The Mon Cal Cruiser You Never Knew Existed

Star Wars is full of mysterious ships that for some reason have never been acknolwedged by canon. I explore one such ship today!
Credits:
3D hangar interior and renders: Angelos Karderinis
Additional 3D contributors: Ole Magnus Schei Sunnevåg, Paul Johnson
Brought to you by incredible supporters on Patreon:
/ echenry

[@EckhartsLadder]

You've really outdone yourself with this one imo

[@wyattvanthul8893]

EckhartsLadder doesn’t he always? And what’s up captain? It’s me... the meme-dalorian

[@jnew42]

I think when I go see this next part I am going to have E.C. Henry's site up so I can better identify the ships being used. I am pretty sure the staff creativity at Disney Wars ends with .com or .net.....

[@wyattvanthul8893]

Stephen Witwick mine? Job new’s or ecks?

[@wyattvanthul8893]

Stephen Witwick erm... ok

[@NateThe_Great24]

Y'know, this looks _a lot_ like those MC75-esque cruisers in the TROS Final Trailer... Maybe it *hasn't* been forgotten about?

[@GaiaDblade]

War time: "We gutted a waterpark to put in a hangar bay."

[@tylerslagel5485]

We’ve done similar shit in real life.

[@csabahofecker6650]

@@tylerslagel5485Just look at the first aircraft carriers. Most started their life a cargo ships.

[@dkgamez2985]

Csaba Hofecker the Langley was originally the Jupiter cargo ship

[@williamt.sherman9841]

@@dkgamez2985 a coal transport ship actually. interestingly enough its sister ship Cyclopes disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.

[@thecatalyst6212]

bouge class escort carriers were originally tankers

[@TemplinInstitute]

This series is awesome. EC Henry, you're doing the lord's work.

[@eps200]

When he has done them all you guys should do an investigation of the rebel fleet.

[@dannygelbart6827]

The Emperor's work (of Mankind that is).

[@keiththompson7392]

Sith Lord? Intelligence on the rebel fleet?

[@stevenkramer6217]

Well not exactly. I do think this project is interesting, but not the Lords work.

[@3.142-x3b]

Maybe The Forces' work?

[@pollall2793]

Lucusfilm-You are missing out, hire this man...

[@pollall2793]

Rising Horizon Gaming oh well, than, ILM, you are missing out, hire this man.

[@SpaceNavy90]

I'd much rather that they hire EC Henry than Eckhart's Ladder lmao

[@casbot71]

Maybe for the next remaster. Where we see the battle in HD and wonder WTF about whatever pointless minor changes are Macclunky'd

[@guibin]

he makes too much sense for them

[@bruenastralith5404]

Nah, they'll just steal his designs instead. I guess hiring him is too expensive for a multi-billion dollar company.

[@daltonyoung8694]

The Thrawn’s revenge Empire at war mod creators need to hire you to create models for them.

[@corinthianimperialstudios704]

One issue with that is these models are a bit too high-detail for Empire at War.

[@corinthianimperialstudios704]

Other than that I totally agree.

[@johnpaulstrobel2547]

I honestly just want to take his models and put them into a mod as well. Like "The EC Henry Mod" That'd be cool

[@corinthianimperialstudios704]

@@johnpaulstrobel2547 I feel like if any game were to be able to use the high quality models EC Henry makes, it'd be Homeworld Remastered rather than Empire at War.

[@WwZa7]

@@corinthianimperialstudios704 Not a real issue. You just remesh the model to low quality, and bake the original model textures onto it, and you're done.

[@stephen2501]

Just hope marvel comic artists don’t steal it

[@spkt0r]

Believe that they watch these types of videos and actively look to copy from these real artist, Just goes to show the level of creativity the marvel/disney comics have.

[@Jan_Strzelecki]

I understood that reference.

[@clarencebeaks1315]

This guy is more talented and creative than any designer at Disney

[@ClnlBogey]

Dude this is a case where I would just hope they would pick up ec henry to design ships, however we all know by this point it is most likely supported conduct to trace.

[@aetherial87]

At this point it's probably just a matter of time.

