I'm going to give this a go next. The only things I've played remotely like this are DVG's U-Boat Leader (which I wasn't a fan of) and (from the perspective of "kind of" RPG), Queen of the Skies...which I didn't like that much either.
So - we'll see how we go.
The Hunters is definitely closer to B-17 Queen of the Skies. If you didn't like B-17 you probably won't like Hunters either... probably... They are much the same game - make a choice, consult a chart, roll a die, rinse lather repeat. It's the story that evolves from these actions that draws people to them.
I've had a copy of B-17 since shortly after it was released and played untold hours of it... back then, but I can't get into it now. The Hunters I've had since it was first published and really enjoyed it and still play from time to time.
Well I just completed a couple of patrols. One finished with two engagements - a Ship + Escort and a lone ship. 4400t and 3700t.
On the first encounter the Escort detected me (a roll of 10 or better and I rolled 11!!!). I got away from the Escort with a LW to a generic crew member and managed to evade. I did managed to follow the contacts and I didn't get detected and had 2 hits with 2 torps...both dud. Then I got away from the Escort and lost them.
On the second encounter I fired 3x8.8cm deck gun. All hits and sunk the ship.
On the second patrol I only got one encounter - a Ship + Escort. The Escort didn't detect me so I fired two torps and both hit and sunk the ship. This gave some modifiers to the Escort and so they detected me. They scored 3 hits. 1xflooding (with no additional flooding, 2x flooding with an additional flooding and 1xhull damage.
I managed to evade and made it back to port with no further encounters.
The escorts can be very brutal...I was watching those hits coming in with total fear. Also I think I've been pretty unlucky on my patrols. Only 3 engagements from a possible 8 (not including transit areas where encounters are even more remote)
However - enjoying it very much and it's actually pretty fast paced once you've got the sequence down.