[Ramius]

Yeah, but it's a full moon, and moonrise is early in the evening. In a week, moonrise is after 2am local Bagdad time, and sunset will be about 9pm. Four hours of total black. Since we get to choose the "when" part... that looks like a good choice.

[Malsua]

Stealths like the New Moon. Special forces like the sliver moon. Tomahaks don't care.

Like is operative here. The above can function under all circumstances. I agree that a new moon would be useful, but it's not a requirement. Surface the subs now and light the fuse _NOW_. The sooner it starts, the sooner it's over.

-Mal