Proton torpedo / Legends The proton torpedo was a type of ordnance used throughout the galaxy . Its most notable use was during the Battle of Yavin , when Luke Skywalker destroyed the first Death Star by launching a pair of proton torpedoes into a thermal exhaust port . There were also upgraded versions that sometimes possessed target locking abilities , as well as upgraded versions of the target locking variants themselves . Description . Proton torpedoes came in a wide array of sizes and yields ; from massively powerful capital ship weapons designed for orbital bombardment , to small but nimble fighter - grade weapons like those Luke Skywalker employed against the first Death Star . A number of torpedo designs were shielded to protect them from being shot down either by skilled pilots or the target ' s defensive flak gun s . Small starfighters like the Rebel Alliance X - wing and Y - wing fighters often had their laser weaponry complemented by ordnance launchers capable of firing proton torpedoes . The energized torpedoes carried a devastatingly powerful blast from a proton - scattering warhead , and could be fired at much greater ranges than the standard laser cannon . The torpedoes were exceptionally maneuverable , able to make a 90 degree turn within a turning circle of a meter , enabling them to be used against starfighters , such as when Corran Horn in his X - wing used them against Erisi Dlarit ' s TIE Interceptor . History . Proton torpedoes were used during the Battle of Naboo by N - 1 starfighter pilots . After Anakin Skywalker crash landed in the Droid Control Ship he initiated a restart of his fighter and proceeded to defend himself by firing laser cannons at Trade Federation battle droids , and accidentally destroyed the control ship by unintentionally firing two proton torpedoes into its starboard pilot reactor . During the Rebel attack run on the first Death Star , Alliance fighters had to use high - speed proton torpedoes on the thermal exhaust port that protected the Death Star ' s sole vulnerable point . Since the port was ray shielded , standard laser weaponry would have been ineffective . Wedge Antilles used proton torpedoes against the Death Star II ' s power regulator . Behind the scenes . In the " Star Wars " radio drama , these were called photon torpedoes , a term from " Star Trek " . In the " X - Wing " series of computer games , proton torpedoes were intended to be used against most targets except snubfighters , as they were slower than concussion missiles , but more damaging . However , this contradicts information in many Legends sources which show that both proton torpedoes and concussion missiles are just general types of weapons with various yields . Because of that , this fact should be regarded as a mere game mechanic . In " " , at the hangar screen where the player has the option of changing armaments , the proton torpedo is depicted as a stubby blue missile , which contradicts canon showing that the torpedo is cone - shaped , although this may be explained as being from a different manufacturer from those utilized by the Rebel Alliance . According to the " Star Wars Sourcebook : A New Hope " for the roleplaying game , proton torpedoes could do more damage ( but not significantly more ) than concussion missiles and cost less per warhead . However , complete particle shielding could deflect proton torpedoes successfully . Although " Jedi Trial " states that proton torpedoes were a new weapon introduced during the Clone Wars , the N - 1 starfighter is known to have been equipped with the weapons during the Battle of Naboo . Additionally , in " " , Atton Rand makes a passing reference to proton torpedoes , indicating that the weapon may actually have originated far prior to the conflict . And if the prologue for the game is played , a proton torpedo can be found stuck in the hull of the " Ebon Hawk " and the explosive charge is found intact , and can be used as an explosive . It is also a rare case of a proton torpedo not exploding on contact . In " " , TIE fighters possessed proton torpedoes for the sake of balancing the two sides . The exact nature of proton torpedo warheads are not fully understood , since few sources talk about the actual nature of the warhead . However , in the Legacy of the Force series , two separate authors have stated that they use a baradium main charge , detonated by a proton detonator . Some sources state that the blast is focused into a tight cone to maximize effectiveness and minimize collateral damage and energy leakage away from the target . However , most sources — particularly those detailing the effects of a hit on a starfighter — have these weapons producing a more uniform detonation . This is particularly demonstrated when Wedge Antilles used one such weapon to destroy a concrete tube : the torpedo passed through the tube and detonated ten meters away , yet still produced a fireball sufficient to engulf the tube . This may indicate that proton torpedoes can vary the shape of their blasts , or that Rogue Squadron was using a general - purpose torpedo and shaped - blast torpedoes are a specialized model . A shaped - blast nuclear warhead that matches some descriptions of the proton torpedo in Legends is a real life proposed weapon . The technology is detailed in the U . S . military " Project Casaba Howitzer " , which is still at least partially classified .