Admiral Ozzel's fatal blunder

So Darth Vader killed Ozzel because he brought the Executor out of hyperspace to close to hoth, alerting the rebels to the empire's presence. But what was he supposed to so? I would ahve though that by dropping out of hyperspace as late and as close to the planet as possible he would have succeeded in surprising them.

What was he supposed to have done?
go in early and slow? lol

Exactly what were his and the other admiral's options?

What would Grand Admiral Thrawn have done...

 

The original plan was to drop out of hyperspace far away from the system, so the Rebels would think the approaching ships were merely asteroids. As Rieekan said, "With all the meteor activity in this system, it's going to be difficult to spot approaching ships." By sneaking up on Hoth, the Imperials could have deliberately planned their assault and taken the Rebels unawares.

Ozzel was too impatient for this, and he brought the fleet out of hyperspace close to the planet Hoth. The Rebels immediately spotted them, and were able to throw up their shield to give their transports time to escape.

 

Ozzel was "as clumsy as he is stupid". Not only was he being impatient, he was trying to save time because he thought the whole trip to Hoth was a waste of time; he clearly did not expect to actually find the rebels there, since he disagreed with Vader's assessment and the conclusion that Piett drew from his fragment of a lead, not "proof". Also, I like Veers' half-hearted attempt at defending Ozzel ("he felt surprise was wiser than-"), which Vader interrupts as if to say, "dude, you and I both know that's a bunch of crap". I also love the scene where Piett sees Ozzel go down next to him and receives his own promotion, capped by "thank you Lord Vader".

 

the plan was to stay far enough away to not be detected and then land troop transports and atats on the planet, still undetected, then blitzkrieg the rebel base

 

Sorry, but i still don't get this.
If Ozzel sneaked in slowly, once he got past the asteroid belt he would have been detected, just as he was when jumping out of hyperspace last second in Empire. Empire.

I don't see how anyone could sneak up on the rebels.

 

By moving in slowly, the landing force could have been easily disguised as incoming meteors. Think about the probe droid's approach to Hoth; even Luke thinks it's a meteor.

 

An if he can get close enough without being detected, they can fire on the unshielded rebel base from space, cripple them and then land their troops to finish them off.

 

But won't a fleet of asteroids moving straight towards hoth at a steady pace in formation look a little wierd...

And con't the rebels have scouts? Hidden sentries?

 

Who says they would come in at a steady pace? Or in formation?

The Rebels do have scouts. Didn't you watch the first scene of ESB? Luke and Han are going across the ice plains, planting sensors.

 

I meant deep space scounts, watching for signs of attack...

 

Obviously not.

 

The Rebels clearly don't have scouts offplanet; we know exactly how the Rebels first spotted the Imperial fleet-by sensors on Hoth itself.

"General, we have a fleet of Star Destroyers coming out of hyperspace."

 

I'd always assumed that the Rebels could detect ships approaching in Hyperspace, I think we saw that in ROTJ when Leia is standing in front of that screen with blips on it and annouces that the fleet is almost here.

So they detected Vader's fleet approaching in hyperspace, of course you can't fire until you revert to realspace, so they had time to punch up their shield.

If the Empire had come out of hyperspace at maximum weapons range, the Rebels wouldn't have time to detect them and the Imperial Fleet could have snapped off enough of a bombardment to take out the power generators that run the energy field.

Just a theory though.

 

You can't detect ships that are traveling in hyperspace. You can detect them when they arrive, however. That's why Vader's plan was to drop out of hyperspace in the asteroid field in order to conceal themselves. When Leia is looking at the screen in ROTJ, she's noting the current time because she knew when the fleet was scheduled to arrive.

 

From BlueHarvest.net:

INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE -- MAIN CONTROL DECK

Controllers working the vast complex of electronic controls
hear ominous approaching footsteps and look up from their
controls. The squat, evil-looking Admiral Ozzel and the young,
powerfully built General Veers, who have been conferring near
the front, also feel the approaching presence and turn toward
it. Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, enters like a chill wind.
As Vader moves across the wide bridge, Captain Piett hurries
up to Ozzel.

PIETT: Admiral.

OZZEL: Yes, Captain

PIETT: I think we've got something, sir. The report is only a fragment
from a probe droid in the Hoth system, but it's the best lead we've
had.

OZZEL: (irritated) We have thousands of probe droids searching the
galaxy. I want proof, not leads!

PIETT: The visuals indicate life readings.

OZZEL: It could mean anything. If we followed every lead...

PIETT: But, sir, the Hoth system is supposed to be devoid of human
forms.

Vader moves to a large screen showing an image of the Rebel
snow base. Rebel speeders can be seen approaching the base in
the distance.

VADER: You found something?

PIETT: Yes, my lord.

VADER: (studying the image on the console screen) That's it. The
Rebels are there.

OZZEL: My lord, there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be
smugglers, it could be...

VADER: That is the system. And I'm sure Skywalker is with them. Set
your course for the Hoth system. General Veers, prepare you men.

Later...

VADER: What is it, General?

VEERS: My lord, the fleet has moves out of light-speed. Com-Scan has
detected an energy field protecting an area around the sixth planet of
the Hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any
bombardment.

VADER: (angrily) The Rebels are alerted to our presence. Admiral Ozzel
came out of light-speed too close to the system.

VEERS: He felt surprise was wiser...

VADER: He is as clumsy as he is stupid. General, prepare your troops
for a surface attack.

VEERS: Yes, my lord.

Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large
viewscreen showing the bridge of his mighty ship. Admiral
Ozzel appears on the viewscreen, standing slightly in front of
Captain Piett.

OZZEL: Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light-speed, and we're
preparing to...Aaagh!

VADER: You have failed me for the last time, Admiral. Captain Piett.

Piett steps forward, as the admiral moves away, slightly
confused, touching his throat as it begins to constrict
painfully.

PIETT: Yes, my lord.

VADER: Make ready to land out troops beyond the energy shield and
deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off that system. You are in
command now, Admiral Piett.

PIETT: Thank you, Lord Vader.

 

When Leia is looking at the screen in ROTJ, she's noting the current time because she knew when the fleet was scheduled to arrive.

So what are all the little red blips on the screen approaching the DSII?

 

Possibly the Imperial Fleet? Looks like there's more blips on that radar screen then there are Rebel ships that arrive.

 

The Star Destroyers.

 

Ozzel was in a no win situation. The Rebels knew they were coming and were already preparing to evacuate. So if he drops out of hyperspace further away a lot of rebels might have been gone before they even arrived. Vader then kills him for not getting there sooner.

 

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When Leia is looking at the screen in ROTJ, she's noting the current time because she knew when the fleet was scheduled to arrive.

So what are all the little red blips on the screen approaching the DSII?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The Star Destroyers.


You mean the Star Destroyers that were hidden on the other side of Endor? If this is the case how come the Rebels didn't see them on thier sensors as soon as they dropped out of hyperspace?

 

Hidden from the Rebels, yes. But not from the Imperials.

 

Then why isnt Endor on the Radar? Why would the station crew be monitoring thier own fleet?

 

That display screen isn't a literal representation of the Endor system. It simply shows the arrangement of the Imperial fleet.

There are plenty of reasons why the display screen would be tuned to show the Star Destroyers. But the fact of the matter is you can't detect ships that are traveling through hyperspace. The Rebels hadn't arrived at Endor yet, so this proves that the display screen couldn't have been showing the Rebel ships. The only other ships at Endor were the Star Destroyers. Ergo, the screen was displaying the Star Destroyers.

 

That display screen isn't a literal representation of the Endor system. It simply shows the arrangement of the Imperial fleet.

What's your source to back this statement up?

There are plenty of reasons why the display screen would be tuned to show the Star Destroyers.

And those would be???

But the fact of the matter is you can't detect ships that are traveling through hyperspace.

Where's your proof to back up this statement? Also, if it's a fact as you state, how did Tarken and Vader track the Falcon to Yavin in ANH? Yes, the Imperials put a tracking device on it but the Falcon still went thru hyperspace and the DS was able to follow them to Yavin. That would actually indicate the ability to track ships in hyperspace. No one in the movies ever says ships in hyperspace can't be tracked. I've seen nothing to that effect in the EU, however I haven't read every book and comic out there so if there actually is any info on this, please by all means, site your source.

The Rebels hadn't arrived at Endor yet, so this proves that the display screen couldn't have been showing the Rebel ships.

How exactly does it prove that? If you actually consider the scene, there's more "proof" to indicate it's actually the Rebel fleet. The Empire knew the Rebels were coming. It would make sense to track an incoming hostile fleet. Then the camera shows the display as Leia said "hurry the fleets almost here" this would actually lead the viewer to believe that it is the Rebel fleet being displayed. Come to think of it, that's pretty much the impression we all had back in 1983 at least the people I knew

 

What's your source to back this statement up?
Logic, my friend, logic. Read my post again.

And those would be???

Use your brain. I can come up with half a dozen reasons why the bunker would be monitoring the Imperial fleet, so you can too.

Where's your proof to back up this statement? Also, if it's a fact as you state, how did Tarken and Vader track the Falcon to Yavin in ANH? Yes, the Imperials put a tracking device on it but the Falcon still went thru hyperspace and the DS was able to follow them to Yavin. That would actually indicate the ability to track ships in hyperspace. No one in the movies ever says ships in hyperspace can't be tracked. I've seen nothing to that effect in the EU, however I haven't read every book and comic out there so if there actually is any info on this, please by all means, site your source.

Tarkin tracked the Falcon with a homing beacon. So when the Falcon emerged from hyperspace, the beacon emitted its signal telling the Death Star where to go.

Every single instance of ship(s) traveling through hyperspace to a hostile system in the EU and the movies shows you can't detect ships while they are actually in hyperspace. You can track the direction they are going when they leave a system, and the direction they arrive in when they reach their destination, but there is no direct way to detect them in hyperspace. For evidence, go read the X-wing books and the Black Fleet Crisis books.

How exactly does it prove that? If you actually consider the scene, there's more "proof" to indicate it's actually the Rebel fleet. The Empire knew the Rebels were coming. It would make sense to track an incoming hostile fleet. Then the camera shows the display as Leia said "hurry the fleets almost here" this would actually lead the viewer to believe that it is the Rebel fleet being displayed. Come to think of it, that's pretty much the impression we all had back in 1983 at least the people I knew.

Watch the movie. The Rebel fleet arrives after that scene in the bunker. Since I have already proven that you can't detect ships in hyperspace, the only ships that could possibly be displayed on the screen were those that were already at Endor.

Leia and Han and the others knew approximately when the Rebel fleet was scheduled to arrive. They would have to be in order to coordinate when to blow the generator so the fleet could get in and destroy the Death Star. That's why Leia reminded Han to hurry up.