Fast Fire Ship

"Stronger than Fire Ship. Spews fire at other ships."

- Age of Empires II description

The Fast Fire Ship is a naval vessel in Age of Empires II that can be trained at the Dock once the Imperial Age is reached. Like its predecessor, it is a ship with a "flamethrower" mounted on the bow. The Fast Fire Ship has an attack bonus against other ships, but it must come in very close to enemy ships in order to attack.

In comparison to its predecessor, the Fast Fire Ship deals more damage and is better armored. As the name suggests, the Fast Fire Ship is also faster than its predecessor and now able to catch up with Galleons, which is a major improvement. The attack rate, however, remains the same.

Tactics
Although the Fast Fire Ship is better on a close confrontation against a Galleon, Galleons are usually preferred for their lower cost and superior range which can increase benefits from scouting. In large-scale confrontations, a fleet of Galleons can defeat a fleet of Fast Fire Ships comfortably due to their superior range, but if properly supported by other naval vessels, a fleet of Fast Fire Ships can sink down a fleet of Galleons easily. Fast Fire Ships are also vulnerable against Demolition Ships and Turtle Ships, two other ship types that require a close range to attack.

Further Statistics
Civilization Bonuses=
 * Aztecs: Fast Fire Ships are created 15% faster.
 * Berbers: Fast Fire Ships move 10% faster.
 * Byzantines: Fast Fire Ships fire 20% faster.
 * Italians: Researching Careening, Dry Dock, and Shipwright is 50% cheaper.
 * Persians: Fast Fire Ships are created 20% faster. Careening, Dry Dock, and the upgrade to the Fast Fire Ship are researched 20% faster.
 * -|Team Bonuses=
 * A team containing Teutons: Fast Fire Ships are more resistant to conversion.
 * -|The Forgotten Changes=
 * Fast Fire Ships have +20 HP.
 * -|The African Kingdoms Changes=
 * Now there are three stages in the Fire Ship line: Fire Galley -> Fire Ship -> Fast Fire Ship.
 * Fire Ships have +1 armor and +2 ship armor.

Trivia

 * The Fire Ships are the only units in the game without an integer range.

History
''The fire ship was improved over the years to increase its speed, maneuverability, and armor. Constantinople was successfully defended by its navy of fast fire ships for many centuries.''