shields on the death star?

[Connor MacLeod]

Considering the ability to readjust and angle deflectors (as well as numerous canon and official references to "overlapping" deflector shields, reinforcing shields, etc.) we know that shields consist of individual arcs (like most technologies, such as the superlaser, scaling up the technology involves the combination of multiple smaller segments to create the larger effect.)

From the novel "Tyrant's Test", we know that overlapping shield sections can creat (intermittent?) weak points or gaps that, if known about, can be exploited.

Also, we know from the ANH Radio Drama that the fighters employed countermeasures specifically designed for assisting in penetrating the DS's defenses. (shield penetration techology is a well established fact as well, such as the remote Zam Wessell used in AOTC.)

As for why such "gaps" might exist, a very simple reason: Navigation. Most if not all sensors (passive or active) do not work very well through shields (or if they do, their ranges are cut down drastically with shields active.) It would therefore make sense to leave gaps through which signals could pass out (active sensors) or emissions to get in (passive sensors.)

[NRS Guardian]

Also, buzz droids have shield penetration aids.

It could be the DS doesn't have gaps it just has a mass/speed threshold where if something is under a certain mass and speed it can get through, becuase first something small and slow enough to get through should be easily targeted and destroyed and should be little threat. Afterall missiles and debris aren't likely to be moving slow enough to get through any speed/mass threshold.

[Lazarus]

We seem to be attempting to justify the baseless idea that there are 'holes' in the death star shields, rather than asking why would the death star use such a system at all?

Connor, there is no record of any other shield system having holes for sensors, and as the DS has similar sensor technology, why would it be any different? The same goes for weapons.

I agree with the theater shield idea, that seems logical, I believe a similar idea is used in the fan fiction 'Conquest' hosted on the main site. Nevertheless, this system would not have 'holes' in it, as I said before, it would defeat the object of a shield.

Nightmare, your idea, although seemingly logical, is akin to constructing a castle with walled defenses, but leaving large holes in the walls to save material. If there are holes in the shield, you may as well not have the shield at all, because any ship could simply bombard the shield, and with holes in the shield many of the shots would go straight through. Think, if you can pilot a fighter through it, then you can pilot multi gigaton explosives through it.

NRS, if I'm right your idea is taken from Dune, however there are no examples of other such shields, why would the DS have one which is less effective?

[nightmare]

Nightmare, your idea, although seemingly logical, is akin to constructing a castle with walled defenses, but leaving large holes in the walls to save material. If there are holes in the shield, you may as well not have the shield at all, because any ship could simply bombard the shield, and with holes in the shield many of the shots would go straight through. Think, if you can pilot a fighter through it, then you can pilot multi gigaton explosives through it.

That the Death Star 1 shield (and other shields) had holes in it is a fact. Whether you consider them just weaker sections or actually open holes is rather irrelevant from an exploitation view. Shield sections can be moved and the net is not required to have large holes in it. Your analogy is simply not fitting.

X-Wings fitted with shield penetration technology simply can't just fly as if nothing through a shield as strong as the DS1's (strenght proven by the proximity to the Alderaan explosion and an EU quote which compares it with a planetary shield). First of all because if that was the case, you would see all kinds of capital warheads equipped with it and shields would be rendered practically useless.

Secondly, what shield penetration technology we have seen is just a more effective way to down a shield section compared with regular weapons, not bypass them. The tradeoff seems to be that the shield disabler will not do discernable amounts of regular damage and is essentially useless for any other purpose. The assassination droid outside Padme's apartment, tracked shield disablers from Force Commander, personal shield disablers like the field disruptor or Bao-Dur's funky repulsor arm coming to mind. EDIT: Oh, and PT warheads.

Note also that buzz droids, although claimed to have some form of shield penetration technology, can't have bypassed the shields on Obi-Wans ETA-1 in the movie for the simple reason that ETA-2s don't have shields.

So, no bypassing, but a more effective way to break through shields. It's rather obvious that it can't have been the case on the X-Wings, which only leaves us with the conclusion that the DS1's defence shield was not as tight as it could have been. Which incidently fits perfectly with what Jan Dodonna said.

