Ships of the Phoenix Cell helping out the Spectres.
In the early days of the rebellion against the Galactic Empire, various rebel cells began coordinating their efforts to combat the reign of the Empire. A rebel fleet was beginning to form.[18]
Later, the rebel fleet's Phoenix Cell evacuated rebel sympathizers from the planet Mykapo prior to an Imperial crackdown. CommanderJun Sato also managed to rescue his nephew Captain Mart Mattin and his Iron Squadron with the help of the Spectres. Thrawn allowed Phoenix Cell to escape into space since he was after the Rebel Fleet.[30]
The Alliance Fleet being formed following Senator Mon Mothma's speech
…Thrawn believes this is the entire rebel fleet.Hera Syndulla
Bail and Breha Organa began building the Rebel fleet early in the war. Many of its ships were refurbished in various Rebel shipyards, such as Paucris Major. The Organas also stole an Imperial medical frigate.[32]
One of the first engagements the nascent Alliance Fleet took part in was when the Phoenix Cell and a portion of the Massassi Group massed at Chopper Base on Atollon. They planned on attacking the TIE/d "Defender" Multi-Role Starfighter factories on Lothal with the help of the Lothal resistance group. Grand Admiral Thrawn however, had discovered not only their plan to attack his factories but their location as well. His Fleetambushed the rebels and they attempted to flee. Thrawn's Interdictor vessels kept the rebels at Atollon and they began attacking his blockade. The battle was a disastrous rout for the Alliance, with many their ships falling to TIE/sa bombers and Phoenix Cell's flagship ramming into one of the Interdictors. JediCommanderEzra Bridger escaped the system, leaving the remaining rebels to defend the base from Thrawn's ground forces. Thrawn quickly took the base but not for long as a Force-sensitive creature called the Bendu attacked both sides. Ezra returned with reinforcements and they destroyed the second Interdictor Vessel allowing the remaining rebels to escape. Only the Ghost, two Hammerhead corvettes, the CR90 corvette Liberator, and a scattering of starfighters survived.[31]
Galactic Civil War
Battle of Scarif
Send the whole Rebel fleet if you have to.Jyn Erso, to Alliance High Command
The Alliance Fleet during the Battle of Scarif
Despite the losses from prior battles, the Alliance began to consolidate additional support and more vessels. The first major action of the Alliance Fleet was at Scarif. Here, a fleet led by Admiral Raddus assaulted the Imperial Shield Gate above Scarif, to support the theft of the Death Star plans below in the Citadel Tower. Even with many ships, the rebel fleet is still outgunned, as a majority of their ships were transports, frigates, and corvettes with the Profundity being the only capitol ship the rebels have at that time. Despite the lack of capitol ships available, the Alliance ships still put up a fierce fight. Raddus ordered Blue Squadron to fly through the shield gate before it closed and support the ground forces. Meanwhile, Red, Gold, and Green Squadrons defended the fleet whilst individually attacking the shield gate to draw its attention. The Y-wings of Gold Squadron disabled one of the Imperial-class Star Destroyers while the Heartbound and Deviant kept the other Star Destroyer from advancing.[7]
The Lightmaker rams the Star Destroyer Persecutor into the Star Destroyer Intimidator
Raddus then got news from the ground that the plans to the Death Star were obtained and the shield gate would need to be destroyed in order for them to be transmitted. Raddus, therefore, devised a plan for the Sphyrna-class corvette Lightmaker to ram the disabled Star Destroyer into the functioning one. The Lightmaker successfully did this and managed to bring the Destroyer into the shield gate. Raddus' ship, the Profundity, then received the plans from the rebels in the citadel tower. Their moment of victory was cut short when the Death Star arrived and destroyed the Imperial complex and everything around it on the ground. Raddus ordered the fleet to retreat and the rebel ships began jumping to hyperspace. In the middle of their retreat, the Devastator arrived, destroyed several ships, and disabled the Profundity. Rebel soldiers on the Profundity downloaded the plans onto a memory piece and escaped on the Tantive IV before Darth Vader could intercept them.[7] The Profundity was destroyed thereafter, taking Raddus and his crew with it.
