Superlaser/Legends



A superlaser was a planet-destroying weapon, sometimes referred to as a superweapon, that used several separate "planetary proton beams" combined together as a single beam. This devastating device was designed to destroy planets with one shot.

The birth of the superlaser
The concept of the superlaser, Emperor Palpatine's most frightening weapon, was born in the mind of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin. The use of such massive weapons became the core of his Tarkin Doctrine. The idea was later realized by Bevel Lemelisk, as well as by Geonosian weapons engineers.

The proof-of-concept model of the superlaser was built at the Maw Installation in the Kessel system. This model became become known as the Death Star Prototype. Finally, the first full-scale superlaser was installed in the first Death Star, becoming its primary weapon.

Superlaser power


The power of the first Death Star's superlaser is estimated to have been more than 2.4*10^32 joules, with a range of 75,000 km. Powerful enough to destroy a terrestrial planet, it was the moust powerful energy weapon ever built. Eight crystals powered by fusion reactors generated turbolaser impulses concentrated over the central lens of the weapon. The beam created in this way had more than half the firepower of the remainder of the Imperial Starfleet.

Use and deployment


The full-scale superlaser was built in the Death Star was used twice&mdash;once as a secret test, to destroy the prison planet Despayre, and later to destroy Alderaan and demonstrate the Galactic Empire's strength. Before it could fire a third time at the Rebel Alliance base on Yavin IV, it was destroyed at the Battle of Yavin.

A smaller version of the first Death Star's superlaser was installed on the Tarkin. This weapon was used once by Grand Admiral Martio Batch to crack the planet Aeten II and acquire its deeply buried supply of remaining stygium crystals. It too would be destroyed by Rebel forces, who infiltrated the station while it was under construction and sabotaged the superlaser. When the superlaser was first fired, it overloaded, destroying the station.



The Death Star II's superlaser had nine beams, with one in the center. With more beams, this superlaser was easier to aim. These new targeting systems allowed it to fire at smaller targets, such as capital ships. Though this allowed the Imperial forces to inflict significant casualties on the Rebel fleet during the Battle of Endor, this station was also destroyed.

The next superlaser to be built by the Empire was keel-mounted on the Eclipse-class Star Dreadnoughts. This superlaser was not as powerful as that on the Death Stars, but was still capable of slashing through planetary shields or causing gigantic earthquakes. This made the original Eclipse and its successor, Eclipse II, the most powerful capital ships ever built. However, the Eclipse was destroyed over Byss, and the Eclipse II was destroyed after the Battle of Onderon along with the Galaxy Gun.

The last known superlaser was built by Durga the Hutt for the Darksaber battle station. The forces of the New Republic attacked it before it was completed, and it was destroyed in the Hoth Asteroid Field.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Marvel Star Wars 51:Resurrection of Evil
 * Marvel Star Wars 52:To Take the Tarkin
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Dark Empire
 * Dark Empire II
 * Empire's End
 * Darksaber