Imperial-class Star Destroyer Course Notes {ISD}
The Imperial-class Star Destroyer is one of the most feared starships in the galaxy! It is not the largest and most heavily armed of the Star Destroyer class of starships, but it is the most numerous. This course will teach you about the history and the strengths, and the weakness of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer.

Statistics of the Imperial Star Destroyer:
Manufacturer: Kuat Drive Yards
Combat Designation: Capital Starship
Length: 1600 meters
Crew: 37,085 (4,520 officers; 32,565 enlisted)
Power System: SFS I-a2b solar ionization reactor
Weapons:
  50 Heavy Turbolaser Batteries
  50 Taim & Bak XX-9 Heavy Turbolasers (computer assisted targeting)
  20 Borstel NK-7 Ion Cannons (computer assisted targeting)
  10 Phylon Q7 Tractor Beam Projectors.
Squadrons:
  Three TIE Starfighter squadrons
  Two TIE Interceptor squadrons
  One TIE Bomber squadron
Troops:
  Planetary Assault Troops
  Full Standard Stormtrooper division
  12 Landing Barges
  20 AT-AT Walkers
  30 AT-ST Walkers
Other Onboard Craft:
  8 Lambda-class Imperial Shuttles
  15 Stormtrooper Transports
  5 Assault Gunboats

The Imperator-class Star Destroyer (Mark II) is a newer version of the original ISD. It has a faster hyperdrive, upgraded shields, and improved weapons. An example of the Mark II ISD would be the Avenger, as opposed to the original ISD, an example of which is the Devastator. They can easily be distinguished via the appearance of the engines: original ISDs have small triple baffles surrounding the main engines, whereas Mark II ISDs have ring baffles.

Designed by Lira Wessex, daughter of the man who designed the Victory-class Star Destroyer, the Imperial-class Star Destroyer was an engineering and budget-planning nightmare. But the Navy pushed for it and the Emperor demanded it, so the standard Star Destroyer was built.

The triangular silhouette of an Imperial cruiser has come a long way since its Republic-inspired design. While vessels of the Jedi order were met with feelings of pride and relief as they came soaring to solve galactic strife, the Imperial Star Destroyer's gargantuan size cleary inspires both awe and terror.

The wedge-shaped capital ship is bristling with weapons emplacements. Turbolasers and tractor beam projectors dot its surface. Its ventral bay can launch TIE Fighters, boarding craft, land assault units, hyperspace probes, or be used to hold captured craft. The finest crew in the Imperial Starfleet staffs its bustling bridge.

The Star Destroyer is recognized as the signature vessel of the imperial fleet. Its presence in a system marks matters of extreme Imperial import. Though, as is typical of the Empire, not even the Star Destroyer was enough to sate the Imperial hunger for displays of power. Larger vessels, such as the Super Star Destroyer, dwarf even these giants.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Imperial Star Destroyer
The Imperial Star destroyer isn’t fast, it isn’t agile, but it is one of the most powerful and dangerous starships of its size. It has a massive array of firepower, with 50 Heavy turbolasers. Although this is easily dwarfed by the Super Star Destroyer class, the ISD is far superior in speed, and maneuverability. The Dagger shape of the ISD allows it to fire almost all its guns at an enemy that is directly in front of it.

The Mon Calamari opponents to this behemoth are lightly armed in comparison, but are tougher and far more robust. An ISD can easily defeat a Mon Calamari MC-40 class, and can match up well against a MC-80. But the ISD is outmatched by the massive MC-90, which is in wide use in the New Republic, and this is the reason why EH engineers are developing better designs of the Star Destroyer.