How Q-ships used apparent damage as bait

Did merchant ships or warships ever feign damage to ambush a commerce raider?

Yes; British Q-ships pretended to be damaged merchantmen so submarines would approach their concealed guns.

The First World War Q-ship campaign provides the clearest example of feigned damage used as bait. These vessels could move slowly, produce suspicious smoke, or even appear to be on fire. The performance encouraged a submarine to approach or surface against what looked like a vulnerable merchant target. Concealed guns then turned the apparent victim into an ambush platform.