Wilson’s relief was short-lived, as one of the frigates approached for another pass and Sonar reported more splashes. As the depth charges drifted downward, he decided to maneuver; it looked like the two frigates had a pretty good bead on Michigan’s course and depth. He glanced at the combat control consoles: the operators were working on solutions for the two frigates using sonar bearings, and preliminary estimates indicated they were on east — west runs.
“Helm, hard right rudder, steady course zero-one-zero.”
Michigan wasn’t far from the bottom and Wilson couldn’t go much deeper, so he turned north, where the Black Sea floor sloped quickly down to the Euxine abyssal plain, reaching a depth of seven thousand feet.
The next round of depth charges detonated, jarring Michigan. But the effects weren’t as severe as the last round and no new reports of flooding were received. Wilson turned his attention to his weapons load; they should have reloaded tubes One and Three by now.
Tubes Two and Four could also be reloaded now that their torpedoes had run to fuel exhaustion and their guidance wires were no longer needed, but Wilson decided to wait. It was risky enough to have two torpedo tube breech doors open for loading while being depth charged. Opening all four was asking for trouble. If one of the muzzle door seals failed, it’d be all over; there’d be no way to shut the breech door and Michigan would go to the bottom.
Lieutenant Lawson announced, “Tubes One and Three are ready in all respects.”
Wilson examined the frigate solutions on the combat control system consoles. It was clear the two ships held Michigan on their sonar systems; they had maneuvered to a north — south pattern, following Michigan into deeper water. It was only a matter of time, Wilson figured, before they got lucky; it would take only one depth charge close enough to the hull to breach it. The new solutions for the two frigates were shaky, but he didn’t need refined solutions. Put the MK 48 torpedoes near the two contacts, and they’d take it from there.
“Firing Point Procedures,” Wilson announced, “Master two and four, tubes One and Three, respectively. Use normal surface presets, both weapons.”
The required reports followed, and Wilson studied the solutions to both targets on the geographic display. Not wanting to endure another depth charging, he decided to shoot the closest frigate first.
“Tube One, first fired. Shoot on generated bearings.”
When Lawson received a Ready report from the torpedo, he ordered the tube fired. Sonar monitored the torpedo, verifying it performed properly and didn’t shut down prematurely.
Sonar followed up with, “Tube One is merging onto the track for Master two.”
The first torpedo was closing on the nearest frigate. However, firing torpedoes was a loud event due to using pressurized water to eject the torpedo, with that noise serving as a beacon for the two frigates.
“Helm, ahead flank. Right full rudder, steady course one-eight-zero.”
Michigan turned south, and with the second frigate behind the submarine, Wilson ordered an over-the-shoulder shot.
“Shoot tube Three.”
Lieutenant Lawson complied and Michigan’s second torpedo was ejected.
Both frigates began evasive maneuvering, but the closest ship wasn’t far from Wilson’s first torpedo. The weapon went active, identifying its target immediately.
“Detect, tube One!
“Acquired!
“Homing!”
The first torpedo increased speed and adjusted its trajectory to intercept the frigate, altering course each time the frigate maneuvered. Sonar reported jammers and decoys being ejected into the water, but the torpedo closed the remaining distance.
A loud rumble echoed through the Control Room after the first torpedo exploded.
Wilson turned his attention to the last frigate, examining the geographic plot. It had maneuvered early enough, and the torpedo failed to detect it as it passed by and continued outbound. However, it wasn’t far away from the frigate and a quick steer might do the trick.
Wilson ordered, “Insert steer, tube Three, left one-hundred.”
The Weapons Officer complied, and Wilson watched the display as the torpedo veered sharply left toward the red surface ship symbol. It wasn’t long before Lieutenant Lawson made the report Wilson hoped for.
“Detect, tube Three!”
In quick succession, the torpedo reported it had acquired a valid contact, calculated the evading frigate’s course and speed, and increased speed to close on its prey. A minute later, with the frigate maneuvering wildly and its crew ejecting numerous countermeasures into the water, a second explosion rumbled through Michigan’s Control Room.
It grew quiet in Control as Wilson examined the new target solutions. Based on sonar bearings, both ships were dead in the water, and their machinery noises were growing fainter. Wilson decided to take a look.
“Helm, ahead one-third. Dive, make your depth two hundred feet. All stations, make preparations to proceed to periscope depth.”
The Dive, Quartermaster, Radio, and Sonar acknowledged, and it wasn’t long before Michigan was at two hundred feet, then at periscope depth a few minutes later. Wilson spun on the scope as it broke the water’s surface.
“No close contacts!”
Wilson steadied on the bearing to Master two, watching the two halves of the frigate fill with water, then upend and slip beneath the surface of the Black Sea. Master four soon followed. There were survivors in the water, floating on the surface in orange life vests. However, Wilson couldn’t stop to pick them up. He had follow-on orders, plus there was plenty of debris in the water to cling to and they weren’t far from shore.
Wilson announced, “All stations, Conn. Heading deep.”
He swung the periscope to a forward-facing position, then lowered it into its well.
“Helm, ahead standard. Left full rudder, steady course zero-five-zero. Dive, make your depth four hundred feet.”
Michigan increased speed as it angled downward and turned to the northeast.
93
OMSK, RUSSIA
Captain Martin placed his rucksack on the ground and, after sorting through its contents, retrieved the desired items. One was a material he was familiar with, having employed C-4 explosive many times. The other was an item he hadn’t seen before, although it was easily identified as a detonator. A bit exotic, he thought, with an integrated design leaving no wires between the electronics and detonator. Also missing was a remote initiator, and after pondering its absence, he realized the detonator was activated via a remote cellular or satellite signal.
With the items laid out before him, Martin focused next on where they’d be used. The Omsk Oil Refinery was a massive installation: a maze of metal facilities, pipelines, and storage tanks. While researching his target, Martin learned that the Omsk Oil Refinery, in addition to being Russia’s biggest, was one of its best, winning Industrial Product gold prizes for its Euro-98 Super Petrol and Euro Diesel for cold weather conditions.
Not for much longer.
The men in his unit carried twelve sets of detonators and C-4, and Martin selected several key locations: the catalytic cracking gasoline and diesel fuel hydrotreatment units, the AT-9 distillation unit, and the nine biggest storage tanks. He gathered his men around before they set out on their tasks, reminding them of the warning they’d been given. Once it’s been activated, do not move the detonator.