Pursuit above Tatooine
The Rebel Alliance is too well equipped. They're more dangerous than you realize.General Cassio Tagge
The Tantive IV is pulled into the Devastator's hangar
Following its escape from Scarif, the Tantive IV was on the run. It had sustained damage before its time inside the Profundity and barely made it to Tatooine before its hyperdrive gave out. It was pursued by the Devastator, which was able to track its trail of leaking radiation from the damaged hyperdrive.[33] Unable to put up a proper fight, Tantive IV soon found itself being pulled into the hanger of the Devastator. Darth Vader and his stormtroopers stormed the ship, killing many rebels, and Leia was captured and taken to the Death Star.[6]
The Battle of Yavin
The Alliance finally received the Death Star plans from Organa, who had been rescued from the Death Star by Vader’s son Luke Skywalker, Captain Han Solo, and the latter’s partner Chewbacca. Their next move was to _target its weakness—a small thermal exhaust port which led to the reactor—to destroy it. Vader tracked Han's ship the Millennium Falcon to Yavin 4, revealing the location of Great Temple to the Empire like he did to find the Rebel Fleet four years ago. Grand MoffWilhuff Tarkin, Governor of the Outer Rim Territories, took the Death Star to Yavin and the battle station began orbiting the gas giant, which would soon put it in firing range of the moon where the rebels were based. Short for time, the rebels dispatched Red and Gold and Green Squadron to attack the Death Star. The force of 30 X-wings and Y-wings began destroying turret emplacement and fending off the incoming TIE Fighters defending the Death Star.[6]
Luke Skywalker makes the final trench run in the Death Star while chased by Darth Vader.
Gold Squadron was the first to make an attack run through the Death Stars trench with three Y-wings, flown by Gold Leader Captain Jon Vander, Gold TwoDex Tiree, and Gold FiveDavish Krail. They started _targeting the exhaust port with their _targeting computers but soon found themselves under fire from Darth Vader and two other TIE fighter pilots. The three were killed before they could fire upon the exhaust port. The second attack run was done by Red Squadron with 3 X-wings flown by Red Leader Commander Garven Dreis, Red TenTheron Nett, and Red TwelvePuck Naeco. Theron and Puck were picked off by Darth Vader, but Garven managed to get a shot on the exhaust port, which missed. Garven was then shot down by Vader when pulling out of the Death Stars trench.[6]
The final trench run was done by three of the remaining Red Squadron X-wings flown by Red TwoWedge Antilles, Red ThreeBiggs Darklighter, and Red Five Lieutenant Skywalker. They too were pursued by Darth Vader who destroyed Biggs's X-wing and damaged Wedge's X-wing to the point he had to pull out. Luke was about to be destroyed when Han Solo brought in the Millennium Falcon and attacked Vader and his escort. Vader escaped allowing Luke to make the shot on the exhaust port. Only Luke, Han, Wedge, and Gold Three Lieutenant Evaan Verlaine survived. The Death Star exploded, killing Governor Tarkin and many other high-ranking Imperial officers who were members of the Joint Chiefs like ISB ColonelWullf Yularen at the hands of Skywalker.[6]
Fleeing Yavin
…the Empire now knows our location. Therefore, our first priority is to find a new base of operations. To that end, all Rebel fleets have arrived to assist us in evacuating Yavin immediately.General Jan Dodonna
Following the battle, Admiral Gial Ackbar, promoted to replace the late Raddus, and the Rebel Fleet arrived at Yavin 4 to begin evacuating their base.[34] Afterwards, the Rebel Fleet orbited the remote world of Orto Plutonia while waiting for a suitable base of operations to be established, sending rebel troopers to the planet below for training exercises. The mathematical genius Drusil Bephorin correctly predicted that the Rebel Fleet would be located there and was later rescued from her Imperial captivity by Skywalker.[35] Following the rebel attack on Cymoon 1, Princess Leia and her team rendezvoused with the fleet to meet Ackbar and Mothma.[36]
Sometime after, Skywalker and Organa undertook an undercover diplomaticmission to Tibrin to rally the Ishi Tib to their cause. The mission was a success with the fleet of the Ishi Tib joining the rebels.[37]
The Mid Rim Retreat
After the Battle of Yavin, the Rebellion took advantage of its momentum and launched the Mid Rim Offensive, which included thousands of warships and hundreds of battle groups. The campaign was unsuccessful, forcing the rebel forces to retreat.[38]
Massacre at Vrogas Vas
Vader fights many X-wings
Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, at least five Alliance starfighter squadrons were stationed at the Rebel Refueling Base on Vrogas Vas, including Red Squadron. Their time there was cut short, however, when Darth Vader arrived in the system to find Skywalker. Vader was faced with Red, Blue, and Yellow Squadron. Without hesitation, the Dark Lord of the Sith began tearing their X-wings apart until Skywalker crashed his X-wing into Vader's TIE. The pair plummeted towards the surface and the Y-wings of Gray Squadron began a search for them. Unlucky for them, Gray Squadron found Vader first and the Sith began hurling rocks at them, destroying the Y-wings one by one.[39]
The Rebel Refueling Base began sending ground forces towards Vader's position, escorted by the T-47 airspeeders of Cyan Squadron. They faced Vader, who outsmarted the rebels by activating their grenades and scattering them. Many airspeeders fell in the fight.[40] Later on, Leia Organa ordered the Y-wings of Amber Wing to bombard Vader's new position. The Y-wings were cut off by the Imperial forces led by Commander Karbin. The remaining rebels began retreating as infighting between Vader and Karbin broke out. Karbin was killed in the fight.[41]
Attack on the Mako-Ta Space Docks
It seems your "Master Stroke" falls short. The rebels were not annihilated, my apprentice." "They lost over half their cruisers, they have lost over 90 percent of their fighters. What is left cannot be described as a rebellion. They can no longer hurt us, we will annihilate them at our leisure. The loss of the Death Star made the galaxy think they could rebel. This has shown that the rebellion can never win." "Hmph. It is… satisfactory.Emperor Sheev Palpatine and Darth Vader after the Battle of Mako-Ta
Vanden Willard's cruiser is fired on by the Executor
Following the death of king Lee-Char and the mutiny on Mon Cala, twelve Mon Calamari cruisers joined the Alliance Fleet and gathered around the Mako-Ta Space Docks and for months[14] were converted with Shu-Torun technology into warships. The Alliance leadership, along with Queen Trios of Shu-Torun, celebrated the gathering of completion and gathering of the fleet with a light show performed by X-wing pilots. After the light show, the fleet prepared to launch into hyperspace and scatter throughout the galaxy, ready to be called upon to fight the Empire, but when the launch was attempted, the fleet discovered that their hyperdrives were inoperable. After it was revealed that the Shu-Torun technology was inoperable, Alliance leadership could only watch in despair as Darth Vader's Death Squadron arrived and destroyed Yavin's Hope, killing Willard and his entire crew.[43]
Following Willard's death, the Alliance discovered that the hangar doors on the Mon Cala ships could still open automatically if a ship flew close enough to their sensors. In an attempt to mobilize the Alliance's starfighters, General Bandwin Cor flew a shuttle towards a Mon Cala cruiser, but his shuttle was destroyed, killing him. Shortly after General Cor's death, Solo arrived in the Millennium Falcon.[44] He was briefed on the situation and made a run at the hangar doors of General Dodonna's cruiser, but he was pursued by Vader. C-3PO was able to get word to Skywalker about the hangar doors and Skywalker was able to make the doors open from the inside. Luke, Wedge Antilles, and several other pilots flew their X-Wings into battle, flying under the squadron name Rogue Squadron, in honor of SergeantJyn Erso who died at the Battle of Scarif.[45]
Rebel starships clash with the attacking Imperials over the Mako-Ta Space Docks
Rogue Squadron was able to get the hangars of the various star cruisers open, allowing the rebellion to launch all of their fighters, but the other systems on the ships, such as the hyperdrives and weapons systems, were still offline. Leia Organa and Davits Draven led a team onto the Executor to steal Trios' override codes, but during their infiltration, Vader began pursuing them.[46] Leia successfully obtained the override codes, and Draven was killed by Vader as he attempted to slow him down to protect Leia as she escaped. Leia brought the codes to Dodonna's cruiser, the Republic, and they successfully jumped to hyperspace. Once they reached safety, though, Skywalker and Organa demanded General Dodonna return his cruiser to the battle to save the rest of the fleet. Though reluctant, Dodonna agreed.[47]
Once Dodonna's command ship returned to the battle, it began transmitting the override codes to the rest of the fleet. Once General Syndulla received the override codes, she ordered her cruiser, the Geist, to engage the Imperial fleet while the codes transferred to the remaining rebel ships. Near the end of the battle, Jan Dodonna's cruiser was damaged and its engines were disabled. Dodonna ordered his cruiser to provide cover fire, defending the rest of the fleet as it jumped to hyperspace. After the last cruiser jumped, Dodonna's cruiser was destroyed, killing him and his crew. Though many were able to escape this bloodbath, the rebels lost most of their cruisers, their leaders, and nearly ninety percent of their starfighters.[42]
