The Strike-class Cruiser is a marvel of Imperial technology, it is lauded for its reconfigurable design which allows it to accommodate mission specific profiles. Furthermore, this unique vessel was devised to allow it to be mass produced in a short timeframe, and at a dramatically reduced cost; this is all possible due to its prefabricated modular component sections. This ship which was once the Empire's best kept secret was designed to conquer in almost any combat situation. As a result, when encountered the Strike Cruiser's combat prowess comes to surprise many who encountered it. In the case of freighters carrying blaster gas; a lightly armoured freighter is normally escorted by an Escort Carrier or a Strike Cruiser. Meanwhile, a freighter group carrying blaster gas is escorted by one or two Escort Carriers and a Strike Cruiser. Strike Cruisers have been in service some time before the Battle of Yavin, as the first Death Star carried four of these ships.

    This design possesses 258 compartments, a pair of brigs, telescopic scanners and magnetic anomaly detectors. In normal configuration, this vessel maintains a small but functional starboard side hanger. The ship's completely modular component sections are constructed around a central skeleton that holds the engines to the bridge; due to this design feature a Strike Cruiser's configuration could be altered at a spaceyard in little time. Therefore, a Strike Cruiser that was once configured as a TIE Carrier could be converted to a Planetary Assault Vessel (for surgical deployment of AT-ATs), troop transport, heavy vehicle recovery, prefabricated garrison base deployer, or standard configuration with little time and effort. Because of the reconfiguration abilities of this design, the Empire could fulfil its need for ships of different mission profiles without resorting to manufacturing new ships.

    For its much lauded abilities, the Strike Cruiser does suffer a notable weakness, for its greatest strength also proves to be its achilles heel. Due to its modular design, a single, well placed hit can take out entire systems or weapons batteries as modular connections break down. Or in combat, if the parts of the Strike Cruiser's internal structure are destroyed (by proton torpedoes for example) the vessel will break itself apart. When this vessel was first conceived, this flaw was considered to be only minor, as at the time the Empire was flush with the concept of disposable components.

    Unfortunately, the Rebels and several other groups have been able to obtain a few of these ships for their terrorist or pirate uses. Fortunately, however, the Rebels lost a number of these stolen ships after the Battle of Hoth. The most notable pirate group to possess Strike Cruisers (Intombe and Ayenzii) were the Rneekii Pirates, who captured the chief TIE Defender scientist. In the process of getting the scientist back the Empire destroyed one of the two Rneekii Pirate's Strike Cruisers (Ayenzii). Another notable group that possessed a Strike Cruiser was the Nami, a nomadic warrior peoples who were led by Ali Tarrak; they lost their Strike Cruiser Nuance when the Empire struck back, in order to stop them from selling any TIE Defenders to the Rebels.

*After Endor* Five years after the disaster at the Battle of Endor, the once minor flaw of this design began to be seen as a glaring defect. With the Empire's resources no longer limitless, prior wasteful Imperial policies have come back to haunt the design, thereby hampering efforts to make it firmly useful in battle. Nonetheless, the Strike Cruiser is tough, versatile and well-armed. With capital ship shortages plaguing the Empire, it is one design that can still be produced on a semi-regular basis from one of its remaining manufacturing centres. Due to shortages, Strike Cruisers rarely carry their full complement unless a certain mission demands it.

    At least before nine years after the Battle of Endor, the New Republic began employing the Strike Cruiser in ernest in their navy. After the incident with the Chorian Crystal Mind, the New Republic coerced Loronar Corporation to return every crystal that was installed in their Synthdroid and Needle Fighter designs. Additionally, the New Republic canceled a lucrative contract for future Strike Cruisers shipments, which resulted in almost bankrupting Loronar.