Sinking Fishing Boats - Bad Form?

[GoldenRivet]

My policy is to steer around fishing boats and yachts, or submerge to avoid detection.

i will only attack it if detected (ie. they start zig zagging) my theory is that they could possibly compromise my position... i HAVE had destroyers come rushing from afar when a fishing boat started zig zagging. my only guess was that he called them over.

depending on what degree of a realism spin you want to put on it, look at it this way.

These are fisherman and all they care to do is head out and catch fish and return to port with their haul. the difference between them and these merchants in my eyes is that the merchants are carrying vital war goods to the enemy; weapons, oil, fuel, ammo etc. it could be argued that fish feeds the enemy, but with so much rationed i would imagine fish is fetching a high price at civilian markets and is mostly going to feed mothers and children who's fathers are out in the battles.

it would be most noble to let them sail on. besides the two or three shells you spend on a tiny fishing boat might be the two or three shells which might later make the difference between sinking merchant or having to watch her sail off with moderate damage.

your the commander and the call is yours to make, but aboard my boat:

...we dont attack yachts, fishing boats, neutrals, hospital ships, or life rafts unless beyond the shadow of any doubt our safety is likely to be compromised by NOT sinking them.