You have to consider that simultaneous hits are basically an impossibility with the tools we and the real submarines have. Even if there is a ten second difference in impact times, the other ships will react to the first hits, causing many torpedoes to miss entirely.
Shooting at escorts is also something to avoid as you are basically wasting a torpedo for next to zero tons. Escorts can dance to avoid your torpedoes with ease. I've shot torpedoes at a stationary escort at night from 600 yards and watched them hit the jets and still avoid this high speed Mark 14 from right in their lap. That doesn't mean I won't try it again, but I'll never waste more than one shot on an escort, and that ONLY if I can get to 600 yards and the water is rough and the escort is stopped and unaware of my presence.
To answer denny's concerns: my first shots at a convoy are on the surface, about 2000 yards out. I already have my stern to the convoy and this gives me a great chance to exercise my after torpedo room crew. This is a late evening event. Doing this in the daytime will get you gunned to death. Escorts at 2000 yards are deadly with their guns. So do this after dark!
I just shoot two torpedoes. I'm usually doing a Dick O'Kane or Cromewell attack because I don't want range errors ruining my attack. Immediately after you shoot, you go to ahead emergency straight away from the escorts. I get away just about every time, make the turn to the rear of the convoy and get a range of three miles or more to avoid being seen.
Yes the convoy will put on a short 10 knot or so spurt after the booms, but they will settle down to 5 or 7 knots really quickly. You're doing 20+ so you can easily circle around behind to the other side. It's not a difficult thing at all and works every time. If any escorts are not pounding your last estimated position, they've arrayed in front of the convoy where you are supposed to be maneuvering for position.
Maneuvering yes. In front, no. You're where they are not looking, and going to press the next attack really close before you pull the trigger, a fully submerged in your face, can't miss 600 yard range attack. Again, I shoot two. If you just injure them they'll be left behind for later festivities. Most likely they'll go down.
Now you are in a different but the same position you were after your first longer range attack. You are possibly closer to the escorts, but they have friendly merchants between them and you. Same strategy. Hit the surface and run away at 20 knots, circle behind at 3+ mile range to attack the other side while the escorts waste depth charges on your last known position.
Remember, the escorts' goal is not necessarily to sink you. It is to keep you pinned down, maneuvering at 2 knots or less long enough for the convoy to attain an impregnable position from which you cannot make an attack. If you let them get above you and you evade submerged, they have won that round of the war.
If you shoot at multiple ships, then, you will waste more torpedoes for less tonnage. Those shots will most likely be the only shots you will ever get at that convoy.
I play with TMO and manual targeting with map plotting on. There is no realism to turning plotting off, just frustration that in no way replicates the real experience. There is no real realism option in Silent Hunter 4. It is a difficulty option only.
I don't even believe that attacking with auto targeting changes the results here. You have the same problem that ships struck after the first booms will maneuver, avoiding most or all of the other torpedoes. You are still subject to being pinned down after the attack because you took longer to execute it.
If you find yourself in a fair fight, your planning was defective. Don't give 'em a chance I say. Hit 'em where they aint. Never give battle on their terms and never trade blows. Run away where appropriate. You are a mortal man in a fragile craft accompanied by a crew of 70 other mortal men. The enemy is not only very good but often very lucky. But they can't hit a target they do not shoot at or don't depth charge.
War is dangerous enough without false heroics. Dead men can't win wars.
