IPV-1 System Patrol Craft

The IPV-1 System Patrol Craft, also known as the Imperial patrol vessel,^[4] Imperial patrol vehicle^[5] or IPV-1-class corvette, was a standard system security and customs vessel commonly used near planets to interdict smugglers and protect against piracy. It was produced by Republic Sienar Systems.

Description

Being very fast and maneuverable, they patrolled Republic and later Imperial sectors when larger ships were unavailable, and were capable of keeping pace with the small, fast, and heavily armed pirate ships that preyed on hyperlanes. They were thus regarded as the first line of defense against purveyors of contraband and various organizations attempting insurrection against a system, and relied on their speed to catch and disable or destroy enemy craft. Pirate attacks fell to an all-time low when this craft was in a sector. However many fell into the hands of pirates and crime syndicates who used them to defend their outposts.

Lacking a stock hyperdrive, the IPV-1 was often deployed along specific patrol routes along known smuggling lanes to maintain the peace and order within controlled space. At least some IPV-1s, like the Freejack, were modified for hyperspace travel.^[5]

In order to serve their purpose well, these vessels were armed with four Taim & Bak XV7 turbolasers, as well as a single Krupx VL-4a warhead launcher.

History

At some point the IPV-1 was the most common warship in the Imperial Navy and skirmish lines of up to 24 IPVs guarded systems that required a permanent imperial presence.^[11]

The Alliance to Restore the Republic was also known to have purchased them through various merchant systems.

One was present at Jerrilek during the rescue of Chel Dorat.

During the Thrawn campaign, Niles Ferrier managed to steal the three IPV-1 System Patrol Craft from the Cavrilhu Pirates in the Amorris system in order to sell them to the Empire.^[12][13]

Behind the scenes

Starships of the Galaxy claimed that these ships were originally manufactured for the Republic and that their original designation was "Independent Patrol Vehicle". The name was changed to "Imperial Patrol Vehicle" under the Empire, but the design of the ships was not.^[5]

In Star Wars: Empire at War and Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption, IPV-1s may be built at pirate docks, but not Imperial bases; they are also seen very often in Black Sun pirate fleets orbiting pirate controlled planets in Empire at War's "Galactic Conquest" mode.

The IPV-1 was mispelled IVP-1 in Loyalties and Starships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition.

Appearances

• The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
• "Infiltration" — Supernova
• "Loyalties" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 4 (as IPV-1 Inter-System Patrol Craft)
• "Droids Defiant" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 9
• Star Wars: Empire at War
• Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
• "The Rival" — The Far Orbit Project
• "Raid on Brentaal" — The Far Orbit Project
• River of Chaos 1
• Beyond the Rim
• Star Wars: TIE Fighter
• "The Stele Chronicles" — Star Wars: TIE Fighter (First appearance, simultaneous with Star Wars: TIE Fighter)
• Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
• Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
• Dark Force Rising (and unabridged audiobook) (Mentioned only)
• Dark Force Rising abridged audiobook
• Planet of Twilight
• Planet of Twilight abridged audiobook
• Vision of the Future (and unabridged audiobook)
• Vision of the Future abridged audiobook

Sources

Notes and references