These ocean-going British boats were sized for Atlantic and Pacific distances, where long range justified a larger hull. The same design tradeoff applies to modern nuclear submarines: a bigger boat needs more water in which to conceal itself. Ballistic missile submarines can seek deep water and use thermal layers, while a boat sent near a coast cannot rely on either. Deep-water deterrent patrols and confined-water operations therefore favor different submarine characteristics.
Notable Point · 24:24-25:39
Range comes with a shallow-water tradeoff
Large patrol submarines could cross oceans, but their size made concealing them in shallow water more difficult.