Torpedo is accelerating to attack speed now.”
The Sonar Supervisor’s next report came over the 29-MC announcing circuit almost immediately. “All stations — Sonar has loud underwater explosion off the starboard quarter, bearing one-six-zero.”
Chief McPherson keyed her mike. “Sonar — USWE. Are you detecting secondary explosions?”
The answer was a few seconds in coming. “USWE — Sonar. Negative.
We did not detect secondaries. But we have no echoes on contact Charlie.”
Chief McPherson keyed her mike. “USWE, aye.” She released the mike button. This was the tricky part. When a torpedo killed a submarine, there was usually a string of secondary explosions following the initial detonation of the warhead. Fuel tanks, battery cells, and the submarine’s torpedoes, all going off in explosions of their own. The lack of secondaries wasn’t conclusive proof that the submarine hadn’t been destroyed. It was possible for the submarine’s hull to crack and fill with water without setting off a string of secondary explosions. But it was rare, and — when it did happen — it turned battle damage assessment into a guessing game.
Had Firewalker’s torpedo killed the sub? Or had it destroyed a decoy?
Was their mission complete now? Or was the sub still lurking out there, waiting for a chance to kill them?
The answer was not long in coming.
“USWE — Sonar. Contact designated Bravo has increased speed and turned toward the minefield. We’re detecting shaft and blade signatures consistent with a Type 212 series submarine.”
The chief banged her fist on the CDRT. “Damn! He tricked us again!”
She keyed her mike. “Sonar — USWE. Copy all. Your contact Bravo is now re-designated as Gremlin Zero Four. Break. UB — USWE. Contact Bravo is now re-designated as Gremlin Zero Four.”
“USWE — UB, copy all. Be advised that Gremlin Zero Four is at the very edge of our torpedo engagement envelope. I hold a firm fire control solution. If we’re going to shoot this guy, we need to do it soon.”
Chief McPherson looked at Gremlin Zero Four’s track history on the CDRT’s display screen. The submarine was heading straight for the minefield.
“USWE, aye. Break. TAO — USWE. Sonar holds a solid track on Gremlin Zero Four, and UB has a firm fire control solution. Request batteries released.”
The TAO’s voice came back at once. “USWE — TAO. You have batteries released. Kill contact Gremlin Zero Four.”
“TAO — USWE, Batteries released, kill contact Gremlin Zero Four, aye. Break. UB — USWE. Kill contact Gremlin Zero Four with over-the-side torpedo.”
“UB, aye. Going to Standby. Going to Launch. Torpedo away — now, now, NOW!”
The Sonar Supervisor’s report followed a second later. “USWE — Sonar, we have weapon start-up.”
A blue friendly-weapon symbol appeared on the CDRT. Chief McPherson watched it begin to move toward the hostile-submarine symbol that represented Gremlin Zero Four. “Go get the bastard,” she whispered.
The 29-MC speakers thundered to life. “All Stations — Sonar has hydrophone effects off the starboard quarter! Bearing one-five-three. Initial classification: hostile torpedo!”
“Damn! He’s shooting down our line of bearing!” Chief McPherson said. She keyed her mike. “Crack the whip! Bridge — USWE. We have an inbound hostile torpedo. I say again — crack the whip!”
“Bridge, aye!”
With a rising wail, the ship’s gas turbine engines spun up to flank speed.
The Officer of the Deck’s voice blared over the 1-MC. “All hands stand by for heavy rolls while performing high-speed evasive maneuvers.”
The deck heeled to starboard as the big destroyer came sharply about for the first high-speed turn demanded by the crack-the-whip torpedo evasion maneuver.
Chief McPherson latched on to the edge of the CDRT as the deck tilted one way and then the other. On the screen, she could see new POSS-SUB symbols appearing. Gremlin Zero Four was launching another set of decoys.
After nearly five minutes of evasive maneuvering, the Sonar Supervisor’s voice came over Chief McPherson’s headset again.
“USWE — Sonar. The hostile torpedo has not acquired. Seems like we dodged the bullet.”
“USWE, aye,” the chief said into her mike. “Looks like we’re not the only ones.” On the CDRT, it was obvious that Gremlin Zero Four’s tricky little maneuver with the decoys had worked again. The submarine had managed to evade their torpedo.
She paused to reassess the tactical situation. With half an ear, she heard the Electronics Warfare Operator report six more inbound Vipers, followed a few seconds later by the rumble of launching SM-3s. She keyed her mike. “UB — USWE, do you hold a good track on Gremlin Zero Four?”
“USWE — UB. That’s affirmative. I’ve got a firm solution on the target, but the submarine is outside our torpedo engagement envelope now.
We’re going to have to close the range before we can shoot again.”
“USWE, aye.”
Updated tracking data for Gremlin Zero Four was coming through on the CDRT display. Chief McPherson slewed her cursor over to the most recent position symbol for the submarine and began punching keys.
“Shit!”
She punched into the tactical net. “TAO — USWE. Based on current course and speed, I hold Gremlin Zero Four as entering the minefield in less than one minute.”
Captain Bowie was at her side before she had even released the mike button. “Are we within torpedo range?”
The chief shook her head. “Negative, sir. We need to get closer. But, as soon as we close within range, he’s going to shoot at us again.”
“We can’t let that sub get away,” the captain said.
“I know, sir.”
“We don’t have much of a choice,” the captain said. “Shift the sonar to Kingfisher mode. We’re going into the minefield.”
“Sir, with all due respect, that’s not going to work,” Chief McPherson said. “The Kingfisher software is designed to detect mine-sized objects only. It will clip out anything with a cross-section larger than about six feet. We won’t be able to see the submarine, sir.”
“Then we’ll alternate: two sweeps in Kingfisher mode, and one sweep in Search mode. Your operators will have to look sharp; they’re only going to see the mines two-thirds of the time, and the target one-third of the time. Understand?”
Chief McPherson’s eyebrows went up. “I understand, sir.” She pointed to the CDRT display. “The submarine is entering the minefield now.”
The Tactical Action Officer appeared at the captain’s elbow. “Sir, Silkworm launcher four is out of business. We’re shifting fire to site number five.”
Captain Bowie nodded. “We need to knock those last two launchers out quickly. We’re headed into the minefield.”
“Sir?”
The captain patted the TAO on the shoulder. “Let chief here worry about the mines. You just keep the heat on those missile launchers.”
“Aye-aye, sir.”
Another report came over the Tactical Action Officer’s headset, snatching his attention away from the submarine and the minefield.
“TAO — EW. I have two active J-band radar seekers! And there’s the second flight, two more. Make that four inbound Vipers.”
“TAO, aye. Break. Air — TAO. Can you confirm incoming Vipers?”
“Affirmative, sir,” the Air Supervisor said. “SPY confirms, four Vipers inbound!”