Since we are on the subject I would like to express how I feel about the whole secrecy thing. Then maybe someone could explain it all to me...
I don't see any point in all the secrecy concerning the US nuclear subs. Surely during the cold war the Soviets had a pretty good idea of what the American subs were capable of (and vice versa). And nowadays I am sure any possible enemies of the US submarine force know too (and again, vice versa). It seems to me that the secrecy is only putting citizens in the dark. Which is stupid, because if someone really wanted to know they could find out.
Maybe someone will make a naval simulator that uses actual physics. Like the way X-Plane does for aircraft. Then it's just a matter of building the sub in a graphics program and telling it how much drag it has and how much power the reactor gives out. I am sure that even when making the most conservative guesses for the unknowns that you would be surprised by the results.
I am sure that the 688(i) could do 50 kts, and the Seawolf and Virginia class..? Who knows for sure... It can't be much more, there's a limit somewhere.
The torpedoes I am sure are equally fast.
Torpedoes exploding on CMs... well I guess it depends on the kind of equipment and settings on the torpedo. I am also quite positive that the Mark 48 has some kind of system that will allow it to "ignore" CMs.
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