The Lancer-class pursuit craft, also known as the Lancer Pursuit Craft, was a patrol ship produced by MandalMotors at the behest of the Black Sun crime syndicate. Bounty hunter Asajj Ventress utilized the Lancer-class craft Banshee during the Clone Wars, while hunter Ketsu Onyo flew a Lancer-class vessel, the Shadow Caster, during the reign of the Galactic Empire. Another Lancer-class, the Nebular Kelpie, was seen during the Battle of Exegol, allied with the Resistance.
Role[]
![Banshee XW2](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/9/99/Banshee_XW2.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20210104055707)
The Banshee, personal starship of Asajj Ventress
Blurring the line between civilian freighter and warship, the Lancer was more interdiction and patrol vessel than workaday cargo hauler. Created on special commission for Black Sun by MandalMotors, the Lancer was designed to chase down fleeing cargo vessels and outrun other patrol ships.[1] The design was based on SoroSuub Corporation light freighters.[7]
Fast, tough, and able to withstand hard use with irregular maintenance, the Lancer was able to fly, fight, and survive in the most dangerous and remote parts of the galaxy. To accomplish this, they had numerous redundant systems, and were extremely easy to maintain; in addition, they were highly modular, allowing for a broad array of modifications to fit the needs of any user. These qualities made them extremely attractive to smugglers, bounty hunters, and many backwater planets looking for a fast, cheap, and well-armed patrol ship.[1]
Characteristics[]
Roughly the size of a YT-1300, the Lancer-class had a thin saucer-like main hull reminiscent of many of CEC's more popular ships. A narrow two-position tandem cockpit protrudes from the saucer's leading edge, and seated a pilot and co-pilot in cramped but well laid-out surroundings. This arrangement could be modified for a single pilot's chair.[4]
![Ketsu Onyo Lancer-class Pursuit Craft SWX](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/f/fa/Ketsu_Onyo_Lancer-class_Pursuit_Craft_SWX.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20190324004829)
Ketsu Onyo's Shadow Caster
A bank of powerful sublight engines mounted aft provided primary thrust, while high performance ion engines mounted on sponsons midships provide additional straight line speed - enough to run down nearly anything in its class. While not as agile as a starfighter, the Lancer's speed and narrow silhouette made it a difficult target to track and hit in the heat of battle. The ship's primary armament was comparatively light, but a state of the art fire control system - the MK.IV Fire Control System - made them incredibly potent. Beyond this, the craft held a number of hard points for customization, allowing for upgrades and improvements to its systems and weapons.[1]
History[]
Ships of this class were deployed during the Clone Wars, most notably by Asajj Ventress who used the Banshee during her time as a bounty hunter.[5]
Years later, the bounty hunter Ketsu Onyo used the Shadow Caster to aid the Phoenix rebel cell.[4] During the First Order-Resistance War, the Salathera was used by Tara Rashin of the Guavian Death Gang to attack and board a cargo vessel ferrying parts to the Droid Depot[8]. Another ship named the Nebular Kelpie,[9] was used by a young Shungbeek named Kid Malmash to help fugitives of the war to safe zones, then later the ship was seen battling on the planet of Exegol, during the battle of Exegol between the Resistance and the Sith Eternal.[10]
Behind the scenes[]
![Banshee profile tcw](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/b/be/Banshee_profile_tcw.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/200?cb=20160929103636)
Concept art of the Banshee
The Lancer-class pursuit craft first appeared in the form of the Banshee, which was shown at Celebration Anaheim during "The Untold Clone Wars Panel." Originally set to appear in unfinished episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the episodes were adapted into a novel written by Christie Golden entitled Dark Disciple after the show's cancellation. Concept art of the Banshee, based off Doug Chiang's work on the Republic gunship, was shown during the panel.[11] The final model was revamped into the Shadow Caster, featured in the episode "Blood Sisters" of Star Wars Rebels. The production asset for the Banshee was released in the episode's trivia section on Starwars.com.[12]
Appearances[]
"Kindred Spirits" — Star Wars Insider 159
- Dark Disciple (First appearance, simultaneous with audiobook)
- Dark Disciple audiobook
Obi-Wan Kenobi — "Part VI"
Andor — "Kassa"
Andor — "That Would Be Me"
Star Wars Rebels — "Blood Sisters"
Star Wars Rebels — "The Forgotten Droid"
- Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader's Castle 3 (In flashback(s))
The Mandalorian — "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian"
The Mandalorian — "Chapter 16: The Rescue"
The Mandalorian — "Chapter 17: The Apostate"
- Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge
- Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
Sources[]
SWCA: The Untold Clone Wars Panel Liveblog on StarWars.com (backup link) (First mentioned)
The Untold Clone Wars Panel | Star Wars Celebration Anaheim on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
"Blood Sisters" Trivia Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link)
"Blaster" — Star Wars Insider 168
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game — Shadow Caster Expansion Pack
Star Wars Helmet Collection 23 (Databank A-Z: Hassk Triplets–Holograms) (Picture only)
- No Disintegrations
- Dawn of Rebellion
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Scum and Villainy Conversion Kit (Card: Asajj Ventress)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Scum and Villainy Conversion Kit (Card: Ketsu Onyo (Lancer))
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Scum and Villainy Conversion Kit (Card: Sabine Wren)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Scum and Villainy Conversion Kit (Card: Shadow Caster)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Scum and Villainy Conversion Kit (Card: Shadowport Hunter)
- Star Wars: Outer Rim
Every Type of Ship in Rebels | Star Wars By the Numbers on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (content now obsolete; backup link)
Every Ship in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy | Star Wars By the Numbers on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (content now obsolete; backup link) (First identified as Lancer Pursuit Craft)
"Kassa" Episode Guide | Andor on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
Shadow Caster in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 No Disintegrations
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Stay in Attack Formation on Fantasy Flight Games' official website (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4
Star Wars Rebels — "Blood Sisters"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dark Disciple
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
- ↑ Dawn of Rebellion
- ↑ Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge
- ↑ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
- ↑
The Untold Clone Wars Panel | Star Wars Celebration Anaheim on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑
"Blood Sisters" Trivia Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link)