No, they are not smart enough for that. Wouldn't that be cool though? "Course 12°T, speed 21 knots, and - he's TURNING SIR, into the wind... Course now 316°T, and launching planes!." But alas. No, if you draw yourself about a 20-30km circle (whatever the spawn distance actually is in the game) around your sub when you are near a ship with planes, and the planes could spawn anywhere outside that "spawning" circle away from your position, but in a similar control circle of the ship with planes. You've generally got about 12-15 minutes before they show. Of course, your sub, or other Allied surface vessels or planes have to be detected before they spawn. The detection does NOT have to be from the ship with planes. Any of their own "side" vessels within plane range can report you, and they'll spawn. So don't let the Sampans see you either... This was all tested by three of us for several days rather heavily. It'd also be nice to have a carrier with 3-4 CAP planes up at all times circling, if desired, but alas, the game doesn't do that either. But you get detected, and you'll have all of the carriers planes on top of you, which we really don't want either, but it is what the game does, so most of the groups are set smaller than "real life". Go and be careful, but have fun doing it!
