1. Turn throttle way down to zero, or even slightly backwards, when rotating.
2. ALWAYS make sure you use pilot tools ONLY when needed, and then remember that most of them last for few more seconds after you turn them off, with all the effects
3. Mortar should start shooting only when the enemy armor is down (there are red markers then); also small hit markers mean, that the projectile hit a part against which it's not very effective (has damage penalties)
4. Turn down throttle to zero right before you hit a target while ramming - this way you may have a chance to correct the trajectory of your ship right before, and you'll not fly the fuck away after the hit, which will make it easier to have angles for your guns at the close range. If you'll go full forward after hittin you are going to lose some precious seconds on slowing down, or turnning around, or whatever - meanwhile, for few seconds you'll have your engines exposed for the enemy, which means you are in serious trouble if the enemy know what he is doing, and it means you are dead if additionaly your main engineer doesn't know his way around the ship.
No, not trying to be an asshole, just handing some advice.