The Venator-class Star Destroyer, also known as the Republic attack cruiser or Jedi cruiser, was a line of wedge-shaped Star Destroyers in service with the Galactic Republic Navy during the Clone Wars. The backbone of the Galactic Republic‘s naval forces, the Venator was a versatile capital ship capable of serving as a troop carrier, a cargo transport, and a warship for ship-to-ship combat. Its front section contained a large flight deck and hangars to accommodate a complement of Republic starfighters and gunships.
The Republic deployed the Venator-class Star Destroyers across the galaxy during the conflict with the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Often utilized as flagships by the Jedi Generals of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Venator-class was closely associated with the Jedi Order as a result. Venators served in several major engagements of the Clone Wars, including the Battle of Christophsis, the Battle of Sullust, and the Battle of Coruscant.
Following Order 66 and the rise of the Galactic Empire, Venator-class Star Destroyers remained in service to the Imperial Navy during the early days of the Imperial Era. Ultimately, though, the Venator-class was decommissioned and replaced by the Imperial-class Star Destroyer, a larger warship that was modeled on its Republic predecessor.
The Venator Star Destroyer was a phenomenal carrier used by the Republic during the Clone Wars. With many of these ships left over in the galaxy, why were they never used by the Rebel Aliance against the Empire in the Galactic Civil War?