Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser

The Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser, also referred to as the Imperial Gozanti-class TIE carrier and known generally as the Imperial freighter, was a variant of the standard Gozanti-class cruiser used by the Galactic Empire and later by sympathizers of the First Order.
==Characteristics==
The Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser was a 64-meter-long starship that served as a light cruiser. It was a modified sub-variant of the civilian Gozanti-class cruiser used by many factions.
It sported a twin laser turret in a dorsal mount and a heavy laser cannon on its ventral side. The Gozanti also had a loading elevator on the bottom near the nose and docking ports to the side near the cockpit section. The ships had a hyperdrive and three engines. The ships could fit in the main hangar of a Separatist supply ship.
The Imperial version could either carry four TIE/ln space superiority starfighters, or have one swapped for a TIE/sa bomber, two All Terrain Defense Pods on underside-mounted docking clamps which were connected to corridors inside the vessel. The Imperial ships were wider than standard ones, with new side extensions stretching over the engines, and the dorsal radar dish moved to the center. The large, ventral, double dish radar was abandoned in favor of docking struts for the ship's complement.
Some Imperial Gozanti-class cruisers, such as the Vector, featured red markings. The Gozanti-class Assault Carrier was a carrier variant of a standard Imperial Gozanti.
==History==
===Imperial cruisers===
1 year after the rise of the Empire, an Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser under the command of Captain Pearce transported Howzer and 2 of his men from Balmorra to Tantiss Base on Wayland, but was intercepted by the Clone Underground, who defeated its crew of 12 TK stormtroopers and an Imperial royal guard to free them. When under interrogation, however, Pearce used a Electro capsule to kill himself, while a Venator-class Star Destroyer sent several V-wing starfighters to destroy any trace of it, though the group was able to flee. Several years later, the freighters were converted into TIE carriersA New Dawn via a quartet of ventral-mounted heavy docking clamps. The clamps also doubled as boarding chutes between the transport and any vehicle they carried. Imperial efficiency expert Count Denetrius Vidian was instrumental in the development program, getting it ready ahead of schedule. Several Gozanti-class cruisers were present at Count Vidian's Calcoraan Depot, and were ordered to protect a Baradium-357 convoy at Gorse.
During the reign of the Empire, the cruisers were also known as the Imperial freighters and were more common in the Outer Rim despite its use by the Empire. After graduating from the Royal Imperial Academy, Lieutenant Thrawn and Ensign Eli Vanto were stationed aboard the Blood Crow, an Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser under the command of Rik Virgilio.Thrawn In 5 BBY,Star Wars: Galactic Atlas a group of rebels known as the Spectres raided Transport 651 in order to rescue a group of Wookiee slaves, but it was a trap set by ISB Agent Kallus. The rebels detonated explosives, destroying the freighter after it was secured in the hangar of the Lawbringer.Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion Soon after, Kallus and a squad of stormtroopers took a freighter to attack the same rebel cell after they stole a shipment of T-7 ion disruptor rifles. The ship dropped two AT-DPs, which were destroyed by the rebels.
Weeks later, a convoy of three cruisers was tasked with transporting a large kyber crystal. The same Lothal rebel cell captured an Imperial decoder and discovered the convoy's location. The starship Ghost arrived and launched its shuttle, piloted by former Jedi Kanan Jarrus, to distract the convoy's TIE escorts. The lead freighter attempted to flee back into hyperspace, but was destroyed by the Ghost. The kyber crystal amplified the explosion and destroyed the rest of the Imperial ships.
In 4 BBY, Transport Ship 63378 was stolen by the same rebel cell on Lothal. The cruiser was used in the action at Mustafar, a rescue attempt by the Spectres to save Kanan, who had been captured by Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, and was being interrogated on his Star Destroyer, the Sovereign, in orbit above Mustafar. The same year, several Gozanti freighters took part in the Imperial blockade of Ibaar. They deployed starfighters against Phoenix Cell ships attempting to break the blockade.
