I realize this thread was about dead, so sorry for bringing it back up. I just had an encounter with this bug. Had a Porpoise class sub, was out for about a month, noticed the Co2 gauge began to rise with a warning that the Co2 level had risen above 10%. I surfaced, it was at night, so I figured I'd be able to lower the level before daylight. It never went down. I charged the batteries ok but the Co2 level stayed the same. Later that day I had to submerge and the level crept up higher. I surfaced again with no luck in getting it to go down. I played for about another day and a half (game time) and the Co2 maxed out. At no time did I ever get the gauge to fall. While I was on the surface, heading home, I noticed my top speed was falling off, the crew was ill, and within a little while my career came to an end with a death screen for my efforts. No enemy destruction, the boat just stopped functioning.
I see some of you have an explanation regarding the use of the Alt-Tab. I've never used the key combination and didn't use it this time. One says its bad to use it, another said to use it to make things better?! So, which is it?
I can tell you this much, NOT using it killed my career. That's all I know. If anyone has a better idea than making sure this option is disabled in the options menu, I'd like to hear it.