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Would the super lasers on either Eclipse or Sovereign class star dreadnoughts be able to penetrate a top of the range planetary shield grid (I'm thinking of the type operating on Alderaan or Bothawui, although the multi layered shield on Coruscant also needs mentioning)

Although I am doubtful it if they can is there any reason why the Empire would build the Death Stars on such a greater scale other than the terror factor and troop transport role, surely from a long term military outlook the sole purpose of the Death Star was to disable planetary shields so that land invasions could be orchestrated on insurgent planets. Did the Tarkin doctrine call for the annihilation of rebel planets on a common basis or was Alderaan just a single demonstration (Hiroshima/Nagasaki) designed to keep systems from rebelling in the first place. It seems to be seriously deranged to destroy any planet that rebels immediately (and therefore not only the tax revenue it would provide but also the economic and industrial infrastructure present on that planet) rather than trying to recapture it through conventional armed forces.

Furthermore how does the super laser on the Darksaber compare to the dedicated (and actually working) weapon systems on the Death Star. Would the Hutts have been able to hold highly developed systems to ransom or would they have been restricted to the likely unprotected systems that populate the outer rim who simply cant afford a planetary grade shield network.

Finally I would also be interested if anyone knows any dimensions of the Darksaber as I have been unable to find any.

Wookiepedia states that both the Eclipse-class and Sovereign-class Star Dreadnaughts carried Axial-Composite Superlasers that could crack a planetary shield and burn a continent, though it is Wookiepedia, so I'll see if I can't find more.

And yes, I think both Alderaan and Yavin IV were intended to be demonstrations, though if a Death Star were in the neighbourhood and someone needed a BDZ done, going off the fluff that says more Death Stars were going to be built and intended to be used as Sector command ships.

Darth Tanner wrote:Would the super lasers on either Eclipse or Sovereign class star dreadnoughts be able to penetrate a top of the range planetary shield grid (I'm thinking of the type operating on Alderaan or Bothawui, although the multi layered shield on Coruscant also needs mentioning)

I wouldn't be surprised if the superlasers on an Eclipse or Sovereign can cause (temporary) local shield failure, although I doubt they could cause a systematic failure like the Death Star's superlaser did before it destroyed Alderaan.

Although I am doubtful it if they can is there any reason why the Empire would build the Death Stars on such a greater scale other than the terror factor and troop transport role, surely from a long term military outlook the sole purpose of the Death Star was to disable planetary shields so that land invasions could be orchestrated on insurgent planets.

Disabling shields with turbolasers or equally destructive alternates carries with it the danger of dumping too much energy into the shield medium, which would cause damage to the target if the shields go down, much like we saw with the Tantive IV in ANH. This is why when capture is a priority and the ship is not too small, ion cannons are used to disable ships and shields. When we're talking about energy on the scale of a superlaser, it's quite possible a bleed through the shield would render any land invasions irrelevant. No, the Death Star was intended to be a terror weapon and troop transport; its main weapon seems not to be intended for continual use, but rather for the threat of use. It carried enough troops to occupy an entire system, IIRC. Presumably, it would jump into the system, order the rebellious planet to lower its shields or face imminent destruction, and then occupy the planet.

Did the Tarkin doctrine call for the annihilation of rebel planets on a common basis or was Alderaan just a single demonstration (Hiroshima/Nagasaki) designed to keep systems from rebelling in the first place.

The latter. The Tarkin Doctrine, as I understand it, threatened any planets who rebelled with certain destruction, despite shielding (which would have before the Death Stars required a long, intensive siege to overcome: sitting and doing nothing for months -- the Clone Wars, e.g.).

Furthermore how does the super laser on the Darksaber compare to the dedicated (and actually working) weapon systems on the Death Star. Would the Hutts have been able to hold highly developed systems to ransom or would they have been restricted to the likely unprotected systems that populate the outer rim who simply cant afford a planetary grade shield network.

As I recall (though it's been years) the Darksaber was intended to be a full-power superlaser able to destroy planets.

Finally I would also be interested if anyone knows any dimensions of the Darksaber as I have been unable to find any.

Check out the dimensions of the Death Star's weapon apparatus on the OT ICS. I'm under the impression the Darksaber was a Death Star without the sphere.

The firepower of the Eclipse superlaser has always been riddled with contradictions. On one hand, some say it is 1/4 or something the firepower, on the other it says it cracks the crust.

As the others have said, the Eclipse superlaser ought to deal a local shield failure but if the commander does it right, he will exact absolute local shield grid failure if he aims to weapon at the local shield generators. A hole in the shield itself will allow the landing of ground forces and firepower of the weapon ensures the area around the failure is ground zero.

General Schatten wrote:Wookiepedia states that both the Eclipse-class and Sovereign-class Star Dreadnaughts carried Axial-Composite Superlasers that could crack a planetary shield and burn a continent, though it is Wookiepedia, so I'll see if I can't find more.

That bit of info is more or less straight out of the Dark Empire Sourcebook, for the record.

As Surlethe said, it's the threat of a Death Star being used that has the most effect. That's the point of the Tarkin Doctrine.. rule through fear. You don't immediately blow up any planet that collaborates with the Rebels.. but the slightest risk of it happening will prevent anyone from providing support to the Rebels in the first place.

I suppose if a planet willingly, knowingly collaborates with the Rebel scum, and is defiant when confronted (which would be plain stupid), and the planet didn't have any value* then the Death Star would indeed erase it.

* - Referring to any value beyond having ore. You can just mine that from the asteroid belt after the Death Star fires, and do it more cheaply, too.

Fingolfin_Noldor wrote:As the others have said, the Eclipse superlaser ought to deal a local shield failure but if the commander does it right, he will exact absolute local shield grid failure if he aims to weapon at the local shield generators. A hole in the shield itself will allow the landing of ground forces and firepower of the weapon ensures the area around the failure is ground zero.

Firing the superlaser at one of the planetary shield grid's shield projectors (or a generator supplying it) to cause a localized permanent shield failure as soon as the shield is pierced.. that sounds like a really logical idea. Did anyone mention this before?

A quote from the Tarkin-Doctrine:

Tarkin-Doctrine wrote: If we present the citizen with a weapon so powerful, so immense as to defy all conceivable attack against it, a weapon invulnerable and invincible in battle, that shall become the symbol for the Empire. We may need only a handful, perhaps only one of these weapons, to subjugate thousands of thousands of worlds, each containing millions upon millions of beings This single weapon must have force great enough to dispatch an entire system, and the fear it shall inspire will be great enough for you to rule the galaxy unchallenged. What do you need with the senatorial council when you can give direct control of territories to the regional governors? Sweep away the last remnants of the Old Republic and let fear keep the local systems in line - fear of our ultimate weapon.