I shadowed a German merchant (Large Steamer) through the English Canal in Dec 1939. I got caught up sinking a few lonely British ships along the way and he steamed ahead.
A day or so later I notice a gray 'Unit Destroyed' icon on my map ahead of me. Fly over with my external camera and sure enough, there on the bottom of the sea was my English Channel German merchant friend.
Crew still walking around wondering what happened! Peeking up out of the sea I saw a Carrier Task Force sailing away. Shame I wasn't on the 'kill the carrier' mission yet.