Thanks guys, I did send a patrol report after I discovered what nation it belonged to (even though it was a nice big juicy 7900 tonne merchant).
Weather was fair, the sea was choppy but the sun was just rising after a 2 day storm, so I was convinced she was a French freighter, she had a little ~1000t steamer with her, they were travelling pretty much parallel to the English east coast towards Scotland, I don't think i'll end this career this time.
I love stuff like this, really sets the atmosphere

thanks again