Aeronautica Imperialis - Ork Looted Aircraft
Ork Looted Aircraft in Aeronautica Imperialis
Orks have always had a habit of "acquiring" enemy equipment and using it for their own purposes. In Aeronautica Imperialis, this tradition continues with the introduction of Looted Imperial aircraft in the Aeronautica Imperialis Companion.
Whilst the Orks were one of the first factions released for the game and received no new aircraft through the main release cycle, the Companion added rules for two captured Imperial aircraft: the Thunderbolt Fighter and the Marauder Bomber.
If you are new to the faction, you may wish to start with my Aeronautica Imperialis Faction Guide or my Ork Air Waaagh Review
The question is simple: are Looted aircraft actually worth taking?
Looted Aircraft Restrictions
To take a Looted Thunderbolt Fighter or Marauder Bomber, the Ork player must first include five other aircraft in their force. Even if those are five basic Dakkajets, the Ork player must spend 80 points before paying a further 23 points for a Looted aircraft.
As a result, Looted aircraft are generally restricted to larger battles. A single Looted aircraft is unlikely to appear in games of less than 100 points, whilst fielding two typically requires a game of around 250 points.
Now that we have established these aircraft are restricted to larger battles, the question becomes whether they add anything meaningful to an Ork Air Waaagh.
The Looted Thunderbolt
The Looted Thunderbolt is best compared to the Ork Fighta-Bommer. Both aircraft have three structure points, cost a similar number of points and fulfil a broadly similar battlefield role.
The Thunderbolt is slightly slower than the Fighta-Bommer but enjoys superior manoeuvrability. Its weaponry is also optimised for medium-range engagements, giving it a degree of flexibility that is uncommon within an Ork Air Waaagh.
Together, the improved manoeuvrability and strong medium-range firepower allow the Thunderbolt to operate as a true fighter rather than simply relying on speed and aggression.
Like other Ork aircraft, Looted aircraft have access to Ork upgrades. This allows the Thunderbolt to be customised in true Orky fashion and tailored to a specific role within the Air Waaagh.
One of the most useful upgrades is Wazmek Speshul, which increases both the aircraft's minimum and maximum speed by 1 for just 2 points. Whilst this still leaves the Thunderbolt slower than a Fighta-Bommer, the combination of increased speed, excellent manoeuvrability and strong medium-range firepower creates a very capable fighter.
The one area where the Thunderbolt feels slightly lacking is short-range firepower. Fortunately, the Orks have several ways to address this weakness. Looted aircraft may take additional Ork weapons, allowing the Thunderbolt to equip upgrades such as Rokkits, Wing Bombs or Kustom Big Shootas.
My preferred configuration is a Looted Thunderbolt armed with a pair of Rokkits and Kustom Big Shootas. This build improves its effectiveness at close range whilst maintaining its already impressive medium-range threat.
Verdict
Overall, I think the Looted Thunderbolt is an excellent addition to the Ork aircraft roster. Whilst it lacks the raw speed of a Fighta-Bommer, it compensates with superior manoeuvrability, excellent medium-range firepower and highly flexible upgrade options.
Given the opportunity, I would almost always customise the aircraft rather than field it in its stock configuration. Once upgraded, the Looted Thunderbolt becomes a particularly dangerous fighter and an ideal choice for an Ork Flyboss.
The Looted Marauder Bomber
The Looted Marauder Bomber is best compared to the Ork 'Eavy Bommer. Both aircraft occupy a similar battlefield role and are among the largest aircraft available to an Ork Air Waaagh.
Before going any further, I should point out that I rarely use Ork bombers unless a mission specifically requires transport capacity or an aircraft with the Bomber type. If I simply want to attack ground targets, I generally prefer Fighta-Bommers equipped with Big Bombs due to their superior speed and flexibility.
At first glance, the Marauder Bomber compares reasonably well to the 'Eavy Bommer. It is faster, cheaper and carries a more substantial bomb load. The trade-off is reduced durability and the complete loss of transport capacity.
This last point is particularly important. The 'Eavy Bommer can transport two units, giving it a useful role in transport and objective-based missions. The Marauder offers no such capability and must rely entirely upon its offensive potential.
The two aircraft also approach bombing missions very differently. I tend to use the 'Eavy Bommer as a support aircraft, spreading small amounts of damage around the battlefield whilst other Ork aircraft move in to finish the job.
The Marauder Bomber is a much more specialised aircraft. Its weapons and bomb load are designed for direct attacks against ground targets, allowing it to deliver a far more destructive bombing run once it reaches the target.
This is where the largest difference between the two aircraft becomes apparent. The Marauder carries more bombs and more ammunition, making it the superior dedicated bomber.
Verdict
Overall, the Marauder Bomber is probably a better bomber than the Ork 'Eavy Bommer. It is cheaper, faster and significantly more effective at delivering large quantities of damage against ground targets.
Despite this, I rarely find myself wanting to include one in an Ork force. Unlike the Looted Thunderbolt, which adds a genuinely new capability to the faction, the Marauder simply performs a role that existing Ork aircraft already fulfil reasonably well.
For that reason, if I have the option of taking a Looted aircraft, I would almost always choose the Thunderbolt first.
Further Reading
Looking for more Aeronautica Imperialis content? You might also enjoy the following articles:
Have you used Looted aircraft in your own games? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
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Thank you for adding this, it gives me a few ideas, as I love the models but didn't want to commit until I new the pros and cons. Great work as always.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I am glad you like it. As always, give me a shout if you have anymore questions.
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