Surcouf's guns against a Tribal-class destroyer

Could Surcouf's long-range eight-inch guns sink an escort before the smaller ship came within effective range?

Unlikely: a destroyer's much higher volume of fire, maneuver, sensors, supporting ships, and the submarine's damage sensitivity overwhelm the caliber advantage.

The paper advantage of an eight-inch shell disappears when the whole engagement is considered. Granting Surcouf a generous six rounds per minute still leaves a Tribal-class destroyer's eight guns sending roughly forty-eight rounds in the same interval. Both ships must find the range, correct fall of shot, and hit a moving target, but a single destroyer shell may damage systems that a submarine needs in order to dive. The destroyer can close, maneuver, use radar, call other escorts, and may even launch torpedoes while the submarine remains exposed. Replacement cost also favors risking the destroyer rather than the rare and specialized cruiser submarine.