- "First of all, the term 'space transport' refers to any vessel that's bigger than a starfighter and smaller than a capital ship - of course, those boundaries aren't set in durasteel. But for the most part, space transports are defined by their function - moving people or cargo from one location to another. That could be across a space dock or across the galaxy, it all depends on the ship's capabilities and their pilot's intentions."
- ―Sergeant Riij Brinwell, a Sector Ranger of the Parmic sector
Transports such as freighters and passenger liners were not designed for military encounters and were normally unarmed and slow-moving. However, transports were easy to modify and convert into effective combat vessels, which was done by pirates and smugglers. Military organizations also adapted the transport to ferry troops and provide combat support. The Imperial Navy used the Sentinel-class landing craft by Cygnus Spaceworks to swiftly deploy its personnel to planets below. The Death Watch Mandalorians used Gauntlet fighters to transport Death Watch troopers and provide combat support.