Helmsman ( battlecruiser ) The Helmsman was a " Praetor II " - class Star Battlecruiser commanded by Mils Giel at some point in the year preceding the Battle of Endor . Characteristics . Propulsion systems . Three massive engines propelled the craft forward , with two secondary engines situated above the main structure , and an additional two auxiliary engines on the command section ' s superstructure . Several smaller openings dotted the rear of the ship , but it ' s unknown whether they too served a purpose of propulsion . The ship had no apparent ventral reactor bulb , instead , the main reactor was hidden behind layers of armor as on the " Executor " - class dreadnought . Offensive and defensive systems . The flagship was armed with a large amount of guns of varying sizes , with at least 90 cannons visible . Its shields and armor were heavy enough to require an extensive retooling of the firing system of the four modified TIE / LN starfighter s used by the Flying Bantha Squadron to ensure that the blast would hit the Teezl deep inside . Complement . The only hangar aperture visible on the ship was a triangular indentation located at the front of its ventral side . This appeared to be only slightly bigger than the main hangar opening on an " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer . Behind the main bridge , at the stern of the vessel , was a gigantic transport cage used to carry the bizarre Teezl creature . Bridge . The ship ' s bridge was located at the front end of an elevated superstructure that ran like a spine towards the rear of the vessel and ended in two auxiliary engines . The bridge occupied much more space than the standardized bridge modules on other Star Destroyers . It was large enough for the Admiral to hold big meetings with other officers there . History . The battlecruiser was used to transport a Teezl from Valtha Divide to Coruscant , where the creature was meant to be installed and used to coordinate the entire Imperial Navy . One of the largest fleets ever assembled by the Empire accompanied the " Helmsman " on its long journey . The fleet included an accompanying capital ship with a similar - looking design . Despite the massive amount of warships present , the armada failed to prevent an attack by the Rebel Alliance , which resulted in the partial destruction of Giel ' s ship and the death of the Teezl . After being hit by a super - powered shot from a Rebel TIE / LN starfighter , the bridge - section of the " Helmsman " was left relatively unscathed , and Giel could still communicate with its gun crew . In response to his order , they opened fire on the attacker , but the TIE fighter was small and quick enough to avoid being hit and made its escape . Behind the scenes . Early concept art for the " Executor " from " The Empire Strikes Back Sketchbook " , appears to have been used as inspiration for the " Helmsman " . It wasn ' t given an official name in its earliest appearances , with the characters referring to it as " Giel ' s Flagship " and the fans labeling it a " Super Star Destroyer " due to its apparent size in the comic . It wasn ' t until the release of " The Essential Guide to Warfare " in 2012 that the " Helmsman " ship class and name was given . The 3D model artist Ansel Hsiao also contributed to the ship ' s design for its appearance in the book .