VRChat: BlackCats - Maritime Interdictor by 5Sori

World War II multicrew night raids against vital supply lines

In the overall landscape of aviation worlds on the VRChat platform, the most common types of experiences available revolve around 3rd or 4th generation combat aircraft and quick player versus player gameplay. Because of this, worlds like BlackCats: Maritime Interdictor by 5Sori stand out. On the surface it is mainly because they are player versus environment experiences that benefit from players working together. Going deeper, it is the build quality and concept behind the world that gives it a special place among its peers.

Development

BlackCats: Maritime Interdictor is a World War II era VRChat aviation world based on Pacific Theater of war operations. Specifically on notable operations of the "Black Cats", US Navy patrol squadrons who flew nighttime combat missions against Imperial Japanese Navy throughout the war. Their Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina amphibious flying boats painted in black became an iconic part of their image.

5Sori, the world creator / developer first posted a video about development of this world in October 5th, 2024 with them acknowledging their inspiration for starting development was the "Black Cats" mission from Call of Duty: World at War (2008). They had previously 3D modelled a PBY-5 for sale and use in VRChat, so creation of this world fit the aircraft they had modeled perfectly. Development and private testing continued while the developer also worked on other project. The Black Cats world was released to the public on May 31st, 2025.

The Setting

Players are tasked with flying their aircraft into battle against flotillas of NPC controlled transport ships with Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe aircraft in the airspace. The transports have multiple gun positions and searchlights to spot attackers and increase the accuracy of anti-aircraft fire.

Upon loading into the world, players spawn in a tent in the middle of an island military base. Within the tent is a briefing room to explain the concept of the world, handheld models of vehicles seen in the world and options to control in-game settings. A map with a compass rose somewhat doubles as a radar system, as it identifies the general locations of far-off enemy forces and shows the positions of allies.

This table is useful for speaking to aircrews in flight, monitoring the battle space and choosing which vehicles to spawn in mid-flight to join others while they are in combat.

This is a good starting point to give players that will be flying a general idea of what is happening in the surrounding area, while players that remain on the ground can give navigation assistance via the radio system if needed. Outside of the tent is a small airfield with limited support facilities like hangars, support buildings and a tower mounted radar. There is also a steel grate runway and smooth beaches that allow players to operate their aircraft purely in the ocean or from land. 

Aircraft can return to the island for repair, refuel and rearming by landing in the sea or on land, or flying low over the island for a much faster resupply process. Honestly though landing on the ocean is recommended as the aircraft is designed for that. The world creator has a good set of animations for the aircraft on water, retractable floats and the audio of landing on the water and travelling on water are good parts of the experience.

The Aircraft

Players have access to two PBY-5 Catalinas housed in the hangar. Each PBY-5 is equipped with a surface search radar to find the convoys of transport ships. The first aircraft is equipped with two air launched torpedoes and the second with six unguided bombs. It is possible for a player to fly on their own and be successful in completing this PVE scenario, but it is made much easier with the inclusion of more players. Why is this?

Besides the pilot and co-pilot seats, each aircraft has four gunner positions. The pilot has authority to launch torpedoes or drop bombs and has control over a pair of nose mounted 20mm cannons. The nose gunner is also particularly important as they have a bombsight that is used for level bombing at altitude if the pilot and nose gunner work together. Coming into a fight with multiple crewmen in gunner positions is ideal, but there is a second, albeit more physically involved option. 

In a somewhat amazing feat, players can also leave their seat stations mid-flight, walk to a different part of the aircraft and take up a new position. This is an extremely rare ability for the SaccFlight system in VRChat. Few aircraft have colliders that stop players from phasing through vehicles. Even fewer let players be able to leave a seat station while in flight without them being flung around the aircraft. It would be interesting to see the Unity code that made this possible.

The flight model of each Catalina is more forgiving and arcade-like than the real-world example, but not to a point that you will be performing fighter jet-like maneuvers with little to no danger. Also, the aircraft is able to receive a decent amount of gunfire before exploding, making consistent attacks against convoys a viable tactic. While staying in a rolling gun fight is fun for entertainment, the most effective way to attack is of course slashing attacks through the convoy not remaining within its range of attack for extended periods of time.

Examples of combat in the world.

The Experience

While airborne the pilot of each Catalina wanders the ocean searching for radar contacts on the water's surface. Because of the nighttime setting and the haze over the water, the radar is the best way to detect potential targets farther than players can visually spot them. 

Upon finding and approaching these transports, their spotlights activate to find the Catalinas and direct anti-aircraft fire onto them. The ships themselves are not easily destroyed. If only relying on machine guns and cannons, the transports take a substantial amount of damage before they explode. Specific parts of each vessel, like the searchlight and anti-aircraft guns, can be targeted and disabled making follow up attacks easier. 

The occasional intercept by small numbers of A6M2-N Rufe complicates the players’ attacks. Of course, a Catalina being attacked by a much more maneuverable aircraft that can pursue them a moderate distance is a genuine problem, but it seems as though the seaplane escort fighters are susceptible to the anti-aircraft from their own ships. So it is possible for them to be destroyed while pursuing the Catalinas. 

The most effective means of attack are of course torpedoes and unguided bombs, each of those capable of sinking a vessel in just one or two successful hits. Though their ammunition is realistically limited and their accuracy is not guaranteed. Learning how to lead a target with slow moving torpedoes or drop bombs onto a moving target while in a dive or flying straight and level is a key part of the experience. With there being no chart for ideal airspeed and altitudes available, players will be learning this literally on the fly.

Lost at Sea

A few flight sessions ago, a pair of Skyward staff members were stuck in a rare moment in VRChat aviation. This is not a standard occurrence that everyone who tries this world out should expect, but the story contributes to the uniqueness of this world. The pair of staff members became genuinely lost at sea. After multiple engagements pursuing transports as they appeared, the two flew for nearly 30 minutes unable to spot their home base visually or via radar.

The first reason this is so unusual for VRCA is because it is easy to navigate back to other players because their nametags, when visible, show where clusters of players are located. Secondly, the terrain of these worlds usually give plenty of landmarks that can be used to return to known airfields. Getting lost in a world that does not use the Open World Movement Logic system by Zhakami Zhako is exceedingly rare. However, out on the open ocean with no land to refer to and no other players back at base to use as navigation beacons, their PBY-5 Catalina was lost for almost 30 minutes.

Capitalizing on this rare occurrence, the two attempted to navigate back until they hit the world border. Using this artificial landmark to triangulate their position, they eventually made it back to base with no ammunition and a dwindling fuel supply. A truly VRChat style solution to a VRChat style problem.

After finding two edges of the world border, the lost PBY-5 cut to a 45 degree angle to return to base.

Closing Thoughts

Black Cats - Maritime Interdictor is a bit of a shining example of what is possible with player vs environment VRChat aviation worlds. A seemingly basic premise of hunting down ships navigating through the night can become a dynamic experience with a crew of up to 6 players per aircraft coordinating their efforts. We recommend giving it a try soon. 

Connect with 'BlackCats: Maritime Interdictor'

• VRChat.com (all options)

• World Quick Launch Link

• World Creator, 5Sori (X.com)

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About the Writer

Aaron "Ribbon-Blue" Mendoza

Co-founder of Skyward Flight Media. After founding Electrosphere.info, the first English Ace Combat database, he has been involved in creating flight game-related websites, communities, and events since 2005. He explores past and present flight games and simulators with his extensive collection of game consoles and computers. [Read Staff Profile]