Types of aircraft question

[jonpfl]

All,

Can someone explain the difference between tactical and strategic bombers?

Pros and cons?

Thx,
jonpfl

[Razz1]

Strategic bombers reduce ammo of units and give them suppression. They can also neutralize flags. Good naval attack too.

Tactical bombers have a higher soft attack and hard attack

[matterhorn]

Some types of tac-bombers can attack other aircrafts.

[the_iron_duke]

They can also neutralize flags.

I didn't know that. It gives them an added use for capture-the-flag multiplayer games.

EDIT: I just tried it out and it took something like ten turns of bombing to neutralize a flag - so maybe not that useful an ability!

[wargovichr]

You will want to develop and nurture at least one and preferably two strat bombers. They often have a high naval attack value which is critical for when you need to clear noisome enemy naval units in certain battles.
They can be invaluable when taking on a difficult objective by means of suppression of a fortified hex, AA, or even a heavy tank. Then, after your strat bomber attacks, further soften up the enemy with arty, THEN your pioneer infantry or heavy tank or whatever can attack without dreadful losses. It's surprising the suppression on an enemy tank and on AA that then allows you to take it down...the strat bomber will take less losses than a tac bomber when attacking AA.

[matterhorn]

They can also neutralize flags.

I didn't know that. It gives them an added use for capture-the-flag multiplayer games.

EDIT: I just tried it out and it took something like ten turns of bombing to neutralize a flag - so maybe not that useful an ability!

This will improve when your bomber becomes stronger.
Try it out by using the cheat codes (strg + shift + alt + c): "all eqp", "exp 500", "str 15" (and maybe "prestige XXXX").
Take a 15-strength 5-star Heinkel 177 and see what they can do.
You can check the probability of neutralizing a flag by pressing strg and l when you are over the target.

[matterhorn]

...
You can check the probability of neutralizing a flag by pressing strg and l when you are over the target.

Sorry, I want to correct this.

Here the right way to see the combat details:
befored combat: "strg" and left mouse click
after combat: "l"

It's also found here:

viewtopic.php?f=121&t=25990&p=239167&hi ... ls#p239167
...
Ctrl+Click Extended combat prediction
L Last combat details
...

[captainjack]

Sometimes I play with as many as 3 strategic bombers, other times none. The main issue is that they need a fighter escort, so you effectively need two slots (for one bomber plus escort) for each bomber. The upgrade paths aren't always that good, and the early German Strat bomber has such short range it's almost useless, but they can be brilliant especially if you get good attack heros (I once got two 3A heroes on a Strat bomber which allowed it to mince ships and did pretty good damage against most other things, even Churchills.). Personally I would ensure I had at least one when I'm expecting fortifications. The high range of Strat bombers can also be good if they have 6 or more ammo and they can carry on being a nuisance for ages. In some scenarios, the ability to neutralise cities to blind ther spotting and stop units benig formed there can be as useful as suppressing units. Also, Strat bombers don't take fir from ground troops other than AA, so they are good for hitting troops with passive anti air capability.

For Tac bombers, I usually swap to something that can attack other air units (Beaufighter or ME110) early on as they usually have better air combat stats )INI, DEF and ATT) so they can survive better without the fighter escorts, and because they can finish off damaged enemy aircraft, but some of the other Tac bomber ground attack stats are very good and worth the inconvenience of the escort fighters. Also, better air combat doesn't guarantee they'll come up of combat in a usable condition, but at least they are usually still there. I can't think of a time playing without a TAC bomber once they become available, so I must like them.

The need for Strategic bombers is highest when you have naval units to get rid of, or strong fortifications but some of the Tac bombers can do enough damage to landing craft and even some fighting ships to be good substitutes. You will also need Tac bombers if you are afraid of submarines, as they are the only aircraft that can attack subs.

[timek28]

To be honest as a German I never exploited Strategic bombers too much UNLESS there is a scenario with ships. Then I usually have 2-3 bombers of this kind.

However as Ally, AC scenarios have given me different feedback on need for strategic bombers. Especially the notorious Cobra scenario. The amount of German tanks and experienced infantry units out there is probably not historical but exaggerated, still going with only/mostly tactical bombers and fighters in this mission can be problematic. I especially hate the passive defense of [1] that most of German tanks and infantry has. This thing can literally cause nightmares. Added to this are numerous experienced flaks as well as somehow pretty intact Luftwaffe. The point being is that if one wants to destroy dozen of German Panthers and PzIVjs that can seen in this scenario going for tactical bombers only can be pretty costly. Most of German units will fire back at tactical bombers, even cripple them (there is no logic in that I know), and repairs will take too much time and prestige. Suppressing Panzers first with artillery and then bombing them with tactical bombers is hard as they are not suppressed easily with SP artillery (only maybe 8 inch towed guns).

So instead I restarted campaign from Tunisia mission. I bought two Liberator strategic bombers, and 2 P47Ds to cover them along with a tank and artillery (6 slots). This has proven to be a good move. Liberators don't get hurt almost at all. They suppress targets very well (I need this for German tanks as there is no other cheap way of defeating them) and they gain experience exceptionally fast (unlike tactical bombers on FM difficulty). So I believe that once Cobra scenario comes I will be able to suppress and destroy almost any target since I will have 3 strategic bombers (2 Liberators and 1 Stirling/Halifax) with average experience of 4 stars..

The bottom line is: Allies had better and much larger air force then Germans, while Germans excelled in tanking department. Have this in mind and adjust your play accordingly.

[captainjack]

I agree with Timek28 about the use of STR bombers in Cobra. I had one experienced Liberator in Cobra, but probably could have happily used a second. Apart from being useful to hit units with air defence capability, it could strip enough ammo and fuel from dangerous enemy units to allow them about 1 attack, before they run out. Once at zero ammo and surrounded by three or more units so it can't refuel, you can blast it with your tac bomber. My Mosquito would attack any units without air defence or out of ammo.

While doing this, recon was important to keep away from flak units - you might survive in range of one flak unit, with a bit of luck, but getting caught in range of two fixed units and a mobile unit would almost guarantee loss of any plane. My anti AA tactic was to suppress AA with arty, check how much has been stunned and if safe then hit with Strategic bomber to remove ammo. It probably only has one shot left, fires at you and you then next turn it has zero or very few ammo. You suppress if needed, hit with Strat bomber (you could do the other way round if ammo is all gone as the reduced entrenchment would slightly increase the chances of Arty killing the AA) then a Tac bomber. There's a good chance you'll destroy the AA this way, and especially if you can get a ground unit to it to mop up.

Having said that, it's probably a bit easier to learn to use STR bombers in the DLC as you have more unit slots to ensure fighter cover, and allow a slightly larger force of other units but they probably are more useful in AC, if you can find a way that works for you.

[timek28]

Well it depends on the scenarios, side, etc...

The general strength of German armor as well as their air defense (88s) imply the need for heavy suppression. It is very fancy to bomb the heck out of enemy when enemy targets are soft, and if they don't have passive AA ability. But once they are extremely strong, and almost all have passive AA tact bombers have less usage and they tend to get battered (1 AD destroys 3-4 bombers ?!?). That is why I resorted to this tactic. While I don't inflict fancy bombing hits this way, I also have to put minimum effort in destroying heavily suppressed German heavies. This is complete opposite of the brute force method and head on attacks on Tigers which usually don't go well no matter what unit you throw at them (even Fireflies, Comets and Pershings get battered a lot in this fight).