Needle (maneuver)

The Needle, or Snapper's Needle, as named by New Republic pilots, was a combat maneuver used by TIE fighter pilots of the Galactic Empire's 204th Imperial Fighter Wing during the Galactic Civil War in which a flight of TIEs would entrap an enemy starfighter, ensuring it had nowhere to go prior to its destruction.

204th pilot Garl Lykan favored the Needle maneuver while he, among two TIE fighter squadrons, hunted the New Republic EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate Hellion's Dare in a series of battles in 4 ABY. The New Republic pilots gave the Needle its nickname during the battles and referred to Lykan as "Snapper." Lykan used the Needle another time to kill the New Republic airspeeder pilot Ubellikos during a battle at the planet Troithe in 5 ABY. When Lykan later perished in the Ghonoath system, a funeral was held for him, and Lieutenant Darita of the 204th showed the Needle, by sketch, to the fighter wing's new recruits.

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