And also, at what 'average' range can these 'signatures' be detected? (I am at least aware that this last question is subject to sea temperatures and depth etc, but just a basic idea regarding the range would be good).
If you want the nuts and bolts of how active and passive sonar works, use your preferred search engine and try terms like "active passive sonar equation" and work your way through the results. Warning, unless you enjoy math and wrapping your head around the results, this approach requires a drink - perhaps a few (okay, any excuse is a good excuse to drink - happy now?
). I was never good at numbers so your mileage may vary.
The short answer - you cannot generate a "table" of detection ranges without dialing in many, many other factors. A fixed table doesn't exist. Not to mention that said accuracy of those ranges would be dependent on the accuracy of the other variables. To get accurate variables, you need access to classified information. If you use publicly available information, you can get an average, but whose information will you use? Is it available in one spot? Do the sets of data correspond to the equation set you are using, or will you need to estimate if you're missing some parts? The rest of it is physics. Take that for what you will. If someone is pointing you to a table, be sure to at least understand how they got to that information and what are the underlying aspects. Did they dial in at least all the major influential factors? What is their basis for expressing the ratings of one platform's abilities or characteristics versus another?
To be honest, if what you're looking for is a good grasp of how passive sonar works from a tactical perspective (i.e., what is your figure of merit for a typical modern diesel electric sub given a particular set of factors), then work your way through this Wiki:
The Harpoon 3 Sonar Model - AGSI
If you're not familiar with Harpoon, it's the tactics game Larry Bond invented (the co-author of the seminal Red Storm Rising novel along wiith Tom Clancy) as a young naval officer who was interested in improving the official NAVTAG tactical tool. Even using Harpoon's sonar model, you're still only using a database that characterizes certain aspects of specific platforms to a particular degree of accuracy (meaning best guess or unclassified). Is there a more accurate database out there with real-world values? Sure. Will you get access to it? Probably not. Harpoon 3's ProSim version is likely still a best guess because it's marketed to overseas clients.
Is either approach good enough to tell you how passive sonar detection works, at least at a fundamental level? Absolutely. Personally, I would use the Harpoon one because if you're like a lot of folks on this forum, part of your interest is to understand how the underlying technology applies to naval military science. In that aspect, the pure numbers approach I suggested at the beginning gets you through the nuts & bolts of how sonar works, but it's pretty damn dry.
Final suggestion: the "flood of answers" you got on the other sites? Not worth a plugged nickel.
Not even the ones I provided. You want the real skinny? Get a security clearance and enlist or become a defense contractor.
