Editing Star Destroyer (section)

== Imperial Star Destroyer ==
{{Infobox fictional vehicle
| name              = ''Imperial''-class Star Destroyer
| image             = ImperialstarDestroyer480ppx.png
| image_size        = 
| alt               = 
| caption           = A pair of ''Imperial II''-class Star Destroyers and a group of [[TIE fighter]]s pursue the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]''.
| first_major       = [[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars: A New Hope]] (1977)
| first_minor       = <!-- or |first_issue=; Per [[MOS:MINORWORK]] - minor works include TV episodes, chapters, songs and game missions -->
| first_date        = 
| last_major        = 
| last_minor        = <!-- or |last_issue= -->
| last_date         = 
| based_on          = 
| affiliation       = [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]]
| maker             = Kuat Drive Yards<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
| launched          = 
| decommissioned    = 
| captain           = 
| fighters          = {{plainlist|
*72 [[TIE Fighter]]s<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
}}
| aux_vehicle       = {{plainlist|
*20 [[AT-AT]]s<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*30 [[AT-ST]]s or [[Walker (Star Wars)#List of Star Wars walkers|AT-DPs]]<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*15 [[List of Star Wars air, aquatic, and ground vehicles#Imperial Troop Transport|ITTs]]<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*8 [[Lambda Shuttle|''Lambda''-class shuttles]]<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*[[Imperial landing craft|''Sentinel''-class landing craft]]<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*Single-[[Walker (Star Wars)|walker]] landing barges<ref>Lund, et al. (2016), p. 143</ref> 
}}
| class             = [[Battleship]]<ref name=USWNE314/>
| registry          = 
| armaments         = {{plainlist|
*Heavy [[turbolaser]] turrets (6)<ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*Heavy [[Ion Cannon (Star Wars)|ion cannon]] turrets (2)<ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*Taim & Bak XX-9 heavy turbolaser batteries (60)<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*NK-7 ion cannons (60)<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*Phylon Q7 [[Technology in Star Wars#Tractor beams|tractor beam projectors]] (10)<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
}}
| defense           = {{plainlist|
*[[Technology in Star Wars#Force fields|Deflector shield generators]]<ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*Armor Plating<ref name=SWCVNE137/>
}}
| max_speed         = 
| propulsion        = {{plainlist|
*Cygnus Spaceworks Gemnon-4 [[ion engine]]s<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*Class 2 [[Hyperdrive (Star Wars)|hyperdrive]]<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/> 
}}
| chassis           = 
| power             = 
| mass              = 40 million tons<ref>Aaron, J. (2017). Star Wars Vol. 4: Last Flight Of The Harbinger. United States: Marvel Entertainment. Pg. 3</ref>
| length            = {{convert|1,600|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
| width             = 
| height            = 
| population_volume = {{plainlist|
*9,235 officers<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*27,850 enlisted personnel<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*9,700 [[Stormtrooper (Star Wars)|stormtroopers]]<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>
*Visiting Sith Lords
}}
}}
=== Concept and design ===

In draft scripts for the film that would become ''Star Wars'', the term "Stardestroyer" refers to two-man fighters flown by what would become the [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]].<ref name="SW.comISD" /> The film's second draft features four Star Destroyers chasing a single Rebel ship,<ref name="taylor-115">[[#taylor|Taylor]], p. 115</ref> but the tremendous costs incurred by [[Industrial Light & Magic]] (ILM) when production began helped lead Lucas to use a single "terrifyingly large" Star Destroyer instead of four.<ref name="taylor-121-22">[[#taylor|Taylor]], pp. 121-22</ref> ILM built a {{convert|91|cm|sp=us|adj=on}} shooting model that was about half the size of the model for the ''Tantive IV'' the Star Destroyer was chasing.<ref name="SW.comISD" /> Lucas asked ILM to build a larger Star Destroyer model to match the ''Tantive IV''<nowiki/>'s scale, but ILM convinced him that the [[Dykstraflex]] camera invented for the film made this unnecessary.<ref name="taylor-171-73">[[#taylor|Taylor]], p. 171-73</ref> Nevertheless, they added additional hull details to the Star Destroyer model.<ref name="taylor-171-73" /> The 13-second opening shot was the first special effects piece ILM completed,<ref name="taylor-171-73" /> and its success was an essential test for the Dykstraflex.<ref name="taylor-171-73" />

