Once in the Akula’s baffles and assured Denver would not be detected, Buchanan took the 1MC mike for the general announcements system and addressed the crew, “This is the Captain speaking,” he said in a firm voice and chose words to enhance the crew’s confidence. “We are in contact with the enemy, an Akula class submarine. She is opening to the north and gives no indication of having detected us. We’ll let the target open to beyond his effective counterattack range and fire two Sealance missiles at him. I expect all hands to give their best. I’ll keep you informed.”
The crew liked this, one of many changes since the tenure of Buchanan’s predecessor. This new skipper made each crewman feel the importance of his role in the ship’s mission. They liked that.
Captain Buchanan released the 1MC press-to-talk switch, turned his attention to the Attack Center Battle Station crew and calmly said in a soft, controlled tone, “Well gentlemen, let’s find out how good we are at a submarine first, letting a target get by and open to long-range. Dan, when will the target be there?”
“Computed target will reach firing range in twenty-three minutes, Captain.”
Buchanan nodded. “Thank you, Dan. Jack, that gives us enough time for two streets of cribbage … you ready for another lesson?”
Astonished, Jack Olsen quickly read Buchanan’s strategy. He’d just expressed confidence in the attack party. “You’re on, Skipper.” The two disappeared, heading for the wardroom.
Broad grins spread across each face in the Attack Center. Even the stoic Jacques Henri could not resist initiating an exchange of wit. “Now what’s different about this picture?”
Brent replied, “Don’t know, Henri. For some reason I find it hard to remember.”
Twenty minutes later, Dan announced on the 21MC, “Captain, Conn. Three minutes till shoot, sir. Brent recommends spin up the birds, flood and open the outers.”
“Do it,” came Buchanan’s casual reply.
Dan demanded over the 21MC, “Sonar, Conn, hear anything?”
Gary Hansen’s voice replied, “Nothing hard, Conn. Occasional transients on the generated bearing line.”
“Conn aye, sonar. Give us a mark on the next one for fire control. Pay attention all the way ’round. Don’t let Ivan sneak up and get us napping. We’ll give it one more baffle clear and we’re ready to shoot.”
Hansen replied, “Sonar, aye.”
With the baffle clear maneuver completed, Hansen reported, “No contacts, Conn. Here’s a mark for fire control. A good one.”
Dan ordered, “Conn aye, sonar. Match bearings, Brent.”
“Matched,” replied Brent.
Next, Dan notified Buchanan over the 21MC, “Captain, Conn ready to fire, sir.”
With his trademark soft monotone, Buchanan asked, “What are we waiting for?”
Initially taken aback by the captain’s casual approach, Dan quickly recovered. “Final bearing and shoot!” he ordered.
Brent called out, “Bearing matched, fire one!”
The launcher gave its customary shudder as it expelled the new missile into the seaway.
Sonar reported unnecessarily, “Rocket motor start.”
The booster ignited at the surface and the noise could be heard in the Attack Center on the underwater telephone speaker. The long-range combined with Denver being in the target’s baffles prevented the event from being detected by the hapless Akula.
Buchanan called on the 21MC, “Conn, Captain. I’ll be in sonar. Check fire on two but be ready. We’ll use the bearing to the MK-50 explosion as a spot when we hear it.”
Dan replied, “Conn aye, Captain.”
Grinning, Brent asked, “Why didn’t you ask who won the cribbage game, Dan?”
Hansen reported, “Torpedo running on the target bearing line.”
Brent exclaimed, “Damn! Now if we only got the range right!”
Seconds later the rumble of a warhead explosion sounded over the underwater telephone. Cheers erupted throughout the Attack Center.
Hansen reported, “Conn, Sonar, explosion. Can no longer hear the MK-50.”
“Conn, aye, Sonar. Listen closely and see if you can find out what the target’s doing.”
Five miles north of the wounded Akula, SSN 637 Class USS Clamagore heard the same commotion and scanned the area with short periscope looks. Suddenly a huge black hull pushed its way above the waves and Clamagore released a previously readied salvo of two Encapsulated Harpoon Cruise Missiles. At mach point eight five, it didn’t take long for them to reach the target. In less than a minute, each bird made its terminal maneuver and cracked into the hull of the unsuspecting submarine. Just minutes later the foundering Akula disappeared beneath the waves forever.
Identical scenes played out six more times across the lower boundary of MACEDONIAN, destroying the entire Soviet screen. Satellites received reports from the laser equipped 688s and rebroadcast them to the MACEDONIAN Flagship.
Commodore Eric Danis said to Denver’s new commanding officer, “Ya know, Skipper, I’m sure glad the Soviets obey the rules. Do you think they even close cover before striking?”
Denver joined other SUBPAC 688s and 637s making their way into what history would record as The Bering Sea Fish Barrel Shoot. MACEDONIAN units charged with disrupting the Soviet offshore screen succeeded beyond their wildest dreams, again because the Soviets followed instructions to the letter. The Soviets sacrificed stealth, the most important submarine asset and paid for it dearly.
U.S. forces dispatched twelve Soviet offshore screen units before the Soviets caught on and sent desperate messages to the Northern Fleet units ordering them to withdraw and advising the Zhukov maneuver had been compromised. Most of the soviet submarines well south in the Bering Sea en route to the Pacific Ocean received the warning too late. By then, SUBLANT units had completed their transits and blocked the Soviet escape routes.
Commodore Danis ordered transmission of instructions to attack.
FLASH PRECEDENCE TO ALL MACEDONIAN UNITS. INITIATE ATTACK ON NORTHERN FLEET 130130Z. PICK ONE OUT OF THE FLOCK AND SHOOT. GOOD HUNTING AND GOD BLESS. ERIC DANIS SENDS.
High radiated noise levels from the older Soviet ships masked the approaching attackers who fired at point-blank range. Some units, having received the withdraw message and hearing distant explosions, retired toward shallow water and surfaced, hoping to take cover among the many inlets in the Kamchatka Peninsula. American submarines followed as close as they dared and attacked with anti-ship missiles. MACEDONIAN units performed like a school of hungry sharks in a feeding frenzy.
Finally, Commodore Danis said to Captain Jim Buchanan, “I think we’ve done as much good as we can. I’m concerned our guys might get too cocky and take unnecessary risks.”
Jim nodded. “I agree, Commodore. The fight actually ended when we took out their high priced hardware. But additional kills boost the morale factor. The country needs this.”
Danis replied, “Good, Jim. Draft a withdraw message. I’d like score reports as units cross a line two hundred miles southeast of Kamchatka. It’s risky, but folks at home are long overdue for some good news.”
Jim grinned at his boss. “I’ll do that, Commodore. And may I extend my congratulations, sir, to the first victorious commander in a major naval engagement in more than forty-seven years?”
The commodore’s eyebrows arched. “Thank you, Jim. By God, you’re right. The thought never occurred to me.”
“Didn’t it, sir? Welcome to Macedonia.”