Bellator-class dreadnought

The Bellator-class dreadnought was a class of Imperial Navy dreadnought that was manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards in limited numbers during the Imperial Era, when the Galactic Empire experimented with creating larger models of battlecruisers between 19 BBY and 3 BBY. Such experimentation also resulted in the creation of the Assertor-class Star Dreadnought, and both dreadnoughts were considered to be in the same family of dreadnoughts as the Mandator-class Dreadnought.
==Characteristics==
The Bellator-class dreadnought was a class of large-scale dreadnought that was in service to the Galactic Empire during its reign and manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards. The dreadnought was smaller than the Assertor-class Star Dreadnought, which, in terms of size and power in the Imperial Navy, was second only to the Executor-class Star Dreadnought. The Assertor-class and Bellator-class belonged to the same family of Imperial Navy dreadnoughts as the Mandator-class.
The command structure of the Bellator-class was similar to that of the smaller Surveyor-class reconnaissance frigate. The frigate's heavily shielded broad and bunker-like command structure extended beyond the main drives and rose at the aft of the ship.
==History==
Kuat Drive Yards was contracted as the exclusive Star Destroyer supplier for the Imperial Navy in 19 BBY, resulting in a fleet buildup during the Imperial Era. Between 19 BBY and 3 BBY, the Galactic Empire experimented with larger battlecruiser models of the Star Destroyer design family, ultimately creating ships such as the Assertor-class and Bellator-class dreadnoughts. Despite this, few of the large warships were built. The Bellator-class dreadnought was active at the same time as the Mandator-class as well as when the Assertor-class Star Dreadnought underwent construction at some point prior to the Battle of Yavin of 0 BBY.
==Behind the scenes==
The Bellator-class dreadnought was introduced in the new Star Wars canon in the 2016 Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars Roleplaying sourcebook Lead by Example. The Bellator-class dreadnought originally appeared, albeit unnamed, in the Star Wars Legends second issue of the Star Wars: Dark Empire comic series,Dark Empire 2 released on February 18, 1992 and drawn by Cam Kennedy.
The dreadnought was later redesigned by Ansel Hsiao as a fanon 3D design in 2008, Hsiao naming it the Bellator-class. — According to , Ansel Hsiao is "fractalsponge1." The design and the name were incorporated into the 2012 Legends reference book The Essential Guide to Warfare, authored by Jason Fry and Paul R. Urquhart.The Essential Guide to Warfare In his Tumblr endnotes regarding the reference book, Fry stated that the specifications and information of the Bellator-class were approved by Lucas Licensing. In Latin, the word "bellātor" means "warrior."
==Sources==
*Lead by Example 
*Star Wars: Timelines
==Notes and references==
Category:Dreadnought classes
Category:Starship classes of the Galactic Empire