Aftermath of Mako-Ta
Following the devastation of Mako-Ta, Commander Skywalker, Solo, and General Organa were separated from the Alliance and hired Sana Starros to help them find out the location of the fleet. After encountering an Imperial destroyer while en route to meet a contact on Brentaal IV, they were forced to land on the isolationist moon Hubin.[48] During their time there, Skywalker, Organa, and Solo, as well as the native Clan Markona, fought against SCAR Squadron, and eventually fled the moon. The attack on Hubin by the Empire caused Clan Markona to join the Alliance,[49] and when they eventually met up with the contact, who gave the location of the fleet, Clan Markona was sent to support Syndulla, while Skywalker, Organa, and Solo met with Admiral Ackbar in the Kaliida Nebula, where the Admiral informed them of the many losses that had occurred in their absence since the battle at Mako-Ta.[50]
Battle of Hoth
T-47 airspeeders attacking the All Terrain Armored Transports of Blizzard Force.
In 3 ABY, the Alliance had established a base on the ice planet of Hoth. It location remained a secret for a month before Darth Vader discovered it's location. He brought his armada to Hoth where they blockaded the planet. Many means of transport from the Alliance Fleet were used to evacuate personnel and equipment from Echo Base. GR-75 medium transports were escorted by X-wings under the cover of the Alliance's V-150 Planet Defender, many of them being destroyed trying to pass the blockade. On the ground, the T-47 airspeeders of Rogue Squadron and Corona Squadronfought off the All Terrain Armored Transports of Blizzard Force. Although the battle was a major loss for the Rebellion, a significant portion of the Rebels managed to flee Hoth.[9]
Fleeing into the Outer Rim
Following the loss at Hoth, the Rebel Fleet utilized the scatter protocol, splitting the fleet into small fragments spread out across the galaxy in an effort to deny the Empire a swift propaganda victory like it had on Hoth, as well as overextending the Imperial Navy in its effort to engage the Rebellion.[10] Unlike the previous bold encounters following the Battle of Yavin, the Rebel Fleet now waged a war of survival.[51] Under Operation Starlight, the Alliance worked to reassemble its fleet.[52][53] While the rebels ultimately decided to keep their forces split into different task forces for the overall fleet's own safety,[51] the navy would stand as a united force for a time.[53]
The gathered forces of the Rebel fleet attack the Imperial Unity Day parade on Bar'leth.
Crimson Dawn's orchestrated Syndicate War gave the rebels breathing room to reassemble their fleet since Emperor Palpatine was distracted by it[54] and grow its numbers.[55] While Crimson Dawn would be shattered in the Battle at Amaxine Station,[54] the Rebel fleet launched the Unity Day attack in the months after the Battle of Hoth to prove the Alliance survived its defeat.[53] When Mothma was kidnapped by Scarabimcernaries amid the Trial of Lando Calrissian, Ackbar activated Tactical Plan Eighteen to break up the fleet for its own safety in case Mothma was compromised during her imprisonment, keeping the fleet divided until he was ready to send out an all-clear signal.[56] Imprisoned within Safe House Four, Mothma attempted to and nearly succeeded in persuading Scarabi leader Hachi to release her, only for a fellow Scarabi mercenary to execute Hachi. However, the Pathfinders—joined by Chewbacca and Calrissian, who wanted to prove his loyalty to the Alliance—then successfully rescued Mothma.[57]
A new rebel base was eventually erected on the remote world of 5251977 where various rebel ships would be stationed.[10] Two rebel ships, the CR90 corvette Thunderstrike and its escort, the Braha'tok-class gunshipApailana's Promise, started attacking Imperial holdouts in the Mid Rim after realizing that the Imperial Navy's forces there had been stretched by the hunt for rebels in the Outer Rim. With the help of the soldiers of Twilight Company, the two vessels devastated many production lines in that area, drawing out forces from Kuat. They planned to attack Kuat Drive Yards until the Thunderstrike was destroyed at the Siege of Inyusu Tor.[38]
Assembling near Sullust
What of the reports of the Rebel fleet massing near Sullust?Darth Vader, to Emperor Sheev Palpatine
The Alliance fleet assembling near Sullust.
