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- "The ion cannon will fire several shots to make sure that any enemy ships will be out of your flight path."
- ―Princess Leia Organa
The v-150 Planet Defender, also known as the v-150 ion cannon, was a model of planetary ion cannon designed to disable capital ships. Often deployed in conjunction with planetary shields, its purpose was to defend planets while the shields reached full power. It could disrupt Star Destroyers with a single ion bolt, however its stationary nature made it vulnerable to attack, and its blast shield was required to retract in order to utilize the cannon. It was also equipped with an independent power generator buried roughly 40 meters below the weapon emplacement.[1]
Prior to the Battle of Hoth, the Alliance to Restore the Republic used a v-150 to allow their transports to slip past Imperial Star Destroyers. Coordinated by Commander Toryn Farr, the cannon did its job well and disabled at least one Destroyer, the Tyrant, allowing the first of the rebel transports, the Quantum Storm, to escape into hyperspace.[3] The cannon was later destroyed during the battle.[2]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
Concept art of a v-150 by Ralph McQuarrie
The v-150 Planet Defender first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back and was based off of concept art by Ralph McQuarrie.[5]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Galactic Defense (First identified as v-150 ion cannon)
- Star Wars Battlefront II
- Star Wars: Battle Pod
- Star Wars: Starfighter Missions
- Star Wars Battlefront
- Battlefront: Twilight Company (Mentioned only)
- "In Service to the Empire"—Empire Ascendant 1
- "Epilogue"—Empire Ascendant 1
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny – "Beasts of Echo Base"- Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (First appearance)
- The Empire Strikes Back: So You Want to Be a Jedi?
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back junior novelization
- AT-AT Attack!
- "Ion Control"—From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
- The Last Jedi Adaptation 1 (Indirect mention only)
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Galactic Defense on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as v-150 Planet Defender)
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
- Star Wars: Galactic Atlas
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 16 (Databank A-Z: E-11 Blaster–Cornelius Evazan)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 24 (Databank A-Z: The HoloNet–General Hux)
- Star Wars: On the Front Lines
- Forces of Destiny: Tales of Hope & Courage (Picture only)
- Star Wars: The Rebel Files
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 32 (Helmets: In Pictures; Weapons & Uniforms: Echo Base)
- Star Wars: The Galactic Explorer's Guide
- The Star Wars Book
- "Battle of Hoth and the Second Death Star" – Star Wars Encyclopedia
- "Explosives, Heavy Weapons and Unstable Elements" – Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Echo Base in the Databank (backup link)
- Hoth in the Databank (backup link)
- Ion Cannon in the Databank (backup link)
- X-wing Starfighter in the Databank (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
