Why did my crew suffocate while on the surface?

[Platapus]

I guess the computer alt-tabbed for me. All I did was pause the game and leave. I did notice that when I got back I had to click on the small icon on my task bar to bring up SH4 again.

So if I am underwater and have enemy shipping around me, what can I do when real life forces me away from my game? I can't save while underwater and evidently I can't just pause (as after a while it automatically alt-tabs (at least my computer did that).

This is yet another reason why I hate these photorecce missions. It takes so long to sneak into the harbour (at least at the higher realism settings) without being detected that I can see my not being able to complete the mission in one game playing session (real life stynks)

How do you guys handle these long photorecce missions if you have real life issues that limit your game time?

Friends don't let friends do photorecce missions.