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But I had never seen it happen until now....

boy am I glad they missed, it would have been hard to live that one down.

Torpedoe planes with a huge range and I have been wasting them on naval search missions. Boy oh boy I can't wait to get a few up front on naval attack. I wonder if I can fit any on the big E.

No one ever had the idea to use them on day time naval attack with, let´s say 30 % naval search? Do they normally launch when set on naval attack?

Like this you mean [:D]

Night Air attack on TF, near La Foa at 68,112

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 5

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Catalina I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Catalina I launching torpedoes at 200 feet

You can't set patrols to Naval Attack for day operations.

Night naval attacks can be tough, because they need to have a fairly high exp (over 70ish, 80 is better), to even have a chance to lauch. It's also tough, because there aren't many ships actually spoted AT NIGHT. No spotted ships, means no targets for them. Subs in the area will help spot ships at night. And your coastwatchers can be helpful at night too.

Don't get me wrong they do occasionally launch. But when they do, you're so happy that they actually launched, it's ecstacy if they actually hit anything (and I can't imagine putting a torp into a CV).

By the way, they carry 2(!) torps as I recall. Very unfriendly.

-F-

The use of subs, coast watchers and recon makes it fairly easy to get highly experienced patrol planes and bombers to launch
night strikes..but it is as you say: VERY difficult to hit anything.

After my 3 Catalinas had punctured the unlucky Soryu I saw this large strike off without achieving results:

Night Air attack on TF, near La Foa at 68,112
>
> Allied aircraft
> PBY Catalina x 20
> Catalina I x 3
> Hudson I x 3
>
> Allied aircraft losses
> PBY Catalina: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged
> Catalina I: 1 destroyed
>
> Japanese Ships
> CV Shokaku
> CV Zuikaku
>
> Aircraft Attacking:
> 2 x Catalina I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
> 3 x Hudson I bombing at 4000 feet
> 2 x PBY Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
> 2 x PBY Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
> 4 x PBY Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
> 3 x PBY Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
> 3 x PBY Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
> 4 x PBY Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Night attacks are most often sent out against enemy ships that are in a base/shallow water hex.
Guess this is the best place to spot them at night.

So night attacks isn't a super weapon, but if your opponent sails his capital ships too close to shore, he
may be punished.

Anyone seen off night strikes against ships in open water hexes?

"it's ecstacy if they actually hit anything" I have experienced ecstacy, and that sure as hell aint what I felt when PzBs damn Cats hit the Soryu! She made it home fine, but wont be in action for awhile.

Anyone seen off night strikes against ships in open water hexes?

yep.

Had 20 B17's launch against the KB at night.

Did they hit any of the 4 or so CV's.... no!!!!!!

Then they killed my spotting sub.

Good god as if the Japanese player didn`t have enough to worry about. What is the counter to this.[:(]

The next question is will the high experience Japanese Emily's and Mavis's return the favor? They can both carry two torpedoes just like the PBY.

ORIGINAL: PzB

Like this you mean [:D]

Night Air attack on TF, near La Foa at 68,112

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 5

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Catalina I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Catalina I launching torpedoes at 200 feet

May I just reiterate. John, you are a jammy sod [:D]

ORIGINAL: Captain Ed

Good god as if the Japanese player didn`t have enough to worry about. What is the counter to this.[:(]

To not worry about it. You can't really defend against it and it rarely gets results. I try it ALL the time, so I know.

BTW, the IJN has some nifty recon amphibs that can do the same thing, so it's not an exclusive tactic. [;)]

At least Murphy gave Mike the honor of being the unlucky sod this time Al [;)]

ORIGINAL: wobbly

May I just reiterate. John, you are a jammy sod [:D]