Battle of Yavin

Battle of Yavin
	Part of the Galactic Civil War
Date	0 BBY
Location	Yavin system
Result	Rebel Alliance victory Destruction of the first Death Star;
Belligerents
Alliance to Restore the Republic	Galactic Empire
Commanders and leaders
Mon Mothma; Jon "Dutch" Vander †; Garvin Dreis †; Luke Skywalker; Wedge Antilles	Grand Moff Tarkin †; Darth Vader
Units involved
Red Squadron; Gold Squadron; Green Squadron	61st "Black" Squadron
Strength
Several X-Wing and Y-Wing starfighters; Millennium Falcon armed freighter	One Death Star; Several TIE fighters; Several turbolaser batteries
Casualties and losses
Several rebel pilots dead; One astromech droid damaged (later repaired)	Death Star destroyed; Millions of the Imperial personnel killed

The Battle of Yavin is a key event in the fictional universe of Star Wars, in which the Galactic Empire confronts the Rebel Alliance around the gas giant Yavin and its fourth moon. It serves as the chronological reference point for the franchise’s in-universe dating system, with years denoted as Before or After the Battle of Yavin (BBY/ABY).

Following the Battle of Scarif, the rebels obtain the plans for the Death Star, a massive Imperial space station with planet-destroying capability. The Empire locates the rebel base on Yavin 4 and prepares to eliminate it using the Death Star. A hidden structural weakness is discovered, prompting the rebels to launch a last-ditch assault. As the Death Star enters orbit, rebel starfighters engage Imperial forces led by Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, using the Force, successfully exploits the station’s vulnerability and destroys it. Vader survives and escapes.

The battle marks the Rebel Alliance's first major victory, though they are soon forced to relocate. Vader continues to pursue them, targeting leadership and key operatives.

The event is depicted in the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. It was produced primarily using practical special effects and is further explored in related novels, comics, and video games.