ILM built a {{convert|259|cm|sp=us|adj=on}} Star Destroyer, equipped with internal lighting to provide a better sense of scale, for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980).<ref name="SW.comISD" />  According to chief model maker Lorne Peterson, the new Star Destroyer model was scaled to appear two and a half miles long, though their official length was revised in later sources.<ref name="Walker45">{{cite book|last=Walker|first=Landry|title=The Moviemaking Magic of Star Wars: Ships + Battles|publisher=Abrams Books|date=2019|location=United States|pages=45|isbn=978-1-4197-3633-9}}</ref>

The ''Imperial I''-class Star Destroyers are white, as shown in ''A New Hope'', ''[[Rogue One: A Star Wars Story|Rogue One]]'', and ''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story|Solo]]''. The ''Imperial II''-class Star Destroyers in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'' are grey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/7/11383684/rogue-one-star-wars-trailer-theory|title = Why the Star Destroyer looks different in the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story trailer|date = 7 April 2016}}</ref>

=== Depiction ===
The iconic ''Imperial''-class Star Destroyer first appears in the opening scene of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977), where the Imperial Star Destroyer ''Devastator'' (carrying [[Darth Vader]]) chases the CR90 Corvette ''[[Tantive IV]]'' (carrying [[Princess Leia]]) above [[Tatooine]] after the latter had fled from [[Scarif]].<ref name=USWNE314>Barr, et al. (2019), p. 314</ref><ref name=SWCVNE137>Dougherty, et al. (2020), p. 135-137</ref>  Background literature describes ''Imperial''-class Star Destroyers as the chief warship of the Imperial Navy and symbol of Imperial might.  These enormous [[capital ship]]s are used to enforce the Emperor's will, bolster Imperial-backed governments, and act as mobile headquarters for senior Imperial commanders.<ref name=USWNE314/>  In addition to their powerful armament, a Star Destroyer carries troops and vehicles for ground operations and a full [[Wing (military unit)|wing]] of [[TIE Fighter|TIE fighter]]s (typically 48 fighters, 12 bombers and 12 boarding craft).<ref name=USWNE314/><ref name=SWCVNE137/>  A single Star Destroyer is considered sufficient to overwhelm a rebellious planet, though major industrialized worlds may be assaulted by a fleet of six Star Destroyers with support cruisers and supply craft.<ref name=SWCVNE137/>  Deep-crust survival bunkers are regarded as a last refuge in the event of planetary bombardment by Imperial Star Destroyers.<ref>Lund, et al. (2016), p. 139</ref>  At the Empire's height there were over 25,000 Star Destroyers in existence, requiring roughly 925 million crew.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whatculture.com/tv/star-wars-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-star-destroyers?page=6|title=Star Wars: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Star Destroyers - 5. There Were Thousands Of Destroyer Ships At The Height Of The Empire's Reign|last=Hornbuckle|first=Jon|date=2 December 2022|website=WhatCulture|access-date= 5 October 2024}}</ref>

