CR90 corvette / Legends The CR90 corvette , commonly referred to as the Corellian corvette or the Rebel blockade runner , also known as an Alderaan cruiser , was a small , multi - purpose capital ship manufactured by Corellian Engineering Corporation . The CR90 had a wide variety of users throughout the galaxy , from pirates to corporations to galactic navies , and had a known operational life from at least as early as 52 BBY to as late as 137 ABY . It possessed the same legendary adaptability as other CEC products , which allowed it to serve in roles as mundane as freight hauling or as a high - profile diplomatic escort . Characteristics . A versatile starship , the CR90 was used extensively across the galaxy by governments and private interests . The interior of the CR90 featured a modular design to allow for easy reconfiguration of the Corellian corvette from one function to another . Some older model corvettes , like the CR70 , could easily be upgraded with retrofit packages like the Vanguard c20 to become CR90s . Common configurations included a troop carrier , light escort vessel , cargo transport , or passenger liner . Its ease of modification was a trademark of CEC and increased the corvette ' s resale value . One of the rarer variants could carry starfighters , such as the " Night Caller " and " Constrictor " . The weapon systems varied , although the standard configuration mounted two Taim & Bak H9 dual turbolasers and four single turbolasers . CR90 corvettes could carry as many as eight turbolasers , six laser cannons , and four ion cannons . Under the standard configuration , these turrets were unable to hit anything directly behind the corvette ' s engines , so CR90 corvettes featured a well - known axial blind spot . A common configuration for combat - oriented corvettes consisted of six H9 dual turbolasers . A similar armament was mounted on the CR92a " Assassin " - class corvette , a successor of the CR90 that was designed exclusively for combat roles . The ship was capable of sustaining acceleration up to 2 , 100 G and could carry 600 passengers . However , its class 2 hyperdrive was slow compared to many ships of similar size . The standard crew was made up of 8 officers and 38 enlisted crew , but could range from 30 to 165 total , depending on its configuration . Interestingly , the CR90 could be piloted by as few as two people , as shown when Han Solo and Chewbacca flew a series of corvettes bearing the name " Jaina ' s Light " , or even one person if necessary via a steering yoke , as Wedge Antilles demonstrated when he flew the modified corvette " Night Caller " . The 150 meter - long craft could reach atmospheric speeds of 950 kilometers per hour . History . Republic service . In the last decades of the Galactic Republic , the CR90 corvette was introduced and older corvette - models like the CR70 were gradually being refitted into this version . The Republic CR90 corvettes served in the Judicial Forces and later in the Republic Navy when it was reinstated during the Clone Wars . The CR90 model was considered a mid - sized corvette in the time before the Wars . Imperial service . A dwarf amongst the massive " Imperial " - class Star Destroyers of the Imperial Navy , CR90 corvettes were relegated primarily to diplomatic and escort duty in the Galactic Empire . In fleet engagements , CR90 corvettes were often tasked with attacking enemy starfighters or fleeing the battlefield with important cargo or intelligence . Prior to the Dissolution of the Imperial Senate by Emperor Palpatine , these corvettes were used by Imperial senators as diplomatic couriers . Rebel and fringe service . Unlike their Imperial counterparts , Alliance CR90 corvettes acted as front - line combat ships for the early years of the Galactic Civil War . The ease of acquiring CR90 parts and mechanics made them a good fit for the desperate Rebellion . Its near ubiquity made it a popular choice amongst Rebels , pirates , and smugglers , earning it the nickname " blockade runner " for its ability to slip through Imperial nets . However , it proved ineffective against larger ships such as the " Imperial I " - class Star Destroyer short of kamikaze attacks unless it was used in large numbers against such a vessel . One example was at the Space Battle at Kuat when five Corvettes caused considerable damage to the Star Destroyer " Tyranny " . Knowing that the corvette was used by the Rebellion , Imperial authorities often stopped them for inspections on the flimsiest of excuses . Crime Lord Tyber Zann acquired CR90 corvettes for his fleet during his corruption efforts in the galaxy . New Republic service . Following the transition of the Alliance into the New Republic , CR90 corvettes continued to play an important role in the newly organized New Republic Defense Fleet until phased out of line - duty with modernization efforts like the New Class Modernization Program . Later history . Several CR90s were used to make up a secret retreat in 137 ABY . At least two were used during the Evacuation of Dac . Descendants . The CR90 design , itself a descendant of a line of similar vessels , provided the basis for