Grounded Bombers

[DarkSchneider]

Without the ability to put bombers on Carriers, how am I supposed to get them to the other continents? They are a large portion of my military strategy at this point...

[anton_z1]

Originally Posted by DarkSchneider

Without the ability to put bombers on Carriers, how am I supposed to get them to the other continents? They are a large portion of my military strategy at this point...

Take a small ennemy city. Relocate bombers to it

[Greencardman]

You can also base bombers in cities of other civs that you have open borders with. So if the continent is full of civs, I'm sure you can find someone. If its just got one civ, you'll have to take/build yourself a new one. Which brings up the question, can you found a new city within the cultural borders of a civ you're at war with?

Oh, and remember that the civ you're at war with may also have open borders, and they can attack your bombers. I had this happen on a border city (where the warring civ had cultural control of a tile next to the city my bomber was based in) but i suspect it may be able to happen anywhere, so protect your bombers with land units even if they are in another civ's city.

[Sadan01]

That's the only way I've found (to relocate them) besides trying to build them in a recently acquired city on the continent I am fighting on. If the distance is too far, then I guess tough ... They cant be used. Artillery can still do the work for a

Edit: Kinda cross-posted with Greencardman. I didnt know they could be based in friendly cities however at the same time, if your ground troops can, then bombers should be able to at the same time. Cool! I'll have to try that out sometime.

[Good Omens]

Originally Posted by anton_z1

Take a small ennemy city. Relocate bombers to it

Just be very careful doing that. If an enemy retakes that city, all your bombers are nothing but scrap.

[Phal78]

Also, if you have your bombers in a friendly city and that civ declares war on you, all your bombers will die immediately. Your land units in their cities will be relocated, but bombers will die.
I once lost 12 bombers in one turn from this

[DarkSchneider]

If you have to get them there in one turn, I don't think it can be done, the other continent is over 15 squares away from me to both the East and West.

[QuikPik]

Another thing to be careful when placing bombers in civs where you have an open borders agreement, check to see if the civ you are at war with also has open borders the civ where you want to place the bombers. Happened to me once where the warring civ walked into the city with axemen and killed my bombers.

[MosquitoE]

Just like in real life, utilizing bombers can be very powerful in wars, but its takes some planning to make it possible. Of course you cant land a bomber on a carrier. So you need to make allies in the war zone to use their cities for airbases. Or quickly take a city in the area to make your own.

[Snackwell]

Don't forget that relocating is not limited to the recon/attack range... you can relocate to *any city on the map* in one turn, as long as it's friendly.

But yes, watch out for the open borders thing when you land them in a neutral party... I lost some bombers to cavalry today.

[exile2]

Exactly. Why do nations such as the US go to such trouble to establish bases overseas?

So - get an ally to host your bombers and hope to avoid an "Uzbekistan" situation.

[Tennyson]

If you can relocate bombers to an allied city, can you also airlift to an allied city?

[Greencardman]

I haven't been able to airlift to an allied city, its always grayed out.

[Greencardman]

Rats! A accidental double post. Now I have to say something worthwhile or look silly. Well, lets see.... ok, how about this for a tip, if you didn't know it.

Fighters and Jet fighters set on intercept have a chance to intercept anything happening within thier zone of control. That means that fighters based on carriers near enemy cities can intercept enemy fighters and bombers attacking your ground units, not just the ones that attack your carrier group. So its good to have them along when you go to invade, if only to protect your troops.