How to design a night fighter?

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: Reg

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

I liked the idea of strapping a search light to the front of a hudson ( cant remember official designation) as a target illuminator for other gun equipped units to attack. ( Brit development against the Blitz)

Was completely useless in combat, but its an innovative idea for 1940. [:D][:D]

The aircraft were Boston/Havocs. See the links below

Turbinlite

Turbinlite Squadron Histories
See No. 530 to 539 Squadrons (Don't forget to follow the Aircraft and Markings links)

thanks reg , interesting stuff. Especially the detail on the Bath raids. seems liek night beaufighters were quite good even without radar.

I was suprised this daft idea was 1942. I had a foggy recollection of it being a lash up attempt against the 40-41 blitz ( without radar) . Looks like my memorys going [:D]

[Feinder]

From a purely WitP perspective...

1. The first and only night-fighter available to the Allies at start is the Blen 1F. I have used it in City Attacks at night. It will rarely (if ever) score a hit. Frankly, I usually have it fly Sweep/CAP over a rear area base that I don't want unescorted Bettys flying to. It'll get eaten alive by 1e Japanese fighters. Or use it with a raid to bomb an AF, to build experience. They upgrade to Hurricanes. I don't upgrade it tho, because I have plenty of Hurricanes anyway.

2. In my Campaign '45 game as Japan, Oli has started a night bombing campaign with his his B-29s. My night-fighters -do- sortie, but they're not terribly effective (frankly, they shouldn't be either). I thik I might have shot down 1x B-29 AtA in the last week.

-F-

[Hipper]

Mk 10 bob

"The RAF Fighter Interception Unit began operating the radar-equipped Beaufighter Mk I's in August 1940, and flew their first operational sorties in the following month. In the same month five squadrons received the new fighter, 604 Squadron achieving the first victory by a Beaufighter using AI radar on the night of 19/20 November 1940. The pilot was Captain John 'Cats-eyes' Cunningham, who went on to make 20 confirmed kills in night-fighter operations."

for propaganda purposes it was said that Capt Cuningham ate lots of carrots to improve his night vision !

By 1942 Mosquito night fighters were in service. The third generation british night fighter, they got their first confrimed victories in may 1942 !

Cheers

Hipper

[m10bob]

"The RAF Fighter Interception Unit began operating the radar-equipped Beaufighter Mk I's in August 1940, and flew their first operational sorties in the following month. In the same month five squadrons received the new fighter, 604 Squadron achieving the first victory by a Beaufighter using AI radar on the night of 19/20 November 1940. The pilot was Captain John 'Cats-eyes' Cunningham, who went on to make 20 confirmed kills in night-fighter operations."

Yeah..When you referred to them as "old hat", I thought you meant "obsolete".[&o]
The Brits pioneered night fighting in WWI during the 1st "London Blitz" against Zeppelins..
Seems like mankind forgets some of its' lessons "interwar" and foolishly has to start from scratch so often.[:(]

[Hipper]

Yeah..When you referred to them as "old hat", I thought you meant "obsolete".
The Brits pioneered night fighting in WWI during the 1st "London Blitz" against Zeppelins..
Seems like mankind forgets some of its' lessons "interwar" and foolishly has to start from scratch so often.

sorry I barely know what I am saying quite often,

There lots of stuff that was done in ww I that was then forgotten about and expensively re learned

I have seen some minor successes with AI blenheims against (my) japanese night bombers but I think it depends on pilot experience

cheers Hipper