[Lazarus]

That the Death Star 1 shield (and other shields) had holes in it is a fact

It is? Evidence please, the projection in the Yavin briefing is certainly not enough.
I agree that shield penetration technology cannot have been how the fighter group bypassed the DS1's presumed shield capabilities, however that does NOT leave us with the only option being 'oh there must have been holes then', thats just jumping to a conclusion, then trying to retroactively find evidence for it. Tarkin may not have raised the shields for the reasons already stated, or they may not be able to be brought online while a superlaser blast is charging, but afterwards the reactor output could be directed to them to defend against debris, or any one of many other theories.

[Soontir C'boath]

From the database ANH P. 190. This time I'll post the whole thing:

Something began to buffet his ship, almost as if he was back in his skyhopper again, wrestling with the unpredictable winds of Tatooine. ... "We're passing through their outer shields. Hold tight. Lock down freeze-floating controls and switch your own deflectors on, double front." ... "Cut the chatter, Blue Two," Blue Leader ordered. "Accelerate to attack velocity."

Bolded mine, which clearly implies that they were flying through the shields which was causing disturbances to their ships as they came in. If there were holes then nothing should be knocking them around.

Realize in that quote that the fighters were not at a significant velocity as red leader ordered them to accelerate after presumably passing through the shields. So missles and torpedoes travelling at a greater acceleration/velocity would most likely impact the shields with the same characteristic of the Gungan shield.

Another possibility for missles and torpedoes is that their on-board computers would sense the disturbances as surface contact and explode.

[Knife]

From the database ANH P. 190. This time I'll post the whole thing:

Something began to buffet his ship, almost as if he was back in his skyhopper again, wrestling with the unpredictable winds of Tatooine. ... "We're passing through their outer shields. Hold tight. Lock down freeze-floating controls and switch your own deflectors on, double front." ... "Cut the chatter, Blue Two," Blue Leader ordered. "Accelerate to attack velocity."

Bolded mine, which clearly implies that they were flying through the shields which was causing disturbances to their ships as they came in. If there were holes then nothing should be knocking them around.

Realize in that quote that the fighters were not at a significant velocity as red leader ordered them to accelerate after presumably passing through the shields. So missles and torpedoes travelling at a greater acceleration/velocity would most likely impact the shields with the same characteristic of the Gungan shield.

Another possibility for missles and torpedoes is that their on-board computers would sense the disturbances as surface contact and explode.

Or it was just ray shielding that was up, not particle.

[Lazarus]

Exactly, this certainly doesn't prove that the shields had 'holes' in them, thats too much of a leap in logic considering that there are no similar systems. There are other theories that can explain this.

[NRS Guardian]

We seem to be attempting to justify the baseless idea that there are 'holes' in the death star shields, rather than asking why would the death star use such a system at all?

NRS, if I'm right your idea is taken from Dune, however there are no examples of other such shields, why would the DS have one which is less effective?

My theory is that there are no holes in the shield. Evidence for there being a mass/speed threshold are the theater shields used on Hoth and by the Gungans. They could have been only ray shields but if so why didn't the Empire use missiles against Echo Base, and if the Gungan shield was only a ray shield then why didn't the AATs use their base mounted rockets on them?

[Noble Ire]

They could have been only ray shields but if so why didn't the Empire use missiles against Echo Base, and if the Gungan shield was only a ray shield then why didn't the AATs use their base mounted rockets on them?

More than that, the initial AAT bombardement involves the tanks using physical, explosive projectiles. Quite clearly, the Gungan shield had a particle-blocking element.

[Spartan]

NRS Guardian wrote:

My theory is that there are no holes in the shield. Evidence for there being a mass/speed threshold are the theater shields used on Hoth and by the Gungans. They could have been only ray shields but if so why didn't the Empire use missiles against Echo Base, and if the Gungan shield was only a ray shield then why didn't the AATs use their base mounted rockets on them?

Your assuming without that all three shields operate according to the same principles. Your most likely right thugh.

The gungan shield we know with certainty that it was a combination ray/particle shield, we see the AAT's and droids firing at it. The AAT's were using missiles and blasters, both were stopped.

We never see anyone pass through the Hoth shield, it could have been a ray shield only, ISD's and the Executer's is imperial service don't mount missiles. Ofcouse that wouldn't stop a flight of TIE Bomber's from laying a stick of gravity bombs or missile on the power generator from above and outside the shield so a ray/particle shield seems more likely.

Now the Deathstar is interesting her defenses were geared toward countering capital ships. Capital ships missiles are virtually worthless against energy weapons, so she might have only had minimal particle shielding; though enough to survive Alderan's detonation. Most likely particle and ray shields, then.

