A specific type of gunboat was utilized by Fsir, the captain of the Watith, in the scheme known as the plot to destroy the Chiss Ascendancy. Fsir controlled these gunboats remotely from his freighter, the Saltbarrel. At a skirmish witnessed by Senior Captain Thrawn, the gunboats executed a false attack on the Saltbarrel itself. This staged assault was intended to deceive Thrawn into believing that Vagaari pirates were attacking Fsir, thus distracting the Chiss officer from uncovering the true plot against the Ascendancy. However, Thrawn saw through the deception, leading to Fsir's arrest and Thrawn's acquisition of both the Watith gunboats and the Saltbarrel. Subsequently, Thrawn made use of these captured starships during the Hoxim incident.