not even then, technically... hospital ships are flying the flag of the international red cross, which so far as SH3 is concerned is a neutral entity. if its carrying what appears to be suspicious cargo and you sink it, the game will NOT differentiate the fact that it was under escort or looked suspicious or whatever... you still lose the 10,000 renown points no matter how strategically oriented your intentions may have been.
and the only way to get those points back is by completing several flawless patrols in a row where you bag a phenomenal total tonnage value.
NOT worth it at all IMHO.
just think what you could do if you didnt lose those 10,000 renown points.
upgrade the sub? Bold? Anti sonar coatings, radar, newest torpedoes?? get that sought after XXI class? get a promotion? or get the next award?
if you sink a hospital ship your looking at spending the entire remainder of the war catching up.
i know they are big ships, but think about what your sending to the bottom, pretty nurses & seriously injured soldiers... and you dont know what their nationality... just because it sails out of an enemy harbor doesnt meen it isnt loaded with captured German POWs.