A few seconds later, one of the fire control technicians monitoring Kazan’s parameters spoke into his headset. “Possible contact zig, Master one, due to upshift in frequency.”
Buglione waited as the Fire Control Tracking Party evaluated whether Kazan had actually zigged, and if so, to what new course and speed.
After evaluating the three combat control console displays, Lieutenant Commander Schwartz, stationed as the Fire Control Coordinator, announced, “Confirmed target zig, Master one. Target has turned to port. Set anchor range, five thousand yards.”
Kazan was trying to evade.
Buglione studied the displays as the watchstanders spent the next few minutes discerning Kazan’s new course and speed, which could be numerous combinations to port.
Schwartz hovered behind the combat control consoles, talking with Sonar occasionally, then tapped one of the fire control technicians on the shoulder. “Promote to master.”
Buglione examined the Russian submarine’s new solution. Kazan had slowed to ten knots and turned ninety degrees to port. Pittsburgh had been counter-detected again, and the Russian captain was trying to slip away. To maintain Pittsburgh in a covert trail, Buglione needed to convince the Russian crew that their evasion was successful.
“Attention in Control,” Buglione announced. “It appears we’ve been counter-detected and Master one is attempting to break trail. We’re going to try and fool the Russian crew into believing they’ve been successful. We’ll remain steady on course and speed, passing behind Master one, then open range to the maximum possible before matching Master one’s new course and speed. Hopefully, by then we’ll have faded from Kazan’s sensors and they won’t realize we’re still in trail. Carry on.”
The watchstanders in Control returned to their duties, although there wasn’t much to do at the moment. Pittsburgh remained steady on course and speed while it passed behind the Russian submarine and began opening range.
Buglione watched the narrowband display as the tonal strength slowly faded, then the Sonar Supervisor’s voice came across the 27-MC.
“Conn, Sonar. We’ve lost the automated tracker on Master one. Buzzing bearings manually to combat control.”
Pittsburgh had dropped back as far as possible, and Buglione needed to hold at this distance, matching Kazan’s course and speed.
“Helm, ahead two-thirds. Left full rudder, steady course one-five-zero.”
Pittsburgh slowed as it turned south, steadying in Kazan’s aft starboard quarter again, trailing from six thousand yards. That was the best he could do. Hopefully, Pittsburgh had disappeared from Kazan’s sensors by now, and the Russian crew had no idea they were still being trailed.
As the American submarine remained steady on course and speed, passing behind Kazan and then opening range, Plecas held hope that Kazan had faded from the American submarine’s sonar screens and was now slipping away. Range had increased to six thousand yards when the Americans reacted.
“Command Post, Hydroacoustic. Possible target maneuver, Hydroacoustic two-one.”
Plecas waited while Kazan’s watch section determined the American submarine’s new course and speed. What Plecas didn’t know yet was whether the American crew had lost Kazan and were turning in a random direction in an attempt to regain contact, or had maintained trail and were falling in behind Kazan again.
A few minutes later, Captain Lieutenant Urnovitz, examining the two fire control console displays, tapped one of the men on his shoulder. “Set as primary solution.”
The American submarine had matched Kazan’s course and speed, but was now following from a greater range. Their covert evasion had failed.
Plecas decided to execute an overt evasion utilizing decoys and jammers. Regarding propulsion — that was a trade-off. The electric drive was quieter but capable of only ten knots, while the normal steam-turbine propulsion was noisier but could propel Kazan at over thirty knots. Plecas decided for a combined approach.
“Attention, all stations. It appears the American submarine has maintained trail, so we will now attempt an overt evasion. After deploying an acoustic jammer, we will shift back to main propulsion and increase speed, hopefully opening range sufficiently before the American submarine penetrates the jammer barrier. Any questions?”
There were no responses, and Plecas issued the first set of orders. “Prepare to shift propulsion to the main engines and eject one jammer.”
Urnovitz soon reported that his watch section was ready.
“Launch jammer,” Plecas ordered.
After ejecting the countermeasure, which emitted a continuous blast of noise designed to blind passive sonars, Plecas directed, “Shift propulsion to the main engines and increase speed to ahead flank.”
“Conn, Sonar. Detect broadband jammer on the bearing to Master one. Loss of Master one.”
Buglione evaluated the sonar display on the Conn.
Damn.
It was apparent the Russian crew still held Pittsburgh and were now conducting an overt evasion. That meant Kazan would increase speed once the jammer was deployed, hoping that by the time Pittsburgh broke through the noise field, Kazan would be beyond sensor range. Buglione couldn’t let that happen.
“Helm, ahead flank.”
As Pittsburgh surged forward, Buglione waited tensely until they passed the jammer, gaining a clear view of the water ahead.
“Sonar, Conn. Report all contacts.”
“Conn, Sonar. Hold no contacts.”
Kazan’s evasion had been successful thus far. But Pittsburgh could still regain the Russian submarine. At this point, there was no advantage in trying to maintain stealth. Kazan obviously knew they were being trailed again, and using active sonar wouldn’t give anything away.
“Sonar, Conn,” Buglione called out. “Transmit MFA Directional, forward sectors, five-thousand-yard range scale.”
Sonar acknowledged the order to transmit Mid-Frequency Active, looking in the two forward quarters, then completed the lineup and reported they were ready.
Buglione ordered, “Sonar, Conn. Transmit,” then shifted the sonar display on the Conn to active sonar.
A small blip appeared.
“Conn, Sonar. Hold a new contact on active sonar, designated Sierra seven-five, bearing two-zero-three, range seven thousand yards.”
A few pings later, they were able to evaluate the contact’s speed — in excess of twenty-five knots — and Schwartz announced, “Sierra seven-five is a regain of Master one.”
“Helm, left ten degrees rudder,” Buglione ordered, “steady course two-zero-three.”
Pittsburgh swung onto its new course. The question now was, could Kazan outrun Pittsburgh?
The 688-class submarine was old, but designed during the Cold War when the ability to keep up with their adversaries was paramount and the cost of submarines less of an issue. Buglione was a betting man, and his money was on Pittsburgh.