There is a good reason there is a bit of confusion going on here... David is giving very incorrect information and quoting so called engineer who I cannot begin to guess he is getting his information from. Everything David has said about bow planes so far is plain wrong. Ofcourse we dont go to sea with broken bow planes but we try not to go to sea with broken anything! The majority of ships depth control is via the stern planes. They are approx 400% more effective in depth control. If we were to experience a jammed stern dive and tried to compensate using the bow planes we would all be very dead!

Bow planes are used for small depth changes. Such as maintaining a small depth band while at PD.

You asked if we could perform our actual mission without them..you bet

Honestly I am done trying here and am not going to bother pouring more energy into a bottomless void.

I have met and work with the engineers have you?

Oh your wrong about the alfa as well.

Believe what you want but beware what you believe!