The durability buff for bombers turned them into fighters

Game Discussion Realistic Battle
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2026-10-25_191401

In the current Air Realistic Battles (RB) mode, bombers often function more like fighter-bombers. After dropping their payload on mini-bases, many pilots immediately dive into the thick of fighter combat, hoping to secure kills using their defensive turrets. While it’s true that most bombers are slow, some such as the B-25, B-26, Tu-2, T18, and Ju 288 are fast enough to keep pace with fighters. How, then, do they manage to rack up as many kills as actual fighters? When fighters engage in one-on-one dogfights, they inevitably lose a significant amount of speed; bombers can then swoop into these engagements to snatch kills. Alternatively, they can simply gun down any careless fighter that happens to fly too close.

It’s a lot like an incredibly tough Zero fighter; it’s extremely dangerous if you get too close, but it becomes vulnerable when attacked by several people—and if you’re fast enough, you can simply ignore it.

In the current Air RB mode, bomber players essentially fall into two categories: those who fly their bombers like “gunships” to take on a fighter-like role, and those who simply drop their bombs and then either loiter at extreme altitudes or hover near their own airfield.

Oh, and there’s one more thing players who use bombers to intercept other bombers. That’s right—currently, the best aircraft for taking down bombers are other bombers, or strike aircraft that share the same damage model (DM) as bombers.

To be honest, I’m someone who also wanted bombers to become meaningful in War Thunder. However, I didn’t want them to be buffed to the point where they effectively turn into fighters or interceptors. While a skilled fighter pilot can certainly intercept a bomber, it carries a high level of risk, offers poor rewards, takes a long time, and simply isn’t fun.

This isn’t the right way to buff bombers. (While they certainly needed a durability boost, the current state is just excessive—even after receiving some nerfs, they remain far too powerful.)

Please help restore bombers to their proper, realistic role.

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Bombers have been restored to their realistic damage model.
You already have exactly what this quote of yours is asking for.

That is, unless you’re actually asking for bombers to be unrealistically fragile arcadey vehicles.

288 is a bad example of a “fighter” as well, as it’s easily done in by Corsairs played correctly.

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Imagine being hunted by a bomber 😭

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FUNshipping is a thing.

We all love FUNships.

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So, what you mean by “realistic” is that bombers frequently shoot down fighter and that the most effective way to intercept a bomber is by using another bomber?

That’s right—if you have the skill, you can certainly shoot down a bomber. I mentioned earlier that these bombers are a bit like the Zero fighter; in the sense that they can completely crush inexperienced enemy fighter pilots, they’re quite similar. Of course, if you know the right tactics, you can take them down—though it’s still a difficult and dangerous task, depending on who you’re up against.

And surely you’re aware that the Battle Ratings (BRs) where bombers frequently appear tend to be populated by many inexperienced players, right?

I don’t necessarily want bombers to have their wings snap off from just a few hits by 7mm rounds—like how it used to be—but the current situation is honestly getting a bit too extreme.

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Oh nooo, a vehichle class that was previously was without a meaningful role, now can participate in the team deatmatch gamemode.
That said, in no way they should tank 30mm and other dedicated ati-bomber rounds like now.

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A bomber will always be inferior against other bombers compared to Corsairs, N1Ks, etc.

Aim for engines, cockpits, etc.

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Only engines on one side. Most effective and safest

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Just aim for the cockpit, insta-kill.

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XB-41 jumpscare!!!

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No they are definately no restrored to realistic damage model. No plane structure could survive so many 30mm Minengeschoß or 20mm canon shellls.

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Have you ever heard about Old 666?

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buff turned bombers into fighters

after dropping their payload on mini-bases, many pilots immediately dive into the thick of fighter combat

rack up as many kills as actual fighters

looks inside

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Ok, so, ONE bomber player was good at pvp and somehow every bomber player became a pvp monster? 6 kills is a normal outcome for a skilled player in any plane, idk.

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Nah, but heavy fighers on bomber chassis is actually useful class now. Interceptors are a thing.

1 player among 100 killed 6 enemy planes (which is a normal thing for good air RB players, why shouldn’t a bomber be able to do that?) and suddenly they all have to be punished, lol.

Just delete aerial reload of turrets on bombers and it all will be ok. In air SB there is no aerial reload, only in arcade modes such as realistic and… arcade, there is one, for some reason. Realistic mode should lose it as well.

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I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard that. I’ve been shot down by bombers plenty of times, and I’ve also managed to shoot down quite a few myself—though perhaps other players on my team haven’t had the same experience. To be honest, I’ve always found taking down bombers to be far more tedious, boring, and difficult than engaging other fighters. I would always aim specifically for the cockpit to snipe the pilot; trying to set the plane on fire is just too time-consuming, tiresome, and difficult—the flames would always end up going out.

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Just like with fighters, whether or not you secure kills with a bomber depends on your skill. Furthermore, it is entirely up to the user whether to use a bomber for air-to-air combat or strictly for bombing ground targets. I believe the same logic applies to fighters; for instance, some players—much like many who fly American fighters—might choose to focus solely on ground targets rather than engaging in air-to-air combat. Bombers equipped with forward-facing weaponry are actually quite effective at destroying enemy fighters—I’ve personally managed to wipe out plenty of enemy fighters using the T18 and the Tu-2.

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It feels like an exaggeration to say that the role of interceptors or heavy fighters has truly been revived. While it’s true that aircraft like the P-61, Do 335, and F-82 have found a renewed purpose, others—such as the Me 410, BV 155, or the Welkin—are frankly quite inadequate for shooting down bombers (intercepting bombers with a Welkin, in particular, is a truly miserable experience). Honestly, it often proved easier to shoot down enemy bombers using bombers equipped with forward-firing armament than it was to do so with dedicated heavy fighters or interceptors.

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I saw people using strange musik to shoot down bombers that were not aware of it, I saw Me 410 shooting down air fortresses in 1vs1 combat, in any case, they have a role now, and bombers have a role as well.

Contrary to the situation before, where only light fighters had a role.

Pe-3 is quite good now.

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I have not.

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To be honest, the “Strange Musik” is, much like the X-4 missile, extremely difficult to use. You’d have a much easier time—and require far less skill—simply taking a B-25 and showering enemy bombers with 12.7mm fire to set them ablaze.