Battlecruiser 17 was a Munificent-class star frigate that was active in the Confederacy of Independent Systems' naval forces. In 21 BBY, when the Separatists blockaded the planet Ryloth during the Clone Wars, the frigate was assigned to the command of Captain Mar Tuuk. Aboard his Lucrehulk-class Battleship command vessel, Tuuk expected the Galactic Republic to retaliate and positioned Battlecruiser 17 away from the battlezone.
When a Republic fleet led by Jedi General Anakin Skywalker arrived, Battlecruiser 17 and three other Munificents were called in for reinforcements. Although the Republic made a brief withdrawal, they later returned with a new plan of action. In the second assault, Skywalker's Padawan—Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano—was able to break through the blockade after destroying the six frigates, including Battlecruiser 17.
Battlecruiser 17 was a Munificent-class star frigate that reached 825 meters in length, 426 meters in width, and 243 meters in height, equipped with seven ion engine thrusters at its stern and a hyperdrive generator and two hyperwave supralight transceivers. Emblazoned with the Confederacy of Independent Systems' hex icon, the frigate was armed with two heavy turbolaser cannons and two heavy ion cannons at its prow, supported by thirty-four twin light turbolaser cannons on its port and starboard sides. As customary with Munificent-class vessels, Battlecruiser 17 was stockpiled with four squadrons of forty-eight Vulture-class droid starfighters and 150,000 battle droids, of which handled ship-to-ship combat situations, repelled boarding parties and fought surface engagements.
Battlecruiser 17 enters the Ryloth system alongside the rest of the Separatist blockade.
During the galactic conquest of the Clone Wars, in 22 BBY, the planet Ryloth was invaded by the Separatist Alliance's droid armies. After the invasion succeeded, a blockade was stationed in orbit under the supervision of Captain Mar Tuuk, from the helm of a Lucrehulk-class Battleship that was supported by six Munificent-class star frigates. In 21 BBY, implementing Battlecruiser 17 into their ranks, the cruiser and three other frigates were placed outside the Ryloth system, as Tuuk expected the Galactic Republic to launch an attack.
As Tuuk predicted, the Republic deployed the fleet of Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, composed of three Venator-class Star Destroyers—Resolute, Defender and Redeemer. Sending vulture droids into battle, the Republic starfighters of Blue Squadron led by Skywalker's Padawan, Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano, broke through the Separatist lines and pushed for the command vessel. Noticing the Republic's direct approach on the battleship, Battlecruiser 17 and the other three frigates, including Battlecruiser 19, were called upon for reinforcements and overwhelmed the Republic fleet. Caught in their trap, the Republic retreated from the battlezone but lost the Redeemer in the escape.
All six Munificent-class star frigates fire upon the Resolute.
After the Republic left to recuperate, Tuuk ordered the fleet to prepare their weapons and the crews to their stations, learning the Republic commander was the famed Anakin Skywalker. With a new plan of action to break the Separatist formation, Skywalker returned aboard the Defender and offered Tuuk his false surrender, in exchange for food and medical supplies being safely provided to the starved population. Though Tuuk discovered the deception, the Defender crashed into the Lucrehulk and effectively called the Resolute into battle. The Star Destroyer angled its hull and pulled the confused frigates out of position, with their OOM command battle droids ordering a bombardment on the Resolute.
While the Resolute was bombarded, Commander Tano took another starfighter squadron into battle. Using BTL-B Y-wing starfighter/bombers, the Jedi Commander attacked each of the Munificents and destroyed them in quick succession, including Battlecruiser 17. After the blockade was completely dispatched, Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu arrived with the Republic invasion fleet of Acclamator-class assault ships to land on the surface and successfully liberate Ryloth from the Separatists.
Battlecruiser 17 was placed under the command of an OOM command battle droid while serving the Separatists' Ryloth blockade. The frigate was operated by a required crew of 200.
Battlecruiser 17 first appeared in "Storm Over Ryloth," the nineteenth episode of the first season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, which aired on February 27, 2009.