Huge Aircraft Spotting Problem at Night

[Echo]

Some attack aircraft can be set to night missions, for example, Catalinas set to night "naval attack" missions. Heres the problem....

I can't find ANY aircraft that can do "naval search" at night. So how are aircraft set to nighttime "naval attack" suppose to spot their targets? And if those aircraft are capable of nighttime "naval attack", why can't they perform nighttime "naval search".

Has anyone seen ships attacked by aircraft at night?

[Spooky]

Originally posted by Echo
Some attack aircraft can be set to night missions, for example, Catalinas set to night "naval attack" missions. Heres the problem....

I can't find ANY aircraft that can do "naval search" at night. So how are aircraft set to nighttime "naval attack" suppose to spot their targets? And if those aircraft are capable of nighttime "naval attack", why can't they perform nighttime "naval search".

Has anyone seen ships attacked by aircraft at night?

AFAIK, only the daytime search planes can be switched to nightime "naval attack" and not attack planes. It probably means that they will attack their targets as soon as they spot them ... because otherwise the target will be lost in the night and so the spotting would be nearly useless ...

[Supervisor]

Originally posted by Echo
Has anyone seen ships attacked by aircraft at night?

Yes, I have. It doesn't happen often but it will occur. It seem to depend upon having a high "detection/sighting level" of the target TF before the attack will occur (a sub attack that night, length of time that the TF has been observed, etc.).

I've had many types on naval attack missions at night, but only have had PBY's (that I can remember for sure) attack. But then, the times when there was an attack they hae generally been longer ranged than the medium bombers could do at the time (attack from Port Moresby to Rossell Is., for example -- it was a night attack on a carrier docked there, shich is why I remembered it ).

It's not common.

[Oleg Mastruko]

I can confirm what Rowlf said (which is not too strange considering I had several night naval attacks in my game against him ) I play as Jap in that game - Nells and Bettys made the said attacks. Also, when playing as Allied - Catalinas are quite willing to make night naval attack in right circumstances.

It is a great joy when you manage that...

Of course your aircraft have to be high experience, high morale yadda yadda...

When you expect that something that will detect your enemy's TF may happen that night (invasion, sub attack) you may try putting some squadrons on night naval attack, and maybe they'll fly...

O.