After a high-stakes meeting on the Outer Rim world of Zastiga, where numerous members of the Alliance learned of the existence and location of the second Death Star. Prior to their attack, the fleet gathered over the planet Sullust,[51] which Twilight Company had liberated.[38] Knowing their failure to immediately destroy the Empire's battle station would spell doom for the entire revolutionary movement.[51] Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, Princess Leia, and Lando Calrissian joined the fleet here after rescuing Captain Solo from Tatooine, where they were soon joined by Skywalker after he returned from Dagobah.[11]
Battle of Endor
Move the fleet away from the Death Star.Admiral Gial Ackbar
The Alliance fleet during the Battle of Endor.
Before the fleet could attack the Death Star, a small strike team of Rebel Commandos had to take out the shield operating from the Forest moon of Endor. However, the team's attempt was thwarted by a trap set by the Imperials at the base.[11] Using the Sanctuary Pipeline,[51] the Alliance Fleet arrived at Endor and the squadrons of starfighters moved in to attack the Death Star. Led by General Calrissian on the Millennium Falcon, the many squadrons consisted of X-wings, Y-wings, A-wings, and B-wings But before the mass of starfighters could get to the Death Star, Lando discovered the shield was still up and the whole fleet was forced to turn around before they collided with it.[11]
The Alliance fleet was then met by a fleet of Imperial-class Star Destroyers led by the Super Star Destroyer Executor. The Imperial TIEs engaged the rebel fighters and a battle broke out around the rebel fleet. The larger capital ships of the Imperial fleet stayed dormant under orders of the Emperor himself. That was when the second Death Star's operational superlaser began firing on the Alliance Fleet, annihilating the MC80 Star CruisersLiberty and Nautilian. Ackbar ordered the rebels fleet pull into close range of the Imperial fleet to keep escape the firing of the Death Star which would affect the Star Destroyers if they were too close.[11]
Alliance starfighters flying through the second Death Stars reactor shaft.
Despite their failed first attempt, the Endor strike team managed to capture the main base on Endor and destroy the shield generator protecting the Death Star. This meant Alliance starfighters could now enter the Death Stars reactor shaft and fly towards the reactor. Lando led the remaining starfighters of Red and Gold Squadron to enter the reactor shaft. They entered the shaft where they found themselves intercepted by Imperial starfighters who shot down the X-wing flown by Keir Santage. Lando ordered the group to split up to draw Imperial TIEs out away from the Millennium Falcon. Lando and Red Leader Wedge Antilles continued towards the reactor whilst the rest of the group, including Gold NineNorra Wexley, drew other TIEs out of the Death Star down an alternative shaft.[11]
Meanwhile, the Executor was taking heavy fire from rebel ships and multiple A-wings had hit a devastating blow to their shields. Green LeaderArvel Crynyd's A-wing was damaged by turret fire and crashed into the bridge of the Executor, disabling the ship and sending it falling into the Death Star. Lando and Wedge arrived at the reactor and detonated it, bringing down the second Death Star from the inside out. Despite heavy losses, the Alliance Fleet was victorious and the Emperor got killed in action by Vader so he could save Luke.[11]
Five years later,[58] the New Republic was still in the process of decommissioning the Alliance Fleet however they were falling behind.[59]
Organization
Friends, dignitaries, allies what you have seen today is strength. The fleet is our hidden blade…but all of you should know, it is there. When it is needed, we will be here for you.Chancellor Mon Mothma
The Rebel Navy was a small but effective armada.[60] The fleet and its activities were overseen by Alliance High Command, who managed the logistical and strategic matters of the Rebellion's efforts against the dominant Galactic Empire. The fleet was originally led by Raddus, though Gial Ackbar took over after Raddus' death.[10] The flagship of the rebel armada was originally Raddus's personal ship, the Profundity, until its loss at the Battle of Scarif. Afterward, the rebel flag was moved to the Home One, a massive cruiser commanded by Ackbar.[60] Ackbar held the title of Supreme commander of the Alliance fleet.[5]
