Fighters and anti-aircraft guns break up naval air attacks

Ships concentrated enough anti-aircraft fire to make isolated attackers easier to handle than a coordinated strike. Early fighter defence developed from launching after visual warning to using airborne spotters and a standing combat air patrol. Climb performance mattered because fighters could dive through an attacking formation, fire and climb away, disrupting it even without a kill. A strike of about 18 aircraft might break into smaller flights before heavy anti-aircraft fire divided it further. Medium weapons such as 40 mm guns added explosions and tracer that put more pressure on pilots, leaving the lightest guns to concentrate on destroying aircraft making the final approach. Kills were welcome at every stage, but much of the defensive effort aimed to prevent a simultaneous mass attack.