SAM Missile Batteries?

[McPointy]

It seems like every time I end up in the Modern Age, I buy many of my cities SAM Missile Batteries, assuming they might be totally useful later on. And I never end up getting attacked before I can win the game. So I have two questions: 1) what do they do? and 2) has anyone ever found them to be worth building? Thanks!

 

[seanos08]

You need 5 Sam batteries to build the SDI which is essential if you get involved in nuclear warfare. They also have a chance of shooting down bombers.

 

[joycem10]

If you're talking about the city improvement instead of the unit then I think you are making the right choice.

In games where I have neglected to build them in a city which was in range of enemy planes, that city was bombed incessantly.

Its hard to defend against bombing without a SAM site due to the fact that bombers hit fighters first in thier bombing runs. So if on one turn a city gets hit by 5 bombers causing you to relocate 5 fighters, chances are they will be destroyed before you are able to put them on air superiority on the next turn.

You're best bet in that case is to rush a SAM site and stack AA units in the city before moving in fighters.

 

[Doc Tsiolkovski]

Your best bet is to build an Airfield next to the city and move the Fighters there.

5 SAMs are enough. Go with Fighters/Flaks/Mobile SAMs after that. And skip the SAM if you're sure you won't see Nukes.

 

[genghis_khev]

I only build 5 Sams to get SDI but rarely face AI aircraft and have yet to face AI Nukes. Still playing on relatively low difficulty levels at the moment though!

 

[joycem10]

Your best bet is to build an Airfield next to the city and move the Fighters there.

5 SAMs are enough. Go with Fighters/Flaks/Mobile SAMs after that. And skip the SAM if you're sure you won't see Nukes.

Im usually in republic and would prefer to build one improvement that costs 1 gold maintenance per turn than build mutiple units that probably cost me 2 maintenance per turn.

 

[LouLong]

The advantage of mobile SAM is exactly that : mobility.
In case of a war raged in that era, it allows you to gather them in cities risking attacks or in newly conquered cities. And as a stack they will be more useful.

 

[sabo]

SAMS seem to be one of the first improvements that get destroyed during a bombing run on me thought but you need 5 for SDI

 

[McPointy]

Hmmm. Well, I guess I'll continue building 'em, thinking that if I don't, the AI will notice and bomb the bejeezus out of me. That sounds scary, because bombing in C3C is way too powerful to trust to other nations besides my own.

 

[Pfeffersack]

I usually build them if there is still a strong and advanced civ in the game - you might be the next target and bombers are too dangerous since Conquests to be ignored.Despite the SAM battery will be often destroyed during an extended bombardment, it is often able to shoot down two or three planes.So I think its worth the price - especially if you are a militaristic civ which means you get it for the half price.