods or RGC-6b escape pods. Pelta-class frigates were designed with the capability to dock with Haven-class medical stations, both horizontally and vertically, using their docking ports.
Located on the aft of the Pelta-class frigate, adjacent to its engine, were two pivoting "wings" that could be opened. The rebellion took advantage of this feature by incorporating additional, smaller engine units onto the vessel's aft. Additionally, the Pelta-class frigate featured a docking port on both the starboard and port sides, situated near the mid-section of the vessel; later modifications would alter the door and frame of these docking ports. Alliance modifications also replaced the ramp and cargo bay with a ventral hangar bay, which could accommodate eight starfighters, including at least five RZ-1 A-wing interceptors. Walkways were positioned above the starfighters within the hangar bay, enabling pilots to access their respective starships.
Modified Pelta-class frigates were also equipped with deflector shield generators. However, on one occasion, a Pelta-class frigate was destroyed by a single TIE Advanced x1 starfighter after only a few strafing runs, despite the presence of a deflector shield.
Interior
The internal layout of Pelta-class frigates featured ventilation shafts and white corridors with controls, and the frigates provided a range of facilities for both passengers and crew. These included barracks for escorting troops, private quarters for high-ranking passengers, and a mess hall for dining. The private quarters contained at least four beds, stacked one above the other, and computer consoles were located on the opposite side of the entrance. Situated between the private quarters and the mess hall were the barracks, which had doors on opposite sides, with bunk beds aligned parallel to the middle corridor. Similarly, the mess hall had two entrances located opposite each other, with the food serving station positioned on one side, oriented vertically to the doors.
The bridge of the Pelta-class frigate was positioned at the vessel's highest point, located at the top of the ship. The Alliance to Restore the Republic later repurposed the bridge as a communications array, while another bridge was retrofitted at the bow and used as the ship's command center. Ray shields were installed in a passageway leading to the bridge, serving as a security measure. Pelta-class frigates also contained a cargo bay for supplies, a reactor control room with controls for the coolant and power systems, and an aft communications station. Additionally, the Pelta-class frigate had a ramp on the keel for easy transportation of supplies, along with six landing gear legs.
Role
During its service, the Pelta-class frigate fulfilled various roles, seeing widespread use throughout the pan-galactic Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist Alliance, primarily as hospital ships and supply ships within the Republic Navy. They also served as freighters, picket ships, escorts, and light assault ships. When functioning as hospital ships, the Pelta-class frigates were equipped to transport patients and rescue personnel from stranded escape pods. During the Clone Wars, some honorable Separatist generals were known to refrain from attacking Pelta-class frigates. The Alliance to Restore the Republic also utilized Pelta-class frigates as command ships and hospital vessels. Following weapon retrofits, these frigates took on larger combat and command roles, as well as providing fire support, anti-starfighter capabilities, and communications support.
Rebel Pelta-class frigates, like the Phoenix Home, were modified to carry eight starfighters, including at least five RZ-1 A-wing interceptors in a makeshift hangar bay, effectively serving as starfighter carriers. While operating as a carrier, the frigate was typically accompanied by escorts, such as rebel CR90 corvettes.
History
Service to the Jedi
During the High Republic Era, two of these ships were part of a Republic rescue fleet dispatched to aid Trymant IV following an Emergence that occurred after the Great Hyperspace Disaster. However, the Emergence coincided with a Nihil attack on the planet, and one frigate became part of a blockade hastily formed to prevent a Nihil Spider Cruiser from escaping. Eye of the Nihil Marchion Ro ordered the cruiser to fire upon the medical frigate as a diversion for its escort of Jedi Vectors, enabling the pirate ship to escape into hyperspace. At one point, the Jedi Order used the Athylia, a Pelta-class vessel, before the Order's destruction. Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, the protocol droid AD-3, and the astromech droid LX-R5 were stationed aboard this craft.
Clone Wars
Battle of Christophsis
Pelta-class frigates saw action early in the Clone Wars, with three being deployed to the planet Christophsis in 22 BBY to deliver vital supplies to Senator Bail Organa and his relief efforts, which had been cut off by Separatist forces during the initial phases of the Battle of Christophsis. These frigates were escorted by Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, Admiral Wullf Yularen, and three Venator-class Star Destroyers from Skywalker's task force. Despite instructions from Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi not to engage the Separatist blockade, Skywalker chose to engage the Separatist armada regardless, soon finding himself outnumbered and outgunned. The Separatist fleet included Munificent-class star frigates, Lucrehulk-class Battleships, and the Invincible, a Providence-class Dreadnought. Unbeknownst to Skywalker and Yularen, the Separatist fleet was under the command of Admiral Trench, who was believed to have been killed by a Jedi-led task force at the Battle of Malastare Narrows when his flagship was destroyed.
