Oxygen and You!
 

Out of curiosity, if I were to launch with a smaller, but highly skilled crew compliment (assuming it lets you, as I've never tried), would the game also reduce the oxygen consumption rate?

Unfortunately no, while the better skilled crew give you new options (like a permanent repair team in place) or the chance to use a fatigue model and not have your boat be exchausted 90% of the time you still take up the same amount of air.

There's an elaborate mod that's in the planning right now that might be able to change that. Last I spoke with the modder was about the (real life) effects of Chlorine gas and how it really behaves; and potentially how to try and mimic its effects ingame. While its something we both wanted to explore, without the source code the scope of that portion of the project was going to be enormous.

Personally when I get a new ship (first ship) I fill it up to the max # of sailors and then promote them to PO's once they are fit for promotion rather than start with a full boat. I prefer to promote from my own boat rather than purchase an officer with my renown while in port.

You mentioned this on another thread... how do you do that? I tried recently when I dismissed one of my officers. Tried to promote the COB to officer, but neither Commander nor the game interface would let me. And the COB had 323 experience points, which should be enough.

I agree with Tessa, :yep:

Thank you for the quick reply. That's unfortunate how the rest of the men suddenly become greedy for air in the absence of a full crew. I shall have them shot. Well then again, the remaining few will still use the same amount of air. Hmm... I suppose I'll just learn to live with it.

Desirableroasted: I cheat - I edit the crew_config files. Usually to make the crew historical for the first patrol - but also to allow anything that would happen in RL but not available/easy in game as in this situation.

In stock no.
But if you are prepared to do a bit of patching, h.sie work is well worth a look.
this is one of a number of things he has fixed.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=174225