[TorpX]

Originally Posted by Sniper297

Why they attempted the dual drive abomination on the first SARGO boats is a mystery, to me it should have been obvious after the success of the PORPOISE and SALMON class boats.

I believe that there was a fear that the electric motors could be flooded out, rendering the boat immobile. But, as you suggest, once the diesel-electric proved itself, they embraced it completely.

Originally Posted by swdw

Actually, this is how it should be.

....

Surprised that, with all the other physics left out of the sim, this effect is seen at all.

Yes, I think this part works pretty well.

I don't remember the details, but in the past I tested the rate of recharge and fuel consumption. The conventional wisdom was that half the engines run at flank speed, so fuel is gobbled like crazy. While the engines may run at 'flank', I found the rate of recharge per hour, and the fuel consumed per hour, go down as the level of charge increases. Meaning less power and fuel is used to top off the charge than to start it. And, roughly speaking, the fuel consumed is proportional to the depletion of the battery. Meaning that charging a battery at 50% will take about twice the fuel, as charging one at 75%.