Black Cats

[PBYPilot]

Just watched a History Channel program on PBY Catalinas. In addition to some great footage, they included a reference to the Black Cat's role in the Guadacanal Campaign.

They specifically referred to the use of the night hunting PBY's in helping to cut off Japanese nighttime supply efforts in the Solomons. A quote from the program: "In one month of operations a single squadron claimed 43 enemy ships sunk."

I suppose many of those "ships" are lighter/barge type vessels. And we all know about aircrew's propensity for, ah, "enhancing" their damage claims. Even so, that's a pretty significant effect.

So I have to ask how, and if, night flying PBY's are included in UV. Certainly there are PBY squadrons included in the game. And night phases. And barges. Soooo......???

With a Forum name like mine, you'd think I'd be answering this, instead of asking it. And yes, I did a search.

PBYPilot

[Ron Saueracker]

Didn't a Black Cat attempt to bomb the Zuikaku during the Guadalcanal Campaign?

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Yes, you can assign PBY groups to night duty, where you can select bombing missions against airfields, ports and the like or you an select naval interdiction. They will then, on occasion, try to bomb or torpedo those enemy fast transport and bombardment task forces coming down the slot each night.

Have Fun...

Michael Wood

[PBYPilot]

Ooooo! Neato!

Thanks for the quick answer, Michael

Gotta go read up on these guys!

PBYPilot

[SKillelea]

There is a book out called the Black Cat Raiders of World War II. I read it several years back and have a copy somewhere. I remember thinking it was an awesome book.

I checked and it is available at Amazon.com, the link is below:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 88-3009709

Enjoy!

SKillelea

[Eberbach]

Yes that special was pretty good

I had no idea that those things were so huge on the inside. With bunks, multiple compartments, eating area, a little desk

that was insane. I learned alot from that show, stuff I had never seen before.

[PBYPilot]

Thanks for the reference, SKillelea. I'll check it out.

And here's a Black Cats Website: Black Cats

Including the history of "Yardbird." Wouldn't that be an inside Forum name?

PBYPilot

[m10bob]

For what it's worth,the inside of a PBY is larger than the inside of a B-17,and the pilots sit a floor up..Have to climb a ladder to get to the cockpit..

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

I believe you will find the PBY and other seaplanes to be very useful in Uncommon Valor. They can be sent on night bombing or night naval interdiction missions. In the daytime, they can be sent on anti-submarine patrols or naval search patrols. On these patrol missions, they can spot enemy shipping and may occasionally, if there is not too much flak, also attack that shipping. They may also transport small amounts of supply or troops. Importantly, they may transport to friendly bases without an airfield by landing in the water. Cargo planes require an airfield..

Have Fun...

Michael Wood

[PBYPilot]

Originally posted by Mike Wood
They can be sent on night bombing or night naval interdiction missions. In the daytime, they can be sent on anti-submarine patrols or naval search patrols. On these patrol missions, they can spot enemy shipping and may occasionally, if there is not too much flak, also attack that shipping. They may also transport small amounts of supply or troops. Importantly, they may transport to friendly bases without an airfield by landing in the water.

Michael Wood

Sounds great! Personally, I'm going to run my poor VP squadrons ragged.

The documentary I mentioned indicated that part of the success for the Black Cats was the use of airborne search radar. The convoys they were stalking had no radar and couldn't see the black painted PBY's even when they were caught in the ships searchlights! They could only fire at the sound of the PBY's.

The program also said the American radio altimeters were important. It allowed the 'cats to fly low over the water (50' - 100') without impacting. Evidently, intercepting float plane fighters would misjudge their altitude over a flat sea on a dark night and be rendered, er, "not survived" by flying into the water.

PBYPilot