Skywalker and Yularen managed to briefly contact Organa, who informed them that his positions were at risk of being overrun by Separatist ground forces. The transmission was interrupted just as one of Skywalker's Venator-class Star Destroyers was struck by a barrage of Separatist laser fire. Soon, the Invincible began to advance on the Republic fleet unchallenged, and Trench ordered his forces to isolate the Pelta frigates from their escorts. The Invincible launched a volley of laser fire at the Republic fleet, resulting in the destruction of one Pelta frigate. Kenobi then arrived in his flagship, the Venator-class Star Destroyer Negotiator, contacting Skywalker and advising him to retreat, revealing that he had brought a new secret weapon that would give the Republic an advantage in the battle. Skywalker reluctantly agreed, ordering the two remaining Pelta frigates to retreat to Kenobi's position behind Leesis, the moon of Christophsis, while Skywalker's Venators covered their retreat. Ultimately, Trench was defeated when Skywalker used the secret weapon, a stealth ship, to destroy the Invincible, with Trench still onboard.
As the battle continued on the surface, Yularen and a Venator-class Star Destroyer were dispatched to a Haven-class medical station to collect supplies and reinforcements, with several Pelta-class frigates also docking at the station.
Battle of Ryloth
When the Separatists invaded the planet Ryloth in 22 BBY, the Republic Outer Rim garrison led by Jedi General Ima-Gun Di and the Twi'lek Resistance led by General Cham Syndulla were rapidly overwhelmed. Di attempted to contact the Jedi High Council for reinforcements. After intense fighting, Republic supplies were depleted, and Republic forces were being defeated. Di ordered the Republic fleet in space led by Admiral Dao to attempt to contact the Jedi High Council again for immediate reinforcements. Although Dao succeeded in contacting the Jedi Council and informing them of their desperate situation, the Republic fleet was destroyed, and Dao was killed during the transmission.
Ryloth was too distant from the nearest Republic base for timely assistance, making the planet Toydaria the closest potential base for a humanitarian mission. Consequently, the Jedi contacted Senator Organa and informed him of the situation on Ryloth, requesting that he negotiate with Junior Representative Jar Jar Binks of Naboo to persuade the Toydarians to allow their world to be used as a supply base for several Pelta frigates to launch their aid mission to Ryloth. Following unsuccessful negotiations with the Toydarians due to the interference of Senator Lott Dod of the Trade Federation, King Katuunko of Toydaria approached Organa and Binks, stating that the Toydarians could not ignore the suffering on Ryloth. He agreed that the Republic could use Toydaria as a supply base, provided that only the supplies already brought by the Republic were used and that the Trade Federation remained unaware of the aid mission and Toydaria's involvement.
Organa devised a plan involving a special dinner for Katuunko, several of his advisors, and the representatives of the Trade Federation. This was a ruse to distract the Trade Federation while three Pelta frigates loaded supplies and departed for Ryloth. The Trade Federation remained unaware of the deception until it was too late, and three Pelta-class frigates, including blockade runner 0-9-9, successfully loaded supplies, breached the Separatist blockade of Ryloth, and delivered relief supplies to the Twi'lek Resistance and their families after the sacrifice of Di and his men, who covered their retreat. The Twi'lek Resistance successfully secured the supplies and continued their campaign.
The threat of the Malevolence
In 22 BBY, after the Battle of Abregado, the new Separatist weapon, a Subjugator-class heavy cruiser named the Malevolence under the command of Supreme Commander of the Droid Army General Grievous, was tasked with destroying a convoy of at least three Pelta-class frigates and their escorting Venator-class Star Destroyer. The successful attack resulted in the destruction of the entire convoy, with survivors attempting to escape in escape pods. During the engagement, Separatist Head of State Count Dooku gave Grievous new orders to target and destroy a Haven-class medical station, the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, due to the tens of thousands of wounded clone troopers housed there, making it a prime target. As Grievous was forced to take a longer route around a large nebula to reach the station, the Republic deduced that the medical station was the next likely target based on the previous attack. Skywalker was dispatched along with his padawan Ahsoka Tano, Jedi General Plo Koon, and the BTL-B Y-wing starfighter/bomber Shadow Squadron, to the medical station to destroy the Malevolence.
