Battle of Hoth/Legends


 * There were several Battles of Hoth throughout history. See Battle of Hoth (disambiguation).

"We've got to hold them until all transports are away. Prepare for ground assault."

- General Carlist Rieekan

The Battle of Hoth was a conflict in the Galactic Civil War, during which the Rebel base on Hoth was destroyed.

Prelude
After the abandonment of the base of Yavin 4, the Empire didn't know the new location of the Rebellion. During an assault on Zaloriis City to punish the Zaloran separatists, Vader and Veers discovered archives of the library which showed the new location to be somewhere near Elrood system.

Darth Vader's personal Death Squadron fleet reached the Hoth system, following a discovery made by a Viper probe droid, which turned out to be the main base of the Rebel Alliance, located on the sixth planet of the system.

Lord Vader, and many of his top officers had planned a surprise attack with limited long-range orbital bombardment to destroy any spacecraft and defenses, followed by a sweeping ground assualt to capture any survivors. However, Admiral Ozzel made his own assault plan, and exited hyperspace close to the star system planning for a saturated bombardment. This tactical blunder allowed the Rebel's early-warning sensors to detect the fleet. The theatre shield protecting Echo Base was activated, which precluded any desirable bombardment. Darth Vader executed the Admiral for his incompetence and promoted Firmus Piett, then chief fleet captain of the Star Dreadnought Executor, to Admiral. Having assessed the situation, Vader ordered General Maximillian Veers to land beyond the range of the energy shield and begin a surface assault aimed at knocking out the Rebel defences, while Death Squadron took up a blockade formation. The Imperial landing force, dubbed Blizzard Force, consisted of several battallions of cold-weather equipped Stormtroopers (known as Snowtroopers), some squads equipped with heavy repeating blasters. This infantry force was carried aboard AT-AT and A5 Juggernaut transports, which in turn were supported by AT-PT, AT-ST and AT-AR walkers, and with Viper probe droids providing extra sensory-support. This mechanized force was deployed by several Y-85 Titan Dropships, and larger landing assault craft.

The Alliance employed T-47 snowspeeders, light aircraft modified for arctic combat conditions led by the elite Rogue Squadron. Ground troops were armed with A295 blasters and several types of artillery emplacements, including DF.9/B anti-infantry laser batteries and the Clone Wars-era P-Tower anti-vehicle laser cannons. A large ion cannon, the v-150 Planet Defender, provided fire-support for the leaving transports. To protect the interior of the base, Rebel troops employed small repulsorsleds, each armed with a blaster cannon.

The Battle
The Imperial assault was primarily aimed at destroying the Rebel's main power generators. This would shut down the theatre shield protecting the base from orbital bombardment. General Veers led the assault personally, commanding an AT-AT walker, and crushed the Rebel defenses. AT-ST walkers moved toward the Outpost Beta ion cannon to prevent any Star Destroyer casualties in the space battle. Snowspeeders flew in and destroyed the attackers before they reached the cannon. Blizzard Force came under harassing fire from the Alliance emplacements, but only the snowspeeders succeeded in toppling the large assault transports. Some Rebel troops were brave enough to charge forward, towards toppled Imperial walkers, in the hopes of gaining cover from them, while attempting to sabotage nearby armored units. As the armored assault force reached the trenches, the Alliance soldiers came under heavy fire and the the order to retreat was issued.

With the AT-ATs providing artillery fire, Veers broke through the defensive lines and proceeded to destroy the power generators. Once that had succeeded, the blockade in orbit began a piecemiel bombardment of the battlefield, taking out defensive emplacements and fleeing ships. Imperial forces then used airmobile tactics to deploy snowtroopers into Echo Base itself. Lord Vader personally led troopers of the 501st Legion against the Rebels, cutting down any who stood in his way. Alliance troops attempted to fight a delaying action, but were swiftly overwhelmed by the mechanized assault. As the snowtroopers breached the icy bunker walls of Echo Base and entered close range combat with the defenders, Rebel personnel were forced to flee. Han Solo managed to escape in the Millenium Falcon with Princess Leia Organa.

One other Rebel, Dash Rendar, was trapped inside Echo Base in the hangar bays. His frigate, the Outrider, was on the other side of the base, where the power was out. He used the station's supply of captive Wampas as an advantage, setting them free to slaughter the Imperial infantry. After restoring the power allowing the rest of the rebels to escape, his troubles got worse; a lone AT-ST walker managed to slip behind the base's defenses and penetrated the base. Rendar nevertheless managed to destroy it and he escaped in the Outrider.

Approximately thirty Rebel GR-75 Medium Transports managed to take off along with a number of other lighter craft. Despite the cover provided by the KDY v-150 Planet Defender, the Imperial naval squadron blockading the planet managed to destroy seventeen Rebel Medium Transports. The ion cannon crew, made up of Alliance troops from Alderaan, were among the last to leave, blowing up the cannon to mask the sesnor reading of them escaping. Despite the escape of most senior personnel, the loss in material and men proved a disaster for the Rebel Alliance.

The battle was not without loss for the Empire: at least one Star Destroyer was temporarily placed out of commission by the orbital-range ion cannon and several AT-ATs were destroyed by Rebel defenders, with more being lost to the treacherous ice flows giving way. Despite forcing the Rebels to flee, the Imperial forces were unable to destroy all of the transports, while Lord Vader failed in what he considered a primary objective, namely capturing Luke Skywalker.

Rogue Squadron
These Rogue pilots are known to be assigned during the battle (pilot/gunner):


 * Rogue Leader: Flight Commander Luke Skywalker/Dak Ralter
 * Rogue 2: Zev Senesca/Kit Valent
 * Rogue 3: Wedge Antilles/Wes Janson
 * Rogue 4: Derek "Hobbie" Klivian/Kesin Ommis
 * Rogue 8: Zev Kabir/Unknown
 * Rogue 10: Tarrin Datch/Unknown
 * Rogue 11: Tenk Lenso/
 * Rogue 12: Dash Rendar/Robotic Gunner
 * Tycho Celchu/Unknown
 * Samoc Farr/Unknown
 * Nala Hetsime/Unknown
 * Kasan Moor/Unknown

Behind the scenes
The Battle of Hoth is featured in several Star Wars video and computer games as a playable mission from a variety of perspectives. Shadows of the Empire places you in the seat of a snowspeeder against the armored Imperial force, while Force Commander allows you to take the place of General Veers and command the mechanized assault. Star Wars Battlefront and Galactic Battlegrounds lets one play in the Battle of Hoth as either the Rebels or the Empire.

In Star Wars Battlefront II the battle continues into the rear of Echo Base to where many Rebels attempt to evacuate Hoth on a GR-75 Rebel Transport. As the Empire, the player must hold additional bases and place a beacon on the transport for the capital ships to bombard it. After the Battle of Hoth in Star Wars Battlefront II, the Alliance to Restore the Republic was thought to be destroyed.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Force Commander
 * ''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Battlefront
 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Entrenched