Endurance ( Endurance - class ) The Endurance was an " Endurance " - class fleet carrier in service to the New Republic Defense Force in 12 ABY . Commanded by Admiral Areta Bell , the " Endurance " was dispatched to assist General Wedge Antilles and the " Executor " - class Star Dreadnought " Lusankya " in opposing Imperial Admiral Gilad Pellaeon ' s capture of the planet Orinda and six other systems along the Entralla Route in the Mid Rim . The " Endurance " fought alongside the " Lusankya " at Obredaan , eventually forcing a confrontation with Pellaeon ' s forces — led by the " Executor " - class Star Dreadnought " Reaper " — at Orinda . During the battle , Bell refused to launch the " Endurance " squadrons of E - wing escort starfighter s until the " Reaper " defenses had been sufficiently weakened to allow for a pinpoint tactical strike by her fighters . However , Pellaeon sprung a trap at Orinda using six Interdictors and the Star Dreadnought " Dominion " , commanded by Admiral Teren Rogriss . The " Endurance " was caught between the firepower of the two Imperial Star Dreadnoughts , and was swiftly destroyed with the loss of all hands . Description . The " Endurance " was an " Endurance " - class fleet carrier manufactured by the Republic Engineering Corporation . Measuring 1 , 040 meters from stem to stern , the " Endurance " - class was a dedicated fleet carrier capable of carrying two full wings of starfighters ; the " Endurance " complement was comprised of squadrons of new E - wing escort starfighter s . The " Endurance " was armed with twelve turbolaser cannons , twenty laser cannons , and eight ion cannons , with four tractor beam projectors for retrieval operations . The vessel was also equipped with shields , but they were not powerful enough to stand up to the firepower of a Star Dreadnought . Equipped with a Class One hyperdrive and a Class Ten back up , the " Endurance " was able to traverse the galaxy quickly and had a top speed of 1 , 000 km / h in atmosphere . Commanded by veteran New Republic naval officer Admiral Areta Bell , the " Endurance " could support a crew of 6 , 795 beings , but could be manned by a skeleton crew of only 2 , 265 . The carrier ' s weapons systems required a gunnery crew of seventy - six , and the " Endurance " had room to carry 1 , 600 troops . The " Endurance " cargo capacity was 15 , 000 metric tons , and the carrier could carry consumables to sustain the crew for five months . History . In 12 ABY , Admiral Gilad Pellaeon of the Galactic Empire launched a campaign against the planet Orinda , in the Irishi sector of the Mid Rim , capturing the planet and six Coreward systems along the Entralla Route as far as Lonnaw as a show of Imperial power . At the head of his force was the " Executor " - class Star Dreadnought " Reaper " . Orinda was targeted as it had previously been the capital of the Empire from the fall of Coruscant to just after Grand Admiral Thrawn ' s defeat at Bilbringi . Pellaeon dispatched emissaries to the New Republic at Ord Mantell with the message that the Empire had retaken a culturally significant world and had secured their borders . If the New Republic respected the Empire ' s claim , then further offensives would not take place . Pellaeon ' s entreaties were genuine , but the New Republic , fearful of a renewed Imperial offensive on the Core , dispatched a force led by the " Executor " - class Star Dreadnought " Lusankya " and including Rogue Squadron to retake the captured territory , under the command of General Wedge Antilles . Antilles ' and Pellaeon ' s forces clashed throughout the Mid Rim in a series of battles as Rogue Squadron dueled with Turr Phennir ' s elite 181st Imperial Fighter Wing . While media reports captivated citizens across both the New Republic and Empire , the leaders of the New Republic ' s Defense Force made the decision to reinforce Antilles with the " Endurance " , commanded by Admiral Areta Bell and loaded with squadrons of E - wings . Naval Command was less than enthused that a major campaign was being fought between two Star Dreadnoughts when their own doctrine had focused on the superiority of starfighters and smaller capital ships , and Bell was under pressure to prove that starfighters — especially the new E - wings — were still the dominant force in space warfare . The " Endurance " was dispatched from the Drearia system on the Hydian Way , taking a route that took the vessel through Walin ' or and Ord Mantell before hooking up with the " Lusankya " . Antilles and Bell forced Pellaeon to fall back , winning a battle at Obredaan before forcing a confrontation at Orinda . As the " Lusankya " and " Reaper " traded broadsides , Antilles needed Bell to launch her fighters and have them join the fray . Bell , however , refused . Her squadrons had been plagued by mechanical failure , and the E - wings were designed for precision attacks , not combat against a large capital ship . She promised that once the " Reaper " was vulnerable , she would launch her squadrons . Pellaeon , however , had other ideas . At his signal , six Interdictors dropped out of hyperspace , trapping the New Republic force in the system . They were followed by another Star Dreadnought , the " Dominion " , under the command of Admiral Teren Rogriss . The New Republic was unaware of the existence of the " Dominion " — Pellaeon had discovered it hidden in the Deep Core alongside the " Megador " and had kept both vessels hidden from the New Republic — and its arrival tipped the balance at Orinda . Caught between the firepower of the " Reaper " and the " Dominion " , the " Lusankya " was forced to retreat . The " Endurance " shields were quickly overcome by the combined might of the two Star Dreadnoughts and the carrier was lost with all hands and all fighters still in the hangar . Rogue Squadron was able to punch a hole in the Imperial Interdictor screen which allowed the " Lusankya " to escape , leaving Orinda in Imperial hands . The destruction of the " Endurance " had a lasting effect on New Republic military doctrine . After Orinda , fleet carriers launched all their starfighters upon entering an engagement zone to reduce the risk of losing a full - loaded vessel . Commanders and crew . The " Endurance " was commanded by Admiral Areta Bell , a veteran officer of the Alliance to Restore the Republic and its successor state , the New Republic . She had commanded the GR - 75 medium transport " Dutyfree " during the Alliance ' s evacuation from Hoth , and the " Victory II " - class Star Destroyer " Swift Liberty " during the New Republic ' s campaign against Prince - Admiral Delak Krennel ' s Ciutric Hegemony . Behind the scenes . The " Endurance " was first mentioned in " Before the Storm " , the first book of " The Black Fleet Crisis " by Michael P . Kube - McDowell published in 1996 . The events surrounding the Battle of Orinda were further expanded on in 2000 ' s " The Essential Chronology " and 2005 ' s " The New Essential Chronology " , and the " Endurance " received an entry in " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " published in 2008 . In the entry , the " Endurance " is referenced as being assigned to the Fifth Fleet ; however , since the Fifth was not inaugurated until 16 ABY , four years after the events of the Battle of Orinda , this article treats the reference as erroneous . The " Endurance " was later mentioned in " The Essential Guide to Warfare " , where the Orinda campaign was featured in detail , and Areta Bell ' s assignation as the ship ' s commanding officer was revealed . While Bell is a female , the commanding officer of the " Endurance " had been referred to as male in " Before the Storm " .