IMHO it's important to maintain a reasonable degree of realism in the game/sim by implementing the 1st law of Newton in the code.
Driving a boat on/in the water is not the same as driving a car on the road, or a plane in the air.
In order to counteract inertia, a force must be applied in the opposite direction . Basic seamanship teaches you that if you turn to port, and then bring the helm back to midship position, you'll keep turning for a while until friction stabilizes your course. Or you can bring the helm to starboard (opposite direction) for a short period of time to stop turning more quickly.
The same applies to any movement, like going astern to stop the ship more quickly.
I think there is a lot to gain in having the feeling that you are aboard a submarine that behaves more like a sea-going vessel.
