Escorts are most dangerous on the approach... once you get inside the convoy they're somewhat brain dead (unfortunately). So I just force myself to be patient and never push something when the odds aren't fully in my favor.
I don't use RFB or FtT at the moment, and my understanding is that they are significantly harder than stock, but these are my tips regardless:
1. Don't push your intercept too close to visual range of the lead DD. Go further out. Swing out wider. It's ok to lose visual contact... you know where they're going to be and when.
2. Don't leave your periscope up! Pick your target from a safe distance and use the position keeper if you are afraid of missing them (the position keeper works whether you do manual targeting or not and is an absolutely wonderful tool). I suggest spending most of your time below persicope depth actually... come up only once the lead DD has passed (hydrophone) and you are getting ready to fire.
3. The best place to be in an attack is between the lines of the convoy... not only is the middle line where the juciest targets hang out, but also the prop noise of the convoy will conceal you from detection better than anything else. Your intimate range will ensure hits. In addition, if you do it right, you'll be able to empty your forward and aft tubes on at least 3 different ships in a matter of minute or two.
4. Remember that you don't have to sink everybody in the convoy right now. You're a lot lot faster. You still know where they're going. Sink your targets and let the convoy get out of range. You can then surface, reload, and recharge before swinging around and hitting them again.
That's got me through 5 patrols in an S-boat and Porpoise without even suffering depth charges (no saving or reloading either).
|