[IonImplantGuru]

Who sets the SUBNOTE track and the MHN depends on who owns operational command of the boat. So generally in local OPAREAS, it's the squadron or group commander. For most operations outside the local OPAREAS it's the Force commander. This ensures that SUBNOTEs don't interfere with each other, which happens quite a bit in the Atlantic. Disclaimer: I've never operated in the PAC, so I've only got LANT experience to go by.

I can't remember which SUBGRP it is (7?) that's based in Yokosuka, but knowledgeable source posted in one of the other SF threads that that's who sets the track, speed, depth, etc. - not the skipper - for trips like this. In war games (in well-charted defined playgrounds!) the skipper and his team get to play things a little more free-form.

[Doohickey]

That's typical. I think it is CSG-7 who has OPCON in EASTPAC. It's CSG-8 in the Med. Skippers never get the latitude to set their own track for a submerged transit. I did have one Captain that had the sack to send a proposed SUBNOTE once.