Star Wars: This Ship is the Way… Mandalorians Go Into Battle – The Gauntlet Fighter Breakdown
The Kom’rk-class starfighter, better known as the Gauntlet starfighter, was about as Mandalorian as a ship could get.
If Mandalorians were the most infamous warriors in the galaxy, the Death Watch were the most infamous Mandalorians. And the Kom’rk-class Gauntlet starfighter became their iconic starfighter. Gauntlets flew into battle to end the rule of Satin Kryze on Mandalore, an action that would almost drive Mandalorians to extinction at the hands of the Empire.
Gauntlets were used when Darth Maul and his Shadow Collective army in open conflict with the Sith and Separatists (though this was all part of a scheme to lure Mother Talzin out into the open where she would be vulnerable).
From insidious schemes to dangerous consequences, Gauntlet starfighters have played a major role in some of the most violent events in galactic history. But where did they begin?
Gauntlet Starfighter Design and Capabilities
Designed by MandalMorots, the Kom’rk-class fighter/transport was a combat transport capable of high-speed, heavily-armored drops. A favorite of the Death Watch splinter faction, the Gauntlet starfighter came to represent Mandalore’s past in its design. Armored plating gave it more resilience than other fighters of similar size.
While a MandalMotors reactor helped power the heavy armament, consisting of:
- 2 forward laser cannons
- 2 rear laser cannons
- Heat-seeking missile launchers
All of which meant that the ship was as good at fighting ground targets as it was doing space-superiority combat. Elements of this design would later be ported into the Fang-class starfighter. The Gauntlet starfighter was capable of long-range missions. A class 1 hyperdrive and class 10 backup drive, meant it could travel significant distances at speed. And with supplies for two months for up to 24 passengers in addition to its pilot, a Gauntlet wing could lay in wait and deploy when its target was vulnerable.
During the Clone Wars
During the Clone Wars, Gauntlet starfighters were a big part of the Death Watch’s fleet. These starfighters helped evacuate a Death Watch hideout during a raid, enabling the Death Watch leadership to survive. This meant that Pre Vizsla and his second in command, Bo-Katan Kryze could take Gauntlets to rescue both the renegade Darth Maul and his brother, Savage Opress.
Together the Death Watch aided Maul’s Shadow Collective in action against the Separatists, but all of this was a ruse on the part of Darth Sidious to lure out the Nightmother.
Post Empire
After the fall of the Galactic Empire, Gauntlets fell out of common use. Though Bo-Katan Kryze remained in command of several in the years immediately after the fall of the second Death Star. Kryze used the starfighter to travel to Mandalore with R5-D4 and Grogu, outflying and outfighting a wing of TIE/IN interceptors, as well as taking out a TIE Bomber.
During the battle of Exegol, many Gauntlet starfighters were seen as part of Lando Calrissian’s fleet to stop the Sith Eternal forces.
May the Force be with you.