[@ryandtibbetts2962]

Wait... you actually included weapons emplacements on the underside of the ship? Wow! In Star Wars lore, that's almost unheard of.

[@pinder262]

How unfortunately true

[@celestialyagg804]

Naw a lot of ships did have them - even ISDs had some underneath. It’s just, literally, overshadowed. Also ships like SDs were a rarity in their cases

[@yanyanchan2199]

Xyston-class be like: “But you have heard of me.”

[@banzeyegaming2234]

@@yanyanchan2199 Me: Yes. *sips tea* We just choose not to remember.

[@ladylolth3057]

The Recusant-class from the CIS has a belly gun.

[@Crimerenegade]

I love how You create something new that feels in place for SW universe, from just one blurry frame, this needs to be canon (just like all Your SW creations, new Y-wing especially). I have spoken....

[@UNSCPILOT]

This is the way, it should be done!

[@Wi-Fi-El]

Star wars already has two canons, so I don't see why EC can't make a third

[@kingofmonsters14]

it's called an Uru-class?

[@jon327]

I’d love to see a mini-series about a rebel force using this ship, there’s just too much detail to give up!

[@darthdystopian4550]

Lucasfilm: We hear you loud and clear; one Rose Tico show coming right up!

[@SkywalkerWroc]

@@darthdystopian4550 Plot draft: After months of retrofitting Sphaerolana is out on a mission to escort Pelta-class frigate from the Eridicon System to Mon Calamari. Just two, relatively safe jumps. Cargo? Top Rebel officers after council meeting on the planet, discussing plans for next 2 years of Imperial raids. While everything up to the first of the two planned jumps is fine, the entire plan goes down above Minntooine. Upon exit from hyperspace both ships encounter Imperial Intelligence Operations Bureau Victory-class Star Destroyer going at full thrust towards them. Within minutes starfighighters from both ships battle. As the Victory enters the firing range and begins to blast shields on Rebels there is no choice, but to escape. While captain of Sphaerolana gives order to burn engines at maximum, both ships run head on at the Victory. VSD, while faster than either of them, would take time to turn around and overcome its inertia after a close pass at full speed, and having no guns at the rear - both Rebel ships would be safe to commit all their power into recharging hyperdrive and quickly escape. Sphaerolana blasting it's engines at a full power moves in to cover much more fragile Pelta-class, the entire ship shakes, with conduits failing onboard, repair crew sprawl to keep the thrusters and shields operational. There's barely any turbolaser fire coming from already overwhelmed Sphaerolana, while Victory is absolutely having a field day, blasting everything it has at the Calamari design. But then, the moment comes. Sudden burst of Reaction Control Thrusters threw all unaware crew members around the deck, as Sphaerolana's computer executed pre-programmed collision avoidance in synchronization with Pelta-class mirroring the same maneuver just behind it. Unknowingly to the crew members of the Pelta-class, in the reactor room a child of one of the officers was playing. Closed in the safest location on the ship, a little Rose Tico, just 10 years old, was absolutely indulged, playing with toys... for the first hour of the trip... and then progressing into more... and more important buttons and switches. As she held to one of the panels, computer executed the maneuver, Rose absolutely frightened decided to save the crew from clearly a risky maneuver. She grabbed control sticks and pushed them in the opposite direction, triggering shift of all power in RCS to the opposite side. Suddenly the entire ship started scraping nose of the star destroyer towards the superstructure. As Rose's parents realized an imminent death they but had a moment to trigger core ejection that let Rose sail away into safety. And that's the real story of how "The Empire" killed Rose's parents, and how key rebel officers lost their life, a crippling strike into Rebellion's heart that wasn't filled until the next movie.

[@Lawinzer]

@@SkywalkerWroc the beginning part was awesome. Or let's say the parts before Tico.

[@gabrielrobles5288]

It could have a very gritty dark tone like Battlestar Galactica. That would be awesome.

[@DorsenFilm]

Cruise ship designed for luxury, and in no way intended for war: exists Desperate fish people: now that llooks like a war-ship!!

