A holotank served as a holographic display on a starship's bridge, providing the ship's captain with a comprehensive view of ongoing space engagements. During the Galactic Civil War, the Galactic Empire installed holotanks on its Imperial-class Star Destroyers; nonetheless, captains who frequently relied on them were derisively called "holotank commanders". As a consequence, Admiral Rae Sloane of the Star Destroyer Vigilance seldom utilized the holotank on her ship. During the Battle of Endor, she instructed Springbuck, a member of her crew, to activate the vessel's holotank so that Emarr Ottkreg, the Imperial loyalty officer, could observe the conflict. Subsequently, she herself made limited use of the hologram while issuing commands throughout the remainder of the battle, which culminated in the Empire's loss.
The initial depiction of a holotank occurred in the short story "The Levers of Power," penned by Jason Fry and featured in the anthology The Rise of the Empire, released in 2015.