45. Leigh-light equipped Wellingtons in the ASV role at night. Introduced in circa mid '42, these had a very bright searchlight in the retractable ventral turret of a Wellington, which could traverse, and hold the submarine in the gap between when radar-contact was lost - circa 1000m out - and when the attack could be prosecuted. The search-light was sufficiently dazzling to make return-fire in darkness difficult, and the losses of u-boats attacked so prohibitive, that Doenitz ordered u-boats to recharge in the day, when they could see aircraft, but to dive at night when they could not. These were active in the North Sea, the channel, and the Bay of Biscay in particular. Attacks were flown at 50 feet! A terrifying prospect for any pilot, even without the possibility of return fire. I believe the altitude was held using an early form of rad alt, and the pilots were limited from using any appreciable bank owing the very real risk of dropping a wing-tip into the drink. Many crews were lost in training sorties, and as many again on ops. It did however reduce the operational efficiency of the u-boats, sank 30 or so, and more importantly, put the rest at risk of attack from aircraft in daylight. In another effort to deal with the threat from night ASV wellingtons, and Sunderlands, considerable efforts were made by the Jerries to up-arm the AAA guns on u-boats, particularly in range with 3.7cm cannon, but also in volume of fire, with the quad 20mm cannon installations. In attempts to offset this, a forward-firing 40mm bofors gun was installed in a British B17, and although highly successful both in terms of damage done, and out-ranging the opponents weapons, this was not proceeded with. Later, German radar recievers were fitted to alert the crews to enemy radar, first Metox, and later Naxos (for different wave-lengths, as allied radar evolved).
How would this function in game terms?
In Biscay in particular, it would make surfacing at night, somewhat risky, although a measure of safety would exist when close to a convoy owing to the number of returns. A standing watch + AAA gunner on deck would be sensible, although this would in turn result in a slower dive. 2nd attacks were possible, and trained for, although commonly all DC's were dropped on the 1st pass if practicable. It was also common for these aircraft to operate in pairs, one to attack, and the other to report the position of the u-boat, and it's approximate heading, in case the attacking aircraft was destroyed. It would then also prosecute an attack if feasible. Metox or Naxos would give early warning, allowing a dive to occur.
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