Inside the Battle of Hoth: a military analysis of The Empire Strikes Back

Spencer Ackerman, from the Wired News defense technology blog Danger Room, writes a brilliant military analysis of the Battle of Hoth at the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back.

From a military perspective, Hoth should have been a total debacle for the Rebel Alliance. Overconfident that they can evade Imperial surveillance, they hole up on unforgiving frigid terrain at the far end of the cosmos. Huddled into the lone Echo Base are all their major players: politically crucial Princess Leia; ace pilot Han Solo; and their game-changer, Luke Skywalker, who isn't even a Jedi yet.

Read the whole epic thing, complete with schematics and tactical diagrams: Inside the Battle of Hoth: The Empire Strikes Out | Danger Room | Wired.com.