Randomizer

As I understand it, shots were at long range from outside the screen but most of the boats successfully hitting ships in late war convoys were swarmed by the escorts and lost soon after.

In late 1944 through '45 I try to position the boat at about the 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock positions relative to the convoy and 3000 or so metres from the nearest merchant column. Once on position I will fire a pair of FATs programmed to turn with the convoy at about 20-second intervals and then go deep. I use magnetic settings but keep the torpedo depth fairly shallow to cover all bets.

If done right this often results in at least one hit and if a sinking does not result it is possible to make a follow up attack on the cripple after the escorts have passed on.

There is no need for accurate target acquisition using this technique but a good range to the nearest column increases your chance for a hit and if you're lucky the FAT will hit from the opposite side drawing the escorts in that direction and facilitating your escape. I never use air torpedoes in daylight and seldom shoot straight-runners into convoys unless I have a solid range solution and overlapping targets. Too often exposing the scope to get good course and speed data results in counter-detection.

Without FATs or LUTs attacking late war convoys is frequently a good excuse to begin a new career because life in a U-Boat vs. late war escorts tends to be short and end violently.

Others probably have better solutions.

Good Hunting