Reg
Posts: 2787
Joined: 5/26/2000 From: NSW, Australia Status: offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Warpup:
Note that the PBY Catalina was used for night ship interdictions, and there was even a unit of Catalinas called the "Black Cats" which had a black paint scheme and speciallized in this type of operation.
I am not sure about USN "Black Cat" Squadrons but the four RAAF Catalina squadrons (also coloured and known as Black Cats) were involved mainly in patrol, level bombing, search and rescue and convoy shadowing roles (day and night) until diverted to the very effective night mining campaign in early 1943. I cannot find evidence they were used in night interdiction role though they did claim a number of ships sunk.
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The P-61 "Black Widow" was also used in this role I think, or at least in other night roles.
The P-61 was a night fighter was it not?? (Though I think it may have done some ground attack late in it's career).
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The Beaufighter was actually a nightfighter with radar in the nose. It would probably be somewhat effective in a night naval interdiction role given that equipment and it's torpedo capability.
More accurately, the Beaufighter was a very effective attack aircraft that also had a nightfighter variant. The nightfighter variant was not used in the Pacific as far as I know and certainly not by the RAAF. Many ships were claimed by thre RAAF Beaufighters but they were mostly day victories.
(My sources on the aircraft used in Burma/Far East by the British is less complete).
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Originally posted by underdog:
To Rich Dionne,
Yes, I knew land based naval aircraft would do night naval attacks, but I was talking about army planes.
Extract from history of 8 Squadron RAAF.
"In August 1943 the unit moved to Goodenough Island and from there commenced night attacks against shipping and various land targets in the New Britian area - in particular Rabaul.
While not overtly successful in the torpedo bombing role, a small force of Beauforts gained a notable success on the night of December 4 when a convoy was attacked in the approaches of Rabaul's Simpson Harbour. Despite heavy anti-aircraft which shot down the Beaufort captained by Squadron Leader N T Quinn, one 6834 tonne ship was torpedoed and sunk."
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It's probably not that big a deal overall. If a naval air group needs about 85 experience to try it, and army planes experience for naval attack is (experience squared)/100, then it would require a army air group with experience of about 92 to attempt it. Just because they could theoretically attempt it though, doesn't mean it would have much chance of being successful in doing damage.
The above example was fairly typical example of the many night raids on Rabaul Harbour. I believe that they were costly with a fairly low return on the effort. The mining campaign was to be far more effective though it probably wasn't known at the time.
I hope this contributes something useful to the discussion,
Reg.
(Sources available)
[ April 20, 2001: Message edited by: Reg ]
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Cheers, Reg. (One day I will learn to spell - or check before posting....) Uh oh, Firefox has a spell checker!! What excuse can I use now!!!
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