Defender

A Venator-class Star Destroyer, the Defender served as part of the Galactic Republic's naval branch, in the Open Circle Fleet, during the Clone Wars. Under the command of Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, the Star Destroyer was incorporated into the Jedi Knight's fleet by the time of 21 BBY. In that year, the Defender and Skywalker's fleet, which also consisted of the Venator-class Star Destroyers Resolute—Skywalker's flagship—and Redeemer, were sent to attack and break through a Confederacy of Independent Systems blockade over the planet Ryloth.

Following their arrival, the Defender and the accompanying Venators were lured into a trap designed by the blockade's commander, Captain Mar Tuuk. Amid the engagement, the Neimoidian Separatist ordered additional reinforcements into the Ryloth system, catching the Republic off guard and forcing the three Venators to retreat to hyperspace, but not before the Redeemer was destroyed. After its escape, the Defender personnel were evacuated and transferred to the Resolute, as Skywalker planned to assume command over the vessel. Returning to Ryloth, Skywalker, after offering his false surrender to the Confederacy, was able to destroy Tuuk's Lucrehulk-class Battleship by sending the Defender crashing into it, allowing for the Resolute arrival and the destruction of the remaining Separatist warships.

Text and facts from the “Defender” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.