Vanguard ( Nebulon - B ) The Vanguard was an EF76 Nebulon - B escort frigate commanded by General Jan Dodonna that was a part of the Rebel Alliance ' s fleet . Dodonna took the " Vanguard " and several other ships that were a part of his unit to the planet Atollon in the year 2 BBY , home to the Phoenix Cell Rebel unit . Dodonna ' s forces and Phoenix Squadron , led by Commander Jun Sato , planned to attack an Imperial factory on Lothal , however the location of Phoenix Squadron ' s base was discovered by the Imperial grand admiral Thrawn , who brought his fleet to Atollon in an effort to crush the Rebellion . The " Vanguard " was destroyed in the ensuing battle , though Dodonna and several members of the ship ' s crew managed to escape shortly before its destruction . Description . The " Vanguard " was an EF76 Nebulon - B escort frigate manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards . Like all Nebulon - B frigate s , the " Vanguard " was armed with twelve turbolaser s and twelve laser cannon s , with the main turbolaser and laser cannon located at the low - end of the ship ' s bow . The frigate was also equipped with at least eight escape pod s , powerful dual tractor beam s , and a primary communications array located on the port side of the top of the " Vanguard " . Various portions of the frigate ' s outer hull were painted red and yellow . The " Vanguard " s bridge was placed in the middle of its bow , containing several computer s and chairs which the frigate ' s crew was stationed at , a holotable in the center of the room , and a few stairs with handrails leading up to a raised area from which " Vanguard " s commander , General Jan Dodonna , would give orders during battle . History . One of many EF76 Nebulon - B escort frigates manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards , the " Vanguard " and several other Nebulon - B frigates were acquired by the Alliance to Restore the Republic and used in their struggle against the Galactic Empire . At least three , including the " Vanguard " , were a part the Massassi Group Rebel unit led by General Jan Dodonna in the year 2 BBY . Dodonna ' s Massassi Group and another Rebel unit , Phoenix Cell , made plans to attack an Imperial factory on the planet Lothal , which was responsible for manufacturing all manner of Imperial vehicles , from TIE fighters to walker s to the newly - designed TIE Defender . Finally ready for their assault , the " Vanguard " and the rest of Dodonna ' s ships jumped to the Outer Rim world Atollon , home to Phoenix Squadron ' s base . Phoenix Squadron leader Commander Jun Sato , aboard the Rebel cruiser - carrier " Phoenix Nest " , made contact with the " Vanguard " and welcomed Dodonna to the planet . The general thanked him , happy to at long last deliver a significant strike against the Empire . Unbeknownst to the Rebels , the Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn had discovered the Alliance ' s intention to attack the Lothal factory , and after tracking Dodonna ' s fleet movements and the trajectory of a transmission trying to warn the Rebels that Thrawn knew of their planned assault sent by Imperial Security Bureau agent Kallus , who was one of the Rebellion ' s " Fulcrum " operatives , discovered the location of Phoenix Squadron ' s base . Dodonna , still aboard the " Vanguard " , conferred with Phoenix Squadron via hologram and they received Kallus ' s transmission , which had been cut off before he could tell them what Thrawn knew , however after being told by Ryder Azadi , leader of a resistance on Lothal , that the Imperial fleet had left the system Rebel captain Hera Syndulla correctly deduced that Thrawn knew the location of their base , and moments later his Seventh Fleet came out of hyperspace over Atollon . The " Vanguard " would eventually be destroyed in the battle when Captain Hera Syndulla ordered all forces to retreat back to the surface , with survivors escaping via escape pod s . Commanders and crew . During the battle of Atollon the " Vanguard " was commanded by General Jan Dodonna , a human male from Commenor . The frigate ' s bridge crew during the battle consisted of at least five Rebel soldier s . Behind the scenes . The " Vanguard " appeared in the twenty - first episode of the animated television series " Star Wars Rebels " third season , " Zero Hour , " which aired on March 25 , 2017 , on Disney XD .