Tow cable

The tow cable was a device attached to the Rebel Alliance snowspeeder for the duration of the battle against the Empire on Hoth. When the pilot chose to do so, the tow cable, which was essentially a harpoon fixed to a very long reel of cable, was launched from the rear of the snowspeeder. The tow cables were used to greatest effect against the gigantic AT-AT walkers used by Imperial forces, and proved useful.

The pilots of these craft, including Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles, launched the tow cables from the rear of their craft as they flew around one of the AT-AT's legs. The harpoon snagged on the leg, and as the Rebel Alliance pilots flew around and around the walkers in decreasing circles, all four legs became hopelessly tangled up by cable, and the AT-AT came crashing down to the snowy ground.

As far as we know, the tow cables were never employed by the Rebel Alliance again, despite their effectiveness, probably due to the fact that they were only fitted to the snowspeeder.