Using bomber squadrons

[Phanto]

I am having a really difficult time using bombers effectively. I have a group of 4 Hades that I have jump with me into xenon sector 347. I can't seem to get them to attack a target.

Combat > attack... will cause them to fly towards a target until they get shot at, then they will start shooting back. Of course they get pwned.

I'll target a ship and then set all turrets to attack my target. This doesn't work either. If I have enemies within 4k of me the attack enemies turret command will cause the bombers to launch at fighters and such.

I have also tried removing bombers from the squadron without success.

What am I doing wrong? What how can I use bombers effectively in my vanilla game?

I have version 2.1.

[jannix]

how can I use bombers effectively in my vanilla game?

I use my bomber all the time - a patched up pirate Perigrine that jumps in to inflict carnage in Xenon and Khaak sectors, after my Kraken jumps in and clears any nearby fighters.

There's only ONE way to use bombers effectively in vanilla... fly it yourself! Having a squadron is pretty pointless in that case. Transport into it, nuke the sector... transport into something else if enemy fighters get too close.

[Gorium]

Use the "Additional Command" Missile Barrage and then select the target. That option works, the regular option does not all the time....

You might get them to fly toward enemies AND shoot, but that will probably require a hit missile shooting %, plus until the enemies are dead, they will continue to rush foward.

Like I said, missile barrage, or fly them yourself.

[Phanto]

I did not know the bombers had missile barrage. Very useful. Thanks.

[Thelic]

Another option is to kit out your main ship (or a chain of ships) with a transporter device and manually use your bombers as long range artillery, sitting at the edges of sectors lobbing Tomahawks. Barrage can be (deliciously) overkill for smaller targets.

[Ares23]

Yeah barrage launches what, like 8 missiles? If you're shooting at M6s that's WAY too many.

[yourpowersareweakoldman]

I did not know the bombers had missile barrage. Very useful. Thanks.

Can you give this order to flights of bombers, or do you have to use it on each individual ship?

For my game I'm considering organizing Fighters into 12 Ship Squadrons: 3 flights of 4. Bombers into 6 Ship Squadrons: 3 Flights of 2.

That makes for solid organization when it comes to frigates with 6 fighter bays. 4 M3s + 2 M8s

Get three Frigates and you have an entire squadron of both.

M3 x 12
M8 x 6

[Tiedyeguy]

That makes for solid organization when it comes to frigates with 6 fighter bays. 4 M3s + 2 M8s

Get three Frigates and you have an entire squadron of both.

M3 x 12
M8 x 6

M8s can't dock to ships in Vanilla...

[Tenlar Scarflame]

...Which to me is a darn shame. I'm debating whether I want one mostly because they're not dockable in small ship slots. :/

[yourpowersareweakoldman]

M8s can't dock to ships in Vanilla...

So the M8s are supposed to be like the big Cold War era strategic bombers not Fighter/Attack bombers. I see, then I may re-organize.

I may go with a 10 Man Squadron.

In each Frigate.
5xM3 = Superiority.
1xM4 = Recon.

Then it's only two frigates to deploy a whole squadron.