I’ll get straight to the question: where did the Republic Cruisers come from? Every player had their role before and during the Clone Wars.
The Kaminoans created the clone troopers, the Jedi were chosen to lead them—but what about the cruisers? With such a massive army, they needed ships for transport and combat. So, were these proto-Star Destroyers also made on Kamino?
It’s hard to imagine, given that it’s a water planet focused on cloning and training, not shipbuilding.
That question kept bugging me, so I dug into it. And after some searching, I think I’ve found the answer.
Project Icefang
The story begins with Rothana Heavy Engineering, or RHE, a subsidiary of the renowned shipbuilding corporation Kuat Drive Yards.
Established after Kuat Yards purchased the planet Rothana in 800 BBY, RHE operated from the remote, icy world of Rothana. Its location made it an ideal site for secretive projects, far from prying eyes and galactic politics.
Fast forward to 31 BBY, when the Republic’s growing need for military readiness set the stage for Project Icefang.
Rothana Heavy Engineering was entrusted with a monumental task by the cloners on Kamino: to develop a war machine infrastructure for the Galactic Republic’s burgeoning clone army.
Operating under the utmost secrecy, RHE launched Project Icefang—a covert initiative that spanned nine years and resulted in the creation of thousands of cutting-edge assault ships, dropships, and walkers.
The equipment, including the iconic AT-TEs and other designs, was discreetly transported to Kamino via the Quiberon Line.
There, the clone troopers rigorously tested and trained with the machinery to prepare for their future battles.
On rare occasions, these war machines were field-tested in other locations, but sightings of these advanced designs were so scarce that they were often dismissed as rumors or myths.
Rothana’s smaller warships were particularly distinctive, featuring “arrow”-shaped command towers that became a hallmark of their fleet.
As the Clone Wars escalated, the demand for larger, more advanced ships grew, and RHE quickly adapted by expanding its production to include destroyers and battleships.
These efforts solidified the Republic’s naval dominance and laid the groundwork for the formidable fleet that would later serve the Galactic Empire.