Missile Boat History

Due to the Missile Boat's capabilities, Imperial flight commanders warned their pilots not to let this craft fall into enemy hands. One, however, did fall into the hands of the Imperial traitor Grand Admiral Zaarin. Shortly before the Battle of Endor, one of Zaarin's co-conspirators, another former imperial officer named Namuura Din, wished to defect to the Rebels. He knew the Missile Boat would be a perfect bargaining tool. His ship, Victory Star Destroyer Zeplin, met with the Rebel Mon Calamari Cruiser Link. Din transferred the Missile Boat over to them, as well as information that the Death Star at Endor was an elaborate trap. Just after these transactions were complete, a task force under the command of Darth Vader arrived to stop the meeting, as Imperial intelligence learned of it. By then the meeting was over, and the Link entered hyperspace. The Zeplin was captured along with Namuura Din. The Imperial task force followed the Link, and learned that since its commander had ordered the ship to go so fast, it exhausted most of its fuel. Vader seized upon the opportunity, and captured the Link and it's commander, before he could radio to Rebel command that the new Death Star was a trap. The Missile Boat, however, had already launched, and went to a Rebel space station. Vader's task force followed it there and destroyed it before it could flee again.

Due to the huge expense in producing each Missile Boat, only small numbers were produced. In contrast to more conventional Imperial starfighters such as TIEs, it was costly to re-arm each Missile Boat before a mission, considering the high price of the advanced concussion missile and the large numbers of warheads needed to make this craft effective. Combat losses and Zaarin's successful attacks on Missile Boat production facilities caused this starfighter to be recalled from active combat duty and put into storage shortly before the Battle of Endor.