Marks shared his opinion that this sub was probably on an intelligence and surveillance mission. It was possible that the Russian sub was a new one that came from the Baltic region — one that somehow got past U.S. detection.
Simon contributed some additional information. “We’re running ops on Castro sympathizers and pro-Castro organizations that are Russian-supported. We tracked three agents we believe came ashore on shrimp boats out of Biloxi and Gulfport at precisely the time you spotted your target. It seems that Russian trained Latin American operatives for the last five months have been coming ashore at night on shrimp boats. They’re making their way to Miami on Greyhound and Trailways buses using different schedules.”
“We have operatives in those organizations and are tracking the agents who came ashore two nights before you spotted your submarine target. There are two shrimp boats we believe are involved, ‘The Carla Rae’ and ‘Miss Janice.’ Both are older vessels, but equipped with night rigging.”
Hodges asked, “Why do you suspect those two boats?”
Simon responded, “These shrimp boats have been in the same local family for years, until eight months ago when they both suddenly changed hands. One was purchased by a shell company out of Panama by the name of Caribbean Seafood, and the other is owned by a wealthy Columbian who has supported several failed attempts to overthrow the current political regime. The captains and crew of these vessels are employees of the offshore operations and are unknown to the local fisherman.”
“We’re monitoring their fuel consumption and catch records. Their records are not consistent with other fishing and fuel records we have. Before we move in, we want to know all the links in the chain. It wouldn’t surprise me if you find either of these two shrimp boats near your target submarine. If you see either of these boats on your patrol or near the target, immediately let us know.”
Hodges nodded and said, “Of course”.
Marks and Simon took copies of Hodges’ sonar readings and charting records. Marks indicated they were working other intelligence sources on the identification of the Russian sub. They went over Hodges’ orders and confirmed he was to regain contact of the Russian sub and continue pursuit but not engage unless fired upon. He had an around-the-clock hotline team working on sub activity, which was also being coordinated with Pensacola and Key West.
Marks indicated, “At this time, we do not want to raise suspicion or force hostile contact. Depending on how this works out, we may want to force this Russian submarine to the surface. Pensacola may be your best help in that regard. They have increased their buoy pattern and airborne patrols. It won’t be long before we find the bastard. We just need other intelligence information to tie the whole thing together.”
Marks had some words especially for Hodges. “A longtime friend of yours, Larry Jessup, says hello and sends his regards. Larry was heading up the intelligence group that he and Simon coordinated with. Larry said to tell you he has your back.”
Hodges smiled and immediately felt more confident about his mission, knowing that someone he knew at the top was looking at his decisions. The troublesome thought had crossed his mind that his mission could be a decoy to provoke an incident with the Russians that could be deadly. But now he was reassured. Because of his longstanding relationship with Larry, dating back to the Naval Academy, Hodges doubted that Larry would knowingly allow that to happen.
24
Commander John G. Hodges had been captain of the Prowfish for over two years. Hodges was an experienced naval officer and submariner and a graduate of the Naval Academy in electrical engineering. After graduation, he immediately applied for sea duty and spent a year on a destroyer before being granted permission to apply and attend graduate school at Princeton. He first became interested in sonar electronics while at Princeton, where he received his master’s degree in electrical engineering.
While in graduate school, he had the chance to work with several private electronics companies on sonar ideas he had developed, including General Electric and Raytheon. He also worked with private research companies, doing work with underwater mammals and their communication methods.
Hodges was very interested in how certain species of whales with long migratory patterns could vary the range of their echo soundings greatly by internally changing the frequency of their sound patterns. The whales did this by contracting muscles around their sound chambers. This capability gave the migratory pod the ability to locate members who became separated and to identify certain prey activity well beyond the whale’s normal range. Hodges plotted these signals and believed he could recreate this capability electronically by changing the sonar sound wave patterns and frequencies.
During his research, Hodges developed sonar and radar display screens with much higher resolution than anything preceding them. His software and algorithms, applied to his refined screen display, allowed electronic signals to be broken down into much finer detail. Hodges briefed the Navy on his sonar screen and software technology, and he attracted interest at the highest level at the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). He was able to take the sound recordings of a ship’s propeller made in the water as it turned, called the ship’s cavitations signature, and break that signature into seventeen distinct signals using his new screen, signal analyzer, and the algorithms he had developed. He could identify not only the ship, but the ship’s power plant and propulsion system, estimated speed, and several other characteristics not previously possible.
In several presentations to CNO, Hodges also showed how submarines equipped with his system would be way ahead of the Soviets. The presentations Hodges made brought attention to the new technology, which the Navy began employing almost immediately. Many members at CNO’s office respected Hodges’ electronic and sonar expertise. Some felt that Hodges should remain in scientific research, but Hodges had rejected any suggestions to pursue a research career. He had instead wanted to be at sea, using his sonar and electronics expertise in tactical warfare situations.
By the time Hodges was given command of the Prowfish, he had spent sixteen years commanding ships, mostly submarines. He first heard of the Prowfish while the boat was still being rehabilitated at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. He immediately began positioning himself to modify the conversion plans so that they were more to his liking, and to ultimately be given command of the Prowfish.
By leaning on a friend in command, he was able to get himself appointed as consultant to the Chief Engineer in charge of electronic conversion of the Prowfish. Hodges was able to persuade the Chief Engineer and others overseeing the project that certain specifications of the electronic conversion should be changed. He argued that the current conversion was following an outdated protocol that would make the vessel obsolete before the conversion was complete. He argued that new electronic and sonar systems were available and should be used, offering a complete redesign of the electronic sonar system conversion.