THE TOP TEN COOLEST STAR WARS SHIPS

The final list in my Star Wars Trilogy (Ha! It's funny cuz it's true... Ah ha ha!) focuses entirely on the many cool space ships found throughout the Original Trilogy. Look, it's not that I have anything against the newest Trilogy, per se, it's just that I'm, how shall I say, far happier and less completely embarrassed and ashamed by the first, and far superior, three films. There, I said it. Well, don't despair that I only used ships from the flicks, I did choose a couple from the Expanded Universe that includes books, comics, games, and the like. So, follow along with baited breath as I present the 10 Coolest Star Wars Space Ships: perhaps some of the most recognizable items from the movies aside from the characters themselves. Enjoy!





LOCK S-FOILS IN ATTACK POSITION! SHE'S FAST ENOUGH FOR YOU, OLD MAN!






10) BOBA FETT'S SHIP - SLAVE 1




SPECS: Slave I was a modified prototype Firespray-31-class patrol and attack craft used by famed bounty hunters Jango Fett and his cloned "son", Boba Fett. It was greatly modified with advanced weapons systems by both Fetts during their respective use. Originating from Oovo IV, the ship was stolen by Jango Fett, replacing his previous ship, Jaster's Legacy. After Jango's death on Geonosis in 22 BBY, the ship was inherited by Boba Fett and used on several missions during and after the Clone Wars. It was subsequently replaced by the Slave II, Slave III, and Slave IV.

QUOTE: "There's no star system Slave I can't reach, and there's no planet I can't find. There's nowhere in the galaxy for you to run. Might as well give up now."
―Boba Fett

NOTES: Everyone knew Boba Fett was destined to be a bad-ass from the very moment he was glimpsed among the 'slime' as the myriad bounty hunters stood aboard the Star Destroyer waiting for instructions from Darth Vader. Then, as a quick-witted Han dropped off the giant ship as it dumped it's garbage, Fett followed in the Slave 1 unnoticed and finally cornered his prey on Bespin.







9) THE REBEL SNOW SPEEDER



SPECS: The T-47 was an atmospheric vehicle designed for industrial cargo handling. Its cockpit featured positions for a forward-facing pilot and a rear-facing cargo manager. The cargo manager used the airspeeder's magnetic harpoon and tow cable to control repulsorlift cargo modules.

QUOTE: "We had seen our snowspeeder pilots perform maneuvers every day in the simulators, before the speeders had been adapted to the cold. But we had never seen the full squadron in flight, and it was a heartening sight."
―Voren Na'al, regarding the Battle of Hoth

NOTES: Unfortunately, these ships proved to be basically useless against the heavily-armed AT-AT Walkers. Sure, the tripping maneuver provided by the tow-cable was a pretty slick plan, however, only one crew managed to pull it off. In the LEGO Star Wars video game, these ships are far cooler and can be used in a variety of battles.









8) DARTH VADER'S TIE FIGHTER



SPECS: The TIE Advanced x1, or TIE/x1 was an advanced prototype starfighter touted as a replacement for the standard TIE Fighter and tested by Darth Vader at the Battle of Yavin. While it never made it into production, many of its best design features were later incorporated into the TIE/sa bomber and TIE/In interceptor. Further development of the Advanced continued, eventually leading to the TIE Avenger and TIE Defender.

QUOTE: "They're coming in too fast!"
―Luke Skywalker

NOTES: As imposing as Darth Vader was, and as good of a pilot as he evidently was (see: Crappy New Trilogy), he sure wasn't bright enough to watch out behind his dumb ass when Han Solo snuck up on him in the Death Star trench. Yes, it was a kick-ass TIE Fighter, however, without a rear view mirror, it may as well have been a flying rock.





7) THE DREADNAUGHT



SPECS: The Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser, or simply the Dreadnaught, was a capital ship built for planetary occupation and space combat used by the Galactic Republic, Galactic Empire, New Republic, local governments and various other organizations.


QUOTE: "These are built from Mandalorian design. Not the most modern, but very strong."
―Supreme Chancellor Palpatine


NOTES: Though Dreadnaught-class starships were first shown in action in Dark Force Rising, they are mentioned earlier in Heir to the Empire as providing the main hull of Nomad City. Like many of the ships and vehicles in the Thrawn Trilogy, the Dreadnaught originated in the Imperial Sourcebook.






6) SUPER STAR DESTROYER



SPECS: Super Star Destroyer (SSD) was a term used by Imperial and Rebel/New Republic personnel for many warship classes larger than Star Destroyers, ranging from Star Cruisers up to Star Dreadnaughts. It was used concurrently with the term Super-class Star Destroyer.
Darth Vader's command ship, the Executor, was one such vessel and one of the most famous Super Star Destroyers fielded, as was the even deadlier Eclipse, which served as one of Galactic Emperor Palpatine's flagships.

