The convoy appears to have no warships, yet its merchant ships can launch torpedoes. Those weapons force an attacker among the merchant columns to keep manoeuvring. The surprise prompts a comparison with armed merchant cruisers, which would have posed a much greater historical threat if fitted with torpedoes. Merchant traffic cannot be treated as tactically inert simply because no escort is visible.
Notable Point · 2:22:16-2:24:27
Merchant ships can still carry a sting
A seemingly undefended merchant convoy reveals torpedo capability, prompting a comparison with armed merchant cruisers.