As for the fighters passing through the shields are volumetric in nature so the furture form the projector the weaker they are. Thus rougue squadron et all can enter pass through the outer defenses. Particle shields often exist very close to a vessels hull, so that's not a problem till they get real close. As to how they were able to blast the hell out of the Deathstar's surface with fighter scale laser cannons, despite the DS1 being ray shielded, well their once your that close to the projector your flying under most of the shields volumetric effects. Which is why close in fighting, is so dangerous.

So, they rebels were flying within the ray shield, but above the particle shields, assuming ofcourse that both shield systems were even active at the time.

[nightmare]

That the Death Star 1 shield (and other shields) had holes in it is a fact

It is? Evidence please, the projection in the Yavin briefing is certainly not enough.
I agree that shield penetration technology cannot have been how the fighter group bypassed the DS1's presumed shield capabilities, however that does NOT leave us with the only option being 'oh there must have been holes then', thats just jumping to a conclusion, then trying to retroactively find evidence for it. Tarkin may not have raised the shields for the reasons already stated, or they may not be able to be brought online while a superlaser blast is charging, but afterwards the reactor output could be directed to them to defend against debris, or any one of many other theories.

I shouldn't need to put up anything additional. You agree that shield penetration tech isn't enough. Even if you say that the shields weren't put online when the X-Wings attacked, they had to just before firing or they would have blown themselves up given a) the violent desctrution of Alderaan, and b) they were accelerating as fast as they could in orbit towards their intended target, Yavin IV. Consequently, Han and Luke should have been trapped inside the Death Star's shield just as it blew up.

Then there's of course "Well, the Empire doesn't consider a small one-man fighter tobe any threat, or they'd have a tighter defense." and "We're passing through their magnetic field."

Remember that the hangar bay that the Millennium Falcon was dragged into also had what is referred to as a "magnetic field", but it sure wasn't natural.

For other examples, the Bothauwi shield, the Coruscant shield (eary variant), and in fact, the Hoth shield. They had to lower it to launch transports, nothing ever has said they had to lower it in order to fire the ion cannon. Neither are ships required to lower shields in order to fire. The Trade Federation droid control ship had to lower hangar shields to launch fighters (EDIT: what I'm saying is that only the hangar section was taken down).

Guess what's more plausible.

EDIT: While I'm at it, I should point out the difference between particle and energy shields. Particle shields are considered next to always up while energy shields are raised when needed. The Avenger being the prime example for this theory, as well as some EU examples. More about it in this forum. Needless to say, solid particle shields would have stopped the X-Wings cold. Or rather... hot.

[nightmare]

My theory is that there are no holes in the shield. Evidence for there being a mass/speed threshold are the theater shields used on Hoth and by the Gungans. They could have been only ray shields but if so why didn't the Empire use missiles against Echo Base, and if the Gungan shield was only a ray shield then why didn't the AATs use their base mounted rockets on them?

Poor evidence. The Gungan shield was a tiny fraction of the size of any other discussed shield here, and we don't know if the entire Hoth shield had to be lowered or not. Since shield sections is canon, the opposite is more plausible, given the presumed size of the Hoth shield. What I agree with is that they weren't just energy shields. Note that we know that ground contact can let you slip through such a theatre shield - those two examples being prime - but this isn't the case for flying vehicles.

[Connor MacLeod]

We seem to be attempting to justify the baseless idea that there are 'holes' in the death star shields, rather than asking why would the death star use such a system at all?

Bullfucking shit its baseless. Its in the fucking ANH novelization, and we know of interference gaps from the novel Tyrant's Test. Stop misrepresenting the evidence.

On top of that, we know shields at LEAST block FTL signals (AOTC:ICS, Dark Empire, Heir to the Empire) and at least degrade if not block lightspeed signals (like we note in books like Labyrinth of Evil.)

If anything, your bullshit speculation is the "baseless" crap here, not mine.

Connor, there is no record of any other shield system having holes for sensors, and as the DS has similar sensor technology, why would it be any different? The same goes for weapons.

Because shields block weapons fire? OR are you going to tell me EM radiation is going to pass harmlessly in and out of a shield without being absorbed? BEcause unless it is, its going to fucking interfere with sensors (passive at the VERY least, if not active.)

I'd also like to see your proof that shields don't block sensors or weapons fire. If they block it in one direction, then logically it would go the other way (Since every example of shields we do have is "double blind" in that fashion.)

