Battle of Yavin

The Battle of Yavin takes place in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It pits the Galactic Empire against the Rebel Alliance around the gas giant planet Yavin and its fourth moon.

In a previous battle, the rebels managed to steal the plans for the Death Star, a gigantic Imperial battle station equipped with a laser capable of destroying planets. However, the Empire has discovered the location of the rebel base on Yavin 4 and intends to destroy it using its new weapon. The Death Star has a vulnerability that the rebels have discovered. When it is in orbit around Yavin, they send all their ships in a desperate attack to destroy it. This leads to battles with Imperial fighters commanded by Darth Vader. Using the Force, Luke Skywalker manages to reach the vulnerability and destroy the battle station without leaving any survivors.

For the Rebel Alliance, this battle is a victory. However, the rebels are forced to flee to settle elsewhere. Indeed, Darth Vader, who was not aboard the Death Star when it exploded, continues to hunt them down.

The Battle of Yavin is depicted in the film A New Hope. It is largely created using practical special effects. It serves as a reference point in the Star Wars chronology.

In addition to the film, it is represented in novelizations of the film in which it appears, as well as in several novels, video games, and comics.

Universe
The Star Wars universe unfolds in a galaxy inhabited by humans and numerous extraterrestrial species. It is the stage for conflicts between Jedi knights and Sith lords, individuals sensitive to the Force, a mysterious energy field that grants them psychic abilities. The Jedi master the light side of the Force, a beneficial and defensive power, to maintain peace in the galaxy. The Sith, on the other hand, harness the dark side, a harmful and destructive power, for their personal use and to dominate the galaxy.

Since the acquisition of Lucasfilm by the Walt Disney Company, there are two Star Wars universes: "Legends" and "Canon." They share the six original films and the television series The Clone Wars. The Legends universe additionally incorporates complementary stories presented in books, comics, TV movies, or games released before 2014. The Canon universe, on the other hand, encompasses the stories from the films and other materials released since 2014.

Background
Several years before the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems begins developing a weapon capable of destroying entire planets: the Death Star. Following the war in 19 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), the Galactic Republic is reformed into an Empire, and Grand Moff Tarkin oversees the construction of the battle station until its completion nearly twenty years later. It is intended to quell any dissent against the Empire.

From the Empire's inception, small groups rebel against its authority, including Saw Gerrera and his team, as well as the crew of the Ghost. Over time, some of these cells unite to form the Rebel Alliance.

Official Universe
Engineer Galen Erso, who participates in the design of the Death Star, embeds a flaw that can destroy the entire station. He manages to contact the rebel Saw Gerrera so that his daughter, Jyn Erso, can retrieve the station's plans and destroy it. With the help of the Rebel Alliance, Jyn and her team, named Rogue One, infiltrate the Scarif base where the Imperial archives are located. A fierce battle ensues on the surface between the assault group and the forces on-site, and in space between the rebel fleet and the Imperial reinforcements led by the Sith Darth Vader. Jyn Erso succeeds in transmitting the Death Star plans to the orbiting ships, but the battle station fires its superlaser on the planet's surface, leaving no survivors. The Tantive IV commanded by Princess Leia Organa receives the plans and escapes.

Legends Universe
On Toprawa, where the Death Star's superlaser is under construction, a group of rebel spies manages to steal the plans for the battle station. They transmit them to the Tantive IV, which is orbiting the planet. However, it is pursued by Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, forcing it to flee.

Common part
The Tantive IV is intercepted by Darth Vader's Star Destroyer above Tatooine. Before being captured, Princess Leia Organa entrusts the Death Star plans to the droid R2-D2, who escapes aboard an escape pod accompanied by C-3PO. On the desert planet, the two droids are captured by Jawas who sell them to the farmer Owen Lars. He hands them over to his nephew Luke Skywalker, who discovers a message hidden by Leia Organa for the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. She asks him to aid the rebellion. R2-D2 leaves without warning to search for the Jedi. He is caught up by Luke and C-3PO, but they fall into an ambush by Tusken Raiders. They are saved at the last moment by Kenobi, who takes them to his home. Darth Vader brings Leia Organa back to the Death Star, where she is imprisoned. Since the Imperial Senate was dissolved shortly before by the Emperor, she no longer enjoys the protection afforded to senators. Grand Moff Tarkin interrogates the princess, wanting to know the Rebel Alliance's headquarters location. He threatens to open fire on Alderaan, where Leia Organa grew up. She tells him that she is on Dantooine. Despite this, Tarkin orders the planet's destruction before her eyes.

On Tatooine, Luke learns that his father was a Jedi Knight; Obi-Wan gives him his former apprentice's lightsaber. When they return to the Lars farm, they find a massacre; Imperial troops have murdered Luke's uncle and aunt. Consequently, he decides to accompany Kenobi and the two droids to Alderaan. In Mos Eisley, they meet Han Solo and Chewbacca, owners of the Millennium Falcon. The smugglers are hired to discreetly take them to their destination. However, they are found by stormtroopers, forcing them to leave the planet in haste.

