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That formula works for surface ships.

It's not quite correct for subs, who's water resistance doesn't include a wave factor at the bow - Aircraft aerodynamics relationships are better for subs: think of a "solid blimp" "flying" at low speed in super-dense air for the best comparison.

Truthfully, submarine speed relationships to the aircraft carrier depend on the chosen sonar search speeds: at high (sprint) speeds NOBODY (even US subs) can listen. Worse, at high sprint speeds, EVERYBODY (even US subs) makes a LOT more noise.

So, the sub (in a carrier escort situation, would be more likely to run fast for while, get way ahead (several hundred miles ?) of the carrier escorts, then slow and put out the towed array for several hours. Listen, clear the area, then pull in the towed array, go back to high speed, and slow and listen someplace else for a few hours. The carrier, in turn, tries to keep to its overall average speed and course.

Long, high-speed transits? Can't listen, can't slow down, can do very much of anything. So ya just catch up at the end.

The enemy can't catch the aircraft carrier either with anything but a cruise missile or tactical nuke warhead anyway.

That formula works for surface ships.

Correct, I did forget to state that was for surface craft only. Exceeding waterline lenght is thought of as a "why" to the disapearence of a number of the clipper ships with thier huge sail area compaired to waterline and slow response to shortening sail when things got nasty. Simply put, they just drove themselves under by going too fast.

We had a plankowner from Enterprise that was also a plankowner on us, (a 593/4 class boat), who spilled the beans about how fast they went on thier full wide open throttle speed run. (I'm not going to tell ya but 35 knots wasn't it) I saw the pictures he took off the fantail. Needless to say I dropped my jaw when I saw the wake. It was level with the flight deck!

Subs have now returned to the jobs the Navy first restricted them to pre WW II. The Navy never did like it that subs were lone wolves.

Mind yer bubble...

SS Guy