Vigil-class corvette

The Vigil class, manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards for the Imperial Navy, was regarded as the smallest ship within the well-known Star Destroyer line of vessels.

The Vigil class shared many design characteristics with a true destroyer, including a dagger-shaped hull, substantial weaponry, and a relatively large crew for its size. However, unlike destroyers, its command deck was integrated into the hull towards the rear, above the main engines. This design gave the Vigil class a reduced profile and improved protection compared to a tall, exposed command tower.

Concerning offensive capabilities, the Vigil class was equipped with a trio of dual heavy turbolaser turrets mounted on the dorsal hull, providing significant firepower for a vessel of its size. This was augmented by three lighter turbolaser turrets, along with smaller anti-starfighter laser cannons.

Due to their size and intended function, these corvettes were rarely deployed in direct combat alongside larger star destroyers. Instead, they were used for tasks such as patrolling trade lanes, escorting cruisers as picket ships, leading small fleets in remote areas, operating independently to pursue pirates and smugglers, and generally serving in situations where a larger destroyer would be an inefficient use of resources.

Several corvettes of the Vigil-class were maintained at Naval Station Validusia. These corvettes were responsible for patrolling trade routes, leading smaller battlegroups, and independently hunting down pirates. They also served as scoutcraft.

This corvette began as a fanon design created by Ansel Hsiao. Hsiao envisioned it as a heavy corvette used by the Galactic Empire for escort, reconnaissance, and general-purpose duties.

When Lucas Licensing contacted Hsiao to provide artwork for The Essential Guide to Warfare, Hsiao submitted his own designs, including new models and their associated names. According to the artist, these names were then recorded in Lucasfilm's Holocron continuity database. Jason Fry, a co-author of the book, shared a series of endnotes on his Tumblr account. He omitted the length of the Vigil-class corvette in part 7, which focused on other ships designed by Hsiao, and therefore included it as a brief note at the end of part 8.

• The Essential Guide to Warfare
• Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Beta
• Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook

• Jason Fry's Dorkery — EG to Warfare: Endnotes Pt. 8 on Tumblr (backup link) (First identified as Vigil-class corvette)
• Ansel Hsiao's Vigil-class corvette gallery on www.fractalsponge.net (archived from the original on February 24, 2020)