Escuadrilla Azul
Staff Sergeant
- 1,488
- Feb 27, 2020
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Yes, I know that. But that is the reason for night bombings? The japanese fighters weren't numerous also and they had a bunch of places to cover: Rabaul, Gasmata, Kavieng, New Guinea at some different points, the Solomons from August 1942, the convoys plying the sealanes connecting the strongpoints.Heavy bomber raids in the Pacific were on a much smaller scale than in Europe because far fewer units were deployed. In the early days often at squadron level.
Yes, I know that. But that is the reason for night bombings?
Do you know when it was installed at Rabaul? So far I haven't found a source for that, only that the marines got one set in Guadalcanal in August 42 (not mention if it was in a working state).The Japanese did have radar in the SWPA and in particular around Rabaul. Reportedly capable of detecting larger formations out to 150 miles.
But A6Ms didn't had nuch success even in downing single recon B-17 (although sometimes they shot them up pretty much).The reason was that losses in daytime were too high, since the bombers could not be escorted by fighters due to the longer ranges of operations in the Pacific. And given the far fewer forces assigned to the theatre, heavy losses simply could not be afforded.
I think it is more correctly called the shoal effect. They were correct in the theory but not in the numbers. The LW probably did shoot down as many as they could on the Schweinfurt raids. A Thousand bomber raid would have suffered similar losses and may have shot down more LW planes. If a similar raid could be mounted two days after with 1000 bombers, and then again and again the LW would have been defeated, but the cost in men and machines would have been enormous. Far more than those who were advocates of defensive firepower predicted.The 8th Air Force was working on an assumption of herd immunity, so many bombers that the Germans could not shoot down enough to stop the attacks,
Was that blind spot the cause why the US Navy planes weren't detected?Hiryu had radar before its Indian Ocean deployment, the set had a blind spot due aft.
Do you know when it was installed at Rabaul? So far I haven't found a source for that, only that the marines got one set in Guadalcanal in August 42 (not mention if it was in a working state).
The South Pacific Air War series don't said anything about that.
Quote from that link:This will give you a feel for the level of operations and the Japanese aircraft strength during the Rabaul air campaign.
Here is an additional resource on Japanese radar types and their usages, as well as, the other players in WW2:The Japanese did have radar in the SWPA and in particular around Rabaul. Reportedly capable of detecting larger formations out to 150 miles.
In Jan 1944 2 converted B-24 Liberator "Ferret" aircraft (Ferret VII & VIII) arrived in theatre under the administrative control of 63rd BS 43rd BG. They reported to Section 22 in Brisbane in charge of all allied ECM operations. These aircraft started their activities by mapping the Japanese radars around Rabaul.
Japanese Radar Type Designation Systems
I've tried to collect the WW2 Japanese radar Type designation systems with data and if possible photos and drawings. Japanese radar were designated by Mark (Go), which indicated the intended use; Model (Kei/Kata/Gata); Modification (Kai); and Type (Shiki). Mark 1 was ground based search and...www.secretprojects.co.uk
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia seems a very impresive source!Here is an additional resource on Japanese radar types and their usages, as well as, the other players in WW2:
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Radar
Gen LeMay reinvented night area bombing with the B-29 missions in the Pacific. (no offense to Bomber Command).
GeoffreyHiryu had radar before its Indian Ocean deployment, the set had a blind spot due aft.