The advantage that subs have, especially against WW II carriers, is that even today they need to turn into the wind to launch or recover aircraft and have to do it for the entire evolution (generally 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the strike package and efficiency of the deck spotting) and they have to do it on nearly an ongoing basis (to launch/recover CAP and search aircraft) Cruisers have to come to a virtual stop to recover float planes (which also need to land into the wind). This effectively handcuffs a carrier force to relatively compact area. This allows sub to make somewhat reasonable approaches, not in all cases, but in some, particularly if there is a weak screen.
Carriers are predictable moving ducks in landing traps taking on aircraft^1 and are easy to torpedo (Taiho is an extremely famous example: especially WW II ones, since they cannot zig-zag when taking on aircraft), but launching aircraft is a different story. They can change target aspect by zig-zag and still launch into the wind by up to 25 degrees (50 degrees cumulative, weave side to side). The sub has to get in closer (about 1,500 meters separation) or the angle solution becomes almost impossible to set. Wasp went down because Freddy Sherman forgot this little tidbit of maneuvering trivia and spent too long trapping in a straight line in sub-infested waters without jinking.
The effectiveness of hydrophones also drops off with speed due to increased flow noise, during flight operations carriers are more or less deaf as a post.
True for any ships, not just carriers. However, Soryu operated ASW trained specialist birds for Kido Butai; so she was expected to slow down from time to time and listen for ye olde U-boate. The Type 93 Mod 2 and 3 hydrophones should have been able to hear noisy Tambor beyond effective American torpedo firing range, and as for the Mark XIVs. Do you have any idea what kind of a howl those fishes's screws put out? Those were designed to be loud so American sound gear could track their runs into target at up to 4,000 meters away. Even a moderately fast Japanese ship with Type 93 hydrophones should have heard them coming in from far enough way at the Japanese ships' cruise speeds (7 m/s). Fast enough to dodge by combing the bearings if it was about 2,500 -2,700 meters run or 120+ seconds. So... to defeat this, the American has to get in very close, again less than 1,500 meters, ideal separation or about 70 to 100 seconds run time. Tambor will find that difficult at best. Her best chance is against a Chikuma or a transport.
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