If the Empire has taken over the Rebel base on Hoth after the battle, how are Luke, Wedge and the rest of the rebel fighters able to escape the planet, especially considering there were star destroyers in orbit such as those chasing after the Millennium Falcon?
shareDecember 1, 2021 Wednesday 6:50 PM ET
*corrected for typos
Three likely reasons from the Empire's point of view:
1) The apprehending of single enemy squadron fighters would be a waste of time and resources after achieving the main objective of military victory.
2) Enemy fighters were able to have an organized, armed retreat protected under the cover of fire.
3) Imperial scouting parties determined the remaining rebels either went missing and lost or are hidden by darkness.
The Empire was not aware of the significance of the rebel identities nor their importance to the rebel cause, who would have and were abroad the hastily withdrawing convoys. X-Wings are typically piloted by regular soldiers and drifter types rather than those of fame or notoriety (Han Solo being quite an exception for a drifter).
~~/o/
He didn't. Everything after that was just fever dream, before dying.
shareThere's literally a scene explaining this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X3Hv1YLhG8
shareThe Rebels' goal wasn't to engage in battle and defeat the Imperial fleet, the Rebels' goal, and Luke's goal, was to get away from the planet alive.
So it's totally believable that one little X-wing flown by a top pilot with Jedi reflexes would be able to slip between the Imperial ships and get away. What's not believable is that the Rebels' large, slow, outdated transport ships would be able to do the same, because obviously stopping anyone from getting away would have been part of the Imperial battle plans.
At least two Star Destroyers had left the Hoth system in pursuit of the Millenium Falcon. Other ships may have broken off the blockade to pursue other important Rebel ships. So, by the time Luke and the other X-Wing fighters took off, there were enough holes in the blockade for them to slide thru undetected.
Also, it's possible that the Imperial blockade was rushed and not well coordinated, which led to Admiral Ozzell being relieved of his command.
Probably because the Empire was focusing in on the base, Luke, Wedge and the other pilots were away from the base.
shareGood job, you found a plot hole
shareIt wouldn't be difficult for an X-Wing fighter or Rogue Squadron in general to get passed an Imperial blockade, and for all we know Luke did a little atmospheric flight, and entered space on the far side of the planet where there were no Imperial-class Star Destroyers or TIE Fighters waiting for him, then a simple entry into hyperspace seals the deal.
On a more interesting note, Darth Vader's Death Squadron seemingly had no Interdictor Cruisers, if they had been present, the Rebels would have found attempting to enter hyperspace impossible.