The Alliance fleet prepares for the assault on the second Death Star
As an all-volunteer military, recruits could come and go as they pleased without reporting it to their superiors. Such practice, however, was frowned upon, while members would often stay with the fleet owing to a sense of camaraderie and impracticality of returning to their home systems, which were often under Imperial control.[10] With the Fleet constantly moving, it could take weeks for a separated pilot to rejoin their squadron, owing in part to the scatter protocol for rebel pilots, which established a practice of randomly choosing a path to various worlds throughout hyperspace in order to lose any possible Imperial pursuit.[61]
Tactical Plan Eighteen was a plan activated if the fleet's location was compromised, keeping the overall navy save by dividing its forces. If ordered, the plan would see the captain of any rebel starship that was frigate-classified or larger choose a random location to hyperspace jump for, thereby breaking up the fleet until an all-clear signal was sent out. If a starfighter or shuttle was outside its home ship when the plan was enacted, the pilot was to dock their vessel at the nearest craft. Overall, with rebel pilots having been drilled on the operational plan, the plan could be completed in ten minutes or less.[56]
Starships of the Alliance Fleet
Capital ships
Various Alliance Navy starships participate in a large battle against the Empire.
In the final accounting, Mon Calamari ships were vital to the success of the Alliance Navy. The craft that came from the Mon Cala Mercantile Fleet or that started out life as city-ships, which escaped from Mon Cala's Imperial occupation, were the backbone of the fleet. As such, the fact that the navy's flagship would be a Mon Cala warship, such as the Profunity or Home One, was no surprise. Given powerful shields and turbo-lasers, Mon Cala city-ships were retrofitted into capital ships that could stand against Imperial-class Star Destroyers in space battles.[60]
Even though the ships were also used by the Empire and the Republic Navy before it, the Rebellion also made use of the High-Altitude Entry Transport-221 after a number were located by the Rebels.[82]
Star Wars Rebels — "Secret Cargo"
"The Princess and the Bog, A Twin Tale, Part 1" — Star Wars Adventures (2020) 7
"Swoop Racers" — Star Wars Adventures (2017) 21 (also reprinted in Star Wars Fun & Action 6)
"Blade Squadron" — Star Wars Insider 149–150 (also reprinted in Star Wars Insider: The Fiction Collection Volume 1)
Star Wars Forces of Destiny — "An Imperial Feast"
The Mandalorian — "Chapter 19: The Convert" (Mentioned only)
LEGO STAR WARS: Celebrate the Season — "Reindeer Walker"
"Fighter Flight" — LEGO Star Wars 96
Ackbar in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
Star Wars Helmet Collection 1 (Databank A-Z: Ask Aak–Stass Allie)
Star Wars: Armada — Rebel Transports Expansion Pack
Star Wars: Destiny — Awakenings (Card: Admiral Ackbar) (backup link) (Picture only)
Star Wars Rebels Season 3 – Mid-Season Trailer (Official) on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 1 (Droid Directory: R2-series Astromech Droid, Part 1) (Picture only)
Star Wars: Build Your Own X-Wing 1 (Creating a Starship Fleet: Ralph McQuarrie – The Man Who Drew Star Wars) (Picture only)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — BTL-A4 Y-Wing Expansion Pack (Card: Gray Squadron Bomber) (Reissued in Rebel Alliance Conversion Kit)
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian — "Directing"
Star Wars: The Vintage Collection (Pack: Han Solo (Endor)) (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
Obi-Wan Kenobi | Star Wars Full Circle on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (content now obsolete; backup link)
Admiral Ackbar in the Databank (backup link)
Star Wars: Armada — Profundity Expansion Pack (Card: Mon Calamari Exodus Fleet)
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game — ARC-170 Expansion Pack
