Following the Battle of Yavin, Naval Command experienced an exaggerated but understandable case of phobia concerning Rebel starfighters. One group of senior admirals, led by the vocal Admiral Drez, argued that the Death Star's destruction was due to the lack of anti-starfighter screening vessels. Drez stated that "until an anti-starfighter screening vessel is brought into service, every capital ship in the fleet is in imminent danger." Naval Command authorised the construction of Kuat Drive Yards' Lancer-class frigate - but only a limited number to serve as test vessels.
Gun for gun, Lancers are the best anti-starfighter ships currently in service - at least according to their initial tests. The main and only armament the ship carries is 20 quad-firing laser cannons. Each cannon is equipped with a targeting mechanism adapted from the one used in Sienar Fleet Systems' TIE Bomber craft. This produces multi-fire cover with superb fire control. In addition, each gun is mounted on its own tower to provide an increased fire arc.
For all its fire power, the Lancer-class frigate could be shaping up as a failure. The Lancer is comparable in price to a cruiser, without the added benefits of the larger vessel. Also, the predicted starfighter attacks on capital ships never materialised - at least not at the level feared. Admiral Drez and others claim that this is due to the appearance of the Lancer, but others point out that there are not enough Lancers in service to make so bold an assumption.
Those Lancers currently in use have not lived up to expectations. While they perform exceptionally when engaging starfighters, Lancers have done very poorly in the few fleet engagements they have participated in. To function as screening vessels, Lancers must be placed on the outer perimeter of the fleet, but without turbolasers these ships are easy prey for Rebel cruisers. In addition, the modified targeting systems still need work, resulting in less than half of each Lancer's weapons operating perfectly on any given day.
Intended as stationary screening ships, Lancers can not match starfighters for speed or maneuverability. But when their weapons are operational, they are more than a match for Rebel starfighters.
[The Lancer Class Frigates serve as individual armed transport vessels for each of the active Hammer's Fist Stormtrooper Platoons. Each LCF is a self-contained assault support vessel with 20 quad firing laser batteries, more than sufficient to keep away all but the most determined attackers. When the LCF arrives at the Drop Off point, it delivers the Assault Transport in its hangar to provide maximum protection to the Stormtrooper Platoon on board. However, without turbolasers, the LCF was never intended to engage in Fleet-level battles against other capital ships.]
Sources:Gorden, Greg. Imperial Sourcebook. West End Games. June 1994
