I just tried to attack a convoy at night on the surface, no moon, fully dark. My forward tubes had all electric torpedoes meaning I had to get fairly close. So I approach the convoy from it's portside and slip past the escort on the port shoulder. I get into a firing position and fire 4 torps. Now it's time to get out of there, so I make a U-turn and go to flank speed. I have not been detected and as I get on my new course at flank speed I'm still undetected. Then the first torpedo strikes.
Within a fraction of a second every ship in the convoy has a searchlight switched on aimed directly at me and within a second every ship starts firing at me accurately scoring direct hits. Before I can crashdive the control room is filled with mist and is flooding and we plummet straight down to our doom with no chance to stop the descent and it's career over.
Bloody hell, this is ridiculous!
Is it even possible in TWOS to carry out a surface attack? I've done it succesfully with steam torps from long range but with electrics it seems impossible as you have to get closer. The ability of the merchants to immediately know where I am and to open fire on me within a second seem to make a close surface attack impossible. Is there a way to tone down this magical ability of the merchants?