Aircraft Carrier - U.S.A. Tier VIII Hornet
Captain & Ship Build and Strategy Guide
- Build focus: Carrier strike and aircraft performance
- Tier: VIII
- Nation: U.S.A.
- Aircraft: Torpedo bombers and tactical B-25 bombers
- Attack aircraft: None
- Key feature: Tactical B-25 bomber squadron
- Main weakness: Relatively slow aircraft and limited attacking-flight size
- Playstyle: Tactical strike carrier that uses the B-25 squadron for high-impact attacks and torpedo bombers for repeated pressure
- Applies to: Hornet
Hornet is a Tier VIII American aircraft carrier with an unusual aircraft lineup consisting of torpedo bombers and a tactical B-25 bomber squadron. Unlike most carriers, she has no attack aircraft, making the tactical bombers an important part of her offensive toolkit. The official Wiki lists her large number of aircraft in an attacking flight and the availability of tactical bombers among her main strengths.
The torpedo bombers provide Hornet's repeatable conventional strike option. Their relatively low aircraft speed means positioning and attack planning matter, but they can maintain pressure while the tactical squadron is on cooldown. Current ship data lists eight torpedo bombers in the squadron, with four aircraft in each attacking flight.
The B-25 tactical bombers are the ship's major burst-damage tool. Their attack is particularly useful against larger targets that are committed to a course or have limited room to maneuver. The tactical squadron also has a substantially longer cooldown than the normal aircraft, so its attacks should be saved for meaningful opportunities rather than wasted on marginal damage.
Hornet's aircraft are relatively slow, so route planning is important. Avoid spending excessive time crossing heavy anti-aircraft zones just to reach a target that is likely to dodge the attack. Use spotting opportunities to identify isolated ships and targets whose movement is predictable.
The carrier hull itself should remain safely positioned behind the fleet. Hornet does not need to sit close to the frontline because her aircraft can project power across the map. Reposition early when the battle moves rather than waiting until the enemy is already threatening the carrier.
Destroyers can be spotted and pressured with the regular aircraft, but Hornet's tactical bombers are generally better reserved for situations where their large burst potential can be converted into meaningful damage. The best results come from using each squadron according to its strengths rather than treating every attack as interchangeable.
Overall, Hornet is a specialized U.S. Tier VIII carrier built around the combination of conventional torpedo bombers and powerful tactical B-25 strikes. The lack of attack aircraft and relatively slow planes make her less forgiving than some carriers, but careful squadron selection and good target prediction can make her extremely effective.