[@irgendsoeintyp6137]

Dorsen ShowsForTheBasic Weapons : Its free real estate

[@TheLiamster]

The “desperate fish people” are called Mon Calamari.

[@SuicideNeil]

@@TheLiamster /Woosh

[@AlexVonT]

Historical precident in both ww1 and 2 here. The US and Britain both converted luxury liners into troop and supply transport

[@bradhedgehog12]

Dorsen ShowsForTheBasic wrong guys. It’s another of them MC 80s the Cruiser Defiance. I know that cause I played X wing alliance

[@UselessFox]

Any day that EC Henry uploads is a good day

[@patchworkfellow]

“Oh look, I can see the ship I went for a honeymoon on! Hey, what’s it doi- AAAAAARRGGHH!!!!!!” - *Some Imperial Officer, sometime*

[@casbot71]

In universe, it would make sense in the New Republic for all new Mon Cala civilian ships to be over engineered and designed from scratch to be quickly converted into wartime duty.

[@jacobklein3837]

I'd like to see you interpret what the mon cal cruisers looked like as cruise ships!

[@jackrutledgegoembel5896]

I think most of the mc80s were originally buildings according to the new comics

[@richardched6085]

@@jackrutledgegoembel5896 I think that only applied to the MC75 Profundity. And somehow they were also able to build those from scratch.

[@jackrutledgegoembel5896]

@@richardched6085 Look up the battle of mon Cala (imperial era). You can also pirate the comics online. You can see what looks like dozens of mon Cala cruisers of all types ascending from below the planet, with dialogue implying they are re-fitted buildings.

[@JtDuece]

Two things: First: I like this series about the "unknown and forgotten" ships. The effort you do, for this kind of video is great and I like it. I hope you will do more episodes of this series. Second: I would find it cool if you could made this ships available for Modders for Star Wars Eaw Foc mods like Impirial Civil war or awakening of the rebellion. This kind of ships would make the mods better (so I think) and they are (mostly) canon. I see you for the next episode.

[@KaiserMattTygore927]

I would crap an entire house if his designs became available for AOTR

[@Jack-ck4vi]

I wish Disney would pay more attention to these old ships

[@StuartLugsden]

Yes, Lucasfilm still has complete complete control over storytelling. Disney only funds and distributes.

[@JonarusDraconius]

@Rising Horizon Gaming They're owned by Disney now - close enough. That said... They kinda have been giving more attention to some of these old 'side ships' - The Dornean Gunship most notably would be another of these 'unknowns' were it not for its recent inclusion not only in REBELS, but in the 'Rogue One' Movie. ~JD

[@toastedzen]

Lucasfilm pays a lot of attention to trying to figure out who played which alien in the Cantina in ANH, but I am glad we have fans like Henry doing the same for background ships.

[@darthdystopian4550]

Lucasfilm is too busy tracing ship shots from the movies and fan ships for their comics to even bother paying more attention to old ships.

[@republicstarwing414]

Totally Games probably should've been the ones to remake these when they made the X-Wing game series, but they probably didn't have much to go on with the images and limitation of the game models.

[@lightsaberproductions8592]

This is amazing. One´s you´re done with all the secret rebel alliance ships, you should reanimate the final scene from TESB with all those fully detailed ships you´ve made. This must look breathtaking.

[@baron7755]

4:29 wow look at that hangar shot!!!!! Mad respect to the artist!

[@TheDutchmanGaming]

This is the kind of fanfic I can get behind. Great work!

[@AnakinSkyobiliviator]

I always imagine it being another variant of Mon Cal cruiser's rather flexible design philosophy, but this explanation is satisfying too.

[@alexanderdavies1891]

These are literally some of my favorite videos on youtube. The quality is incredible, the backstories so detailed, and the models themselves are gorgeous. One day, when you've gone through all* the mystery ships, I'd love to see a video showcasing all of them (especially the capital ships). I think that would be awesome! The Imperial Nebulon B and the original ISD and then all the rebel craft...it would be great.

[@NaenaeGaming]

This looks great! I especially liked how you added the luxury liner part of the ship’s history, and it would be cool if you reimagined some other Mon Cal Ships as their Luxury forms!

