Nightfighters and RADAR systems

[SgtPappy]

It's a relatively overlooked topic, but I think the night fighter (and other nocturnal aircraft) pilots of WWII deserve a little more attention.

I myself know very little about RADAR and WWII other than the fact that it was a British-engineered by Watson-Watt and was originally called something else.
Eventually, it stemmed into different versions including the AI (Airborne Intercept) version which was tested in many aircraft but first used operationally on the Beaufighter.
What other aircraft was it tested on?  Did any planes smaller than the Beau and Mossie ever have AI installments? What was German and American RADAR like in comparison?

There's just so much about night fighters and RADAR yet to be uncovered on this forum. It's like exploring space and knowing more about it than exploring the deep dark depths of our own planet.

[Yeager]

In order to truly have night fighter you would need night.  I don't know about anyone else but I would not be the guy to volunteer to fly around blind in the gamma gaming night waiting for some P61 or some other dedicated night fighter to find me.  The problem with this scenario after all is said and done is night time in AH itself.  I hate the blackness as it is injected by bright red neon icons.  Not even going to mention the self defeating hassle of turning night into day with gamma adjusting.

Now, the P61 is a great plane and would surely be flying around in the AH day time, so add it.  But don't bother with the radar system......

[EskimoJoe]

In order to truly have night fighter you would need night.

And that pretty much ends the topic, which belongs in the wishlist by the way 

[Murdr]

And that pretty much ends the topic, which belongs in the wishlist by the way 

But the door is still open for the AN/ASP-13 tail warning radar that my P-38L is supposed to have

[SgtPappy]

Um this was not a wishlist at all whatsoever.

I was simply stating that the TOPIC of night fighters (in WWII, not the game) should be discussed more. I don't ever remember ever saying that we needed a night fighter in the game anywhere in my post.

[SectorNine50]

A bunch of F6F's had radar fitted for their night flights off the carrier.  That's the only American fighter I know of from WWII that used it in combat, I think a few light bombers used it as well.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Murdr]

A bunch of F6F's had radar fitted for their night flights off the carrier.  That's the only American fighter I know of from WWII that used it in combat, I think a few light bombers used it as well.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

F4U-2, P-38M, P-61?

[SectorNine50]

F4U-2, P-38M, P-61?

Why did you post that as a question?

Anyone have a list of active aircraft in WWII that were radar equipped from factory?  I'm curious as well.

[Cthulhu]

Why did you post that as a question?

Anyone have a list of active aircraft in WWII that were radar equipped from factory?  I'm curious as well.

I'm guessing that Murdr is just a bit incredulous that you haven't heard of any of these aircraft, especially the P-61. The first US aircraft specifically designed as a night fighter, it's SCR-720A radar was the pinnacle of airborne radar at the time. It was hardly a small aircraft though, roughly the size of a Beaufighter or Mossie, but with (arguably) far better agility.

[AWwrgwy]

I'm guessing that Murdr is just a bit incredulous that you haven't heard of any of these aircraft, especially the P-61. The first US aircraft specifically designed as a night fighter, it's SCR-720A radar was the pinnacle of airborne radar at the time. It was hardly a small aircraft though, roughly the size of a Beaufighter or Mossie, but with (arguably) far better agility.

No disrespect meant but, who sez?

Or, are we talking A-26 like "better agility"?

Just got my curiosity up.  I need to go digging through my boxes to find that Airpower P-61 issue I know I have somewhere....


wrongway

[Cthulhu]

No disrespect meant but, who sez?

Or, are we talking A-26 like "better agility"?

Just got my curiosity up.  I need to go digging through my boxes to find that Airpower P-61 issue I know I have somewhere....


wrongway

For some reason I think I had that issue. Vaguely remember something from around 1976. Wow!

Anyway, as I understand it, when the first Black Widows deployed to Europe, there was some doubt on the part of Air Force brass, and the Brits of course (Who favored the Mossie NF), that the Widow was adequate for the job. So the AAF requested that a competition be conducted between the Mossie and P-61. The results indicated (according to the AAF) that the P-61 was the better turner and had better climb. The Brits didn't buy any of this, and wanted to stay with the Mossie.

So I really should correct my previous statement by saying that the competition showed the P-61 to have "better" agility, not "far better" agility.

BTW, saw an A-26 up close about 2 weeks ago. It made the B-17 & B-25 that were also on display look like Model-T's by comparison. The good A-10 sticks we have in-game would be insufferable if they ever got their hands on that thing.  (HTC, are you listening?)

[Murdr]

Umm, what about F4U-2, P-38M, P-61?

Fixed

[SectorNine50]

I'm guessing that Murdr is just a bit incredulous that you haven't heard of any of these aircraft, especially the P-61. The first US aircraft specifically designed as a night fighter, it's SCR-720A radar was the pinnacle of airborne radar at the time. It was hardly a small aircraft though, roughly the size of a Beaufighter or Mossie, but with (arguably) far better agility.

I don't pretend to know everything about WWII, as I most certainly don't!   Learnin' something new every day.  I actually recently got into WWII aircraft, something like 3 or 4 years ago, and have been addicted ever since.  Never surprises me that I'm misinformed or completely ignorant about something!

[USRanger]

I believe SBDs off the Enterprise had night radar also.

[fudgums]

some F6Fs too I believe

Might of been TBMs but not sure