On board the space station, Grand Moff Tarkin learns that there is only an abandoned old base on Dantooine. He tortures the princess to make her confess the truth. At the same time, the Millennium Falcon exits hyperspace into an asteroid field. The crew realizes that the planet has been destroyed. They follow TIE fighters heading towards a moon. When they realize it's not a moon but the Death Star, it's already too late; they are caught in a tractor beam and forced to land. They manage to disguise themselves as stormtroopers and infiltrate the station. They free Princess Leia but must face a powerful enemy: Sith Lord Darth Vader. Obi-Wan Kenobi engages him in combat while the others board the Millennium Falcon. The Jedi allows himself to be killed by his former apprentice, allowing the others to escape.

They go to Yavin 4, where the rebel base is located, to deliver the Death Star plans contained within R2-D2. They are analyzed by the Alliance engineers, and the vulnerability is discovered. However, the Empire had placed a tracking beacon on the Falcon when it was still aboard the station. This allows Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader to know the exact position of the rebel headquarters and therefore to send the Death Star to destroy it.

Battlefield
The battle takes place in the orbit of the gas giant planet Yavin, near one of its natural satellites, Yavin 4. It also unfolds around the Death Star, extending into one of its trenches.

Technologies
The Imperial forces consist of the Death Star, a mobile battle station capable of destroying entire planets, equipped with numerous TIE fighters, the Empire's primary combat vessel and a symbol of its power. Darth Vader pilots an upgraded version, the TIE Advanced X1, which is faster, more powerful, and tailored to the dimensions of the Sith Lord's armor. The Rebel forces consist of two squadrons. The "Gold Squadron", commanded by Jon "Dutch" Vander, consists of eight Y-wing interceptors, which are used primarily for bombing missions. It is accompanied by the "Red Squadron", led by Garven Dreis and composed of eight X-wing interceptors. They are supported by the Millennium Falcon, a YT-1300 light freighter piloted by smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Course
When the Death Star arrives at Yavin, it is not properly positioned to fire on the fourth moon. This allows the rebels to launch an attack to destroy the battle station. Its weakness has been clearly identified: a proton torpedo must be fired into the exhaust port to trigger a chain reaction that will destroy it. For this mission, two squadrons of Y-wing and X-wing interceptors take off. Luke Skywalker, designated as "Red 5," pilots one of the X-wings accompanied by R2-D2. As they approach the Death Star, a group of TIE fighters intercepts them. The "Red Squadron" engages in combat with them, allowing the Y-wings of the "Gold Squadron" to enter the trench toward the exhaust port.

However, they are destroyed by Darth Vader's TIE Advanced X1 fighter. The Sith Lord participates in the battle to protect the station, forcing the X-wings of the "Red Squadron" to enter the trench as well. They are vulnerable there and are each destroyed or damaged in turn. At the end, only Luke Skywalker remains to accomplish the mission. A group of TIE fighters pursues him, preparing to fire. He is saved at the last moment by Han Solo and Chewbacca aboard the Millennium Falcon, who manage to scatter the Imperial fighters. Following the advice of Obi-Wan Kenobi, whose voice he hears, Luke Skywalker deactivates the targeting system of the ship, and using the Force, he fires a proton torpedo that enters the port and destroys the Death Star before it can open fire on Yavin.

Review
The Battle of Yavin is a victory for the Rebel Alliance. They manage to defeat the forces of the Galactic Empire. Practically all Imperial personnel are killed, and almost all of the Empire's equipment, including the Death Star, is destroyed. The only survivor is Darth Vader, who participated in the battle; his TIE Advanced X1 fighter was damaged by Han Solo.

On the rebel side, the losses are heavy. In addition to the Millennium Falcon, only three ships from the "Red" and "Gold" squadrons return, including those piloted by Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles. However, the commanders of these two squadrons were shot down during the fighting.

Consequences
Following the loss of the battle station, the Empire initiates the construction of a second Death Star. This one is under construction around the forest moon of Endor and is more than twice the size of the first.

With the rebel headquarters discovered on Yavin 4, they are forced to relocate to another planet. They decide to settle on Hoth, an icy planet located in the Outer Rim.

The Second Death Star is eventually destroyed by the Rebels as well.

Concept and creation
Before the production of the film A New Hope even began, George Lucas created sketches of the various spacecraft that would participate in the Battle of Yavin. In November 1974, he hired model maker Colin Cantwell and illustrator Ralph McQuarrie. Cantwell created the initial designs for the Y-wing interceptor and the Millennium Falcon, while McQuarrie produced illustrations of key scenes from the film, one of which depicted a group of Y-wing interceptors attacking the Death Star.