[@blueranger7107]

I want to see more of these mystery ships, in fact, I would love to see all of them done

[@JonarusDraconius]

Once again I'm reminded of the old "TIE Fighter" PC game. In that game, there was TWO main Calamari Cruiser classes - The light cruiser, which conveniently enough, measured in at 650m. And the 'heavy cruiser' which measured in at ~1200m (not 100% on those numbers). The latter was clearly the 'liberty type MC80' as we now know it. But the smaller one? Outside of that game, I haven't heard anything else about it before now - With your design that fills that 'notch' perfectly. In my personal 'head-canon', these light cruisers had a great deal of variety as well, much like the multiple variants of ship that all were under the 'MC80' "class". I've termed these the 'MC60 series', and like the MC80s, there was a lot of visual variation, with the "class" designation being much more of a reference to 'combat capacity' rather than specific design. The "Sphaerolana" is thus an MC60 'light cruiser' and is to other MC60s what the "Home one" is to other (liberty type) MC80s - That is to say, a single stand-alone ship that 'fits the bracket' but has a different base design that what was 'most common' for other ships in the same 'bracket'. Awesome work as always EC - And some great background "lore" to go with it! ~JD

[@snapreactive3916]

EC Henry, sees a random rebel Ship ‘another one to add to my collection.’

[@ruarkwicka1704]

That long horizontal rebel ship in the Empire Strikes Back ending seems like it could be an interesting mid size cruiser. Around 450-500 meters. I believe two of them appear in that sequence and would be a very cool ship to recreate. As someone who loves Star Wars ships, old rebel ships in particular, this series has been something special to me. Watching Return of the Jedi and looking at those 3 background ships and wondering what they were was something I loved. This series is amazing and I hope this ship can get some love as well! Have an amazing day!

[@xpgx1]

"I hope you like stuff like this..." -> 670 to 1 like/dislike ratio! Yeah.... I think it's VERY safe to say the we, the internet =), have decided that you are basically the only source of original star wars / star trek ship designs we're gonna get for the forseeable future. Thank you!

[@onstagejungle1947]

What an amazing video! I love your work, and I really think you should take a look at the “mutiny at mon cala” and the “hope dies” arcs of the canon Star Wars comics. They have some very interesting looking unidentified mon calamari ships in the background that I’d love to see you analyze.

[@csabahofecker6650]

This reminds me of the early aircraft carriers. Those were usually cargo ships retrofitted whit a flight deck and hangars to carry aircraft, just like this ship was, in order to carry star fighters.

[@PapBenedek]

I think it looks like a precursor of the Raddus

[@ekerslithery5955]

But like 1/10 the size

[@wanamingo4961]

Please do more of these they’re great

[@ReySkywalker2]

Outstanding. Love the added headcanon.

[@maxeisenhardt8800]

Love the design so much. If I was a starfighter pilot, the Sphaerolana would be our squadron's flagship.

[@JarenWelen]

Coming soon to a Marvel comic near you.

[@msn-willz7723]

Jaren LMFAOO

[@Mortenhendriksen]

When you're done it would be awesome to see you make a small fleet of ships mixing these and some of the more known ships

[@Jason_OConnor]

What about that crashed ship on tatoine

[@FellSkyhawk]

Beautiful work as always. Please do more. I've always wanted to see what the med star frigates looked like in the med star duology.

[@Wastydest]

I would love to see a rerender of the Battle of Endor from you using all your designs! I think it's a pitty, that this amazing space battle is visually very outdated. Most ships are just so blury and often have weird blueish looks. Even just seeing a couple of shots from the movie being reimagined by you would be amazing!!!

[@eternal5930]

Imagine what will happen when he sees the blurry ships in TROS.

[@athane8358]

This is so cool. I imagine ships of this type having different weapons crafted on. Maybe even one with a couple of salvaged Venator Turbolasers.

[@matthewjohns2990]

Dude these are my favourite videos your not only create beautiful models but believable lore to go with them keep it up dude

[@catfish552]

Very nice! The planform and overhang over the engines remind me of the MC30c frigate. Might be a relative?

