My position has always been that battery life is way more than necessary for any sane strategy. Remaining submerged all day amounts to cowardice and keeps you from developing new targets efficiently. The number of targets found is directly proportional to the number of square miles of ocean surface searched each day. The ONLY way to maximize that number is to use the submarine as it is.
The World War II submarine is a surface ship. It has the ability to submerge for short periods of time for the purpose of specific attack or evasion, but then it should immediately be brought back to the surface to resume 9 kt best fuel economy surface search. This isn't my strategy. It's the strategy of Admiral Eugene Fluckey, the most decorated captain with the most decorated crew in WWII. His career didn't even start until 1944! At a time when boat after boat returned with nothing but unused torpedoes and excuses, Fluckey found a way to be productive beyond anyone's imagination and at the same time preserve the safety of his crew. His secret: staying on the surface every second that it is possible to do so!
With sane strategy, battery life is not an issue.
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