Only one full-scale X-wing interceptor model was built, which was visible in the scene preceding the battle in the Rebel hangar on Yavin 4. The space battles were entirely created using mechanical special effects. Only one cockpit was constructed, and the actors portraying the pilots took turns sitting in it while the droid behind them was replaced.

Some scenes of the battle were enhanced with digital special effects in the 1997 and 2004 re-releases of the film. For example, the number of rebel ships approaching the Death Star was increased, and the space battle sequences were refined, with the explosions being reworked. The scene depicting the destruction of the battle station was embellished with a circular shockwave.

Adaptation
In addition to its official appearances in novels, novelizations, films, and television series, the Battle of Yavin appears in various other Star Wars universe derivative products.

Video games
The Battle of Yavin is featured in numerous video games. In Star Wars: Empire at War, released in 2006 and set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, players can control either the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance. At one point, they find themselves replaying the battle around Yavin while controlling one of these two factions. In Star Wars: X-Wing, released in 1993, players embody Luke Skywalker and must destroy the Death Star.

In Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, released in 1998, players take on the role of Luke Skywalker and can unlock a secret level allowing them to participate in the Battle of Yavin. This mission is also the first in its sequel, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II - Rogue Leader, released in 2002.

In 2009, the mobile game Star Wars: Trench Run was released. Players take on the role of a pilot during combat in the trench of the space station.

The arcade game Star Wars, released in 1983, includes several space combat sequences, including one on the surface of the Death Star.

Figurines
Many action figures depict characters from the Battle of Yavin. For instance, in 2012, Hasbro released action figures featuring certain pilots from the "Red Squadron" and the Empire. In 2004 and 2005, action figures depicting Wedge Antilles, General Jan Dodonna, and Dutch Vander, the leader of the "Gold Squadron," were also released.

Lego has produced spherical figurines of various planets and moons, with the Yavin 4 figurine released in 2012 as set number 9677, titled "X-wing Starfighter & Yavin 4." It comes with a figurine of Luke Skywalker and the X-wing interceptor he pilots during the battle.

Amusement parks
A segment of the Star Tours attraction is inspired by the Battle of Yavin. Visitors board a Starspeeder 3000, an intergalactic transport ship bound for the moon of Endor. At one point, the transport joins a group of Rebel fighters and takes part in the assault against the third Death Star. This attraction, no longer in existence, was replaced by Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. It was present in Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort in the United States until 2010, at Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan until 2012, and at Disneyland Paris in France until 2016.

Reception
The website Screen Rant ranks the Battle of Yavin in third place in its list of the best battles from the original Star Wars trilogy. The site finds that "everything about this battle is superb," particularly praising the mechanical special effects and the scene where Han Solo saves Luke Skywalker. In its ranking of the entire saga, the same website places it in the first position, explaining that it is the sequence with the most tension. Similarly, the website PubSquare Media also ranks the Battle of Yavin in the first position. However, the website Looper only ranks it in fifth place, as it considers it to be a small battle between two Rebel squadrons and a few Imperial fighters.

In the culture
Several fans have attempted to calculate the number of casualties resulting from the explosion of the Death Star at the end of the Battle of Yavin. The figures vary as sources do not always provide the same number of people on board. Estimates suggest it to be around one million.

On YouTube, a channel imagined what the Death Star's laser light would look like if it existed in reality. In the video, the laser light is not green but transparent, making it invisible. It is also depicted as capable of quickly changing targets, rendering it more dangerous than in the fictional universe. Another channel recreated the trench run scene using animated Lego figurines. The creators took some liberties, including the presence of ships that would not normally be there.

In a spoof of 9/11 conspiracy theories, some fans have made tongue-in-cheek speculations that the Death Star's destruction was actually deliberately caused, or at least allowed to happen, by the Galactic Empire itself, rather than as the result of the Rebel assault.

The Simpsons animated series has parodied the Battle of Yavin on several occasions. In the episode "My Sister, My Sitter" from Season 8, Bart hears his dance teacher's voice in his head advising him to use dance in the same way Obi-Wan Kenobi advises Luke Skywalker to use the Force before destroying the Death Star. Similarly, in the episode "Pygmoelian" from Season 11, Patty says to Selma, "The bitterness is strong in this one," referencing Darth Vader's line, "The Force is strong in this one," from the trench run scene. Additionally, a reference to the battle appears in comic book number 45 released in October 1999. The family's dog, Santa's Little Helper, appears in a commercial for the Krusty Burger chain wearing Biggs Darklighter's X-wing helmet, who was a childhood friend of Luke Skywalker and a member of the "Red Squadron".

Star Wars timeline reference point
The Battle of Yavin serves as the reference point for the Star Wars timeline. Events are dated in relation to it using 365-day years. For example, the Battle of Geonosis, which marks the start of the Clone Wars, takes place in 22 BBY, while the Battle of Endor, which marks the end of the Galactic Civil War, takes place in 4 ABY.

The book Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Guide, released in 2019, uses another reference point: the Starkiller Base incident seen in The Force Awakens released in 2015.