Why is Star Wars military tech so poor?

[Mike DiCenso]

Airlocke_Jedi_Knight, I think your explanation is valid, but it still doesn't excuse the fact that an ISD has absolutely no coverage behind it, and with engines so big you'd have to be a Stormtrooper to miss them...

Actually, the engines aside, there are apparently guns on the 8 foot ISD model built for TESB. You can see them here in these [url=ttp://cloudster.com/Sets&Vehicles/SWstarDestroyer/StarDestroyerRearArea.htm]photos[/url] lining the hull's trailing edge, and there are some possible guns mounted on the rear superstructure terraces. Their firing arc coverage is rather limited however and the a ship staying close and the middle of the ISD's rear would potentially be safe from everything except the massive engines' exhaust.
-Mike

[Praeothmin]

At best, with this coverage, trailing have at best to face MTLs or LTLs.

Not very dangerous for Capital ships coming in from behind...

[Mike DiCenso]

I imagine that would depend on the size of the capital ship and how maneuverable it is with respect to the ISD. If the ISD can maintain an aspect relative to the opposing ship that will allow the rear TL cannons to be brought to bear on it, then the ISD is still a credible threat. On the other hand, we know little about these TL batteries; are they large, medium or small in size? All of which could affect the outcome in using this tactic on the ISD.
-Mike

[ILikeDeathNote]

We know that the ISD possesses at least eight heavy turbolaser turrets clearly visible along the flanks of the superstructure.

[Mike DiCenso]

Yes, there are. However only two of those eight HTL batteries might be brought to bear on an opposing ship that is directly astern of the ISD. They become useless, if the enemy vessel can maneuver close enough so that the trailing hull structure blocks their arc of fire.
-Mike

[Mr. Oragahn]

Or if the ship stands underneath the ISD.

[Praeothmin]

And also, the last turret on each side (the ones closer to the rear of the ship) are Ion Cannon Turrets, according to the original trilogy ICS.

And from their placement, I'm not sure they can even aim behind the ship...

[Mike DiCenso]

Or if the ship stands underneath the ISD.

Still too dangerous since the underside of the ISD has many more TLs it can fire at an opposing vessel compared to the aft firing arc. The only thing you gain is not having to deal with the HTL batteries as you would on the top facing.
-Mike

[Mike DiCenso]

And also, the last turret on each side (the ones closer to the rear of the ship) are Ion Cannon Turrets, according to the original trilogy ICS.

And from their placement, I'm not sure they can even aim behind the ship...

The SW: ICS entry is for the Type-I ISD, so that may not be true for the Type-II ISD, and it does not still necessarily exclude LTLs and MTLs in the superstructure and conning tower.
-Mike

[Jedi Master Spock]

I imagine that would depend on the size of the capital ship and how maneuverable it is with respect to the ISD.

Exactly. Other SW capital ships would not be staying in the rear arc unless they were pursuing and the ISD was fleeing - after all, they wouldn't be that far off from the ISD's maneuverability. And you wouldn't want to follow too close if the ISD is fleeing full speed, because then you get hit by the drive wash.

The very small vessels that would be able to fly circles around the ISD (literally) are supposed to be TIE food. I don't think the layout is so terrible in context.

Out of context - e.g., fighting against highly maneuverable warships such as the Federation fields - the inability to bring main weapons to bear rearward might be more of a problem.

[Praeothmin]

What if the ISD was facing superior opponents, or simply more ships, and needs to run away?
Being able to fire at pursuing ships would be useful.
And as we saw in the movies and as we read in the books, starfighters can be a threat to Capital ships, even ISDs, so being able to fire at the fully loaded proton bomber would be nice...

[Mike DiCenso]

I imagine that would depend on the size of the capital ship and how maneuverable it is with respect to the ISD.

Exactly. Other SW capital ships would not be staying in the rear arc unless they were pursuing and the ISD was fleeing - after all, they wouldn't be that far off from the ISD's maneuverability. And you wouldn't want to follow too close if the ISD is fleeing full speed, because then you get hit by the drive wash.

The very small vessels that would be able to fly circles around the ISD (literally) are supposed to be TIE food. I don't think the layout is so terrible in context.

Out of context - e.g., fighting against highly maneuverable warships such as the Federation fields - the inability to bring main weapons to bear rearward might be more of a problem.

That brings up an important point, the ISDs in ANH pursuing the Falcon seemed fast and maneuverable enough to chase her down, as did the ISD Avenger later in TESB. Of course when Han pulled an unusual maneuver, like heading Z- suddenly, or right at a conning tower, they then seemed slow to react.
-Mike

[Airlocke_Jedi_Knight]

I imagine that would depend on the size of the capital ship and how maneuverable it is with respect to the ISD.

Exactly. Other SW capital ships would not be staying in the rear arc unless they were pursuing and the ISD was fleeing - after all, they wouldn't be that far off from the ISD's maneuverability. And you wouldn't want to follow too close if the ISD is fleeing full speed, because then you get hit by the drive wash.

The very small vessels that would be able to fly circles around the ISD (literally) are supposed to be TIE food. I don't think the layout is so terrible in context.

Out of context - e.g., fighting against highly maneuverable warships such as the Federation fields - the inability to bring main weapons to bear rearward might be more of a problem.

That brings up an important point, the ISDs in ANH pursuing the Falcon seemed fast and maneuverable enough to chase her down, as did the ISD Avenger later in TESB. Of course when Han pulled an unusual maneuver, like heading Z- suddenly, or right at a conning tower, they then seemed slow to react.
-Mike

That was needed to keep the audiences at bay. Is that small and clearly more nimble ship going to be able outrun that giant behemoth of ship that looks heavy enough to crush a planet just by landing? I am so captivated.

[Mr. Oragahn]

Or if the ship stands underneath the ISD.

Still too dangerous since the underside of the ISD has many more TLs it can fire at an opposing vessel compared to the aft firing arc. The only thing you gain is not having to deal with the HTL batteries as you would on the top facing.
-Mike

Many TLs? By observing the models of the ISD Mk II, what we notice is the absolute lack of features on the underside, safe for a very few spots here and there around the ventral bay, which won't be big enough to accept the heavy TLs, not even what some would call medium TLs.

[Mr. Oragahn]

Exactly. Other SW capital ships would not be staying in the rear arc unless they were pursuing and the ISD was fleeing - after all, they wouldn't be that far off from the ISD's maneuverability. And you wouldn't want to follow too close if the ISD is fleeing full speed, because then you get hit by the drive wash.

The very small vessels that would be able to fly circles around the ISD (literally) are supposed to be TIE food. I don't think the layout is so terrible in context.

Out of context - e.g., fighting against highly maneuverable warships such as the Federation fields - the inability to bring main weapons to bear rearward might be more of a problem.

That brings up an important point, the ISDs in ANH pursuing the Falcon seemed fast and maneuverable enough to chase her down, as did the ISD Avenger later in TESB. Of course when Han pulled an unusual maneuver, like heading Z- suddenly, or right at a conning tower, they then seemed slow to react.
-Mike

That was needed to keep the audiences at bay. Is that small and clearly more nimble ship going to be able outrun that giant behemoth of ship that looks heavy enough to crush a planet just by landing? I am so captivated.

An ISD is capable of great accelerations when it comes to linear trajectories, even if punctual.
The other moves, that's another story.