How did single-seat Zero fighters navigate on very long-range missions?
Short answerThey normally accompanied multi-crew torpedo and dive bombers whose navigators guided the combined daylight strike formation.
NotesThe A6M's single pilot could not perform the chart work expected of a dedicated navigator during a long over-water mission. Japanese doctrine addressed that limitation by forming the fighters with torpedo and dive bombers whose multi-person crews included navigators. The whole strike group then flew to and from the target together. The Zero's exceptional range depended on air-group coordination as well as fuel and aerodynamics.