So, on to a more "meat and potatoes" post.
Let's visit our old friend, the Knife Fight.
You're in close to the bad guys. Really, really, close and its turned into a real hairball.
If you're driving a frigate or helo, pat yourself on the back. You're in your best position to kick some A and you have all of the advantages in your favor.
If you're driving a sub,
WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU IN A KNIFE FIGHT??
You have NO advantages, your platform wasn't even designed for this type of engagement, and the ONLY thing that will save you is Luck. You don't want to count on luck so why not put yourself in a better situation?
Even if we're talking about a sub-v-sub fight, you're still at a disadvantage. Your fire control wasn't designed for this stuff.
THE BEST WAY FOR A SUB TO WIN A KNIFE FIGHT IS SIMPLE, NEVER GET INTO A KNIFE FIGHT.
If you're working a contact closer than 5,000 yards and you aren't in a "track and trail" situation, you're doing something wrong.
In essence, you're minimizing your advantages on purpose.
Stick to what your platform is best at. Your torpedo pre-sets are a pretty good clue about where you
should be. Take that number and double it.
If you do find yourself stuck in a close-in situation, get out. Go deep (the fast end of your cavitation curve plus another 100 feet), pick a general direction ("somewhere over there"), cross your fingers, and start making tracks.
If you're in a sub-v-sub fight, trust your instincts on how to get the other guy frustrated.
Use the stuff that's frustrated
you in the past. Think about running at a full bell and using small rudder angles to create a curving path. Fire control stations HATE curving paths.
