The Battle of Hoth, a Recreation
  1. Hypothesis
  2. Observations
  3. Experimental Procedure
  4. Data
  5. Illustrations
  6. Conclusions
  • Hypothesis

      The battle for the planet Hoth, as depicted in the movie The Empire Strikes Back, demonstrated a mix of land and ground forces on both sides. The Rebels relied heavily on light air-based platforms to strike against the Empire's AT-AT 'walkers'. Rebel infantry troops bore the brunt of the assault, ill-equipped to defend themselves, they reverted to trench-warfare like tactics with little success.


      Ships Involved in Blast Testing

      The experiment's hypothesis is that both sides of the conflict would have seen greater success by abandoning awkward equipment and tactics, such as tripping AT-AT walkers, in favor of weapons with greater blast damage.
  • Observations
      Although both Rebel and Empire ships employ advanced electromagnetic shielding, they are not immune to Newtonian laws of physics (while not traveling at light-speed). Blast weaponry like high-explosives and thermonuclear bombs would both be efficacious against shielded targets; though the structure of the vehicle may remain intact, sensitive equipment and personnel will still be affected by the shock waves. The possibility of disabling the shielding and exposing the vehicle's exterior plating to the blast also grows with the intensity of the blast weapon used.
  • Experimental Procedure

      The blast source for this experiment was provided by a dozen Black Cat firecrackers. Though significantly inferior to the devices suggested in the hypothesis, they to provide a reasonable scale approximation of low-grade high explosives. The firecrackers were prepared by clipped their fuses to as equal a length as possible before use so that the explosions will occur as close to simultaneously as possible. The vehicle models used in this experiment are of a scale of approximately 400:1.

      Two blast sources will be affixed to the models, arranged it a manner that may mimick the behavior of real weapon detonations. A container will be placed over the models being tested just as the fuse is lit for containment of flying debris.
  • Data
    • Shot Able

      Figure A1

      Shot Able comprised of three models - an Imperial AT-AT Walker, an Imperial Lamda-Class Shuttle and an Rebel X-Wing. The blasts occured nearly simultaneously on all the models and were surprisingly effective.

      Figure A2 (Full-Size)

      One can clearly see the extreme impact of the detonations. Major vehicle parts are highlighted
    • Shot Baker

      Figure B1

      Shot Baker comprised of three more models, all Rebel - an A-Wing, a B-Wing, and the smuggling vessel Millennium Falcon. This shot was significantly more troublesome because of the solid nature of the models. While the B-Wing was vulnerable to blast concussions because of its wings, the stubby A-Wing and cyndrilical Millennium Falcon were nearly solid.

      Figure B2 (Full-Size)

      In addition to the relative invulnerability of two of the models, the blasts did not go off as designed. Only half of the 6 firecrackers detonated, the first of which caught the experiment operators quite off guard. In future experiments, protective ear equipment will be mandatory and persons recovering from inner-ear infections will be barred from the experiment grounds.
      (Still woozy - Ed.)
    • Shot Charlie

      Figure C1

      Shot Charlie was an attempt to complete the previous shot as described in the procedure.

      Figure C2

      The solid construction of both models proved their strength when facing direct blasts.
  • Illustrations
      These are some detail shots of the first blast. (Able)
      Figure D1



      Figure D2



      Figure D3



      Figure D4



  • Conclusions
      Okay, I can't keep it up. Strapping Micro Machines to firecrackers does exactly what you think it does. I was a little bummed that I couldn't at least get the Millennium Falcon to catch on fire or something. By the way, despite what it may seem, I don't really have a problem with Star Wars. I just seem to have an abundance of Star Wars things to abuse.

      I just love the kind of visceral gruesomeness of scrolling up and down the page. Everything is so pristine at the top, but the bottom is filled with plastincine carnage and bits of firecracker.
    Courtesy Of: lameduckie Institute of Technology
    Last Updated: 4/10/01