Nisgeis, here's some more info for you about my attack off Plymouth. I saved the game just prior to firing the torpedoes, so that I could try again if I missed. When I first raised my periscope to view the task force the AOB of the carrier when it crossed my bow would've been 90 degrees to port. But it was only 2000 m away and only 20 degrees to starboard of my scope's 000. Its speed was about 9 kts. So, I had very little time to set up a firing solution (maybe 30 seconds).
I reloaded the save a few times because of misses. Each time I missed, an escort on the other side (carrier's starboard quarter - I was on the carrier's port beam) saw either my periscope or the wake of the torpedoes. I think I had my periscope raised not more than a minute. Normally, I wouldn't keep it up so long, but being my first look at the task force I was trying to work out the range, course, and speed of the carrier. It wasn't the best situation to be in. I didn't feel like waiting another week for it to leave port. Anyway, after each reload and when the torps missed the escort on the carrier's starboard quarter turned towards me at flank speed. When I finally hit the carrier none of the escorts had noticed me, though. I think they only noticed me when the torps went past the carrier.
I think the ability of the AI crew is very important in determining whether they are able to hunt a u-boat down. Maybe the escorts had high ASW abilities.
|