(For the record, we know from the Wraith Squadron trilogy, more specifically Iron fist and Solo command, that massless beam weapons like lasers can be reconfigured to be used as comm signals, and blasters/laser cannons can be used as targeting sensors (the B-wing's laser cannon. In other words, if we know laser cannons are blocked by shields, which should be blindingly obvous that even you would understand that, then so would sensors and communications/)

[Connor MacLeod]

My theory is that there are no holes in the shield. Evidence for there being a mass/speed threshold are the theater shields used on Hoth and by the Gungans. They could have been only ray shields but if so why didn't the Empire use missiles against Echo Base, and if the Gungan shield was only a ray shield then why didn't the AATs use their base mounted rockets on them?

Because missiles can be a.) jammed more easily than by blaster fire and b.) they can be shot down well before they hit the target. c.) shields, especially theatre shields as large as the Hoth shield, can block sensor transmissions (as mentioned in the ISB torpedo sphere entry.)

If you had those missiles slow down in order to pass through the shields (assuming, for a moment, that the "slow passage of objects" through shields is characteristic of all shields), they'd be ridiculously easy to intercept at the shield boundary (that shield extends for kilometers up into the air, having a 50 km diameter at least and all....)

[NRS Guardian]

Because missiles can be a.) jammed more easily than by blaster fire and b.) they can be shot down well before they hit the target. c.) shields, especially theatre shields as large as the Hoth shield, can block sensor transmissions (as mentioned in the ISB torpedo sphere entry.)

If you had those missiles slow down in order to pass through the shields (assuming, for a moment, that the "slow passage of objects" through shields is characteristic of all shields), they'd be ridiculously easy to intercept at the shield boundary (that shield extends for kilometers up into the air, having a 50 km diameter at least and all....)

Exactly, that is one of the reasons I think it is possible for shields to have a mass/speed threshold, because it isn't a liability when anything moving slowly enough to get through would be easily targeted and destroyed, unless the defenses aren't geared toward engaging small one-man fighters.
I was saying in the post you quoted if the Hoth shield didn't have a particle shield as some suggested why didn't the Empire use missiles to bombard the base, because the Executor carries missiles and Ozzel said Hoth was proof against bombardment so that should mean unless Hoth was putting out extremely effective jamming they should have particle shields.

[NRS Guardian]

Connor could be right that there are holes in shields considering even planetary shields are made up of sections and that interference zones between shields are capable of letting things squirt through. In Tyrant's Test it was extremely difficult to get something through an interference zone the K-wing that did it practically had to stick itself right at the zone to guarantee the torpedo getting in,.it could be that Torpedo Spheres look for interference zones and target them to get through planetary shields. The reason these zones aren't usually a liability for planets is they are difficult to target and get through and the better shield systems have a double shield meaning a force has to get through both to do damage. Another piece of evidence for there being holes at least in particle shields is that they can be lowered in sections to allow fighters to launch, the ions from engines to escape, and the fact that the DS's particle shields had a hole for the exhaust port which is what allowed torpedoes to be effective.

[Lazarus]

Bullfucking shit its baseless. Its in the fucking ANH novelization, and we know of interference gaps from the novel Tyrant's Test. Stop misrepresenting the evidence.

I had no intention of 'misrepresenting the evidence'. I have not read Tyrants Test, so I do not know the specifics of these 'interference zones'. If this is indeed the case with the DS, and if fighters could fly through them, why can't weapons be shot through them?

Remember that the hangar bay that the Millennium Falcon was dragged into also had what is referred to as a "magnetic field", but it sure wasn't natural.

Yes, in the X-Wing novels the magnetic field is stated as being in place to hold in atmosphere, but let through ships. Quite, how this is achieved, I don't know, however it is stated as being unable to retain heat very well.

Also, and I may be wrong about this, but I gleened from the main site that shields like the Gungan shield work on a ground contact basis, which is why vehicles such as AT-AT's are required, in order to pass through these shields.

We never see anyone pass through the Hoth shield, it could have been a ray shield only, ISD's and the Executer's is imperial service don't mount missiles. Ofcouse that wouldn't stop a flight of TIE Bomber's from laying a stick of gravity bombs or missile on the power generator from above and outside the shield so a ray/particle shield seems more likely.

Actually I'm sure Imperial vessels do mount warhead launchers, Victory classes sure as hell do. Also, if this were the case, there would be no need for the shield to be dropped for the transports.

