Imperial Death Squadron
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The Imperial Death Squadron was the special elite forces flagship unit of the Imperial Navy under the personal command of Darth Vader in the fictional Star Wars universe. Death Squadron appeared in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
Composition
The squadron’s major starships included the Imperial-class Star Destroyers Avenger, Devastator, Invincible, Tyrant and Vengeance, as well as Vader's flagship, Executor. The Imperial-class Star Destroyers Accuser and Adjudicator served alongside Death Squadron, but it is unclear if they were officially assigned to the unit.
While the unit was labeled as a squadron, it was more likely a modified system force. It is likely that Vader chose to supplement the squadron with more Star Destroyers to increase firepower, while reducing the number of support starships to increase flexibility and deployment speed. The novelization of The Empire Strikes Back suggests that Death Squadron had twenty starship commanders at the rank of Captain, although it does not provide any information on what starships they may have commanded beyond the known Star Destroyers.
History
Darth Vader formed Death Squadron after the Imperial defeat at the Battle of Yavin. For three years, Death Squadron hunted the Rebel Alliance from system to system under the command of Admiral Ozzel, mercilessly crushing any Rebel forces it encountered. Eventually, a probe droid launched by Stalker succeeded in locating the Rebel Alliance base of operations on the ice world of Hoth.
After participating in the space and ground battles at Hoth (see the Battle of Hoth article for details on Death Squadron’s role there), Death Squadron pursued the Millennium Falcon, although it was lost in the Hoth asteroid belt.
One year later, Death Squadron, under the command of Admiral Piett, served as the core of the Imperial fleet at the Battle of Endor. During the battle, at least two Star Destroyers of the unit were destroyed, and a number were captured.
Officers of Death Squadron
- Admiral Griff, former Executor commander
- Admiral Ozzel, former Executor commander
- Admiral Piett, former Executor commander
- Captain Needa, Avenger commander
- Captain Lennox, Tyrant commander
- Lieutenant Venka, Executor commander