Non-USN single engine night fighters

[pinehilljoe]

From the start the USN used TBMs equipped with the APS-4 radar (underwing pod ) as a fighter-controller to guide radar-equipped F6Fs and U4Us to near the target aircraft where the fighter could get a good picture on his radar set (APS-6, a simplified APS-4).

This led to the later development of AEW Avengers/Guardians/Skyraiders/Tracers/Hawkeyes.

TBM with APS-4 ( https://www.aef.se/Avionik/PDF-filer/PS18_USN_APS-4_Tactical_use.pdf ):

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AN/APS-4 without external housing:

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TBM with APS-3 navigation/night bombing radar ( https://www.aef.se/Avionik/PDF-filer/PS19_USN_APS-3.pdf ):

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With added searchlight and rockets:

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Great photos. Love the vacuum tubes. APS-4 was also used for anti sub/shipping. the bottom photo looks like the Avenger also has a Light, like the Leigh Light.

 

[Just Schmidt]

Great photos. Love the vacuum tubes. APS-4 was also used for anti sub/shipping. the bottom photo looks like the Avenger also has a Light, like the Leigh Light.

The Italians used the Re 2001 as a night fighter. I do not know to what extent they were modified, or if they had any success. While they probably didn't get radar, they may have made the pilots eat tomato's to improve their night vision.

 

[RCAFson]

I'm aware of the RAF investigating fitting radar to a Hawker Typhoon to make a single seat, single engine night fighter, and some Hurricanes were converted for such a role in the CBI. But were there other known successful conversions of single seat, single engine fighters to being night/all-weather fighters? I also know of the P-51D Mustang that was converted into a two seat night/all-weather interceptor, though I have no idea how well it worked (photos of it are at IWM's site), and some trainer versions of P-38s were converted into P-38M night fighters. The conversion as far as I know worked well, but there was little for them to shoot down in 1945 when it was introduced (the P-51 night fighter conversion was also from 1945).

The Hurricane was used as a night fighter and as an intruder night fighter, flying offensive operations over France:

Night fighter Hurricane Mk IIC BE634 | RAF Memorial Flight Club

Header image: BBMF Hurricane Mk IIC PZ865 is now painted to represent 247 Sqn night-fighter, night-intruder Hurricane BE634 in 1942. (Photo: John Dibbs) Eighty years ago, in January 1942, Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC BE634 was delivered to 247 Squadron at RAF Predannack, on the Lizard peninsula in...

www.memorialflightclub.com

 

[GrauGeist]

The Reggiane Re.2001 CN was fitted with two additional MGs under the wings in gondolas (one MG each) and no other equipment beyond the Mk.I eyeball.

The Luftwaffe also had the Fw190A-5/R11, which was equipped with the Neptun FuG217 system.

As for the Japanese, they had a number of NF types, both twins and single engine types.
The SE fighters were types like the D4Y2-S and D4Y3-S with "Schragmusik".
J1N1-S and J1N1-Sa also equipped with "Schragmusik".
The C6N1-S was fitted with "Schragmusik" as well.
None of these IJN SE night fighters were equipped with radar equipment, though several Navy and Army twins were.