Jet Fighter vs Bomber

[CivFart]

The Jet fighter has 50% penalthy with ranged targeting.

What should I use, bombers or jet fighters on my carrier. Is the bomber more effective against land attacks than the jet fighter? As it is right now, I always have one jet fighter for air sweep and air protection, and 2 bombers for inland bombing.

(cant stuff stealth bombers on carriers anymore, so I have to use bombers now)

I like normal bombers btw. They can be promoted, when you get promoted for one extra turn, 3 bombers on a carrier with 2 turns each is equal to two carriers with 6 bombers, so its pretty darn effective.

Stealth bombers cant promote.

 

[Gallean88]

Stealth bombers can promote. Besides, their range is so ridiculous you don't need carriers. If they have something that can hit your planes such that you have to air sweep, I'd be more worried about their navy killing your carrier. I just capture some small coastal city and use it as an airbase with infinite stacking.

 

[aziantuntija]

Is the bomber more effective against land attacks than the jet fighter?

Interesting question, i would also like to know the answer to that.


Stealth bombers that promote and infinite stacking? Are we even talking about the same game Gallean88?


EDIT: Also, stealth bombers range is good but its not 'ridiculous' if you are playing on standard or large maps.

 

[GenericPlayer]

I didn't know stealth bombers can promote now. I tried fighting with one until it got enough XP for a promotion, but no promotion options actually came up. I read in the patch notes that you can no longer use Stealth bombers on carriers, has anyone verified this? Also, since the patch it looks like bombers can now be upgraded to stealth bombers - has anyone done this and do the bomber promotions stay with the new unit, or are they wiped?

Back to your original question, Bombers are much, much better than Jet Fighters against land targets. They have better ranged combat strength since there is no 50% penalty, and you can give them 3 land attack promotions that gives you about 60% bonus for land attacks. Add to that the logistic and air-repair promotions and you have a very powerful unit.

As for fighters, using them for interception and air sweep is the correct usage, but keep in mind that air-sweeps do not yield any XP (a design flaw imo), so if you want to get promotions for your Jet Fighter, you will need to do some bombing.

Hope that helps.

 

[JohnnyW]

air-sweeps do not yield any XP (a design flaw imo)

A design flaw in Civ5? Shocking!

 

[aziantuntija]

I didn't know stealth bombers can promote now.

No they cant. Couldnt promote yesterday and couldnt promote today, trust me i have tested it and yes im running the latest patch + the small hotfix.

I read in the patch notes that you can no longer use Stealth bombers on carriers, has anyone verified this?

Stealth bombers cannot use carriers.

A design flaw in Civ5? Shocking!

 

[BomberEscort]

Jet Fighter 70 (-75% from PROMOTION_WEAK_RANGED)
Bomber 60 (-50% from PROMOTION_NAVAL_PENALTY)

Values from 1.0.1.135 XML

Spoiler :

<Row>
        <Type>PROMOTION_WEAK_RANGED</Type>
        <Description>TXT_KEY_PROMOTION_WEAK_RANGED</Description>
	<Help>TXT_KEY_PROMOTION_WEAK_RANGED_HELP</Help>
	<Sound>AS2D_IF_LEVELUP</Sound>
	<RangedAttackModifier>-75</RangedAttackModifier>
	<PortraitIndex>57</PortraitIndex>
	<IconAtlas>ABILITY_ATLAS</IconAtlas>
	<PediaType>PEDIA_ATTRIBUTES</PediaType>
	<PediaEntry>TXT_KEY_PEDIA_PROMOTION_WEAK_RANGED</PediaEntry>
</Row>
<Row>
	<PromotionType>PROMOTION_NAVAL_PENALTY</PromotionType>
	<UnitCombatType>UNITCOMBAT_NAVAL</UnitCombatType>
	<Modifier>-50</Modifier>
</Row>

See this thread for details on how the above promotions are calculated
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=9919613&postcount=14

Jet Fighter vs Air - 70
Jet Fighter vs Land - 40 (70/1.75)
Jet Fighter vs Naval - 40 (70/1.75)

Bomber vs Air - 60 (Defending Only)
Bomber vs Land - 60
Bomber vs Naval - 40 (60/1.5)

So, to answer your question, they both attack Naval targets at 40 and the Bomber is better vs Land. If you want your Carriers to attack land and naval targets, load them with Bombers. If you want them to defend your fleet against Air attacks, then Jet Fighters are the way to go...

Jet Fighters cost 600 , have a range of 10, and require Aluminum
Bombers/B17s cost 520 , have a range of 10, and require Oil

 

[GenericPlayer]

One thing to add to BE's very thorough analysis - Jet Fighters can acquire Naval Targeting promotions - bomber's can't. So a Jet Fighter can *possibly* do 60% more damage to a naval target than a bomber. I've never really relied on aircraft to destroy ships, and if I do use them its usually just to pump up xp.

 

[Babri]

Jet Fighter 70 (-75% from PROMOTION_WEAK_RANGED)
Bomber 60 (-50% from PROMOTION_NAVAL_PENALTY)

Jet Fighter vs Air - 70
Jet Fighter vs Land - 40 (70/1.75)
Jet Fighter vs Naval - 40 (70/1.75)

Bomber vs Air - 60 (Defending Only)
Bomber vs Land - 60
Bomber vs Naval - 40 (60/1.5)

So, to answer your question, they both attack Naval targets at 40 and the Bomber is better vs Land. If you want your Carriers to attack land and naval targets, load them with Bombers. If you want them to defend your fleet against Air attacks, then Jet Fighters are the way to go...

Jet Fighters cost 600 , have a range of 10, and require Aluminum
Bombers/B17s cost 520 , have a range of 10, and require Oil

So why is Jet Fighter more expensive then ? (and requiring a more rare resource)

 

[Sonereal]

So why is Jet Fighter more expensive then ? (and requiring a more rare resource)

Jet fighters upgrade from fighters and are better at taking down other air units one would assume.