Yularen promptly notified the medical station about the impending danger, and Chief Medical Scientist Nala Se then informed Yularen that even with available transports, evacuating all the wounded within the limited time frame was impossible. Soon after, Kenobi contacted Nala Se, relaying the information that Naboo, a nearby planet, was dispatching ships to assist in the evacuation. As Grievous approached the medical station, Pelta frigates began to arrive, prioritizing the loading of more stable wounded patients onto the frigates, while the critically injured had to wait for transport. Upon the arrival of Grievous and Skywalker, Grievous chose to initially target a fleeing group of Pelta frigates, planning to address Skywalker and his squadron afterward. Following Grievous's destruction of the retreating Peltas, the Malevolence and its complement of starfighters engaged Skywalker and his squadron, resulting in Skywalker losing almost half of his squadron during the subsequent conflict. Urged by Tano and Koon, Skywalker shifted his strategy from attacking the bridge to targeting the Malevolence's ion cannons.
This change in tactics proved fruitful, as the Malevolence sustained significant damage to both its ion cannons and hyperdrive, along with widespread damage throughout the vessel. As Kenobi and Yularen arrived with three Venators leading the charge, Grievous was compelled to cease his attack, retreat, and request reinforcements. Following the battle's conclusion, the surviving Pelta frigates returned to the medical station, Separatist reinforcements were engaged by Jedi General Luminara Unduli and her forces, and the Malevolence ultimately met its end through sabotage of its hyperdrive, causing it to crash into the Dead Moon of Antar.
Troubles Arising from Parasites
During 21 BBY, after the Second Battle of Geonosis, Republic forces stationed on Geonosis received a distress call from Jedi General Mace Windu and his troops on Dantooine. Although Windu's defenses held, his forces suffered heavy losses, leading him to request medical aid. With Skywalker, Kenobi, Unduli, and Jedi General Ki-Adi-Mundi occupied with post-battle duties and transporting Geonosian Archduke Poggle the Lesser to Coruscant for questioning, Skywalker proposed that Padawans Tano and Barriss Offee undertake the supply mission. He suggested using TB-73, a Pelta-class frigate, to collect supplies from the Ord Cestus medical station and deliver them to Dantooine. Tango Company was assigned to accompany the Jedi; however, unbeknownst to the group, clone trooper Scythe had become infected by a Geonosian brain worm on the planet. These worms had been previously encountered and were believed to be destroyed along with the Progate Temple when Geonosian Queen Karina the Great used the brain worms to create a hive mind and reanimate deceased Geonosian warriors, forming an undead army.
The infected Scythe gathered additional Geonosian brain worms and smuggled them aboard TB-73, leading to the infection of much of the crew. He soon seized control of the bridge after killing the pilots. Tano and Offee, unaware of the perilous situation, went to the mess hall to relax and eat, only to be attacked by infected clone troopers, Ox and Edge. They split up, and Tano managed to contact Clone Captain Rex and Skywalker, informing them of the situation on the frigate. Skywalker interrogated Poggle, seeking information on how to combat the brain worms without the knowledge of others. After Skywalker Force choked Poggle, he learned that the worms were vulnerable to cold. After Offee was infected, she engaged in a duel with Tano, who managed to escape and rupture the ship's coolant system as instructed by Skywalker.
The severe cold began to affect the brain worms, one by one, as TB-73 emerged from hyperspace. Jedi General Kit Fisto, present on the medical station, deployed two Republic TUG-314 spacetugs to assist in guiding the ship to the docking port. The tug pilots experienced difficulty maneuvering the ship, eventually realizing that the pilots of TB-73 were deceased and the ship was unmanned. After Tano briefly dueled Offee again on the bridge, Tano succeeded in killing the brain worm infecting Offee, rendering her unconscious. The tugs eventually succeeded in docking TB-73 with the medical station, preventing a collision between TB-73, the medical station, and other docked Peltas. Republic forces quarantined the ship and rescued Tano, Offee, and the clone troopers, all of whom recovered from the cold and the infections.
Subsequent Military Operations
Later, following the sabotage of the Venator-class Star Destroyer Endurance by Boba Fett, son of Jango Fett, the clone template and bounty hunter, in a revenge plot against Windu for his father's death during the first battle of the Clone Wars, the Endurance crashed on the surface of Vanqor. Windu and Skywalker—also aboard the Endurance—survived the assassination attempt, and evacuated the starship along with other crew members. A Pelta-class frigate under the command of Captain Silver arrived in the system to recover survivors who had evacuated before the ship entered the atmosphere. The Pelta remained in the area until the Jedi confirmed from the crash site that there were no other survivors. Later in the war, at least one Pelta-class frigate participated in the Battle of Sullust, remaining close to larger Republic capital ships.
After earthquakes struck Aleen in 20 BBY, the 104th Battalion, led by Clone Commander CC-3636 "Wolffe," was dispatched with an Acclamator-class assault ship and three Pelta-class frigates to provide the Aleena with aid and assist in rebuilding. Subsequently, following the Battle of Kadavo and the rescue of Togruta colonists from Kiros who had been kidnapped for slavery, several Pelta-class frigates, a Venator-class Star Destroyer, and an Arquitens-class light cruiser were present to assist the colonists.
