Quote:
Originally Posted by copeab
As malloyd said, the battery life is the real problem. However, with snorkels a sub can run just under the surface and still use the diesel engines. Only when it has to run deeper than periscope depth does it need the batteries.
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Using strictly realistic technology, the snorkle working in conjunction with diesel/ electric or steam/ electric propulsion is probably going to be a major part of the solution.
Where the goal is to extend the time spent submerged or provide the submarine with a sprint capability the best bet (or least worst) is a combustion engine with an independent air supply in the form of either Hydrogen Peroxide or simple compressed air. Both approaches were tried in the period you are basing your setting off and are a great deal better than nothing despite their sometimes worrying limitations.