“Steersman, left full rudder, steady course zero-three-five, ahead full.”
Kazan’s attack on Alexander would have to wait.
“Battle Stations Torpedo is manned,” the Chief of the Watch reported as Wilson returned to the Control Room, “with the exception of the Conning Officer.”
Wilson rectified that issue. “This is the Captain. I have the Conn. Lieutenant Bradley retains the Deck.”
A glance at the nearest combat control console told Wilson what he needed to know. Both Russian submarines were to the south. Unfortunately, whether the two contacts were to the southeast or southwest was unknown, since Michigan had been at all stop, unable to maneuver to resolve the towed array’s bearing ambiguity. Making matters worse, Michigan was pointed south, toward the Russian submarines.
“Helm, ahead standard. Hard left rudder, steady course north.”
Without knowing which bearings were correct, deciding which way to turn was a fifty-fifty proposition. But now that Michigan was moving, Sonar would be able to resolve the matter.
As Michigan increased speed, swinging slowly to the north, Sonar reported, “Conn, Sonar. Gained Sierra five-one on the spherical array, bearing two-one-five.”
Bearing ambiguity had been resolved. Sierra five-one was to the southwest.
Wilson announced, “Designate Sierra five-one as Master one. Track Master one.”
Master one was to the southwest and Wilson had turned away. He’d guessed correctly. As Michigan steadied up on its new course to the north, a well-known Submarine Force adage flashed through his mind.
It’s better to be lucky than good.
Submarine combat wasn’t an exact science. Due to the uncertainty in target range, course, and speed resulting from prosecuting targets with passive sonar only, combat was guided by numerous estimates and hunches. No matter how skilled a submarine’s crew or superior its submarine and weapons were, a single turn in the wrong direction could spell disaster.
As Michigan steadied up at ahead standard, Wilson focused on the nearest combat control console, wondering whether either Russian submarine had detected Michigan before it completed its turn to the north. His Executive Officer’s announcement answered his question.
“Possible target zig, Master one, due to upshift in frequency.”
The Russian submarine had turned toward Michigan and likely increased speed as well. Michigan wasn’t as fast as Russian nuclear attack submarines, and with two Dry Deck Shelters attached to the missile deck, was a few knots slower than her official speed. Wilson couldn’t outrun the Russian submarine. He’d have to slip away. To do that, he needed to know what course the Russian submarine was on.
“Confirm target zig,” the Executive Officer announced. “Master one has turned to the northeast and increased speed.”
Wilson responded, “Helm, ahead full. Left ten degrees rudder. Steady course three-three-zero.”
The Helm complied and Michigan swung to the northwest, keeping Master one out of its baffles, so its approach could be monitored with both the spherical and towed arrays. Shortly after steadying on the new ordered course, however, Master one faded from the spherical array.
“Conn, Sonar. Loss of Master one on the spherical array.”
That was good news. Michigan was opening range. Wilson studied the combat control console displays, with his Executive Officer hovering behind them, evaluating the target solutions. All three consoles were converging on similar parameters. Master one was on course zero-three-five at twenty-five knots, eight thousand yards and opening. It looked like Master one had picked up a mechanical transient from Michigan, most likely due to closing the large Dry Deck Shelter doors. That the Russian submarine remained steady on course meant it hadn’t gained Michigan on its sensors.
With Michigan opening range now, it was unlikely the Russian submarine would detect them, unless the speedy attack submarine turned in a lucky direction and gained ground. Wilson decided to remain at ahead full, as ahead flank would put excessive propulsion-related noises into the water and give away Michigan’s presence. Six hours at ahead full should be sufficient, Wilson figured, then he could alter course toward the nearest NATO port to drop off the torpedo as directed, where it would be flown back to the U.S. for examination.
Kazan had been traveling at ahead full for an hour. The problem with mechanical transients was that you had no idea how far away the source was. It could be two thousand yards away or twenty thousand yards. Additionally, transients usually lasted for only a few seconds and you had to close the distance quickly, hoping to gain continuous contact on the spherical or towed arrays before the target slipped away. Unfortunately, Kazan was approaching the edge of its operating area and could proceed no farther, not that it would do much good if they could. It looked like the uninvited submarine, most likely American, had slipped away with one of Russia’s torpedoes.
Mikhail admitted defeat. He instructed his Communications Officer to draft an urgent message to Northern Fleet command with the details of today’s detections, then he turned his submarine around.
“Steersman, right twenty degrees rudder, steady course two-zero-zero.”
Time to return to the torpedo exercise. Alexander was waiting.
CHAPTER 9
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
Founded in 1639 on Aquidneck Island, Newport is known for the “Summer White Houses” used by Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. By the turn of the twentieth century, the seaside resort had become the summer playground of American’s wealthiest families, including the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Morgans, who resided for the brief summer social season in grand, gilded mansions. Newport is also the site of one of America’s two Naval Undersea Warfare Centers. NUWC Division Newport is the Navy’s premier research, development, and test center for warfare systems associated with the undersea battlespace. With an uninterrupted lineage dating back to the establishment of the Naval Torpedo Station on Goat Island in 1869, Newport was where Russia’s newest heavyweight torpedo arrived late last night.
Tony DelGreco entered the secure bay in building 1319, passing through the security checkpoints. It was only 7 a.m., but the bay was full of technicians taking photographs and disassembling the Russian torpedo. The nose array at the front of the weapon was almost a complete loss, having been crushed when the torpedo ran into the Russian submarine. However, the transducer elements, which generated the sonar ping and received the returns, could be salvaged and analyzed to determine if a breakthrough had been achieved either in signal strength or fidelity. The rest of the torpedo, aside from the guidance and control section aft of the nose array, which had flooded with seawater, was in excellent condition.
Technicians were busy inspecting engine and warhead parts while electrical engineers were reconditioning the microprocessor circuit cards, rinsing the saltwater deposits away with deionized water, after which the cards would be thoroughly dried prior to energizing them. Hopefully, the torpedo’s power system had shut down quickly enough after impact so that the electrical circuits hadn’t been damaged when the guidance and control section flooded.
DelGreco stopped by the lead mechanical engineer, who was supervising engine disassembly.