Guarlara (Venator-class)

The Guarlara was a Venator-class Star Destroyer that served in the Fifth Fleet of the Galactic Republic naval forces' Open Circle Fleet, and participated in the Battle of Coruscant during the Clone Wars in 19 BBY. During the battle, the Guarlara crossed paths with the Confederacy of Independent Systems' naval forces flagship, the Providence-class Dreadnought Invisible Hand, which resulted in a brief confrontation between the two warships.
Amid the confrontation between the two, the Star Destroyer suffered extensive damage to its hull, while also dealing heavy damage to the Separatist dreadnought. In dealing extensive damage to the dreadnought by striking one of its gun magazines, the Guarlara caused the Invisible Hand to plummet towards the surface of the planet Coruscant.
==Description==
A Venator-class Star Destroyer, the GuarlaraStar Wars: On the Front Lines possessed two bridges, as well as eight engine units. The Star Destroyer was also armed with several legless AV-7 Anti-vehicle Artillery Cannon located at the ship's starboard side, eight DBY-827 heavy turbolaser turrets (four port, four starboard), and two medium dual turbolaser cannons. Furthermore, either side of the Guarlara hull was emblazoned with the symbol of the Galactic Republic naval forces' Open Circle Fleet, and was painted with five red stripes on its port and starboard wings in order to signify its allegiance to the Republic Navy's Fifth Fleet. The Guarlara also shared its name with a creature indigenous to the grasslands of Naboo.Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
==History==
In 19 BBY,Star Wars: Galactic Atlas during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Confederacy had launched an unprecedented attack on the Republic capital planet Coruscant, led by the Kaleesh Separatist General Grievous. During the battle, Grievous managed to kidnap Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine and take him captive aboard the Separatist flagship, the Providence-class Dreadnought, Invisible Hand, which resulted in the immediate recall of Republic forces from all across the galaxy back to Coruscant in order to aid in the defense of the planet. As a result, the Guarlara and over a thousand other Venator-class Star Destroyers of the Open Circle Fleet arrived in the system with the intent of destroying as many Separatist warships as possible.
As the space battle over Coruscant continued to rage, the Guarlara crossed paths with the Invisible Hand, which had previously suffered severe damage to its deflector shields. While cruising by the Separatist dreadnought's starboard side, the Venator's turbolasers turned and aimed at the Invisible Hand, resulting in a brief broadside engagement between the two after the Guarlara fired one of its cannons on the dreadnought. As the two warships bombarded one another, causing extensive damage to each other's hulls, the Invisible Hand managed to destroy the Venator's starboard medium dual turbolaser cannon, while also blasting a hole in its starboard hull, which resulted in the destruction of several of its cannons and the deaths of several clone troopers from the 41st Elite Corps manning the turrets.
Endlessly bombarding each other, one of the Guarlara DBY-827 heavy turbolaser turrets were destroyed by the Separatist dreadnought. However, it was the Venator who emerged triumphant by landing a direct hit on a flak gun's magazine aboard the Invisible Hand, causing it and most of the gun deck to explode. As a result, the dreadnought lost stability in orbit and began to plummet towards the surface of the planet as its crew attempted to regain control. Despite the damage caused by the Guarlara, the Invisible Hand managed to regain stability and continued to cruise in orbit of the planet.
==Commanders and crew==
The Guarlara was operated by a crew of clone troopers from the Grand Army of the Republic's 41st Elite Corps. The clone troopers were responsible for manning the Star Destroyer's armament, such as its AV-7 Anti-vehicle Artillery Cannons.
==Behind the scenes==
The Guarlara was introduced in the prequel trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, which was released on May 19, 2005. It was later first identified in Star Wars: On the Front Lines, a 2017 reference book authored by Daniel Wallace. The Guarlara was originally identified in the Star Wars Legends continuity in the entry for the Providence-class carrier/destroyer, which was released on May 4, 2005 in the Databank on StarWars.com.
==Appearances==
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==Sources==
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*Star Wars: On the Front Lines 
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*Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy
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==Notes and references==
Category:Ships of the Open Circle Fleet
Category:Venator-class Star Destroyers