Night operations risked trained crews and required carriers to show landing lights, which made them unattractive to the US Navy's large daytime carrier formations. For the Royal Navy, however, darkness could reduce the effectiveness of visual fighter interception and optical anti-aircraft fire. Admiral Somerville's Operation C plan shows how a faster force could dash in, launch a night strike, and withdraw before daylight. A successful attack on one or two Japanese carriers near Ceylon could have reduced the force the Eastern Fleet faced on the following day. A navigational error sent the strike the wrong way before it could test the concept against the Japanese fleet.
Notable Point · 43:54-47:22
Why night carrier attacks suited the Royal Navy
Night flying accepted operational risk in exchange for a way to attrite a stronger carrier force that could dominate by day.