A submarine's practical speed limit depends on how much noise its commander is willing to create as well as what its propulsion plant can deliver. Cavitation and machinery noise can reveal a fast-moving boat and make it easier for aircraft, helicopters, or rocket-assisted torpedoes to attack. Long-range missile shots preserve distance but give modern air defences more warning and time to follow their drills. The Ohio-class SSGN example adds an opportunity-cost problem: firing roughly 150 Tomahawks at one convoy would require an exceptionally valuable target. A submarine has its best chance when it reaches a close firing position undetected and launches before the target can respond properly.
Chapter · 0:34-4:01
Why submarine speed is constrained by noise
See how cavitation and machinery noise limit a submarine's useful speed and push it toward close-range ambush tactics.