Orbital bombardment / Legends Orbital bombardment was a military strategy used many times throughout the history of the galaxy , in which a starship or space - based machine bombarded a planet heavily . Unlike a Base Delta Zero , which completely devastated a planet , orbital bombardment could be made more precise or specific . Usage . The most effective means of doing this was using several capital ships to target a specific area on a planet . Although such an action was expected to cause collateral damage , some gunnery crews were reputed to be skilled to the degree of pin - point accuracy . Regardless , there were many factions which used orbital bombardment . The Mandalorians were very adept at using this in the Mandalorian Wars . The planet Telos IV was also attacked by orbital bombardment . Darth Malak used this to attack the planet of Taris , while looking for Bastila Shan and also bombarded the Enclave on Dantooine , although most of the Jedi survived . The Confederacy of Independent Systems bombarded the ecumenopolis of Humbarine in a Base Delta Zero operation during the Clone Wars , melting the crust of the planet . The Galactic Republic also engaged in orbital bombardments and made use of the tactic to destroy deeply entrenched Separatist armies . Orbital bombardment was frequently used in the Galactic Civil War , and was a factor during the Battle of Kashyyyk . The planet of Ralltiir was subjected to orbital bombardment for harboring Rebel scientists . Darth Vader planned to use this strategy against Echo Base on Hoth . However , the theater shield and planetary ion cannon of Echo Base enabled the Rebels to hold off the bombardment and evacuate much of their equipment and personnel . Often , strike teams and special forces would be dispatched to the planet in order to sabotage such defenses prior to the initiation of the bombardment . While a common tactic for the Imperial Navy — in fact , some sources imply that Star Destroyers were optimized for such attacks — the New Republic Defense Force was reluctant to engage in orbital bombardment , for fear of civilian casualties . During the Yuuzhan Vong War , however , General Wedge Antilles ordered the " Lusankya " to bombard Borleias in an attempt to save the New Republic ' s ground base during the Battles of Borleias , and Admiral Traest Kre ' fey also made orbital bombardment one of his standing orders in the prelude to the Battle of Ebaq 9 . Orbital bombardment was also employed during the Second Galactic Civil War ; Colonel Jacen Solo in the Battle of Kashyyyk opened fire on the planet with the long - range turbolaser s of the " Anakin Solo " . His attack succeeded in its objective of initiating massive , self - sustaining forest fires ; Solo intended the devastation to serve as a warning for those who might betray the Galactic Alliance . Behind the scenes . Orbital bombardment appears in " " as a strategic combat action allowing the player to use a fleet unit in orbit around a planet to eliminate the opponents ' ground units located on that planet . This option is called " planetary bombardment " in the game . In " " , orbital bombardments are available to both the Rebellion ( ion bombardment ) and the Empire ( turbolaser ) as well as the Zann Consortium ( ion then plasma bombardment ) . Orbital bombardment appeared in all of the Battlefront series . In the , recon droids could signal for them , in the , a frigate on Hoth during the final campaign mission was bombarded , and in and , a special gun would tag a location for bombardment .