My two cruisers survived multiple/constant sorties from Brooke's Japanese Torpedo Bomber squadron during the final frame of Coral Sea. In that case you would actually want to either keep going straight (2 torpedo hits at most) or use a tight zig-zag to slow the task group down and attempt to turn in between two fish. Destroyers also make great torpedo sponges.
But, as I said, that can only be pulled off by an expert task force driver with manned gun positions to keep the aircraft at a decent range or kill them. Even then, my groups survived more from dumb luck I'd figure. 
Haha yeah i don't know if dumb luck saved you or a skilless enemy
I'm not trying to start anything im just tired so it may sound rude here but setting up the torpedo runners in this formation you have a very good chance of hitting the CV. Of course the more planes the better... But a normal MA CV group of 4 DD 1 CA and 1 CV can have 8-16 torp planes attack evenly on each side and some to the front and it WILL be hit if done right, maneuvers or not by the best CV commander in game. In junction with dive bombers such as SBDs if CV to CV or P38s or later model P47s the CV will go down quickly. BUT, it's a rarity to see MA pilots not in a functional squad or group actually use these tactics let alone using them effectively... But then again 15 110G-2 models with guns only can strafe the CV down
I launched a mission to do this
best CV takedown years ago i was in before the recent 200 spit MkIX kamikaze run
