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Originally Posted by Chock
with regard to real-life operations, transferring torpedoes at sea was certainly not impossible.
I do know that the Kriegsmarine had long rubber rafts specifically designed for the transfer of torpedoes at sea from ships and resupply submarines, although I can't imagine that it was a very easy or indeed safe process. Imagine the fun a Sunderland would have had chancing across that sort of thing taking place!
Presumably the US Navy would have also had that capability, and although I've never seen one in game either in the 3D sim or on the map, I'm led to believe they are in there.
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I am sure that the USN could have done so, had they wanted to, or, probably more correctly, needed to. However it would have be a major change in operational procedures. A U boat was equipped with the cordage, tackles and sheers necessary to move the external torpedoes into the torpedo rooms. US fleet subs routinely sailed on war patrols leaving almost all of their cordage, ropes and lines behind at base, or a forward refuelling point. The idea being that if a D/C blew a deck storage compartment open there would be nothing inside to float up and betray the boat's position.
The other drawback to replenishment at sea, especially of torpedoes, is the weather and sea state. I have read of U boats waiting for many days for the weather to clear enough for them to take on supplies from a milch-cow and, I believe, Pacific ocean swells are a bigger problem than Atlantic ones. Like you say, it would be target heaven for an aircraft.
I often wonder just how often a successful resupply was made from a milch-cow, not very often, I suspect. In most cases it would just have been fuel and stores.