@toblerone77:
A tactical bomber is nothing more than a small bomber. In reality they are large and lightly armed compared to a fighter. They are also very much less maneuverable than a fighter. Planes like the Thunderbolt were already designed as fighters but could function in the role of a tactical bomber.
As for stats the tac bomber should absolutely never be equal to fighters on defense.
I think this precision about historical point should be added:
Tac bomber should absolutely never be equal to fighters on defense when fighting against each others.
Fighters have some machines guns and sometimes a cannon, but their main use wasn’t to destroy infantry, tanks or warships.
They were mainly used as a air superiority unit to intercept and protect against other planes.
While, TcB units (Dive bombers, Torpedoes planes and ???) were mainly used against Infantry, Tanks or Warships.
The actual A&A system always destroyed cheaper units (Grounds, Subs, Transports, DDs, cruisers) before expensive and useful ones such as planes and Cvs, BBs.)
It is only on some rare occasion (except for SBR) that planes only are against planes only. (And in which Fg are @1 on par vs TcB@1.)
( Another inaccuracy which I try to solve on many occasions. And the simplest way I found is this:
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=33210.msg1260829#msg1260829)
And more recently this:
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=34676.msg1338630#msg1338630
On offence, usually there is at least a few ground units with planes against surviving Fighters (because they gets @4).
If attacker put enough units, it will end with some ground units destroyed and all the defending planes crashed down.
Which is still the regular plane vs ground situation.
Because of this A&A combat system rare occurrence (air vs air), it is a weirdo situation that Fighters could inflict such damage to grounds units.
I think, from this POV, that the main situation of air vs ground units is better represented by the offensive A4 of TacB+Tank/Fg pairing, than giving Fg D4.
Once this said, I think TacB is the newest (except for AAA guns) unit introduced and can have a better place and much more historical feel in relation to SBR escort and intercept (air vs air combat) rules, and vs regular combat: ground and naval.
(As for now, I’m just thinking that TacBs should have a combat value against Subs (not Fighters), even without DDs, they represent Dive and Torpedos bombers after all.) No need to put this thread in HR please, it is not my goal to start a discussion, just a way to show an inconsistency.)