In 3 BBY,Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded states that Leia Organa was 16 years old during her mission on Lothal in "A Princess on Lothal." Since Star Wars: Galactic Atlas establishes that Organa was born in 19 BBY, the events of "A Princess on Lothal," including the appearance of Imperial Gozanti-class cruisers on Lothal, are set in 3 BBY. a cruiser was used to deploy two AT-AT walkers to the Imperial depot on Lothal. In 2 BBY,Dawn of Rebellion dates the events of Star Wars Rebels: Steps Into Shadow seventeen years after the end of the Clone Wars, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 19 BBY; therefore, the events of Steps Into Shadow must take place in 2 BBY. According to Star Wars: On the Front Lines, Mon Mothma's denunciation of the Galactic Empire and the Declaration of the Rebel Alliance take place two years before the Battle of Yavin or 2 BBY. As "The Last Battle" is set between Steps Into Shadow and "Secret Cargo," the events of the episode, including the appearance of Gozanti-class cruisers on Agamar, must also take place in 2 BBY. two Gozanti cruisers were used to deploy pairs of AT-AT and AT-DP walkers against a Separatist holdout on Agamar. Imperial forces also lost two cruisers during a skirmish with the Iron Squadron and Phoenix Group above Mykapo. A Gozanti cruiser later accompanied an Imperial light cruiser during a failed attempt to capture the rogue Senator Mon Mothma.
In 0 BBY,The epilogue of the Star Wars Rebels episode "Family Reunion – and Farewell" occurs after the end of the Galactic Civil War, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 5 ABY, while Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition establishes that the Liberation of Lothal occurs prior to the Battle of Yavin, which marks the end of 0 BBY, according to Galactic Atlas. Lothal's liberation takes place between the Star Wars Rebels episode "Wolves and a Door" and the "Family Reunion – and Farewell" epilogue, between which Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy establishes there is a five-year gap. Therefore, in order to maintain the aforementioned five-year gap that ends no earlier than 5 ABY while still preceding the Battle of Yavin, the Liberation of Lothal must take place in 0 BBY. As the episode "A Fool's Hope" takes place prior to "Wolves and a Door," the events of the episode, including the appearance of Gozanti-class cruisers in the Seventh Fleet, must also take place around the same year. at least two Gozanti cruisers were among a detachment of the Seventh Fleet blockading Lothal.
===Post-Scarif Galactic Civil War===
During the Galactic Civil War, smugglers also used the cruisers.Star Wars: Commander Following the Battle of Yavin, Imperial officers Ciena Ree and Berisse Sai were ordered to take a Gozanti to recover Lord Vader. Once they arrived at Yavin, they surveyed the destruction of the Death Star, and then Vader's starfighter docked with them. Vader ordered the two officers into the cargo bay, and piloted the ship himself back to the Imperial fleet.Lost Stars
While transporting Grakkus Jahibakti Tingi to Akiva in the Millennium Falcon, the smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca encountered TIE fighters. Wondering where the Imperial starfighters had come from, Solo speculated that there must be a Gozanti-class cruiser nearby.Star Wars (2015) 35
Captain Kosh of the Empire stockpiled several cruisers which had been listed as destroyed to use them in his black-market operation, although they were discovered by the Rebel Alliance on Tatooine and destroyed by Saponza's partner.Kekit's Databank entry states that Saponza and his partner played an integral part in the campaign that liberated a Jawa clan from the Tusken Raiders. It also states that the plan was orchestrated by Jennica Pierce of the Rebel Alliance. This scenario does not occur if the player aligns with the Empire, so it can be deduced that Saponza's gang joined the Rebellion.
One of the freighters showed up during Twilight Company's raid on an Imperial heavy freighter, threatening the Thunderstrike.Battlefront: Twilight Company The freighters were present alongside Death Squadron during the Battle of Hoth, where they deployed walkers during the battle.
===After the Empire===
Imperial Gozanti-class cruisers remained in use during the Cold War on into the First Order-Resistance War. The First Order employed sympathizers that piloted these older Imperial-era ships in patrol and surveillance operations.
==Behind the scenes==
The young-readers book Star Wars Rebels: Head to Head, written by Pablo Hidalgo and featuring various match-ups from the series, placed an Imperial Gozanti cruiser against an Auzituck anti-slaver gunship, with the gunship damaging the cruiser and escaping.Star Wars Rebels: Head to Head
==Appearances==
===Non-canon appearances===
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Category:Gozanti-class cruiser models
Category:Starship classes of the First Order
Category:Starship classes of the Galactic Empire