[Armistead]

If you listen on sonar, DD's usually have faster screws. Sonar ID on the top left will list as warship or merchant if a good contact, course a TF or large convoy has a lot of escorts, just means it's a good target. The issue is not attacking a TF with lots of escorts, but how you did it. If a convoy has lots of escorts, that's a target you want.

First question, bad weather early 42, I would've stayed on the surface. If you also have contacts off watch the sonar lines and use the icon to track nearest warship. being aware that you don't run into one. Why get trapped underwater if you have bad weather cover. The only issue being if they had surface radar and you're using one of the supermods like TMO. When they have surface radar they will hunt you in storms and often run right up your stern if your not watching. Still, if your careful you can easily stay away from them.

Bad weather, early 42, even dived, no escort should be able to find you in those conditions if you evade properly. High sea's make them deaf, even with harder supermods.

I assume you didn't have surface radar, which would make it much easier to track ships and ID them, fairly easy to know the outer ring is escorts.

Are you playing with cams and contacts off, cause sounds like you have contacts off also.

If merchants, use your deckgun if needed. You don't have to see the ship. Watch sonar or radar, get to about 700 yards from it, and shoot that range you choose down the bearing, you can hardly miss. Once it's on fire, it's easy to see. You can run in and out blasting away and save those torps if you're worried about sonar shooting.