The guys over at NWS (Naval warfare simulations) did a lot of work on Fighting Steel and even had permission from DBZ to work on the source code of the game. Their "Fighting Steel project" mod reached v10.43 before work stopped on any new versions due mainly to problems with the game's graphics on newer systems/cards. They also developed an operational level global campaign payware program called "Thunder at sea" which would dynamically load battles in Fighting Steel. Check them out at the
NWS site . It would be interesting to see what the modders here could do with access to the source perhaps on a joint endeavour with the NWS guys.
Hopefully someday someone will produce a new surface sim to equal "Fighting Steel" or the great Microprose classic "Task Force 1942". The closest thing we have today is the excellent "Jutland" by Storm Eagle Studios although that game is of course WW1 and not a first person simualtion.