Dive bombing depends heavily on seeing the target, creating a problem for a force interested in night strikes. One proposed method sends fighters with rockets ahead to strafe, start fires, and provoke the ship's defences. Searchlights and tracer fire would then give dive bombers visible aiming points. Dive bombers are consequently more likely to serve aboard fleet carriers than the smaller scout carriers. In a Taranto-type operation they could undertake bombing while TSR aircraft concentrated on torpedo attacks.
Notable Point · 2:26:22-2:27:50
Making ships visible for a night dive-bomber attack
A preliminary fighter attack could provoke visible defences and fires to guide dive bombers during a night strike.