Star Wars: All Capital Ship Weapon Types Explained | Star Wars Lore

On today's Star Wars Lore video we discuss capital ship weapons in the Star Wars universe, answering my most commonly asked question: what's the difference between turbolasers and laser cannons? Although much of this information comes from Star Wars Legends, it should match how things exist in Star Wars canon. From Super Star Destroyers to CR90 Corvettes, all of the information in this video applies to Star Wars ships and space battles in the Star Wars universe.

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Tie Fighter Short Film:

[EckhartsLadder]

Also, if you have any videos like this one that you'd like to see made, comment below!

[josephmontanaro]

I see it like this: turbolaser=cannon, laser=machinegun/autocannon, this is kind of simplified but is the best real world analogy I can give

[GaldirEonai]

Since all Star Wars combat is based on WW2 in one form or another, one might use this comparison to explain the Laser Cannon vs. Turbolaser divide:

Laser cannons are equivalent to autocannons such as the 40mm anti-air guns used on WW2 ships. Turbolasers are equivalent to full-sized naval guns, and the lighter ones can, like the ubiquitous 5-inch gun of the WW2 US Navy, be in defensive roles as well.

[Stormrider-Flight]

Turbo Lasers = Slow Firing
Lasers = Fast Firing
Good Work on those names.

[seemslegit]

Despite being called lasers, they are pretty much plasma cannons.

[joyempire]

The entire star wars galaxy vs a Gonk droid with the high ground

[corneliusmcmuffin]

What about solid-beam lasers? You know, like on the RX-200 hover tank. Or the Flak guns on the CIS warships?

[nicholasgillogly]

You forgot Flak Cannons which were common on Seperatist ships and later Venator Carriers

[SoftisNelaris]

I've done some thinking about star wars weapons, and I think the term "Turbolaser Battery" usually refers to a set of turbolaser weapons that are bunched up together to focus all their firepower on the same target. A great visualization of this is the Bellator-class Star Dreadnought. You can visibly see the turrets grouped up into small clusters and large clusters rather than evenly distributed across the entire surface of the ship.

[flamewarden]

3:46 If anyone is wondering what game that is. It’s called Space Engineers, it’s an amazing game with a huge mod and ship building community. It’s a space based building exploration game that has realistic voxel damage. I would suggest checking it out. If you want a familiar face, check out Captain Shack. He does Empire at War and Space Engineers.


Edit: I would like to add how there is a HUGE Star Wars community in Space Engineers. There are plenty of builds and mods for Star Wars stuff. The ARMCO mods for Star Wars shops is a good example. And Captain Shack is leading that modding team.

[devingendron]

7:22, ion cannons are also useful against shields, just a note. The electrical discharge they produce was specifically noted at several points as being especially potent and draining shields, allowing the turbolasers to then finish them off.

[notablegoat]

The Rebellion: Our strategy centers on fighters
The Empire: We will build our Death Star with no anti-fighter defences

[FOOLTH]

What if Coruscant was invaded by The Thing?!? The Thing can mimic someone's presence in the force.

[nolandrummond]

Great video! I've always found it unclear the scale of the different weapons on capital ships, and this video was excellent.

[BeBetter]

Delta squad (Star Wars) vs delta squad (gears of war) vs delta squad COD vs delta squad (real life)

[riccardogemme]

3:52 ehy that picture is from Space Engineers!

[ethansalthouse]

Great explanation, just what I've been looking for!
All we need now is to sort out exactly what missile does what - do they take down shields, do they go through shields, are they torpedoes, missiles -- Argh!

[Ioove]

Old Republic Hammerhead vs Republic Dreadnought class Cruiser
Xwing vs Tie Hunter
Covenant Elite/Brute Honor Guard vs Emperor's Royal Guard or the CIS Magna Guard

[jamiejackson]

Doge: The triforce of wisdom, Jotaro: The triforce of power, Star wars: the triforce of courage




Eckhart: I have united them, I have *UNLIMITED POWER*

[SCmaro]

Broadside does have combat merit though. You can more easily make straifing runs and take on multiple targets at once.
It also tends to minimize your target profile.