| | |
The Trident-class assault ship, also known as the Trident assault ship, was a model of aquatic gunship manufactured by the Colicoid Creation Nest. They were used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. The starships acted as both attack craft and transports that could travel underwater and in space. A larger version of the ship known as the Trident drill assault craft had a giant drill spike located at the bottom of the craft, which could be used to penetrate the hulls of battleships and bunkers. The ship could then release troops such as AQ-series battle droids by use of deployment racks through the hole it created.
Characteristics
The engines on Asajj Ventress' Trident
The Trident-class assault ship, also known as the Trident assault ship, Trident drill assault craft,[1] or simply drill assault craft, was a type of assault ship manufactured by Colicoid Creation Nest. They had four durasteel-armored tentacles equipped with magnetic grapples that served both as weapons and as a means of mobility, as well as a rhombus pyramid-style head that featured several observation portals.[3]
It was not equipped with a hyperdrive, although it could be effectively utilized underwater.[3] It measured at 88.71 meters[5] and was equipped with eight laser cannons. There were two variants of the Trident-class, a smaller variant and a larger variant.[8] At the base of the head and between the tentacles larger variant was a drill spike used to penetrate the hulls of battleships and other vessels and structures, and could open up to deploy battle droids, such as AQ-series battle droids, from deployment racks.[3]
Its observation portals could be breached by blaster spears,[9] and despite being equipped with deflector shields,[3] they could be destroyed by a single hit from a missile launcher.[6] The interior of the vessel could be adapted to become submerged, although if not adapted, a breach of the observation portals could haywire systems, resulting in interior explosions that could send the vessel out of control.[9]
History
Asajj Ventress had a personal Trident-class vessel named the Trident which she used to kidnap Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta from Tatooine during the Clone Wars.[10] A number of Trident ships were deployed alongside the Recusant-class light destroyer Gilded Aegis above an aquatic celestial body.[11]
Trident drills clamber onto Tipoca City.
The ship was heavily featured during the Battle of Kamino, as it could travel through the planet's seas and deploy various troops, including B2-series super battle droids and AQ-series battle droids. As Republic forces seemingly won a fleet engagement above the planet, Ventress amassed her droid forces underwater and eventually, the Trident-classes leaped out of the water and onto Tipoca City, directly deploying the droid armies either onto platforms or drilling through the city walls and deploying droids directly inside. The vessels also used their long arms to take out clone troopers who attempted to repel the droid invaders. Some of the Tridents were taken out by Advanced Recon Force Scout Troopers using RPS-6 rocket launchers, and eventually the tide turned and the Separatists lost the battle.[6]
It also played a role during the Battle of Mon Cala, where Separatist forces led by Riff Tamson made use of it as a command center. The Trident was used to create whirlpools that stunned enemies and allowed Separatist forces to capture many Republic soldiers.[9]
After the Clone Wars concluded with the defeat of the Separatists and the Jedi, a Trident-class assault ship was used[7] in 9 BBY[12] by the Republic's successor, the Galactic Empire, on Jedha to drill their way into the Pilgrim's Sanctuary.[7]
Behind the scenes
The Imperial Trident-class assault ship model from Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- "For Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, I had the privilege of bringing a new take on a classic from the Clone Wars to life, the Imperial Trident. I was responsible for all art related elements from modeling to final execution and texturing."
- ―Evan Cwiertny in their ArtStation post
The Trident-class assault ship first appeared in the animated theatrical film Star Wars: The Clone Wars in a flashback scene.[10] The ship would later feature throughout the animated series of the same name in multiple episodes.[9] An Imperial version was designed and created for the 2023 video game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor by Evan Cwiertny.[13]
Appearances
- Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Hidden Enemy"- Star Wars: The Clone Wars film (First appearance) (In flashback(s))
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "ARC Troopers"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Water War"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Gungan Attack"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Prisoners"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "A Friend in Need" (In flashback(s))- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Sources
Trident drill assault craft in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct) (First identified as Trident drill assault craft)- Star Wars Helmet Collection: C-3PO Databank A-Z: Wedge Antilles–Azmorigan
- Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as Trident-class assault ship)
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
- Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 71 Starship Fact File: Trident-class Assault Ship
- Star Wars: Galactic Atlas
- Star Wars Helmet Collection: Wedge Antilles Databank A-Z: Trident Assault Ship–Turbolasers
- Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- Rise of the Separatists
- Collapse of the Republic
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- "Battle Droids and Other Droids of War" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Colicoid Destroyer — Trident-class Assault Ship
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Drill Beak
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Enhanced Propulsion
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Grappler
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Lawless Pirates — Trident-class Assault Ship
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Nautolan's Revenge
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Neimoidian Grasp
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Tractor Tentacles
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Trident-class Assault Ship Expansion Pack Card: Trident
- Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Asajj Ventress in the Databank (backup link)
Trident Drill Assault Craft in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles second edition
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Collapse of the Republic
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3
Trident Drill Assault Craft in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "ARC Troopers"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- ↑
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Gungan Attack"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Prisoners"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
- ↑ Star Wars: Armada — Recusant-class Destroyer Expansion Pack Card: Gilded Aegis
- ↑
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on StarWars.com (backup link) dates Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which equates to 9 BBY per Star Wars: Timelines.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1
Evan Cwiertny (@evancwiertny) on ArtStation: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - Imperial Trident-Class Assault Craft (backup link)
