Also i believe the .sns file in each ships folder specifies different types of sensors that are used.

For example the Akikazi uses...

[Sensor 1]
NodeName=O01
LinkName=AI_Visual
StartDate=19380101
EndDate=19451231

[Sensor 2]
NodeName=H01
LinkName=Type3-1P
StartDate=19380101
EndDate=19421231

[Sensor 3]
NodeName=H01
LinkName=Type3-2P
StartDate=19430101
EndDate=19451201


[Sensor 4]
NodeName=N01
LinkName=Type3-1A
StartDate=19380101
EndDate=19421231

[Sensor 5]
NodeName=N01
LinkName=Type3-2A
StartDate=19430101
EndDate=19451231


While the Akizuki uses...

[Sensor 1]
NodeName=O01
LinkName=AI_Visual
StartDate=19380101
EndDate=19451231

[Sensor 2]
NodeName=H01
LinkName=Type93-1P
StartDate=19380101
EndDate=19430901

[Sensor 3]
NodeName=H01
LinkName=Type93-5P
StartDate=19430901
EndDate=19451231

[Sensor 4]
NodeName=N01
LinkName=Type93-1A
StartDate=19380101
EndDate=19421001

[Sensor 5]
NodeName=N01
LinkName=Type93-3A
StartDate=19421001
EndDate=19430901

[Sensor 6]
NodeName=N01
LinkName=Type3-1A
StartDate=19430901
EndDate=19441101

[Sensor 7]
NodeName=N01
LinkName=Type3-2A
StartDate=19441101
EndDate=19451231

So i would assume the different sensors have different abilitys.

Yes, the sns file merely tells the game what sensors to use for a given cfgdate of vessel. The LinkName points at the name within a dat. The specifics of the sensor are all in that dat.