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In the fictional Star Wars universe, Executor is the personal flagship of Darth Vader, it was the first Super-class Star Destroyer. The Executor was 8,000 meters long, or about five times the size of an Imperial-class Star Destroyer. Such enormous ships are really overkill because a smaller verssel could as easily fulfill the specific duties of a headquarters ship. But the Executor's purposes included symbolizing the Emperor's unlimited power and resources and frightening planets and whole systems into submission.
The Executor was presented to Lord Vader shortly after the Battle of Yavin, where the first Death Star was destroyed. It carried more than 1,000 weapons; two full wings of TIE fighters, totaling 144 ships, and 200 other combat and support ships; 38,000 ground stormtroopers; and enough garrison bases and Imperial walkers to destroy any Rebel base.
The ship originally was commanded by Admiral Ozzel, but after his death at the hands of an unforgiving Vader, Admiral Piett was given command. The Executor was destroyed at the Battle of Endor. After its shield generators were eliminated, a Rebel fighter pilot deliberately smashed his figher into the Executor's bridge, and the out-of-control ship was pulled into the uncompleted second Death Star, exploding on impact.
Sources
- Heir to the Empire, volume 1 in The Thrawn Trilogy, Timothy Zahn, Bantam Spectra Books, 1991.
- The Empire Strikes Back film, 20th Century Fox, 1980; novelization, Donald F. Glut, Del Rey Books, 1980.
- Return of the Jedi film, 20th Century Fox, 1983; novelization, James Kahn, Del Rey Books, 1983.
- Imperial Sourcebook, Greg Gorden, WEG, 1989.
- Movie Trilogy Sourcebook, Greg Farshtey and Bill Smith, WEG, 1993.
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