Imperial tankers were long, tube-shaped transports in use by the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War. One of their uses was transporting tibanna gas.
Imperial tankers featured a long cylinder on the bow with a trapezoidal end piece housing the engines. The bridge was raised above a well-shielded engine pod, although the forward tank section was afforded less shielding. A few laser blasts to this area while fully fueled would destroy the ship. Because of these vulnerabilities, a tanker was usually accompanied by an escort of TIE/LN starfighters and/or TIE Interceptors to provide protection.[source?]
The Imperial tanker was used throughout the Galactic Civil War. During the Civil War, the Empire used tankers to refuel Star Destroyers in space, and to transport fuel to outposts and garrisons. They were also encountered by Rogue Squadron at the beginning of an attack against an Imperial installation near the Maw. The Empire also used this ship during the Subjugation of Bespin to remove most of the tibanna gas from canisters in the planet's atmosphere.[source?] At least one participated in the raid on Bespin.[3]