In retrospect, I probably should have entitled this thread as "Suggestions" rather than complaints. I find it's typically better to be proactive than whiney, but I clearly was suffering from a caffiene deficiency when I posted this.
Thank you for the feedback and the suggestions (especially changing the load-out of the deck gun ammo!). Good point on the use of the electric engines - it does only postpone the energy drain, but I have found that I can extend my range several hundred KM this way. Granted, I'm crawling into Kiel on fumes most of the time, so I'm obviously pushing limits as it is.
Thanks for the comments!