Noob Submariner questions

[wetwarev7]

Ahoy! Capt Underpants of the U-boat Super Happy Sunshine is here!
I just purchased SH3(my first subsim) and I must say, it's a whole lot better than I thought it was going to be! If I had any idea it was even half this good, I would have bought it when it first came out!

I know nothing of submarines and naval warfare except what I've learned from trolling the board yesterday, and I have a few questions:

1. What's the point of the observation scope? The attack scope seems to have a better zoom, so what's it for? Is it stealthier? or just a backup?

2. Where the heck is the front of the boat in the command room? It seems that the radio room is "aft" (back end, right?) of the command room, but at the oppisite end of the command room, the hatch there says "aft interior". Really messes with my sense of direction when submerged....

3. What the heck do milkcows have to do with U-Boats?

4. I've read some good threads on general sub warfare, etc, but what about attacking other warships? Is there a technique for attacking that lone destroyer with one of the earlier U-boats, or is that just suicide? Are there other subs out there, and how do you attack them?

5. Is there any point to having the radio room AND the sonar/hydrophone room manned at the same time? It seems one only works submerged, and one only works surfaced.

6. What's the proper technique for radio usage? Do you send contact reports when ever you see a ship, then a status report after you've sunk it? And realistically speaking, did U-Boats just kind of meander along towards thier patrol sector, picking off merchants along the way, or were they required to be at the patrol grid at a specific time?

7. Is there a mod, or is anyone planning on making a mod that will allow you to scribble on the nav map? I have trouble remembering all these numbers. Headings and bearings and speed, oh my!

8. After finishing a patrol area for 24 hours, I tootle around until I use up my torps then use the "return to base" option. When I get there, under promotions, it says I must finish a patrol first. Do I have to sail all they way back to be able to give out promotions? And is there any benefit to who gets which medals, and how does the crew gain experience?

And last but not least, after SH3ing for several hours, when I try to go to sleep, my bed seems to be in constant motion. Where's the option to turn this off?

Thanks in advance!