Why did fighters have to fly through the trench on the Death Stars?

[Solo]

Forgive me if this thread has been started before, but I could not find anything similar to it.

We all saw that small fighters such as X-Wings, Y-Wings and Tie fighters were flying through a trench on death star. Rebel ships were flying through this channel, because they wanted to hit the main power generator through the cooling outlet and imperial fighters were trying to stop them. We all saw that Luke and (I guess it was Wedge) the guy before him, easily pulled up from the trench after they shot their proton torpedos, which means the top of the trench was open over the cooling outlet. We also saw that it was possible for millenium falcon to shoot the imperial fighters, which were attacking rebel ships in the trench. Why weren't any other rebel ships were covering their friend's back?

Than why did they have to fly through a trench full of turrets firing at them and tie fighters shooting at them from behind at the same time? Couldn't they have targeted the cooling outlet from the surface of the death star?

[Morridini]

Well it was a small target, thus needing more time then usual to aim. So by being the in the trench they could more or less fly in a straight line and aim without being afraid of lasers, by flying head on from space would mean that they would consetrate on not being hit aswell as targeting.

[Solo]

All right, that can be an acceptable answer, but why weren't anyone flying over the trench to cover their backs from the tie fighter that were following them?

Han did it for Luke when he was in trouble with a huge ship compared to with the ones in the trench. Before that each time 3 fighters (X-Wing or Y-Wing) were entering the trench and getting shot. I can not understand that part.

[Tovor]

It makes for great dramatic effect, but poor military strategy.

Almost as poor as snowspeeders attacking AT-AT's head on, flying directly into the line of fire, rather than approaching them from the sides or rear. No wonder it took the rebels 20 years to win a victory.

[Jedi Master Harrison]

All right, that can be an acceptable answer, but why weren't anyone flying over the trench to cover their backs from the tie fighter that were following them?

Han did it for Luke when he was in trouble with a huge ship compared to with the ones in the trench. Before that each time 3 fighters (X-Wing or Y-Wing) were entering the trench and getting shot. I can not understand that part.

I'm not sure if this is the correct reason, but I always thought that the Rebels simply didn't have enough fighters to attack in the best possible way, i.e. with ample cover. I think Tovor's analysis is also correct, they were more interested in making a great film than thinking about the various military strategies.

[DblDwn]

It wasn't Wedge who fired the first shot that missed, it was Gold Leader.

[Konig15]

Biggs and Wedge were trying to cover Luke from the back, albiet for the movies they were far too close. I think if Lucas has written in stead, that little flaw would have been better expalined (not that I agree with Lucas, he shoulda compromised to get SOME accuracy [plausibility])

[silverbolt]

the two squadrons of X wings and Y wings worked like thus, the Y wings attacked the trench whilst the W wings flew cover keeping the TIEs of thier backs.

When it came to Luke, wedges and Bigg's run they were the only ones who were left

Save for one random Y wing and i still dont know who thats supposed to be

[one with many names]

The problem wasn't just hitting it, but also the angle of the missile had to be inline with the shaft that lead to the reactor. If you remember wedge hit it with two missiles but failed to kill the deathstar.

You might remember the British RAF's dam raid during world war 2. They had been trying for years to hit dams but it never worked because from their air they were very small targets so this guy had an idea for a bomb that hit from the side. Thus was born the so-called bouncing bomb.

[silverbolt]

The problem wasn't just hitting it, but also the angle of the missile had to be inline with the shaft that lead to the reactor. If you remember wedge hit it with two missiles but failed to kill the deathstar.

Wedge never fired on the death star during the trench run it was garven Dries, he missed (obviously) and was then shot down

[Solo]

Wedge never fired on the death star during the trench run it was garven Dries, he missed (obviously) and was then shot down

Yes, I think he was shot and lost one engine and had to pull out.

[thepepgal]

Yes, I think he was shot and lost one engine and had to pull out.

Yes Wedge did pull out of the trench run leaving Biggs covering Luke. Luke ordered that Wedge pull out as there was little he could do back there.

