The Escort Carrier although visually inelegant executes its assigned duties impeccably and without flaw. Designed to be a hyperspace capable platform for TIEs in order to provide rapid transport and to augment the overall starfighter strength of whatever fleet it is attached. This vessel is also tasked with moving non-hyperspace shuttles to and from star systems. Other duties which fall upon the Escort Carrier's shoulders include: transport of replacement starfighters to capital ships during ongoing operations; augmenting an Imperial garrison's power via assuming a stationary position in orbit in order to cover the planet with its TIEs to support the garrison's efforts in restoring planetary calm. In the case of freighters carrying blaster gas; a lightly armoured freighter is normally escorted by an Escort Carrier, which deploys its fighters the moment pirates appear, or a Strike Cruiser. Meanwhile, a freighter group carrying blaster gas is escorted by one or two Escort Carriers and a Strike Cruiser. These ships have been in service at least since the Battle of Yavin.

    Although this design is armed it generally does not engage enemy ships; it tries to be far from the battle zone as possible, as such it is not considered to be a combat vessel. Due to this the Escort Carrier is intended to deliver starfighter support from a distance, and to serve as a refueling and re-supply point. If necessary, this lightly armed, three engine starship is capable of successfully engaging and defeating a Corellian Corvette. After the debacle at the Battle of Ton-Falk where two Imperial Frigates and a Dreadnaught were destroyed by the Rebels, Imperial High Command came to the conclusion that these ships could have been saved if it were for adequate TIE support. As a result, Kuat Drive Yards was commissioned to conceive a vessel that would assist in meeting the Imperial demand for TIE combat support.

    The resulting medium starship was specially designed to transport a large number of starfighters. In addition to the spacious bays which hold the fighters, additional smaller bays allow for shuttles to be carried. Although six shuttles are the normal complement, for every squadron of fighters removed an additional four shuttles can be added. Imperial policy calls for at least one TIE Interceptor squadron to be included in the Escort Carrier's complement, this however is not always followed. For example, the Escort Carrier Kathol Protector maintained four TIE/Ln Fighter and two TIE Bomber squadrons. Rounding out this ship's capabilities is its limited field repair facilities.

    Unfortunately, these vessels are also employed by the Rebellion. Rebel starfighter complement for these ships widely varies. At times Rebel Escort Carriers function as massive transports to transfer their starfighters to other parts of the Galaxy or in other times they are employed as fighter launching platforms. Fortunately, the Empire has been able to destroy or capture some of these ships held in the Rebellion's dirty hands.