I know that the Navy's listed speeds are not what the vessel can really do. Take for example the T-AKE ships, they are listed at 20 knots max speed. I was on one while being followed by pirates (the kind who carry arrrrRPG's), they poured the coals to it to outrun it (ROE for supply ships dictates evading at all costs and engaging only as a last resort). Anyway, I took a peek at the speed in the helicopter control tower and we were making 24+ knots. I know it's not a submarine but the propulsion is very similar, 4 (HUGE) diesels turning generators which in turn supply power to an electric motor turning the screw. It seems that it would be very likely that a fleet boat could make similar speeds, especially since it is a fraction of the weight of a T-AKE supply ship.
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"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -David Farragut (probably repeated by many WWII sub skippers)
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