[merc4ulfate]

You will know they are available in home port by going to your items loadout screen where you see what radar and sonar you have on the boat. You must manually add the decoys by purchasing them with renown on the systems load out screen while in home port.

I have never seen where decoys were loaded automatically on any boat in the game no matter what year it is with the exception of starting a late career. Starting a late career with a boat designated to carry decoys will have them loaded at the start of that career I believe.