Attacking convoys is the really enjoyable part of the game. Targeting single ships is kind of boring. It's just too easy because you never have to run silent and you can race under water at full speed to get into position.
I could give lots of tips for convoy attacks, but generally tactics that work like gangbusters at one visibility are ineffective at others. I'll give my approach for 9 km visibility and then you'll have to modify it for other visibilities.
My goal is always to get inside the convoy with a large ship in front of me for a two-torpedo salvo, with another large ship behind for an aft shot (again, two-torpedo salvo). To do that you first need the speed and exact course of the convoy.
The speed is usually pretty easy as many times the contact update gives you the exact convoy speed and a general idea of the course. If you can get close enough to get a look at the ships, then the course is as easy as drawing a line through them... that's rarely off by more than 3 degrees. If you can safety watch them for a long time, you can drop an x on one, wait about 15 minutes, and draw a line through those. That's spot on accurate... until they change course.
Your goal is generally to reach firing approach in 1.5-2 hours. Draw a line through your target and then use your compass or ruler to mark where the target is supposed to be in 1.5 hours. For example, if he's going at 8 knots, measure 12.0 and write down the time he's supposed to be there. Then draw a circle from there at 7.0 and you want to be somewhere on that circle in 1h30m from now. The ideal point can be figured out by drawing his speed along the line, (for example 0.8) and your speed perpendicular (0.2, which represents your underwater speed while running silent). A line drawn through the starting point to the intersect with the 7.0 circle lets you know the perfect spot.
Assuming the sea is calm, you should have no difficulty reaching that spot. I usually run 20km away from my target and then move into position. Once I'm there, I can go perpendicular to the target, dive, and move into position at 2 knots.
Of course sometimes you get there, dive, and the hydrophone is all quiet. That means the convoy changed course. Go to 25m depth, all stop, and man the hydrophone yourself. Then you can usually hear something in some direction. Go full speed in that direction for 20 km and then dive again and you'll usually reacquire the convoy and have to start all over.
Once you are 1 km away from the estimated intercept point, go to 1 knot and you should be about 500-600 m from your target when you fire. I use two torpedoes, 5º spread, 3-5 m depth (depending on weather), impact. If you are using map contacts and zoom in enough on your map, you should be able to see the approximate size of the ships you're firing at. I just fire at the biggest ones I can find and then figure out what they are when they sink.
I try to fire at the one in front of me, then fire at the one behind me, acquire a third target, and change course toward it. When your torpedos impact, that target should zig and if it zigs away from you, you'll have a perfect third shot. Then go as deep as you can and pray that the escorts don't ping you.
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