First Order Navy The First Order Navy , also referred to as the First Order fleet , was the naval branch of the First Order military . Created from the remnants of the Imperial Navy of the former Galactic Empire , it would be paramount to the gradual conquest and colonization of the Unknown Regions by the Imperial successor faction known as the First Order . History . Origins . Following the Galactic Empire ' s decisive defeat at the Battle of Jakku and its subsequent surrender to the New Republic with the signing of the Galactic Concordance , a faction that would later be known as the First Order would eventually splinter from the Old Empire and cement its political sphere in the galactic frontier known as the Unknown Regions . There , away from prying New Republic eyes , the First Order would rapidly expand its military and research some of the former Empire ' s greatest military secrets in a bid to return to power . With the New Republic ' s military disarmament program , many within the First Order Navy joked that their fleet was virtually unsurpassed strength . Despite this , the First Order lacked the resources of the Old Empire , and as a result the First Order Navy was smaller than the New Republic Navy ; which itself was a mere fraction of the size of the former Imperial Navy . Even with fewer overall vessels at its disposal , however , the First Order possessed enough capital ships to reclaim control of the entire galaxy as of the Battle of Starkiller Base . About thirteen years before the destruction of the Hosnian system , the First Order began channeling billions of credit s into the hitherto minor Nikto crime lord Rinnrivin Di ' s cartel through a militia group called the Amaxine warriors . Rinnrivin ' s cartel was involved in smuggling and gambling activities in New Republic space with the Amaxines serving as their financiers and partners . In addition , Rinnrivn ' s cartel and the Amaxines raided legitimate commercial shipping and extorted protection money from merchant s . The proceeds were funneled to shadow corporations in the Outer Rim Territories and Centrist sources like Lady Carise Sindian , who transferred the funds back to the First Order , which used it to rebuild the Old Imperial fleet , which became the basis for the First Order ' s fleet . Road to war . Roughly thirty years after Endor , the " Resurgent " - class Star Destroyer would represent the Order ' s newest vessel , however older models such as the " Imperial " - class would continue to see service in the First Order ' s Navy , and would be maintained by unmanned repair drones . During the Cold war , First Order forces engaged in skirmishes with both the New Republic and the Resistance , a private paramilitary force that had been established by General Leia Organa to keep an eye on the First Order ' s movements . In 34 ABY , a First Order boarding party backed by TIE fighters captured the freighter " Yissira Zyde " near Suraz 4 . The New Republic Rapier Squadron led by Commander Poe Dameron responded but were unable to stop the heist . Later , Dameron undertook a rogue mission to find the " Yissira Zyde " and encountered several First Order capital ships including three Star Destroyer s , four " Lancer " - class frigates , two " Maxima - A " class heavy cruisers , and one " Dissident " - class light cruiser . In response to , the First Order fleet deployed several ships including " Resurgent " - class Star Destroyer and a Nebulon - K frigate to prevent the Resistance from capturing Senator Erudo Ro - Kiintor ' s luxury yacht " Hevurion Grace " , which carried evidence of the senator ' s collusion with the First Order . Despite their efforts , Dameron managed to escape with the ship back to the Resistance . As a result , the Resistance obtained information about the explorer Lor San Tekka , who held the key to finding Luke Skywalker . During the Search for Lor San Tekka , the First Order fleet sent the " Maxima A " - class heavy cruiser " Ravenous " to assist First Order Security Bureau Agent Terex in finding the explorer first . The " Ravenous " and its TIE fighters clashed with Poe ' s Black Squadron in a dogfight above Ovanis . After Black Squadron left with information from the Crèche elder , Terex and his surviving troops were allowed to radio the " Ravenous " for a pick - up . The Resistance fighters allowed them to leave in order to avoid provoking a way between the First Order and the New Republic . Later , a " Maxima A " heavy cruiser led by Commander Malarus was sent to chastise Agent Terex , for embarking on an errant campaign to destroy the Resistance . Malarus ' cruiser emerged towards the end of Terex ' s battle with Poe ' s Black Squadron and destroyed Terex ' s starship " Carrion Spike " . The heavy cruiser ' s TIE fightes then wiped out the remainder of the Ranc gang ' s " Uglies " before dispatching a landing party to apprehend Terex . Prior to the Hosnian Cataclysm , the " Resurgent " - class Star Destroyer " Finalizer " traveled to Jakku to attack Tuanul village , where Poe was meeting Lor San Tekka . After Poe escaped with the defecting stormtrooper Finn , the " Finalizer " engaged in a brief dogfight with their stolen TIE / sf space superiority fighter , which crashed on Jakku . Despite sending a landing party , Finn managed to escape with the scavenger Rey and the BB - series droid BB - 8 , who was carrying the map to Skywalker . Reconquering the galaxy . Following the Battle of Starkiller Base , the First Order began an invasion of the New Republic with Rey estimating that the New Republic ' s core systems would fall within weeks . Before the Resistance could fully evacuate D ' Qar , a First Order fleet under General Armitage Hux entered the system . The " Mandator IV " - class Siege Dreadnought " Fulminatrix " destroyed the Resistance base before being destroyed by the Resistance bomber Cobalt Squadron , which took heavy casualties . Though the Resistance fled into hyperspace , the First Order was able to use a hyperspace tracker to track them down . The First Order fleet , which was joined by Supreme Leader Snoke ' s " Mega " - class Star Dreadnought " Supremacy " caught up with the Resistance and inflicted heavy casualties ; reducing the Resistance forces to three capital ships and killing several command crew including Admiral Ackbar . For the next eighteen hours , the First Order pursued the Resistance through space , waiting for them to run out of fuel . The Resistance fighters evacuated on a fleet of thirty U - 55 orbital loadlifter s to the planet Crait . However , DJ exposed the Resistance ' s plan and the First Order bombarded the loadlifters , destroying all but six . In response , Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo ploughed the MC85 Star Cruiser " Raddus " into the " Supremacy " , seriously damaging the vast warship and several nearby " Resurgent " Star Destroyers . Meanwhile , Snoke was killed by his disciple Kylo Ren , who claimed the title of Supreme Leader . Ren then led First Order ground forces against the Resistance during the Battle of Crait but failed to destroy the rebels due to Luke ' s intervention .