QUOTE: "Concentrate all fire on that Super Star Destroyer!"
―Admiral Ackbar, referring to the Executor, during the Battle of Endor


NOTES: Though many bits and pieces of both major space battles (Yavin and Endor) stick in my mind, one of the very coolest was when one of the Super Star Destroyers lost use of its engines and lift capabilities and speared itself right into the Death Star. So cool.






5) DASH RENDAR'S SHIP - OUTRIDER


SPECS: The Outrider started life as a stock Corellian Engineering Corporation YT-2400. Like all the ships in the YT series, the Outrider featured the trademark saucer-shaped hull, which Rendar reinforced with titanium armor and gave a dark, chrome gleam. The cockpit and main escape pod were attached to the starboard side of the saucer with two bracing arms. The docking hatch and another escape pod were on the port side.

QUOTE: "I owe the Outrider the best. She's brought me home when any other ship would have scattered me across space."
―Dash Rendar

NOTES: Outrider is one of the few C-canon elements from the Expanded Universe which is adopted in G-canon (the films) -another being the main Jedi Council planet of Coruscant-. In addition to its appearance in Shadows of the Empire, the ship also appears in the special edition of A New Hope.







4) THE DEATH STAR



SPECS: A Death Star was an Imperial moon-sized military battlestation armed with a planet-destroying superlaser. The Death Stars were the first in a long series of superweapons developed to execute the Tarkin Doctrine, but whose concept had been explored even before the Clone Wars. The Death Star was designed to allow Emperor Palpatine to more directly control the Galactic Empire through fear. A Death Star was to be commanded usually by a Moff.

QUOTE: Bail: "Surely there's nothing new about a space fortress."
Tion: "I don't mean a mere orbital gun platform, Your Majesty. This is a machine of war such as the universe has never known. It's colossal, the size of a class-four moon. And it possesses firepower unequaled in the history of warfare."
Leia: "And this, this flying pillbox is going to make you a member of the Imperial elite?"
Tion: "More than a pillbox, Princess. It boasts a Prime Weapon capable of destroying entire planets."
— Bail Organa, Tion and Leia Organa.

NOTES: Ok, I know: it's not a ship. I know. But it's also, "no moon! It's a Space Station!" So there.







3) THE SUN CRUSHER

SPECS: The Sun Crusher was a nearly indestructible craft that was no larger than a starfighter, but was capable of unleashing destruction on a magnitude that dwarfed even the Death Star's capabilities. Unlike the Death Star that destroyed individual planets, the Sun Crusher could destroy an entire star system by causing its star to turn into a supernova. The key to its near invincibility was layered molecular armor, a material so strong that it could resist even turbolaser shots.

QUOTE: "The only thing more dangerous than a Dark Jedi is a Dark Jedi behind the controls of a Sun Crusher…"
―Han Solo, speaking of Kyp Durron

NOTES: It is believed that the spacecraft shown on the cover of Dark Apprentice is an alternative, non-canon version of the Sun Crusher.







2) LUKE SKYWALKER'S SHIP - THE X-WING FIGHTER



SPECS: The X-wing was a prominent series of multiple starfighters produced by Incom with a characteristic "X"-shape of four wings, known as S-foils, extending out from the fuselage. These starfighters were found in the service of the Rebel Alliance, New Republic, and also the Galactic Alliance. They were originally meant for the Galactic Empire but when the entire Incom design team defected with the prototypes to the Rebel Alliance this deal was over.

QUOTE: "The Incom T-65 X-wing is the fighter that destroyed the Death Star. An almost perfect balance of speed, maneuverability, and defensive shielding make it the fighter of choice for Rogue Squadron."
―General Carlist Rieekan


NOTES: When that quickly babbled quote from ANH is spoken: "Lock 'S' Foils in attack position", I used to believe he was saying, "Luck as falls in attack..." I think mine sounds cooler. I've since contacted Lucas about changing it. He hasn't returned my emails.







1) HAN SOLO AND CHEWBACCA'S SHIP - THE MILLENNIUM FALCON



SPECS: The Millennium Falcon was the famous personal smuggling starship of Han Solo and Chewbacca. The Falcon began life as a standard Corellian Engineering Corporation YT-1300 stock light freighter. Solo won it from Lando Calrissian in the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament. Under both Calrissian and Solo, the ship endured many adventures and upgrades which led to its dilapidated exterior appearance, and played a vital role in the Galactic Civil War.

QUOTE: "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!"
―Leia Organa to Han Solo

NOTES: Apparently, the most kick-ass ship in all of Star Wars history came about when Lucas saw a hamburger and a pickle together on a diner plate. Now that's something.