Even with a spread, you're really just narrowing the odds, not guaranteeing a hit
Adding to the difficulty is the possibility of observers seeing the incoming torpedoes and a fast-moving, maneuverable ship dodging them. Fast and maneuverable as in .. the USS New Jersey, able to sidestep a spread of five torpedoes from a Japanese destroyer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_destroyer_Maikaze#Con...