Well, the better handling comes from the fact that the bow planes are much farther forward, and closer to the keel (read farther away from the surface) than fairwater planes. It makes for slightly more stable platform, one easier to control.
Thanks...I notice in video of the Ohios submerging that everybody in the control room looks like their about to have a cardiac. Is the transistion to an all wet hull that tricky?
688 fairwater planes are nearly useless. The sail is too short and too far aft, putting them too close to the center of bouyancy. The thing was a tub at PD and lacked the depth control system that 637s had to bring water onboard in a flat hurry if you were in danger of broaching. So to compensate, you have to flood as you come to PD. A good helm/planes/DOOW/COW team can time it perfectly to be about 2000 pounds heavy when the scope breaks the surface. That's why you hear stories about 688s losing depth control...you have to run heavy at PD to keep from broaching.