[@Jimbo28263]

Your work exceeds all expectations

[@comicmoniker]

Four years later and I still come back and rewatch this one sometimes because it's just so cool. Definitely my favorite of your designs, though there's a lot of competition

[@MartinH_222]

This Mon Cal ship is simply beautiful! 👌 Great work EC Henry!

[@panamera11]

I absolutely love this series of mystery ships you are doing! Keep up the good work!

[@wreckerlawson9826]

i love retrofitted and jurry rigd ships like this one

[@CommanderWolf888]

I am loving this series and I will definitely stay tuned for more.

[@milesdean8802]

PLEASE keep doing these, it’s so entertaining.

[@samnelson9038]

You should do a redesign of the scenes these ships were in, but show more of these vessels.

[@thayr6993]

Holy heck, EC Henry! One of these days I'm going to try to get you into the same room with Fractalsponge, I swear.

[@jacobdela3462]

Amazing! I love this series, gives a new perspective and throws new light on star wars

[@4750548]

God you do a great job with the model as well as the story line

[@Aegis030]

Excellent design. Great fit into the Star Wars Universe.

[@williamhouman8009]

The more I see your work the more I am not only impressed but amazed by it.

[@kristophervanvarenberg526]

So gorgeous!!! Well done!!!

[@pendaco]

Would be cool to eventually see an extended cut of that scene from the movie detailing all the ships in greater detail once they're all revealed!

[@justarandombird]

I wish I was able to make models like that... i dont even know how to do such stuff so great job! :D

[@GaiaDblade]

Seeing more of these ship ideas, I can imagine a rebel squadron made of headhunters supplementing X-wings.

[@anthemanatheme1638]

the URU-Class, the more famous sibling to the infamous UWU-Class.

[@peterhellman4271]

Of the servant saber Nero

[@jessehorn6180]

Are you planning to add more mysterious rebel ships? Also, are there any mysterious Imperial Ships?

[@aurorathearcticwolf4243]

no mystery imperial ships have been seen atm (fan ships dont count)

[@K.Clawbender]

I absolutely love these videos.

[@daltonyoung8694]

This is honestly my favorite in this series. It looks so good

[@mattkendell1344]

Love these videos. Wish they would make them canon. Also wish we could see the original photos.

[@davidblalock9945]

Your version of the "Imperial" Nebulon B is the visual I'm using for the Player's cruiser in my upcoming Star Wars campaign.

[@CB0Otz]

Not a bad backstory! I'd say to keep in mind that Mon Cal ships were actually all originally buildings in their underwater cities, but the addition of fins to the ship does seem to imply that they would've had it moving around underwater more. Love your work, keep it up!

[@SJHFoto]

This is EXCELLENT! I have always been fascinated by the Rebel Fleet (I was born in the mid-70s, so grew up with Star Wars), and your renderings are amazing. It brings to life my childhood stories of the ships. This is the type of stuff I care about, not the Disney Star Wars

[@SineN0mine3]

Just discovered your videos, love the channel! Can't wait to see more!

[@janejvmmsvictoria5857]

Fantastic work! Loved the model, the hangar arts and the story!

[@nerfinfineon5589]

Love it love it love it. It takes a ton of effort to resurrect these background blurs but I am soooo glad you do

[@mattheweppley]

Superb, superb, simply superb! No one does it better than you. Please please please continue! You're resurrecting my childhood. Ever since I first watched that fleet scene in ROTJ, I've dreamed and imagined what those ships in the background could be. Can't wait to see your next video! :-)

[@zackbobby5550]

This is awesome man. It never made sense why the Empire has so many different variations of vehicles and ships when their goal is to mass produce for a whole galaxy's army. However, it makes PERFECT SENSE why the Rebellion has all these unique and one off ships, because as stated here many of them were one off retrofits. Great job on this design and please do more!

[@chris4238]

This was a fantastic design I wish we could see more of!

[@rogue5ive]

These videos of yours as joy to watch!

