During the early days of the Rebellion, the Alliance had significant success attacking Imperial supply convoys. The Imperial Navy was loath to relegate its expensive Star Destroyers to escort duty, and TIE fighters were unable to jump through hyperspace with the convoys, leaving them vulnerable to attack at their destination until joined by new escort TIEs. For a while the Empire employed Corvettes as escorts, but they were easily outmatched by the more maneuverable X-wings. What was needed was a vehicle cheaper than a Star Destroyer, but similarly equipped with heavy firepower to deal with large attackers and capable of carrying TIE fighters to defeat smaller, faster enemies.

The Empire found the perfect solution in the Kuat Drive Yards' Nebulon-B Frigate. The Nebulon-B Frigate is well armed with turbolasers and laser batteries, has good shields and tractor beam generators, has very good long-range sensors, and can carry two TIE fighter squadrons (24 starfighters). The Frigate is slow and unwieldy - as are most vessels of its size - but its TIEs can handle anything too quick (or small) for the Frigate.

Since the Imperial Navy has begun regularly assigning Nebulon-B Frigates to escort duty, Rebel X-wing pilots have found that attacking Imperial convoys is no longer the joy ride it once was. Unable to stand up to prolonged dogfights with TIEs supported by a Frigate's heavy guns, the Rebels have had to resort to lightning-fast hit-and-run raids against enemy transports - and even then, the Rebellion is losing more pilots and ships than it can afford.

Sources:Slaviscek,Bill and Smith, Curtis. Star Wars Sourcebook. West End Games. November, 1987