Power of the second Death Star

If the second Death Star was supposedly more powerful than the first, why was it unable to destroy a Rebel battleship when the original Death Star could destroy an entire planet?

 

The 2nd Death Star destroyed a Mon Calamari Cruiser. Watch the battle again...it destroys at least one rebel ship.

 

But Palpatine explains that the death star is fully operational and he makes the command to fire the first shot on a cruiser...that first shot does not blow up the ship. It only took one shot from the original Death Star to blow up Alderaan, but took several from the second Death Star to destroy a ship.

 

I'm sure they can control the opacity of their lasers.

 

BrockStrap posted on 6/17/05 9:55pm

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But Palpatine explains that the death star is fully operational and he makes the command to fire the first shot on a cruiser...that first shot does not blow up the ship. It only took one shot from the original Death Star to blow up Alderaan, but took several from the second Death Star to destroy a ship.
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[face_confused]

The explosion seems a bit delayed, but one shot takes down the [i]Liberty[/i]. Another cruiser gets vaporized, too.

 

Let me guess.. You think the first and second ships were the same ship?

 

Yeah, I was pretty sure that at least two ships get blasted, each blowing on first shot. I'll have to double check.

 

Those are definitly two ships.