Have you ever noticed those big red circles on top of some Republic Star Destroyers during the Clone Wars, but then sometimes they’re just not there at all? I’ve seen this pop up in Revenge of the Sith, The Clone Wars, and even in fan discussions across games like Battlefront II or Empire at War: Fall of the Republic. Some Venators have them, others don’t. I used to wonder what those markings even meant—until I found out they weren’t just random paint jobs. They actually belong to something called the Open Circle Fleet.
So if you’re wondering what those two red circles on the hull of the Venator-class Star Destroyers mean, that’s because they’re not just random—they’re an emblem. To be clear, it’s called the Open Circle Fleet, also known as the Open Circle Armada.
The Open Circle Fleet was one of the Republic’s most elite naval groups during the Clone Wars. These red markings acted as an identifying symbol for ships that were part of that specific armada. It served as a clear visual marker to identify ships belonging to that specific fleet, making coordination easier for both clone troopers and Jedi during battles.
Most notably, this fleet was closely tied to Jedi Generals like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, which is why we see their ships often sporting the symbol in both The Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith.
According to Star Wars Fandom “The Open Circle Fleet, also known as the Open Circle Armada, was led by Jedi High Council member and Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi.” It also included several units under Anakin Skywalker’s command, as well as the Republic’s Fourth and Fifth Fleets. On the starfighter side, Clone Flight Squad Seven was its most prominent ARC-170 squadron, fighting alongside other groups like Red Squadron.
Not only that, but I also found another cool confirmation from the official cutaway image of the Venator-class Star Destroyer. If you look closely, the diagram literally labels those red circles as the “Open Circle Armada’s emblem.”
I’ve included the image below so you can check it out for yourself.
So we just learned what the red circle symbol on the Venator-class Star Destroyers stands for—but here’s something even more interesting that not many fans talk about.
We already know that Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were the commanding officers of the Open Circle Fleet. But behind them was a whole lineup of top-tier Jedi. This fleet wasn’t just elite because of its ships—it was led by some of the most powerful Jedi in the Order.
The officers
- Jedi General Adi Gallia
- Jedi General Eeth Koth
- Jedi General Ki-Adi-Mundi
- Jedi General Luminara Unduli
- Jedi General Yoda
- Clone Commander Oddball
That means every time the Separatists saw the Open Circle Fleet coming, they knew they were about to face one of the Jedi heavy hitters we just mentioned above.
So what about the Venator-class Star Destroyers that don’t have the Open Circle Fleet emblem?
Well, not every ship in the Republic Navy was part of that elite armada. On the other hand, many Venators belonged to other fleets across the galaxy. The Republic’s navy was massive, with countless task forces spread across different regions and sectors. These Venators were still fully functional warships, but they simply didn’t fall under the Open Circle command—so they lacked the emblem.