Triplane

Triplane
	325
Ranged Strength	50
Attack Range	6
Resource Cost	Oil
Unlocked at	Flight
Upgrades To	Fighter
Notes	Interception 50 *Bonus vs bombers and helicopters: 150

Game Info

First flying fighter unit of the Modern Era. Requires Oil.

• Common abilities:
  • Air Recon: 6 tiles in every direction always visible.
  • Interception (50)
  • Air Sweep: Can Air Sweep to clear intercepting Units
  • Bonus vs Bomber Units/Helicopters (150)

• Actions:
  • Air Sweep: Order the unit to sweep an area for air and ground-based interceptors, clearing the way for future air strikes.
  • Rebase Mode: Order the air unit to rebase to another city or a Carrier.
  • Intercept: This air unit order will tell the craft to attempt interception with any incoming air attacks.

Strategy

The Triplane is the first fighter unit available. It is much faster and lighter than the Great War Bomber, and armed with a deadly machine gun that is most useful against other airplanes. Use it to defend against enemy aircraft (via the Interception mode), and to clear the way for bombing runs (via the Air Sweep action). The Triplane is also capable of delivering some damage to other enemy ground or naval units, although it's not as effective as a bomber.

You can also use Triplanes to scout enemy positions by placing them in strategic bases near enemy territory (or bringing Carriers with Triplanes close to it). All fighter-type units automatically make a reconnaissance sweep of the area around their bases each turn (with their Air Recon ability), revealing it to you.

Triplanes' promotions are aimed at improving the basic defensive qualities of the units. You can choose to develop either their interception abilities, or their Air Sweep effectiveness (via the Dogfighting promotion).

Of course, Triplanes are not uber-units - just like everything else in the game, they have a counter. They're extremely vulnerable to anti-aircraft weapons, such as the Anti-Aircraft Gun. Be very wary of those when using aircraft! See the rules on air combat for more information.

Civilopedia entry

Deriving its name from the unique three-tiered wing system utilized in its design, the triplane was used with varying degrees of success during World War I. The most famous triplane of the war, the Fokker Dr.I, was used extensively by the German air force, gaining particular notoriety as the legendary Red Baron's craft of choice. Although engineers developed many variations on the triplane design, advancements in the traditional biplane rendered the triplane obsolete within a decade of its introduction.

Unique Unit Replacements

Icon	Unit	Civilization	Abilities
	Fokker D.XXI	The Netherlands (Wilhelmina)	-50 Production cost (275 vs 325). When built in a city undergoing a 'WLTKD', begins with the Air Repair promotion.
	Makonnen	Ethiopia (Haile Selassie)(with DMS's Ethiopian Civilization Pack installed)	-12% Ranged Strength (31 vs 35) Heals much faster Receive a free Makonnen in the Capital when a Civilization you have a Declaration of Friendship with discovers Flight, even if you haven't researched the Technology yourself.
	Ornithopter	Argive (Urza)	-39% Production cost (126 vs. 325) -41% Ranged Strength (14 vs. 34) Unlocked at Archaeology No Strategic Resource requirement
	SPAD VII	France (Clemenceau)	+2 Range. Begins with 50% more of the XP provided by Buildings in the city.