As for the fighters passing through the shields are volumetric in nature so the furture form the projector the weaker they are.

Err, no they aren't, where did you get this idea from?

.it could be that Torpedo Spheres look for interference zones and target them to get through planetary shields.

Actually as I have already stated the description of Torpedo Spheres states that they work on an overload basis, by putting so much energy in to one section of the shield that it overloads the generator, making a large hole in the shields through which the mounted turbolasers can be fired at the generator, and others, making a permanent hole to allow troops/weapons through.

[Darth Tanner]

I thought the message about planetary shields in the black fleet trilogy was that they offered 100% protection from standard weapons. I admit it’s been a while since I read them but I remember that the newly built 5th fleet, which was designed to conquer worlds, was useless against systems with total coverage shields.

Star Destroyers do have missile weapons; Pelleon uses them in the Hand of Thrawn books against pirates in his A-wing slash manoeuvre, admitting they are easy to shoot down unless you trick you opponent into turning your turrets the wrong way.

In relation to torpedo spheres they do rely on advanced sensors to target their barrage against fluctuations in the shield (which are apparently only 20% weaker), according to Wookieepedia anyway.

I would agree that shields have to be down to fire, as Needa only raised the Avengers shields when Solo turned round while chasing him in the asteroid field, ceasing fire while he did this aswell as losing his sensor track. How solo then landed on his ship I don’t know, maybe he was already below the shield?

[NRS Guardian]

I had no intention of 'misrepresenting the evidence'. I have not read Tyrants Test, so I do not know the specifics of these 'interference zones'. If this is indeed the case with the DS, and if fighters could fly through them, why can't weapons be shot through them?

The interference zone was between a ship and the shipyard it was docked to, and the reason you couldn't fire through them is they're small and not obvious. The bomber that did had to practically park itself in the interference zone in order to ensure his torpedo got through.

Yes, in the X-Wing novels the magnetic field is stated as being in place to hold in atmosphere, but let through ships. Quite, how this is achieved, I don't know, however it is stated as being unable to retain heat very well.

Also, and I may be wrong about this, but I gleened from the main site that shields like the Gungan shield work on a ground contact basis, which is why vehicles such as AT-AT's are required, in order to pass through these shields.

Except for you know the Invisible Hands magnetic field that had to be destroyed by Anikin to safely allow him and Obi to enter the ship. It was keeping in atmosphere as evidenced by air escaping after it was destroyed and the bay doors slamming shut.

Actually as I have already stated the description of Torpedo Spheres states that they work on an overload basis, by putting so much energy in to one section of the shield that it overloads the generator, making a large hole in the shields through which the mounted turbolasers can be fired at the generator, and others, making a permanent hole to allow troops/weapons through.

Actually the description of TSs are that they scan a shield for weak points and then target the weak point with 500 torpedoes to knock it down for a moment. In fact it's stated in IIRC the ISB that TSs can't knock a hole in planetary shields if they don't find a weak point.

[Lazarus]

The interference zone was between a ship and the shipyard it was docked to, and the reason you couldn't fire through them is they're small and not obvious. The bomber that did had to practically park itself in the interference zone in order to ensure his torpedo got through.

Well then my point stands, these 'fluctuations' are not in any usual shield, they can be found between overlapping shields OF TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SHIPS! This is hardly exactly the same thing for the DS. In Wedge's Gamble, it is stated that ships have been trapped between the twin sets of shields on Coruscant. if there were gaps that could be flown through, this would not occur.

There is NO description of similar fluctuations in the Bothawui shield in Specter/Vision, and in fact if there were, then I'm sure such weaknesses would have been exploited, as the Bothans had to keep the shield up all the time in order to stop themselves being fragged. The Bothawui shields are generated by individual generators, so if such fluctuations did occur in shields of such a scale, I'm sure they would have been mentioned and exploited.

Weaknesses in the shield are a completely different thing, and I digress the point on the torp spheres. A 20% decrease in power cannot be flown through.

Except for you know the Invisible Hands magnetic field that had to be destroyed by Anikin to safely allow him and Obi to enter the ship. It was keeping in atmosphere as evidenced by air escaping after it was destroyed and the bay doors slamming shut.

Perhaps this was a combat shield? The mentions of mag shields in X-Wing books seem to be mostly during non-action time, so obviously it would be advantageous to have protection of the hangar bays from weapons fire when in combat operations.

