BattlesWars:BattleOfHoth

Star Wars History: From Exar Kun to Luke Skywalker and beyond

Main -> BattlesWars:Home -> H -> Battle of Hoth

The Battle of Hoth

Considered by many to be one of the greatest upsets of the Galactic Civil War, the Battle of Hoth effectively ended the Rebel Alliance’s “gravy-train” existence. After the Battle of Yavin took place, the Rebels moved their main base to the icy planet of Hoth where they created Echo Base. Probes dispatched by Lord Vader, in search of Luke Skywalker, located what was initially believed to be a smuggler’s base. However, upon closer inspection, shield generators and extensive military emplacements revealed the structures to be the main Rebel base.

The Imperial fleet immediately mobilized and attempted a sneak attack followed by planetary bombardment. However, the rush judgment of Admiral Kendal Ozzel led to the fleet revealing itself to the Alliance prematurely. Being alerted early, the Rebels managed to activate their shields, protecting them from space bombardment. They also began their evacuation procedures. This forced the Imperials to initiate their attack klicks (kilometers) from the base. After punishing the clumsy and stupid official, Lord Vader commanded Firmus Piett, Ozzel’s replacement, to mobilize troops for a ground assault.

The Alliance, detecting the landing of heavy transports, immediately armed their security systems. Commanders Han Solo and Skywalker reported to the base, and Rogue Squadron (headed by the fledgling Jedi) prepared to attack. A few hours into the morning, sensor post 1138 detected the beginning of the ground force: Heavy Imperial Walkers led by General Maximillian Veers.

The All-Terrain Armored-Transports, or “AT-AT’s”, began systematically disrupting the Alliance base. A couple All-Terrain Scout-Transports, or "AT-ST's" aided the AT-AT's while snowtroopers, led by Sergean Major Bursk invaded the base. The Rebels counter-attacked with Snowspeeders, Golan Laser Batteries, and Atgar Laser Cannons. Despite the intense efforts of Rogue Squadron, the AT-AT’s were near invincible. Luke Skywalker, Wedge Antilles, and Dash Rendar proved to be the only pilots capable of destroying the massive vehicles. After a vicious skirmish, the lead AT-AT’s delivered a crushing blow to the base by destroying the shield generator, enabling the landing of short-range troops and allowing the Empire access to the base.

Within minutes, the Alliance began full evacuation. During the ensuing chaos, commanders orchestrated a brilliant escape plan using the Planetary Ion Cannon as cover for fleeing troop transports. Somewhere in the base, a small group of Wampa ice monsters broke free and began attacking soldiers on both sides. After the initial destruction of the base, Lord Vader entered the embattled station and surveyed the wreckage of the sudden assault.

The Alliance followed secure routes to an undisclosed location somewhere high above the Galactic Ellipse, while the Millennium Falcon, caught off-guard, took an emergency route through the nearby asteroid fields to distant Bespin, before being ambushed by the Empire and escaping with Han Solo lost.

The Battle of Hoth was the single greatest defeat in the Alliance’s 12-year history. The Alliance never again fully recovered, spending the remainder of their war jumping from system to system in an attempt at stealth. Then, a year later, the struggling Rebellion made one final attempt at victory, in orbit around the forest moon of Endor…

Perry, Steve. Shadows of the Empire. N.p. (1998). Spectra Books.
Sansweet, Stephen J. Star Wars Encyclopedia. (1998). Del Rey Books.
StarWars.com. 27 Aug. 2004.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. (1980). 20th Century Fox.