a series of derivative designs and creative refits . " Sundered Heart " . A well - known example of a significantly modified CR90 was " Sundered Heart " , a corvette modified for extreme speed . With an added set of sublight engines , this vessel was capable of up to four times the sublight acceleration of the original CR90 . CR92a " Assassin " - class . Sometime around the Battle of Hoth , the CR92a " Assassin " - class corvette began to see widespread use . Commonly known as the " Modified Corvette , " the " Assassin " - class was designed specifically for combat . In its default configuration , it carried six dual turbolasers and one warhead launcher . The Imperial Navy was known to use the " Assassin " - class in significant numbers . Corellian Buccaneer . The Corellian Buccaneer was another militarized corvette class introduced no later than 7 ABY . It had similar technical specifications to the CR90 , but had a stock armament of ten dual turbolasers . One such vessel was used by the Dynamic Automata company in the Pentastar Alignment . Pocket carriers . " Night Caller " . Some time after the Battle of Endor , the New Republic captured at least two different CR90 refits designed to carry starfighters . The first was " Night Caller " , captured from Warlord Zsinj in 7 ABY . Though it was very similar to the CR90 in most respects , it was built from the ground up to serve as a small carrier . The primary changes from the original CR90 design were an enlarged bridge section with a starfighter hold , and a tractor beam projector suited to a much larger warship . " FarStar " . The second known carrier refit was " FarStar " . Originally commissioned in 52 BBY , it was refit by the order of Moff Kentor Sarne . A large docking bay was grafted onto the vessel ' s spine , and its hyperdrive system was modified to accommodate the new hull shape . It is unclear if this modification was in any way standardized or if it was a custom Imperial design . Behind the scenes . The CR90 corvette ' s design was developed from one originally intended for " Millennium Falcon " . When that design was rejected for being too reminiscent of " Eagle Transporter " , it was adapted to become the CR90 . The most obvious change was replacing its cockpit area with the distinctive " hammerhead " bridge section . In addition , the escape pods were relocated to the lower hull , with laser cannons being mounted where the pods had originally been placed . This was essential because " Tantive IV " had to launch an escape pod while inside the " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer " Devastator " ventral hangar bay . Corvettes have a well - known " blind spot , " in that they cannot shoot anything behind their engines , known especially to gamers of " X - Wing " computer game series and used whenever they had to destroy one . This may appear to contradict the very first scene of " " — " Tantive IV " shoots " Devastator " , right behind her . This may be explained by the fact that " Devastator " was a much broader target and slightly above her ( although " Tantive " ventral cannon was also used ) . Early West End Games RPG statistics for the Corellian corvette list its armament as six double turbolaser turrets , despite the corvettes seen in " A New Hope " and " " clearly mounting only two such turrets . This was later retconned by describing the heavier armament as an optional upgrade . The CR90 that appears in " " is armed with only eight laser cannons , although this is a simple game balance issue , as the ship is placed into the anti - fighter role as the Rebel counterpart to the Tartan - class patrol cruiser . In comparison , the " Imperial " - class Star Destroyers mount only four turbolasers instead of the sixty batteries they are supposed to have , while the MC80 Liberty type Star Cruiser is similarly nerfed from 48 turbolasers to four to match the " Imperial " - class in strength . Early schematics for the CR90 show a much smaller ship length - wise than the original filming miniature portrays . The reason is unclear , but the trend toward a stunted look continued and affected every incarnation of the ship , from roleplaying deckplans to computer models for the " X - Wing " series . The error was propagated even into Revenge of the Sith ' s portrayal of the Tantive IV as a stunted ship . This was retconned by the Rebel Alliance Blueprints book as being a CR70 corvette , while the much longer Tantive IV is now recognized as the definitive CR90 . In the " " expansion pack " " , the player via a cheat code , can get a CR90 corvette ( then titled " Rebel Blockade Runner " ) as a playable ship . The cheat code ' s name was a reference to the Tantive IV . " The Essential Guide to Warfare " mentions that Corellian corvettes were an important part of the imperial Support Fleet , but doesn ' t state the corvette model . The book says that CR70 and CR90 were two of the most common models . According to " The Sounds of Star Wars " , the sound of the rebel blockade runner in the opening scene of " A New Hope " is a mixture of a slowed down World War II AT6 propeller - driven racing airplane and a 747 jet .