Smoke screens have little effect against aircraft. The planes get too good a view from above, and as the ships move, the smoke falls behind. The smoke might even attract more enemy planes and ships.

Outrunning the planes is impossible, and the faster your ship moves, the more it pulls away from the convoy. Without your guns, the convoy is defenseless.

Sailing straight will help your gunners aim - but it makes your ship a much easier target for bomb attacks. Never do this!