Before I really start, let me explain the point of this post. Since I first thought about the matter I felt like there there is something off about the lore about the Nebs origin in Canon, but also legends. According to the Nebulon-Cs description in the incredible cross sections, it was build for the empire. The issue is, that we never see it being used by the empire in any canon material (afaik), it doesn't look the part and is awfully impractical as a full blown military vessel (okay, star wars). It doesn't fit and seems to be Canon in me only in that regard. Also such speculation is just fun. So here is a possible explanation, which does only involve one tiny retcon(if it even is one):

Encountering the Munificent class frigate as its main adversary during the clone wars, the Republic Navy quickly came to admire it's capabilities. As it is the nature with a force build from scratch in a short timeframe without any actual experience in large scale warfare, much refinement was to be done to the fleet. AS part of this naval command started an attempt to adapt the principles behind the enemy design for their own use. So KDY was tasked with developing and realising a ship according to it. In the end the project was hit by the end of the war and the republics transition into the empire before completion, but in a late state of development. The failure of all attempts on the companies behalf to convince the new government of the projects completion, led Kuats engineers to repurpose it for the free market. The new B variant of the vessel, aimed at local and private security forces, met the empires approval, possibly due to its fragile structure posing no perceived threat for the imperial navy and it being a strong asset for allied forces taking off pressure for the navy itself. Thus the Nebulon-B became the most successful paramilitary capital ship of the post clone wars era, finding it's way into many forces, eventually even the rebel alliance and imperial Military.

The idea behind this "solution" is kind of changing "was build for" into "was designed for" and also to imply how the rebels got them. The ship being wide spread makes it easy for them to acquire it through indirect channels such as the aftermarket. Also it makes kind of sense as a craft to be used against pirates and such, but seems under armored for a "proper" combat vessel. For escort duty it is perfectly equipped, featuring lots of laser cannons to combat quick fighter raids, external docking rings to quickly scramble an hyperspace incapable escort squadron and fixed heavy turbolaser for engaging large pirate transports and such. Und pitched battle conditions however it might be hard to bring into bearing, there would be other vessels to consider for positioning after all. What do you think about my solution and, more importantly, how do you view the matter yourselves? Are you fine with it being imperial? (Originally that was wizards of the coast right?) Or do you have a crazy head canon like me yourselves?

I'm sorry for any mistakes and the unpolished language. I was to lazy to prove read and am not a native speaker, so I might have missed some errors.

4 hours ago, LennoxPoodle said:

Before I really start, let me explain the point of this post. Since I first thought about the matter I felt like there there is something off about the lore about the Nebs origin in Canon, but also legends. According to the Nebulon-Cs description in the incredible cross sections, it was build for the empire. The issue is, that we never see it being used by the empire in any canon material (afaik), it doesn't look the part and is awfully impractical as a full blown military vessel (okay, star wars). It doesn't fit and seems to be Canon in me only in that regard. Also such speculation is just fun. So here is a possible explanation, which does only involve one tiny retcon(if it even is one):

Encountering the Munificent class frigate as its main adversary during the clone wars, the Republic Navy quickly came to admire it's capabilities. As it is the nature with a force build from scratch in a short timeframe without any actual experience in large scale warfare, much refinement was to be done to the fleet. AS part of this naval command started an attempt to adapt the principles behind the enemy design for their own use. So KDY was tasked with developing and realising a ship according to it. In the end the project was hit by the end of the war and the republics transition into the empire before completion, but in a late state of development. The failure of all attempts on the companies behalf to convince the new government of the projects completion, led Kuats engineers to repurpose it for the free market. The new B variant of the vessel, aimed at local and private security forces, met the empires approval, possibly due to its fragile structure posing no perceived threat for the imperial navy and it being a strong asset for allied forces taking off pressure for the navy itself. Thus the Nebulon-B became the most successful paramilitary capital ship of the post clone wars era, finding it's way into many forces, eventually even the rebel alliance and imperial Military.

The idea behind this "solution" is kind of changing "was build for" into "was designed for" and also to imply how the rebels got them. The ship being wide spread makes it easy for them to acquire it through indirect channels such as the aftermarket. Also it makes kind of sense as a craft to be used against pirates and such, but seems under armored for a "proper" combat vessel. For escort duty it is perfectly equipped, featuring lots of laser cannons to combat quick fighter raids, external docking rings to quickly scramble an hyperspace incapable escort squadron and fixed heavy turbolaser for engaging large pirate transports and such. Und pitched battle conditions however it might be hard to bring into bearing, there would be other vessels to consider for positioning after all. What do you think about my solution and, more importantly, how do you view the matter yourselves? Are you fine with it being imperial? (Originally that was wizards of the coast right?) Or do you have a crazy head canon like me yourselves?

I'm sorry for any mistakes and the unpolished language. I was to lazy to prove read and am not a native speaker, so I might have missed some errors.

In my head cannon, TIE Fighter the video game is still my biggest exposure to Star Wars as a kid. In it, there were many missions where you were deployed, as an Imperial fighter pilot, from a Nebulon B or from a Nebulon B2. As such, I have a hard time not conceiving of the Nebulon B as part of the Post-Hoth Era Imperial Navy. Maybe not part of the main battle line, but certainly a "filler" ship for smaller engagements or deployments. There's just not enough ISDs and VSDs to go around everywhere, especially between the 7th Fleet, Death Squadron, and the like.

23 minutes ago, BiggsIRL said:

In my head cannon, TIE Fighter the video game is still my biggest exposure to Star Wars as a kid. In it, there were many missions where you were deployed, as an Imperial fighter pilot, from a Nebulon B or from a Nebulon B2. As such, I have a hard time not conceiving of the Nebulon B as part of the Post-Hoth Era Imperial Navy. Maybe not part of the main battle line, but certainly a "filler" ship for smaller engagements or deployments. There's just not enough ISDs and VSDs to go around everywhere, especially between the 7th Fleet, Death Squadron, and the like.

Good point. I guess I consider the Arquitens to be the go to vessel for stuff like force projection (in a limited capacity), patrol and escort duties, alongside a gozanti here and there.