Double Hull vs Singel Hull: Torp's?
 

It seems like most target subs sink with a single hit (aside from Typhoon). However, my ownship generally survives the first hit, though with damage, and with a single hull. I'd expect a double hulled boat to be more survivable? Like a damaged surface ship, it can still fire, even if only briefly, I could die! I do it all the time to the other guys.

Depends on the quality of the hull. Using cheaper metals, a double hull is worth the cost.

The U.S., using single hulls, most likely uses better metals.

Also, most of the fish the Russians are throwing around in this game are lightweight ASW torpedoes, not heavyweights like the mk 48.

There is a bias in favor of the player's sub. Being one-hit killed is never fun, so the player has the ability to survive one or two hits, depending on the difficulty level.

Maybe we could forgo that bias at elite level, or is there an editable file where the user can change this?

The Elite level, if not the one below it, should be accurate. If I wanted it less "Elite", I would be bolder, get sunk, and then just play the last mission again.

I am quick to shoot, because I don't want to be that bold. How many Sailors am I responsible for?

You can edit the config.cfg:

PlayerHullPoints is the one you want to edit. All of the Soviet torpedoes except the USET-80 are weaker than the Mk48's your own sub carry, though.

Thank you. It is more fun in game, but less real. As I understand it, Ti hulls were tough.