I spotted a merchant in the Caribbean. Since it was unarmed I closed to attack it with my deck gun. Before I got close enough I was pounced on by aircraft, ones I presume the merchant had alerted. So cruising up to lone ships is definitely not a good idea.
As for aircraft and the Type IX. You've just got to take care basically. In areas with patrol planes then stay submerged during the day. Getting Metox and using the sensorpak mod also means that even a Type IX can pick up radar signals and get well under before they arrive. If they surprise you then man the flak guns, hit flank speed and make a turn. Once it's flown over then dive, and again there's enough time to get under.
I survived an attack by 6 aircraft in my IXC, and had no time to dive. They worked in pairs, one pair attacked while the others turned and began their own attack runs. I took only minor damage but it was getting so damned hot that I just had to crash dive - even though two planes were on an attack run. I made it down and evaded them. This is using the airpower mod that came with HT!
Right now I love my IXC and the distant patrols. You do also run into convoys off the coast of Africa, or over on the US coast. So it's not all single ships. But I do want to do a Med campaign, using the beautiful light blue water contained in a mod (I forget which). So after the war ends, or I die, I'll be in a Type VII. I wonder how long I'll last before I hear the call of the Caribbean and its lovely fat tankers
