Once the Mk 18 electric torpedoes become available, I like to keep at least two or three available, just in case destroyers start poking their bows in where they aren't wanted, or when I want to weaken an escort screen around a task force or convoy: although they are slower than the steam torpedoes running at high speed settings, they don't leave a wake and can catch destroyers unawares.
Because of this, I have been able to stalk and sink escort DDs from ranges of about 1,500 - 2,000 yards, while they are cruising relatively slowly and at a constant heading. Don't bother trying if they are racing at high speed to (say) catch up with a convoy, or are circling at 15 knots or more.
Mk 18s are also useful for catching bored, unsuspecting DDs when they are patrolling near a port where there are fat, innocent merchant ships moored dockside, just begging to be torpedoed. DDs seem to settle into a pattern, of long, slow-medium speed circuits making them vulnerable to a slow, stealthy approach.
Another way Mk 18s can be used is when DDs stop and listen while hunting for a sub, after the latter has evaded by diving deep - preferably over about 250' - and run silently at 3 knots for about 15 minutes or so (why they stop, when a sub is in the vicinity, is another question): I recently sunk two Asashio class DDs at ranges of 1,935 and 3,210 yards respectively, when they both stopped completely, while leaving two other DDs to escort the remains of the convoy. I was then able to do an 'end around' (ie: surfaced, ran ahead of the convoy at flank speed and long range, while keeping the convoy in radar range), intercept the convoy and claim a couple of tankers.
BTW, in calm conditions, it is possible to trim your boat carefully enough to enable the periscope to be used at 63', or three feet below the nominal periscope depth.
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