United States

USS United States is a supercarrier that carries attack aircraft and dive bombers found on Midway equipped with jet boosters. She also features tactical jet squadrons, which include tactical attack aircraft, divebombers, and torpedo bombers. Her primary strike force mainly utilizes the tactical squadrons after the preparation time (which is filled in with the usage of her standard squadrons). The jet boosters on the standard squadrons help with rapid rotation and usage of her standard attack aircraft and dive bombers, encouraging midrange positioning for maximum squadron usage and effectiveness. Like Midway, United States’ squadrons are effective against most ship types.

A-2 Savage Torpedo Bomber

United States’ torpedo bombers are the strongest squadron in her arsenal. Each strike consists of 3 A-2 Savage torpedo bombers that drop 2 torps each, 6 torps total. Each Mk.25 torpedo travels at 35 kts, deals 7,600 damage, and has a 63% chance of flooding. With the damage potential of 45,600; well-aimed strikes will cripple capital ships and cruisers while also inflicting instances of flooding. The torpedo bombers have the highest total hp pool of the squadrons and have a top speed of 264 kts, allowing the planes to close the distance between targets and spend minimal time in continuous anti-aircraft aura. The strength of high speed is offset by the poor turning radius, meaning players have to choose targets carefully before committing strikes.

As a tactical squadron, these torpedo bombers have unlimited reserves at the cost of a three minute fifteen-second preparation period and a non-rechargeable engine boost. However, the preparation time is faster compared to the A-2 Dive Bombers, increasing their effectiveness. Because United States’ armaments are focused around high explosive and fire damage, the torpedoes are a vital addition to deal more permanent, unhealable damage and provide additional damage over time stacking.

A-2 Savage Dive Bomber

United States’ tactical dive bombers are also a strong squadron available in her arsenal. Each strike consists of 2 A-2 Savage dive bombers dropping 3 bombs each, for 6 bombs total. Each M56A1 bomb deals 16,000 damage, has 85mm of penetration, and a 91% chance of causing a fire. The A-2 Savage dive bomber has the highest individual health pool out of United States’ tacticals and has a top speed of 264 kts. The high speed allows players to close the distance between ships and avoid lingering in anti-aircraft auras. As with all tacticals, the poor turning radius means targets must be chosen with this in mind. The tactical bombers have a different drop pattern compared to the normal dive bombers. The bombers dive instantly during dropping phase instead of the rise up and dive down of the USN bombers.

As a tactical squadron, these dive bombers have unlimited reserves at the cost of the longest regeneration time of all the tacticals of United States, at 6 minutes per strike. While overall alpha strike potential is high (96,000), the long preparation time causes effective damage output to be lower throughout a match. Much like the normal dive bombers, the tactical dive bombers are effective against all classes due to the high penetration, fire chance, and alpha strike.

Grumman F9F

United States’ tactical attack aircraft are the fastest tactical aircraft in her arsenal, with a top speed of 340 kts. These tacticals have the lowest hp, with 1,074 hp base per plane. Each strike consists of 3 Grumman F9F attack aircraft that drop 2 rockets each, 6 total. Each 11.75-inch AR Rocket mod. 1 deals 8,700 damage, has 76mm penetration and has a 70% chance of causing a fire. Like all tacticals, the Grumman F9F has a horrible turning radius and non-rechargeable engine boost. Unlike the standard rockets on the F8F Bear Cat, the tactical rockets launch without machine gun delay but at a much closer distance to the target.

As a tactical squadron, these attack aircraft have unlimited reserves with the downside of a preparation period. However, it is the lowest cooldown out of all the tacticals on United States at around 3 minutes per strike. The rocket tacticals are similar to the American Tiny Tim rockets which also feature high alpha strike, penetration, and fire chance. A difference is the lack of machine gun delay combined with high top speed, which allows for usage against all targets. Due to having the shortest preparation time relative to the other tacticals on United States, the tactical attack aircraft should be used whenever it is off cooldown and followed by the usage of the tactical torpedo bombers.

BTD Destroyer

These BTD Destroyer dive bombers are identical to the upgraded bombers found on Midway, except for having rocket boosters similar to those found on Soviet aircraft carriers which allow for rapid deployment of squadrons. These aircraft are slow with a maximum top speed of 166 kts after the initial rocket boost and have a good health pool of 25,800 combined. Due to the large squadron size and slow speed, these dive bombers are not effective at preserving planes as they spend much more time in anti-aircraft auras. Each BTD Destroyer holds 2 AN-M66 bombs with 6 per strike that each deal 11,200 damage, have 67mm of penetration, and 64% chance of causing a fire. These dive bombers are effective against all ship types due to how they rise and dive down during their strike, closing distance against targets. Due to the high fire chance, these bombers should be used during tactical preparation time and against targets who have used the damage control party consumable.

F8F Bearcat

These F8F Bearcat attack aircraft are identical to the upgraded HVAR attack aircraft found on Midway, except for having rocket boosters which allow for rapid deployment of squadrons. These aircraft are fast with a maximum top speed of 216 kts after the initial rocket boost and have a health pool of 14,310 total. Each F8F Bearcat holds 10 HVAR 127mm rockets that deal 2000 damage each, have 32mm of penetration, and have a 7% chance of causing a fire. These rockets have an ellipse shaped reticle with a 3-second machine gun delay meaning proper lead is required to strike targets. These rockets are effective against all targets due to penetrating most destroyers/cruisers and superstructures on capital ships. These attack aircraft should be used during tactical preparation time.