Death Squadron Info

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-12-08 09:43pm

All the sources I've seen so far say it was.

Jim Raynor · Post by **Jim Raynor** » 2002-12-08 09:46pm

IG-88E wrote:Found something:

After their shocking defeat at the Battle of Yavin, it was obvious to The Emperor that he would need to bring the full might of his military forces to bear on the Rebel Alliance if he was to crush the their rebellion. One of those options was the mighty Death Squadron. Assigned to his agent, Darth Vader to do with as he felt neccessary, the Death Squadron was comprised of Vader's flagship, the massive Super-class Star Destroyer, Executor (a gift to Vader from Palpatine), and five Imperial-class Star Destroyers. By itself, this massive force could take on anything Alliance Fleet Command could ever hope to throw at it, perhaps the entire Rebel fleet itself. Combined, these six Imperial ships housed thousands of TIE-class fighters, immense firepower, elite officers, and a contingent of the Imperial Army for ground assault.

For several years, it has long been a mystery as to exactly which five Star Destroyers served with this squadron of destruction. Of no doubt were the ImpStars Devastator, Avenger, and Tyrant. If you will remember, the Devastator was Lord Vader's first flagship, used to capture Princess Leia's consular ship, Tantive IV, over the desert world of Tatooine. Two other ships the most rumored to have occupied the remaining slots, during the Hoth battle anyway, were the Vengeance and Invincible (commanded by the legendary Admiral Larin Carist). It isn't impossible that at one time both ships or even others may have been in the Death Squadron. There is also the fact that after the Battle of Hoth three Star Destroyers were badly damaged, one critically, while trying to capture the elusive Millennium Falcon. It is still not known which Star Destroyers replaced those three, but the Stalker is another ImpStar commonly believed to have been with the squadron during its existance.

Whatever the case may be, it is not a rumor as to who its commanders were. The first Death Squad command fell upon Admiral Griff. Griff was a competent officer who oversaw the construction of Vader's Executor and later the blockade of the remaining Rebel forces on Yavin 4. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), he wasn't in command of the squadron very long as a miscalculated hyperspace jump landed him and his ship too close to the Executor. Both ship and Admiral were tragically lost. The next commander of the Squadron was Admiral Ozzel--a promotion that was more political than anything else. When Ozzel proved himself to be as unworthy as most thought, the Squadron was given over to a young officer who had already earned much respect amongst many of his peers, Captain Piett. Though Admiral Piett ultimately became the Squadron's last commander, Piett was the only Death Squadron commander allowed the honor to die in combat when he became a victim of the quickly unraveling Empire at the climactic Battle of Endor.

Many Rebels will tell you that the mere sight of Darth Vader's Death Squadron entering a sector was enough for them to surrender. The Death Squadron remains a paralyzing example of the sheer power the Empire possessed.
This is good info. All I need now are Needa's and Lennox's names...waitaminute, maybe I can find them...

Where did you get this?

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2002-12-08 09:47pm

I would have to assume it was. Since it was Vader's flagship prior to Executor.

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-12-08 09:48pm

http://www.theforce.net/ccg/ccgindex/de ... dron.shtml

IRG CommandoJoe · Post by **IRG CommandoJoe** » 2002-12-08 10:03pm

IG-88E: I was laughing because you asked whether or not they have first names, which is just silly IMO.

DG_Cal_Wright: Screw you, jackass!

By itself, this massive force could take on anything Alliance Fleet Command could ever hope to throw at it, perhaps the entire Rebel fleet itself.

Too bad that is blatantly false. Death Squadron and 20-something ISDs couldn't destroy the Rebel Fleet, and that was AFTER two Mon Cals were destroyed by the DSII. And of course people will say that the only reason the Executor was destroyed was because of the A-Wing pilot ramming into the command deck. However, Rebel Mon Cal HTLs slamming into the command deck would produce the same results, if not even more devastating results. With the bridge knocked out, taking out the rest of the ship would have been no problem for the Rebels had it not crashed into the DSII before they got the chance to blow it up themselves. I guess the Executor was a paper tiger and the Rebels never had enough guts to face it until it was absolutely necessary to ensure their survival.

IRG CommandoJoe · Post by **IRG CommandoJoe** » 2002-12-08 10:04pm

Whoops, what I meant here: "IG-88E: I was laughing because you asked whether or not they have first names, which is just silly IMO," was "IG-88E: I was laughing because you asked whether or not they have first names (as opposed to whether or not anyone knew their first names), which is just silly IMO."

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-12-08 10:07pm

Oh. I meant were they given first names, but I see how you can laugh at that.

Post by **Vympel** » 2002-12-08 10:09pm

Hmmm- my list of Death Squadron comes from the Behind the Magic CD- so I don't know which is more authoritative.

Needa does have a first name though. Check starwars.com IIRC.

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-12-08 10:13pm

I found it a long time ago: Lorth.

Jim Raynor · Post by **Jim Raynor** » 2002-12-08 11:49pm

IRG CommandoJoe wrote:IG-88E: I was laughing because you asked whether or not they have first names, which is just silly IMO.
DG_Cal_Wright: Screw you, jackass!

By itself, this massive force could take on anything Alliance Fleet Command could ever hope to throw at it, perhaps the entire Rebel fleet itself.
Too bad that is blatantly false. Death Squadron and 20-something ISDs couldn't destroy the Rebel Fleet, and that was AFTER two Mon Cals were destroyed by the DSII. And of course people will say that the only reason the Executor was destroyed was because of the A-Wing pilot ramming into the command deck. However, Rebel Mon Cal HTLs slamming into the command deck would produce the same results, if not even more devastating results. With the bridge knocked out, taking out the rest of the ship would have been no problem for the Rebels had it not crashed into the DSII before they got the chance to blow it up themselves. I guess the Executor was a paper tiger and the Rebels never had enough guts to face it until it was absolutely necessary to ensure their survival.

The Imperial fleet at Endor had their hands tied behind their backs. Instead of being allowed to blast away at the Rebel fleet, they were ordered only to prevent them from escaping. They were caught completely off guard when the Rebel fleet closed in to extreme close range for a chaotic brawl. This was something that was stated as being never attempted before in the canon novelization, and which the Rebels would never had pulled off if the fleet had been allowed to shoot at them.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2002-12-09 05:39pm

Ig-**, the Admiral's name was Okins. He was the Admiral following Bespin, though Piett was awarded he held his Admiral's position in but name aboard the Accuser. When Okins was executed shortly before Endor, right after Shadows of the Empire it is believed Death Squadron hounded Ackbar's commandship all the way too Sullust and isolated much of the Fleet giving the impression the 1st Imperial Fleet & Death Squadron was hunting them. Right before Endor, Death Squadron and othe important 1st Fleet ships wnt too Endor.