This thread is old news but I thought I'd reply to the following just for anyone else who reads it.


One of my favorite methods of attack is to get inside of a convoy and attack while completely submerged--18m or so.
No scope lock is required. Set the target speed in the tdc to zero. Leave the Tdc on. Shoot bearing will now be the same as the scope bearing.Gyroangle is the same. Scope pointing at 10deg, gyroangle ten deg, shoot bearing 10 deg. Point and shoot. TDW UI works very well with this method as you can easily verify that your shoot bearing and gyroangle are right by looking at the dials. Just make sure that the Target Speed is set to O, Zero, Nothing. Range doesn't matter. Set it manually to 100000, or to 300m, doesn't matter, at least when firing from under 600m. That's the other thing. Get as close as you can--so close you start to worry that your torpedoes won't have time to arm, then lead the target as much with the scope as you think necessary, I usually aim at the forward third of the target ship. As usual, it is always best to maneuver the sub so that you are shooting at a smallish gyro angle--I don't like more than 10deg, especially for targets so close, because it takes the torpedo a short run before it turns to the right bearing. Set your torpedoes to impact if you like, but magnetic works well, if you know the draft--also magnetic under-the-keel eliminates the worry of off-angle shots failing to detonate because of sharp impact angles, although I have not found the torpedoes in SH5 to be unreliable at any angle. I have had no duds out of many, many shots. Anyway, this is a good method of attack in daylight when it is otherwise difficult to approach an escorted convoy. Shooting at close range, I get a very high percentage of hits. Alerted, zig-zagging Merchants are equally vulnerable--better because zig-zagging slows them down and allows you to pursue them while submerged.

Because the whole attack is conducted submerged, except for very quick peeks with the periscope for situational awareness, the escorts nor the merchants can locate you by sight. The escorts will have to find you on sonar, giving you plenty of time to fire all of your ready torpedoes, and then dive deep to reload and re-engage, or just begin evasive maneuvers.