Having a stern tube is like having a third hand, very useful! If I get inside a convoy box, I can fire in both directions; as well, it can be a handy ace up the sleeve. On one patrol I encountered one of those small three ship convoys with a lone escort. I torpedoed two of the ships, during which time the escort turned about to hunt for me. She approached within 500 metres of my stern tube and had no idea where I was. The temptation was too great for me to resist and I launced a G7E at her. Boom! And now I had time to finish off that third merchantman.
The stern tube is also nice for attacking lone ships. One of my preferred tactics is to lie submerged in wait ahead of the track of my target, with my stern tube pointed at her. As she approaches, I fire, then commence a high speed turn in the same direction of travel in order to bring the bow tubes to bear, in case the lone torpedo is a dud. She can't hear me as she has no escort, so I can make all the noise I wish.
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