[silverbolt]

Yes, I think he was shot and lost one engine and had to pull out.

yep,

this was after dries had been killed

[Mothman]

It makes for great dramatic effect, but poor military strategy.....

I second Tovor's response. It was for great dramatic effect and nothing more. Back in 1977, we had never seen anything like this before. The POV "roller coaster ride" into the trench and the following approach to the target within the trench simply added to the fun and tension of the scene -- it made no logical sense.

:bye:

[bruciarsi]

My guess would be it keeped them out of the bulk of the direct fire from the defences and made the approach to the vent easy. Of course i never saw why they couldnt fly directly at the thing making it a straight on shot. Maybe it wasnt possible. Most likely as stated it was done for dramatic effect etc.

[Cassus Fett]

It was so a few would get picked off and allow Luke to hear Obi-Wan and feel the force...

[Talcy]

Well, as Tovor stated, it makes for great dramatic effect. Star Wars is a movie and works on ideas that maintain and heighten drama for an audience, not necessarily because of the tactics or imagined physics of that universe. The trench is great because it increases the sense of speed (which, as we all know, GW is big on) and is a far more dangerous environment to stick your characters in, especially when the stakes are already so high.

Put simply, it makes the battle more dangerous and make us root for luke all the more.

[silverbolt]

As to the point regarding ahving big ships covering the figher attack

the rebellian had no big ships niether corellian or mon cal at this point, only bloackade runners and transport ships. At the time of ANH they were a guerilla outfit hitting at targets and then evaporating into hyperspace. Remember for ROTJ the alliance threw everything it had at the second deathstar.

Also how long do you think even a capital ship would last against the insane amount of turbo laser batteries on the death star. Even an SD wouldnt last that long against them

[bruciarsi]

Before the attack they decide that its needs to be a fighter assault. Doesnt mean they didnt have capital ships at the time just that the fighter assualt was the best option due to the defensive capabilities of the death star.

[Solo]

As to the point regarding ahving big ships covering the figher attack

the rebellian had no big ships niether corellian or mon cal at this point, only bloackade runners and transport ships. At the time of ANH they were a guerilla outfit hitting at targets and then evaporating into hyperspace. Remember for ROTJ the alliance threw everything it had at the second deathstar.

Also how long do you think even a capital ship would last against the insane amount of turbo laser batteries on the death star. Even an SD wouldnt last that long against them

Hold on, I didn't say big ships covering the attackers. What I had in mind was, for example three Y-wings in the trench and may be three X-wings flying over the trench slightly behind and above them to cover Y-wings from tie fighters. It is not logical to send a big ship to protect small fighters.

[Zedekk]

Forgive me if this thread has been started before, but I could not find anything similar to it.

We all saw that small fighters such as X-Wings, Y-Wings and Tie fighters were flying through a trench on death star. Rebel ships were flying through this channel, because they wanted to hit the main power generator through the cooling outlet and imperial fighters were trying to stop them. We all saw that Luke and (I guess it was Wedge) the guy before him, easily pulled up from the trench after they shot their proton torpedos, which means the top of the trench was open over the cooling outlet. We also saw that it was possible for millenium falcon to shoot the imperial fighters, which were attacking rebel ships in the trench. Why weren't any other rebel ships were covering their friend's back?

Than why did they have to fly through a trench full of turrets firing at them and tie fighters shooting at them from behind at the same time? Couldn't they have targeted the cooling outlet from the surface of the death star?
The only question I can try to answer logicly here without trying to sound like I'm pulling it out of my #$% is the one regarding the back-up rebel ships and why they didn't send any: During the briefing, the General says that the Empire didn't consider small fighters a threat otherwise they would have a tighter defense. And that line alone is supposed to explain that littile tactical :giveup: for Lucas. But it still leaves a lot to be desired, but thank god this movie wasn't made for logical reasons.

[csr74]

Lack of stand-off weaponry, i guess.

[silverbolt]

Hold on, I didn't say big ships covering the attackers. What I had in mind was, for example three Y-wings in the trench and may be three X-wings flying over the trench slightly behind and above them to cover Y-wings from tie fighters. It is not logical to send a big ship to protect small fighters.

ah then my mistake i misread you