Darth Vader's ''Devastator'' is the last of the ''Imperial I''-class ships to be built by Kuat Drive Yards before switching to the ''Imperial II''-class, a fleet of which take part in the Battle of Hoth as depicted in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' (1980).<ref name=SWCVNE137/>  Designated Death Squadron, this fleet of Star Destroyers is led by Darth Vader aboard the ''Executor'', first in a new class of [[Super Star Destroyer]].<ref name=USWNE330>Barr, et al. (2019), p. 330</ref>  Although the battle is won by Imperial forces, Vader orders his Star Destroyers to focus on capturing the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' rather than hunt down the escaping Rebel transports, allowing many to escape.<ref>Lund, et al. (2016), p. 142</ref>  The ''Falcon'' manages to evade this pursuit by hiding in the sensor blind spot of the Star Destroyer ''Avenger''.<ref>Dougherty, et al. (2020), p. 144</ref>  These ships play a major role in the Battle of Endor as depicted in ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' (1983).  During the battle, Imperial Star Destroyers prove vulnerable to fleets of [[List of Star Wars starfighters|starfighters]] flown by skilled Rebel pilots, who exploit the ships' exposed bridges and [[Technology in Star Wars#Force fields|deflector shield generators]] to cause damage.<ref name=USWNE314/>  A year after their defeat at Endor, the Empire makes a [[last stand]] at [[Jakku]].  During the battle, Imperial Star Destroyers use their tractor beams to drag [[New Republic (Star Wars)|New Republic]] ships down to the planet's surface, where their wrecks form the Graveyard of Ships as seen in ''[[The Force Awakens]]'' (2015).<ref name=SWCL174>Lund, et al. (2016), p. 174</ref>

=== Analysis ===
Examining what it would take to realistically build an Imperial Star Destroyer, it was estimated in 2016 that such a vessel would cost $636 billion [[USD]].  Using then-current technology and naval vessels as a reference, the ship would weigh 4.44 billion kilograms, generate 146.5 [[gigawatt]]s of power, and its engines would produce a combined total [[thrust]] of 3.5 million [[Newton (unit)|newtons]].  However getting the parts into space to construct the Star Destroyer would require an additional $44.4 trillion USD in launch costs, suggesting that [[asteroid mining]] and refining technologies would have to be developed first to make it more economical.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Much Would It Realistically Cost to build an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/01/25/how-much-would-it-realistically-cost-to-build-an-imperial-i-class-star-destroyer|website=Forbes|access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=How Much Would It Cost To Build A Star Destroyer|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/01/how-much-would-it-cost-to-build-a-star-destroyer.html|website=Slate|date=21 January 2016|access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref>

Joe Pappalardo of ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' argues that the Imperial Star Destroyer is a poorly-designed spaceship, being asymmetrical with its superstructure jutting out in one direction.  Additionally, while its wedge shape would make sense for atmospheric travel, it serves no purpose in space.  He argues a more realistic and effective design would be symmetrical and bowl-shaped like a [[flying saucer|saucer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/movies/news/a28088/star-wars-the-last-jedi-dreadnought-star-destroyer|title=The Problem with The Last Jedi's New Star Destroyer|website=Popular Mechanics|date=18 December 2017|access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Cultural influence ===
[[Lego]] has released multiple different Star Destroyer kits over the years, from small sets with just 21 pieces to the largest versions with thousands of pieces.<ref name=CBRLego>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/lego-star-wars-destroyer-sets-ranked/|title=Every Star Destroyer LEGO Star Wars Set, Ranked|last=Puent|first=Shea|date=12 August 2023|website=CBR|access-date= 5 October 2024}}</ref>  These include two Ultimate Collector Series models, the first of which was released in 2002. Measuring {{convert|37|in|adj=on}} long and {{convert|23|in|adj=on}}, it sold for $269.99 until being retired in 2007.  The second UCS Star Destroyer was larger, {{convert|43|in|adj=on}} long and {{convert|26|in|adj=on}} wide, and sold for $699.99 between 2019 and 2022.<ref name=SRLego>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-biggest-lego-sets/|title=The 15 Biggest Star Wars LEGO Sets Of All Time|last=Erdmann|first=Kevin|date=22 September 2024|website=Screen Rant|access-date=5 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="lego75252">{{cite web|url=https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/imperial-star-destroyer-75252|title=Imperial Star Destroyer™ - 75252|work = Lego Shop|publisher=[[Lego]]|access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref>