finding, intercepting, and engaging targets without automap, radar, or active sonar

[AdamMil]

Originally Posted by TG626

One item I notice isn't being expressly remarked on it fuel conservation, which would have been a very real consideration.

Especially if you're submerged and your "fuel" is battery charge. :-) I was thinking about it, but it's hard to say anything concrete. Fuel usage increases proportionately more rapidly than speed, which implies that you'd want to go as slow as possible. However, going as slow as possible (e.g. with NAC) can lead to you sailing a much longer distance than necessary, which may result in a much greater overall fuel usage than taking a shorter path at a higher speed. Battery charge also affects speed, which adds another complication. And it probably all depends on the specific parameters of the batteries, engines, and submarine. A mathematical analysis to arrive at a general rule is surely possible, but too time-consuming for me. :-P

What I personally do, though, is cruise around at "ahead slow" speed, giving me about double the range of "ahead standard" while only reducing speed by about 25-35%, so I don't have to worry about fuel usage in combat. I try to intercept on the surface at standard or full and only submerge once I get within 3-4 km or so. But I'm still early in the war...