[Panser]

I prefer to attack convoys at night, but I will have a crack during daylight if I think I can get away with it. My preferred tactic is to plot the general course of a convoy and get anything up to 15km ahead (in daylight, maybe less at night) before running a perpendicular course and engaging from a corner.

I feel the corner approach gives better access to the juicier targets which often tend to be towards the centre of a convoy. I will then submerge to about 15m and track the lead ships as they close on my position using the hydrophone. Once a convoy is close enough I will raise to periscope depth and go to silent running, raise the periscope long enough to select my targets if I haven't already done so. I will then turn in about 45° AOB and proceed at 1-2 knots inside the perimeter of the convoy and, when close enough, raise my periscope again just long enough to attack. Anything over 6000GRT will usually get two eels unless the sea is very rough, as I stick to the idea of "sink few rather than damage many".

Once my eels are in the water I will then gradually drop down to about 80m at silent running, getting as deep as I can before the torpedoes strike.

With lone, unarmed ships I always engage them on the surface and use the deck gun if I'm not at threat of air cover or allied warships close by