Following an attack on Obi-Wan Kenobi's fleet and its destruction by Grievous near Florrum in the Sertar sector, Kenobi and the other survivors were rescued and placed on a Venator-class Star Destroyer, escorted by several Pelta-class frigates, when pirate Hondo Ohnaka and the remnants of his pirate cartel arrived with a group of Jedi younglings and Tano, who had been previously captured by Ohnaka and his gang until an attack by Grievous.
Era of Imperial Rule
With the collapse of the Galactic Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire, the burgeoning rebel groups, later unified as the Alliance to Restore the Republic, deployed Pelta-class frigates as hospital ships. However, some Pelta frigates were refitted with turbolasers and point-defense laser cannons to take on more prominent roles, including anti-starfighter combat, fire support, communications, and command. The Empire also utilized the Pelta-class frigate as hospital ships. During the early stages of the rebellion against the Empire, Kaeden Larte enrolled in a medical program in a city on Alderaan, a Core World, before being stationed on a Pelta-class frigate.
By 4 BBY, the retrofitted Pelta-class frigate Phoenix Home served as the flagship for Phoenix Cell under the command of Commander Jun Sato.
On one occasion, Phoenix Home desperately needed medical supplies, leading Commander Sato to devise a plan to disguise the Phoenix Home as an Imperial Pelta-class medical frigate to infiltrate a sector hospital station and steal the necessary supplies. Sato enlisted several Rebels to carry out the alteration and theft, which proved successful. The Alliance later acquired another Pelta-class frigate and modified it to match the specifications of Phoenix Home. Alliance members were assigned to conduct its shakedown cruise, which involved attacking a lightly defended Imperial sensor post, an operation that was also successful.
The vessel met its end during the Siege of Lothal, destroyed by the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader, who used his TIE Advanced X1 to find and eliminate the fleet and capture the cell's leaders. Following the destruction of Phoenix Home, Sato and other members of Phoenix Cell discussed the loss of their command ship, concluding that establishing a suitable base was essential for their survival.
After the blockade of Ibaar around 2 BBY, Mon Calamari Admiral Raddus sent a document crafted by his Mon Calamari aides, Caitken and Shollan, to Commander-in-Chief Mon Mothma, detailing the current state of the Alliance Fleet. Raddus added that the fleet was relying on smaller vessels because heavier starships were not yet operational, and the Alliance was not prepared for fleet engagements against the Empire. The report listed the fleet's primary components, including Pelta-class frigates, CR90 corvettes, CR70 corvettes, Hammerhead corvettes, Dornean gunships, and GR-75 medium transports.
The Galactic Civil War
During the galaxy-wide Galactic Civil War between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, an Alliance Pelta-class Assault Ship delivered a broadside attack, damaging an Imperial Raider-class corvette, while T-65B X-wing starfighters engaged TIE fighters nearby. The Alliance also utilized Pelta-class Command Cruisers as command ships.
The Rebel Alliance continued to employ the Pelta-class frigate up to the Battle of Endor, a pivotal conflict where the Alliance destroyed the second Death Star and Emperor Palpatine was killed by Vader.
After the Empire
Around 9 ABY, in the New Republic Era following the Empire's downfall, a Pelta-class frigate approached Borgo Prime, a pirate shadowport in the Outer Rim Territories run by Brutus's crew. In 35 ABY, to combat a resurrected Darth Sidious and the Sith Eternal, General Lando Calrissian assembled a massive fleet of over 14,000 ships to assault the Sith Eternal forces. Numerous Pelta-class frigates were part of this fleet and participated in the Battle of Exegol.
Behind the Production
The Republic medical frigate made its debut in the 2008 theatrical release, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It subsequently appeared in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated television series, notably in the 2009 episode "Brain Invaders," where it served as the episode's primary setting. The vessel's official canonical name was first provided in the Databank on StarWars.com.
The frigate was initially named in the Star Wars Legends continuity via The Clone Wars Campaign Guide, published in 2009. The 2018 canon reference book Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles mistakenly identified the model as a YT-2400 in its entry for the Pelta-class frigate.
In the German magazine Star Wars Animation-Magazine, the comic strip "Divide and Conquer" depicts Phoenix Cell possessing a Pelta-class frigate. Given that the comic's timeline is after the third season episode "Imperial Supercommandos," and Phoenix Cell's Pelta-class frigate was destroyed in the second season premiere, Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal, and no other source indicates Phoenix Cell acquired another Pelta-class frigate, this article assumes this depiction is likely an artistic inconsistency.