Wilson evaluated the scenario. If the Kilo turned west, it’d be paralleling Michigan’s path. If the Russian captain turned east, he’d be able to work in behind Michigan. Either way, Wilson had to open range.
“Helm, left twenty-degrees rudder, steady course two-four-zero.”
Wilson turned southwest, placing the Russian submarine on the starboard stern quarter, still within arc of Michigan’s spherical array sonar, so they could monitor the Kilo’s maneuvers and listen for torpedo launch transients.
Opening range and slipping away was critical, because USS Michigan was still Weapons-Tight. They hadn’t received orders to sink Russian surface ships or submarines. If fired upon, Wilson could take whatever actions were required to ensure the safety of his crew. But it was best if they could slip away, fading from the Kilo’s sensors before the Russian crew determined a firing solution.
“Possible target maneuver, Hydroacoustic one-three, due to decrease in frequency.”
Captain Second Rank Tratnyek listened to the fire control watchstander’s report, then evaluated the implications. The American submarine had suddenly turned away. Tratnyek’s Kilo had been counter-detected. However, he still had a significant advantage. Russia wasn’t at war with the United States yet, and the American captain wouldn’t be authorized to shoot just because he detected a Russian submarine. Tratnyek, however, did have authorization to attack. If his crew maintained trail, they could close to within an optimal firing position, leaving the American crew insufficient time to counterfire.
“Steersman, left fifteen degrees rudder, steady course two-two-zero. Increase speed to ahead full.”
“Upshift in frequency, Sierra two-seven. Sonar, Coordinator, aye.”
Patzke acknowledged Sonar’s report over the sound-powered phone circuit, then announced, “Possible target zig, Sierra two-seven, due to upshift in frequency.”
Wilson listened to Patzke’s announcement, then waited for the Fire Control Tracking Party to determine the contact’s new course and speed. The target could have turned toward them, increased speed, or both. It took a few minutes before Patzke confirmed the maneuver.
“Confirm target zig, Sierra two-seven, contact turned toward and increased speed. Set anchor range at ten thousand yards.”
The Kilo’s captain had detected Michigan’s maneuver and had turned to follow, increasing speed to close to a more favorable firing position. Two could play that game.
“Helm, ahead full.”
Wilson considered increasing speed to ahead flank. The Kilo submarine wouldn’t be able to keep up, but if there were other Russian subs in the area, the extra propulsion noise at ahead flank would give away Michigan’s presence and approximate position. It was better to stick to a measured response, going to ahead flank only if required. At ahead full, the Kilo submarine would be forced to its maximum speed, at which it could remain for only a half-hour. If it was going to attack, it would have to do so before then.
“Command Post, Hydroacoustic. Hydroacoustic one-three has increased speed.”
Tratnyek acknowledged the report, then examined the geographic display on the nearest fire control console. The American captain was forcing his hand. Tratnyek’s submarine couldn’t keep pace for long.
So be it.
He looked to Captain Third Rank Grigory Domashev, Velikiy Novgorod’s First Officer, who was hunched over the shoulders of the two men at the fire control consoles. Once their adversary’s course was refined to within ten degrees and its speed to within a few knots, they’d be ready.
Domashev tapped one michman on the shoulder. “Set as Primary.”
The michman complied and Domashev reported, “Captain, I have a firing solution.”
Tratnyek announced, “Prepare to fire, Hydroacoustic one-three, horizontal salvo, tubes One and Two. Tube One will fire first.”
He was shooting from long distance, increasing the American submarine’s odds of survival. Even so, a two-torpedo salvo, with the torpedoes running side by side in the shallow water, would make it difficult for his adversary to evade. Plus, it gave him two weapons he could steer, using the thin guidance wire attached from the submarine’s torpedo tube to the torpedo.
Domashev called out, “Solution updated.”
“Torpedo ready,” the Weapons Officer reported.
“Countermeasures armed,” the Watch Officer announced.
Tratnyek gave the order. “Fire tubes One and Two!”
“Torpedo in the water, bearing three-five-five!”
Wilson responded immediately. “Helm, ahead flank. Launch countermeasures.”
The Helm rang up ahead flank and Lieutenant Cody launched a set of Michigan’s decoys and jammers. White scalloped circles appeared on the geographic display, recording their countermeasure locations.
Wilson examined the geographic display. A red bearing line was radiating toward Sierra two-seven. With the torpedo approaching from the starboard stern quarter, Michigan was already on an adequate evasion course, assuming the torpedo was fired on a line-of-bearing solution.
No maneuver was required, so Wilson focused on getting a torpedo into the water. They were tracking Sierra two-seven, but Patzke hadn’t determined a satisfactory firing solution. With Michigan increasing speed to ahead flank, they’d likely lose Sierra two-seven due to the turbulent water flow across Michigan’s bow array. They needed to launch a torpedo soon.
Wilson joined Patzke, examining the target parameters on the three combat control consoles. They were converging toward similar solutions. As Wilson estimated how long before Patzke felt comfortable with one of them, he was interrupted by another announcement by the Sonar Supervisor.
“Torpedo in the water, bearing three-five-eight!”
A purple bearing line appeared on the geographic display. Their adversary had launched a two-torpedo salvo. Wilson responded instantly.
“Quick Reaction Firing, Sierra two-seven, tube One.”
Wilson implemented an urgent firing order, which forced his Executive Officer to send his best solution to the torpedo immediately. The Russian captain wouldn’t know how well aimed the torpedo was, and it was better to give him something to worry about instead of letting him refine his target solution and send updates to his torpedoes over their guidance wires.
Lieutenant Commander Patzke shifted his gaze between the three combat control consoles, then tapped one of the fire control technicians on the shoulder. “Promote to Master.”
Patzke announced, “Solution ready!”
Lieutenant Trevor Powers, seated beside another fire control technician at the Weapon Control Console, reported, “Weapon ready!”
“Ship ready!” Lieutenant Cody announced.
“Shoot on generated bearings!” Wilson ordered.
Wilson listened to the whirr of the torpedo ejection pump as the torpedo was impulsed from the tube, accelerating from rest to thirty knots in less than a second. Inside the sonar shack, the sonar technicians monitored the status of their outgoing unit.
“Own ship’s unit is in the water, running normally.”
“Fuel crossover achieved.”
“Turning to preset gyro course.”
“Shifting to medium speed.”
Michigan’s torpedo headed toward its target.