Venator - class Star Destroyer The " Venator " - class Star Destroyer , also known as a Republic attack cruiser or Jedi Cruiser , was a dagger - shaped capital ship used by the Galactic Republic Navy for ship - to - ship combat , capital ship escort , and fighter carrying against the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars . Having eclipsed the Republic ' s diplomatic frigate , the attack cruiser faced the Separatist dreadnoughts in some of the most well - known battles of the Clone Wars , including those of Sullust , Christophsis and Coruscant . Characteristics . Hangar space . During the early period of the Clone Wars , the " Venator " - class Star Destroyer featured a wide array of hangar space . The forward section of the Star Destroyer featured a passage down the middle , with bays for starship s on either side . It was mainly accessed by large doors on top of the ship . At the fore of this passage , at the bow the ship , was a collection of hyperspace transport ring s . Towards the aft of the passage , doors in the floor could open , leading to a space where Republic frigates could dock . If no cruiser was docked , however , the space could be used by personnel to jump out of the Star Destroyer directly onto the battlefield , or to deploy walker s without the need for dropships . Overseeing the passage was a raised command station positioned at the aft . Even further aft , the " Venator " - class had two independent docking bays on their port and starboard sides , again protected by blast door s . Towards the end of the war , a different type of " Venator " was used . These featured a set of smaller doors on the dorsal side of the ship , and lacked access from the ventral side altogether , with the blast doors that previously lead to the main hangar space replaced with additional lighting , a crane and sometimes additional weaponry , such as a built - in beam weapon . Additionally , the side doors no longer led to independent hangars , but another passage that linked the two sides of the ship . The central hangar row then joined the smaller passage in the middle , replacing where the command station used to be . At the front of the main passage was a small hole starfighters could launch from without having to go through any of the main doors . Bridges . " Venator " - class Star Destroyers featured two bridges , with the starboard one serving as the primary command center of the ship . These bridges were raised from the main body of the destroyer and provided a wide , panoramic view of the battle . However , the bridges ' exposed nature made them vulnerable to attack . The bridges featured large windows at the front , with two sunken pits behind , with a raised command walkway in between . This design would become a staple in Imperial vessels , as it gave emphasis to the command hierarchy . Further behind , a holotable sat between two sets of blast doors . This could be used to communicate with other personnel and analyze ship or troop movements . Engines . " Venators " featured eight engine s , with four distinct sizes . They were powerful enough to ram the ship into a " Lucrehulk " - class Battleship . Landing capabilities . " Venators " usually required specialized landing strips to perform atmospheric landings , such as those on Coruscant , with " Acclamator " - class transgalactic military assault ships performing surface landings on the battlefield due to their legs . However , surface landings could occur , as exemplified during the Battle of Kashyyyk . Complement . The " Venator " could also carry starfighter s , gunship s , and walker s , as well as the modular components to deploy a planetary garrison . History . Clone Wars . Early in the war , the Separatists created the " Malevolence " , a heavy cruiser that could disable the electronic and power systems of a Republic attack cruiser with its powerful ion cannon s . One Venator was hijacked by the Separatists , under a super tactical droid . They loaded it with Rhydonium , and used the ship to destroy the Republic strategy conference . However , their attempts were foiled by D - Squad , where R2 - D2 blew the ship up early so it wouldn ' t reach the Republic station . Age of the Empire . During the Imperial Era , the design of the Republic attack cruiser ultimately evolved into the similarly wedge - shaped Imperial Star Destroyer , the signature battleship of the Galactic Empire . As of the Campaign at Salient , during which " Venator " - class Star Destroyers reassigned from Telos deployed ARC - 170 starfighters to assist Governor Wilhuff Tarkin and the " Executrix " , the vessel was considered an older - generation model . However , at least one " Venator " - class was stationed at the Anthan Prime Orbital Dockyard several months after the Battle of Yavin .