Gladiator - class Star Destroyer The " Gladiator " - class Star Destroyer was a class of warship used by the Galactic Empire . There were two variants , the Gladiator I - class Star Destroyer and the Gladiator II - class Star Destroyer . Characteristics . The " Gladiator " - class was a small Star Destroyer that shared its keel design with the " Broadside " - class cruiser . A ventral protrusion on the hull appeared to cover the ship ' s main reactor , but was also the location of several cannons . The class had two main thrusters and no visible secondary thrusters . It possessed an array of capital - grade torpedo or concussion missile launchers and turbolaser emplacements . Torpedo loading bays were located deep inside the ships , with automated loading arms controlled from a console next to the conveyor belt that fed munitions to the launchers . The total number of guns installed was 25 light turbolasers , 10 point defense laser cannons , 10 medium concussion missile launchers and 6 tractor beam projectors grouped in 5 turbolaser batteries , 2 laser batteries , 2 missile batteries and 3 tractor beam batteries . The Star Destroyer class was characterized by its extensive hangar area , with an opening in the bow of the vessel , that split the forward superstructure in two , similar to the " Broadside " - class . The hangar had enough room for several starfighters to enter or exit at the same time . A complement of 24 fighters was usually carried to intimidate small frontier worlds . Also 5 AT - ST along a number of shuttles and landingcraft were available . History . The " Gladiator " - class was originally envisioned as a Republic escort vessel for the " Victory " - class Star Destroyer , and the initial design was made by Walex Blissex for Rendili StarDrive . The final design was not finished until after the end of the Clone Wars , and with the " Victory " - class being abandoned as a main warship by the Galactic Empire , the specs were handed over to Kuat Drive Yards . Kuat Drive Yards repurposed the class as a long - range patrol vessel , carrying enough troops , fighters and firepower to subjugate local pirate groups and planetary defense forces in the fringe regions of the galaxy . When the Rebellion began to field heavier naval elements , smaller Imperial ships like the " Gladiator " - class were outmatched . A ship of this class , the " Demolisher " , served as the flagship of Imperial Admiral Terrinald Screed during his mission to the Roon system . Prior to the Battle of Tammuz - an circa 15 BBY , the pirate leader Gir Kybo Ren - Cha and his band stole the " Demolisher " from an Imperial repair dock . They utilized it to attack the planet of Tammuz - an in order to steal its riches , but were defeated and the ship was disabled . Many other " Gladiator " - class Star Destroyers were captured by pirates . Its value in the black market was 34 million credits . The Empire deployed two versions of the " Gladiator " : Gladiator I - class Star Destroyer and Gladiator II - class Star Destroyer . At least one " Gladiator " - class Star Destroyer was deployed to guard the Timira City Cloning Facility on Kamino at 2 BBY , where it later participated in a battle with the fledgling Alliance Fleet . The shipyard facilities in orbit of Lianna were used to perform maintenance of a " Gladiator " - class ship during the Galactic Civil War . A force comprised of the " Blood Ambition " ( a " Gladiator " - class ship ) and two " Raider I - class corvette " attacked the planet Xorrn and fought against a Rebel fleet . Behind the scenes . Despite being one of the earliest Star Destroyer classes seen in official media , the " Gladiator " - class wasn ' t named until 2008 , when its profile appeared in " The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide " . Until this time , fans had simply named the class after its only known vessel , the " Demolisher " . In the Droids series the " Demolisher " seemed to fire its turbolasers from the ventral dome . The size of the starship is 500 meters in " The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide " and 600 meters in " Friends Like These " .