[@Tophertron]

@ECHenry I love, LOVE what you're doing to make these "background blurs" into real, functional ships, perhaps even more than your Sequel Trilogy designs! Your work on the Nebulon-B finally convinced me it was (originally, at least) a legitimate KDY product and not just a canon screw up... Have you ever considered fleshing out and adding logic to some of the oddities from the old Marvel Star Wars comics?

[@gamingcat4902]

Love this series keep it up👊

[@CT75674eva]

When a KZbinr has a backstory for an unacknowledged ship that's ten times better than canon's most well-known ships. Great work!!

[@starkfels-diespielefestung2680]

Once again a fantastic model that simply breathes pure Star Wars.

[@sagesheahan6732]

More "new" (was always there just in the background, and blurry, and nobody noticed it, and it was lonely, and now you're bringing it into the limelight!) ships, please. Pure wow. 💯😎

[@Delerane]

Thought the years, I watched many Star Wars YT channels. YOU are truly amazing, and I really love your work. You are a clever fan !

[@IfYouWillem]

I absolutely LOVE these. Would love more non-canon lore like this. It's just fun. Makes me wish you works in the biz!

[@Gaderian-2187]

Your work blows me away every time!

[@PcItalian]

It's the back story, so amazing

[@jshsnipa]

Your videos are so good. You have such a great understanding of Star Wars ships and create amazing and creative lore for your ships.

[@crgkevin6542]

The carrier aspect reminds me a bit of the plans to convert the fire gutted hull of the French ocean liner Normandie in to a carrier. Excellent work as always with this reconstruction!

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

It's just a darn shame that the rebel alliance could only rely on the Mon Cala for ships. We only ever see the same three types of Rebel ships: blockade runners, Nebula B's and the Mon Cala cruisers and capital ships and it can get boring after a while. I would love to see something new from them or, even better, take stuff from the Legacy Era that looks cool like the MC140 Scythe-class main battle cruiser. It may be a Mon Cala type design but it's still incredibly cool looking and unique. Hammerheads have nothing on that design and I'd love to see you tackle and put your own spin design on that ship.

[@neofulcrum5013]

RedTeamReview I know what you mean

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

starhawks are cool but we need more new stuff, not old 70's and 80's designs.

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

we'll see

[@gwdismuke]

Excellent job! Love the lore that accompanies your design work. Keep 'em coming. 👍

[@aaronmenzie-w6q]

I've been hoping you'd do this ship. The result is most impressive. I know I'm always full of praise for your work, and it is excellent, but I realized another reason why I enjoy it so much is that it's nice to see someone else who shares my passion for the lesser-known ships, the ones that are - or could be - just as cool as the ships everyone knows about, but they just need their turn in the spotlight so people can see that. You're giving us a chance that we might never get otherwise, to see these ships as they should be seen. Definitely keep it up.

[@Lambda3141]

This is A+ work!

[@semiproparrot9985]

i adore this series of renders

[@fakenuke7487]

Man I love your work so damn much, you are extremely talented and creative, don't change

[@Sela2125]

You would think Disney would capitalize on the obvious hunger from the fans and hire people like you who are interested in and have the skils to shine a light on the ships that time forgot. You bring a level of realism and creativity to ship design and lore that big companies seldom bother to achieve.

[@Horace_Dragon]

excellent back story & terrific renders!

[@christ4032]

You need to get a job with Fantasy Flight games and make all of these ships in their Armada tabletop game, your work is absolutely outstanding and as someone who has always wanted to know something about all the extra little ships in the background your channel has really pleased me to find.

[@captainclipy6236]

Love all the backstories you make for these

[@Apollo-zc2rj]

DISNEY, HIRE THIS GUY

[@Renorick1]

As much as his skill/talent deserves recognition, do you *really* want *Disney* to hire him?

[@freetimeidiot4541]

Why hire and pay him when you can just keep him makimg vids for free and steal his design?

[@Renorick1]

@@freetimeidiot4541 Shots fired!

[@Spiel-Film]

Wow! What a great work! What an underrated channel!

[@christophermarshall4080]

She's BEAUTIFUL!

[@HighLordBaron]

And again, you did an awesome job with this one!

[@MechaTrekAD]

I love this. Beautiful vessel. Always happy to see your stuff EC. Happy Holidays!