it's a problem which ever way you approach it---on the one hand we definitely want some sort of dangerous response from the escorts-- on the other we don't want to killed every time----the area in between being ignored and being killed every time by the DD's is fairly small with not that much room for maneuver-- definitely using the crew rating entrys to see how any set up changes under different crew ratings has to be a good solid way to go---a overly uber set up might actually be spot with the crew rating reduced to 2 say--or vice versa---
problem tho with getting constistent results is well long term anyway -consistency can be just a tadge dull? swings and round abouts all the way
it may be that the design philosophy was wrong--(LOL definitely borrows tin hat here!!) in that the AI is trying to sink u-boats--- instead of trying to prevent the sinking of merchants which involves slightly different tactics i reckon..
i'd much rather gameplay wise be beaten off a convoy attack by the escorts-- having failed to sink any shipping -- perhaps heavily damaged only able to limp back to port---then get four or five ships then get blown out of the water after a ten hour DC attack---
neither is perfect but gameplay wise the reduction in tonnage achieved by the first out weighs the potentail realism of the second---
so get the sub submerged --keep the sub down till the convoy is safely out of range then return to post--based on the idea that whilst the escort is concentrating on you another sub could be approaching from a different course--this isnt true of course as we have no wolfpacks-but no harm in having the DD's behave as if it were true---after all with the less than realistic numbers of escorts in the game for convoys having two thrids of your defensive force attacking one possible target for many hours whislt the convoy travels over the horizon virtually unprotected isn't perhaps the best way to get the job done-----that was my ad hoc feelings on possible tweaks to the escort behaviour--
if we can get the escorts to reduce the tonnage achieved by the player -- while keeping the player alive but damaged perhaps so he can try again (at least most of the time) --then the reduced tonnage results should make playing the game seem more realistic--
PS cheers Caspofugin---wonder if it is the hydrophone like you say