The answers are in a specific file:
SilentHunterIII_folder\data\Cfg\contacts.cfg
As you will see the definitions of medium-range and long-range are quite wide (respectively 1 to 8km and 8 to 16km). Any distance within those ranges are just medium or long. So the hydrophone operator simply cannot give an accurate reading. His hearing ability must be in how early or far away he can detect a hydro contact.
Same goes for speeds. The speed is given as a speed-range. (don't get confused with the above 'range') Slow is defined in that file to be between 0.1 and 8 knots. HOWEVER, I have accurately tracked merchants over longer time that went a bit slower than 8 knots (7.5) but were still reported as medium speed. So I suspect the actual set speed in the campaign files, or whatever the speed becomes due to bad weather, it is first rounded (up) before it is applied to those speed ranges. I have never seen merchants with speeds slower than 7.5 become reported as medium. So a speed of 7.6 knots would become 8 knots rounded up and then becomes medium speed. I haven't come across many merchants or convoys that do 12 knots so I can't be sure it holds up for 11.5 knots aswel. But I'm pretty sure it does.
[edit] just though of something. maybe the ranges are first subjected to a round-off operation aswel. I never gave it much thought to compare the watch-officers given range with the distance label.
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