I would agree that shields have to be down to fire, as Needa only raised the Avengers shields when Solo turned round while chasing him in the asteroid field, ceasing fire while he did this aswell as losing his sensor track. How solo then landed on his ship I don’t know, maybe he was already below the shield?

I posted a topic on this a while ago about shields, whether they are skintight or bubble, however from sources such as the Endor battle, and the ISD being hit by the ion cannon above Hoth, ISD shields seem to be skintight. There are sources stating bubble type shields, so I think it would be fair to say there are two different available designs, with advantages and disadvantages each.

I still contest the point that shields have to be down to fire UNLESS someone can provide a quote stating that this is the case because the drop in shields is synchronised with the weapons to be a tiny amount of time to prevent weapons getting through. otherwise, this would surely be a bit of a daft move to make?

[Darth Tanner]

if the shields keeping the atmospher in had to be lowered to allow ships in then there would be explosive decompression every time you do it.

When the Falcon is brought into the DS there are troops already present( some without full stormtrooper armour) and i think there is stuff on the floor, crates & such that would have been sucked out.

I think the idea of skin tight shields is mentioned in several of the books )aswell as the Naboo fighters), with Solo saying it takes him ages to configure his shields with the Falcons irregual hull but there are also times that bubble shields are mentioned, in the Corelian crisis Han uses these to levitate the falcon off of the hanger floor!

This would suggest that energy shields are skin tight but particle shields form a bubble. Perhaps anyway

[Nightbringer]

No it doesn't. Stormtroopers are instructed to surrender if the odds are impossible, to live to fight another day for the Emperor.

Agreed, however, it does raise questions about the storm troopers battle capabilities, they are supposed to be elite yet ultimately, they lost to a force of Rebels they outnumbered greatly and a bunch of teddy bears

Would you people (like you) stop fucking calling them teddy bears?

1. It's not exactly easy to target three foot high beings that can hide in the dense cover of the forest.

2. Due to their ability to hide, they can spring surprise attacks in which we've seen have bogged down imperial troops.

3. They were able to take down stormtroopers by the use of throwing rocks the size of their heads and slingers for smaller rocks making for a real hurting experience even with the armor on. Really, try fighting back when a huge rock just came down on you bringing agonizing pain.

4. Along with the storm troopers, they set traps for at least two AT-ST walkers that we've seen worked.

These are not fucking teddy bears. They did not prance around the woods doing nothing during the fight. Ewoks were shown to have the cognitive ability to think up traps, tactics, teamwork, and had the element of geography to their advantage.

By calling them teddy bears I wasn't denying their capabilities? They just look to me like teddy bears so I said it for a joke, sorry if you have a problem with that

[Norade]

Sorry if this idea has been posted but I didn't have time to more than skim the thread.

As for weapons being used through mass/velocity threshold shields that wouldn't work. First a missile capable of hurting a large ship would have to be large enough to shoot down using even turbolasers, and might be larger than a fighter, and small weapons would be based on pin point accuracy to hit weak points but those would be effected by jamming and thus be useless.

Also seeing as particle shields are two way, see hoth, it might be for waste disposal purposes or so the DS and other ship can launch fighters with leaving themselves open to massed missile attacks.

[Soontir C'boath]

Another explanation I will add is that the shields weren't on and the fighters were allowed through. Red leader in the movie did say they were passing through a magnetic field despite the novelization.

It would be very stupid for Tarkin to allow the rebel fighters to enter through a shieldless sector or to allow for holes in the shields to remain open for them to enter. Tarkin would have either activated the shield sections or closed the "holes" the fighters were heading towards and it'd be the end. Even then, Tarkin knows that the fighters will only do minimal damage and he didn't even bother to launch alert fighters. Tarkin had no reason to believe they would do anything as even Red leader's attack run was unsuccessful and adding to the fact that Vader's squadron was cleaning the rebel fighters just fine. It was only through the force and Han that Luke was able to place his torpedoes into the shaft.

Edit: The other possibility is that Tarkin let his arrogance run over his brain and allowed holes in the shields for them to pass through. Which would actually fit better as they were going to destroy Yavin.

I still do think the velocity dependent shield is the most plausible. As said in the thread, projectile weapons would most likely not be able to pass through defence weapons but the fighters were allowed through as we've seen the turbolasers didn't fire until after they passed it and accelerated to attack velocity.

I'll continue to think on it and I'll most likely watch it again this weekend to get the sequence of events more precisely.