Proviso on best speed
If you're trying to stretch range, Ducimus has hit right on. I find that 2/3 throttle is not 10 knots though. Would adjusting to 10 knots give me a tweak more range?
But my proviso is that sometimes max range isn't what you're looking for. You have an assignment to patrol Honshu island. This means you have to hang out within 75 miles of the star (correct me if I'm wrong about the range) for 48 hours and then phone home. So you use your compass and plot the 70 mile circle around the star (fudge factor there) and lay out a search pattern. You might just be interested in using as little fuel during the 48 hours as possible.
Of course you could stop engines and use no fuel at all. But I'm sure you want to get some little bit accomplished while you're waiting for the periscope shears to rust. In this case, the lowest acceptable throttle setting will burn the least fuel during the 48 hours. Yeah, I know, it's obvious. Track your time. Don't forget to phone home! No credit if you don't. Now go kill something.
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