When I run across a ship, where I do not know it's nationality, I get ahead of its track. I submerge to periscope depth so I am 90 degrees aob. I find that within 1200 to 1000 meters I can make out nationalities reliably. If he's nuetral, I let him pass. If not, well..thats a given. Usefull for daytime when the spot light thing is not an issue.
On a side note: If the seas are calm, and the target is slow, I run up on them with the deck gun manned. If the target starts to zig zag, its enemy. If he doesnt zigzag, he's definately a friendly. I do not know yet if nuetrals will zig zag. I just found this out cruising up the coast of Norway in 1940. Some Ore Carriers with the nazi flag never adjusted course when I approached. By that time, Norwegian vessels would, but when hitting F1 to see Enemies of Germany, they are enemies by this time, so their response is what an enemy would do.
I think the zigzagging would be 'behaving in a suspicious manner'.
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