Impressed by the performance of X-Wings at the hands of Rebel pilots, the Empire decided that their line of TIE Fighters needed to be upgraded to X-Wing levels. This project was entrusted to Admiral Zaarin, working together with Sienar Fleet Systems, who was already in charge of the "TIE Advanced Project"; which had already resulted in the TIE X/1.
However, while the TIE Assault and TIE X1 were performing well, they were expensive and under armed compared to their Rebel counterpart. The TIE Crimson was the first imperial craft to get "Wing Tip Cannons", four of them - basically a conversion of the X-Wing's large guns replacing the smaller SFS ones in the cockpit ball. Additionally the TIE Crimson was, haphazardly, equipped with ion cannons and hyperdrive - but still no shielding, as that was considered to be too much of a power drain besides the guns.
The TIE Crimson, which entered service shortly after the Battle of Yavin, combines all traits seen in later TIE Advanced models like the Avenger, Interceptor and Defender and can basically be seen as the first in that line as many of the features in the TIE Crimson did survive in the TIE Avenger, TIE Defender, and TIE Interceptor.
While powerful, it still cost twice as much as the later TIE Interceptor and practically the same as a TIE Avenger. Later "Advanced" types got newer, smaller, but also less powerful SFS lasers and usually received shields instead of the ion cannons.
Because the TIE Advanced Project quickly produced better and cheaper models, not many TIE Crimsons were produced. At first it was only used by Core elite squadrons but when these were equipped with TIE Avengers, TIE Defenders, and Missile Boats, the TIE Crimson was pushed out towards elite in the rim sectors.
While not very common, it is still seen in elite units of various Imperial warlords after the Battle of Endor. Production was stopped officially with the release of the TIE Interceptor.
Craft History:
"Another distinct fighter, with greatly enhanced and overpowered weaponry, was used at least as early as a few months after the Battle of Endor. This ship had four cannons of enormous size on the wingtips, and one cannon of more ordinary magnitude on each wing hub. There are no weapons on the chin of the cockpit ball.
The observed example was flown by one Major Grode, of His Majesty's Crimson Squadron, stationed at an Army garrison on Cilpar. The garrison was in disarray and had suffered from the continual attrition wrought by a local resistance movement. Grode had obvious problems with equipment and personnel. This may be the reason why he was the only member of his unit to possess the elite fighter: it may be the only operable one left; or he may have simply scrounged it. Since the Imperial forces remaining on Cilpar were particularly decadent, it can be assumed that this design predates the Emperor's fall and was not particularly rare." - Dr Curtis Saxton 2000.
