USN carrier night fighters

[maxs75]

Well, RN strategic situation was much improved by US victories against IJN in Pacific Ocean. Without the menace of the US carrier fleet in

Pacific, IJN could continue raids and landings against Fiji and Samoa, New Guinea and possibly Australia. Moreover the IJN carrier fleet could

raid again the Indian Ocean. Until 1943 nearly all troops and supply for Egypt came through the Atlantic-South Africa-Red Sea route. It was

very much important to keep that route safe. Many ships were required for that task.
Historically two fleet carriers were required for each landing in Africa (nov. 42), Sicily (july 43) and Salerno (sept. 43). With no carriers

available they probably were forced to be delayed, but the war against German was a priority. Still during the first half of 1944 only

Illustrious was assigned to Indian Ocean. Shortage wasn't only about Carriers. For some time (first monthes of 1944) the Fleet (illustious and

3 battleships) was short of destroyers, and was very limted in operations. Only in april 1944 with the arrival of Saratoga CV-3 the raids

against Indonesia became quite regular. In July-August Victorious and Indomitable joined Illustrious. IIRC Also Formidable was sent, but she

suffered a seruious machinery breakdown and she was repaired in Gibraltar for some monthes.
Many projected landings were cancelled because of shortage of landing ships. The European theater was continuously requiring the huge amount of

the landing ships and crafts built.

If you ask my opinion, I think that without the outcome of battle of Midway the RN carrier deplyment would have been different. Despite losses

shortage and other requirement more carrier were to be stationed in the Indian Ocean and possibly more in the Pacific.


Max

[MP-Willow]

I will agree with the luck at Midway the pacific was able to be the second war. But also the Japanese were planning it that way.

Thanks for the help with the RN.

[Rafe35]

Originally Posted by MP-Willow

The F6F-5Ns were used late in the war and in my opinion they were a better plane to fligh at night then the F4U-2. It is a lot to land on a carrier, but to do it with the big turn a corssair needs then at night, it is a wounder more pilots were not killed. The Navy was delivering a true night fighter as the war closed, the F7F was ready, but the ar ended before it saw combat missions. It did fly some recone.

About the Grumman F7F Tigercat...

"A single VMF(N)-533 F7F-2N flew an acceptance test flight from Okinawa on August 14, 1945, the day before Japan surrendered. No Japanese aircraft were expected or encountered. This same aircraft had been delivered the day before. A quick acceptance inspection was done and the aircraft acceptance test flight performed that night to test and calibrate the radar."

A friend of mine told me about this that is actually true that Tigercat was in pacific before War ended and also that same day, VF-19 (Equip with newest F8F Bearcat) was about depart from Pearl Harbor to join the fleet off to Japan.

[MP-Willow]

Thanks I have been told that but they did not run combat ops.