Rho-class transport shuttle

The Rho-class transport shuttle, shortened as Rho-class shuttle and known also as Ru-class shuttle, was a class of transport shuttle deployed by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars against the Confederacy of Independent Systems and later by its successor government, the Galactic Empire and its Imperial Navy. A transport variant of the Nu-class attack/transport shuttle, the Rho-class served in a cargo transportation role and as a medical transport. When operating in the latter role in the Republic Navy, the Rho-class transport shuttle was known as the Republic medical shuttle.

Description

The Rho-class transport shuttle^[3] was visually extremely similar to the Nu-class attack/transport shuttle,^[13] with key differences being a dorsal wing, an elongated hull, and the ability to attach and carry cargo pods for passengers, supplies or mobile barracks to the underside of the ventral hull. The shuttle class was equipped with a hyperdrive, engine units,^[4] six laser cannons, and magnetic clamps. Flown by two pilots,^[5] the starships could carry multiple passengers. Its primary roles were as a medical^[4] or general-purpose transport,^[3] and it was also known as a Republic medical shuttle.^[14]

Among the standard red and yellow markings of both the Rho-class^[7] and Nu-class shuttles,^[13] those used by the Republic Medic Corps featured orange and blue markings.^[4] Some Rho-class shuttles, such as one used after the Siege of Mandalore, had light grey and red markings in a pattern similar to the livery of a Venator-class Star Destroyer.^[8] Imperial Rho-class shuttles were painted a uniform grey.^[9]

History

Clone Wars

The Rho-class transport shuttle was deployed by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. One shuttle was stationed on Abafar, where it was used by Separatist Alliance forces to transport rhydonium from a Separatist mining installation to a stolen Republic Venator-class Star Destroyer, the Renown. There, the shuttle was retaken by the Republic special forces unit D-Squad, under the command of Colonel Meebur Gascon.^[7] Once aboard the Renown, the squad discovered that the ship was under Separatist control while in hyperspace. As the squad evaded Separatist droid forces, the Renown eventually reached its destination, the Republic space station Valor in the Carida system. The station was hosting a strategy conference with the high echelons of the Republic Military. There, D-Squad managed to escape from the Renown on the Rho-class shuttle they previously used, and survived the blast when the Renown detonated prematurely.^[15]

The Rho-class transport shuttle was again deployed during the Battle of Ringo Vinda. There, one was used in its medical capacity to transport clone trooper Tup, who had suffered a medical episode and killed Jedi General Tiplar in the middle of battle. Despite being escorted by four ARC-170 starfighters and a small contingent of clone troopers, Separatist forces were able to ambush the shuttle and kidnap the sedated Tup. Later, Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, Clone Captain Rex, and ARC trooper Fives investigated the wreckage and launched a mission to recapture their comrade.^[4]

Some time later, another medical shuttle was deployed in the aftermath of the Battle of Ord Mantell, an engagement between the Separatist Alliance and the Shadow Collective.^[16] Another Rho-class shuttle was deployed in the aftermath of the Siege of Mandalore between the Republic and the Shadow Collective. There, the shuttle transported the Collective's leader, renegade Sith Lord Maul, to the Venator^[8] Tribunal^[17] under armed guard.^[8]

Imperial Era

Following the reorganization of the Republic into the Galactic Empire at the end of the Clone Wars, the Imperial Military continued to use the Rho-class transport shuttle. Now with Imperial livery, a group of shuttles were used on the Imperial planet Ryloth to transport local Twi'lek workers to an Imperial doonium refinery. Free Ryloth Movement member Hera Syndulla and the young clone Omega of the rogue special forces unit Clone Force 99 stole a Rho-class shuttle from a landing pad and used it to destroy the control systems for the facility's turbolaser defenses. As a result, the five autocannons were disabled and open to attack by Clone Force 99's Omicron-class attack shuttle, the Marauder.^[9]

Doctor Royce Hemlock used a Rho shuttle to arrive at Raven's Peak on the planet Eriadu for an Imperial summit. Clone Force 99 tracked Hemlock's shuttle in an attempt to save their brother Crosshair by placing a homing beacon on the ship. However their plans came to a halt when Saw Gererra was on a mission of his own. When Gerrerra and his team escape they stole a Rho shuttle.^[11]

During the early reign of the Galactic Empire the Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine used one such shuttle as his personal craft to Tantiss Base on the planet^[18] Wayland. It was heavily guarded including by Emperor's Royal Guards and accompanied by four Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters. Unlike most Rho-class shuttles, it lacked the ventral cargo pod and was gray-colored with red highlights on the wings.^[6]

Unknown to Palpatine, Omega and Crosshair manage to escape by stealing a Rho-class shuttle.^[6] Although the shuttle was damaged the pair manage to land it on the planet Lau. Despite their disguises, Captain Mann manage to denounce where they came from, forcing them to steal one of Lau cargo ships.^[19]

When the Clone X trooper CX-2 located CX-1 at the B'omarr Order Monastery on Teth, he planted thermal detonators on the Clone Underground's Rho-class transport shuttles and had them exploded which killed several of the Underground members. When Clone Commander Wolffe lead a Recovery Strike Team to capture Omega, they arrived in two Rho-class transport shuttles.^[12] One of the shuttles was destroyed by Crosshair when he shot the pilot and engine with his 773 Firepuncher sniper rifle. After Wolffe allowed the Underground members go, he and the strike team left on their last Rho-class shuttle.^[20]

After breaking out former Imperial Vice Admiral Edmon Rampart, Echo arrived in a stolen Rho-class shuttle called Alpha-44 to travel to Imperial Station 003 above Coruscant.^[21] Although when they arrived at Wayland, several V-wing starfighters shot the shuttle down, but not before the Bad Batch and Rampart manage to escape and hide in the forest surrounding Tantiss Base.^[22]

Behind the scenes

The Rho-class shuttle first appeared in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars season five episode "Missing in Action,"^[7] which premiered on January 5, 2013, in the United States.^[23] It was first identified as the Rho-class transport shuttle in its StarWars.com Databank entry, which was published on July 19, 2021.^[3]

Appearances

Sources

This in-universe list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia by expanding it.

• "The Unknown" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as Republic medical shuttle)
• Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir Concept Art Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Rescue on Ryloth" Episode Guide - The Bad Batch on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "War-Mantle" Episode Guide - The Bad Batch on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
• "Freedom Fighters From Lothal and Other Characters" — Star Wars Encyclopedia (First identified as Ru-class shuttle)
• "A Different Approach" Episode Guide | The Bad Batch on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
• Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
• Mandalorian vault in the Databank (backup link) (Picture only)
• Rho-class transport shuttle in the Databank (backup link) (First identified as Rho-class transport shuttle)

Notes and references