Wilson stood, signaling it was time to get back to work. To the Chief of the Watch, he ordered, “Inform all personnel that normal Battle Stations Torpedo duties may resume. Maintain all communications via the sound-powered phones.”
The word was passed, and after another glance at the target solution for Krasnoyarsk — it was still headed east at about fifteen knots — Wilson decided to prosecute the Russian submarine while in Michigan’s partially crippled state. The turbine generators had been secured, with the battery supplying all vital engineering and tactical loads. The lineup was sufficient to engage an adversary, but full propulsion was not possible without the turbine generators and the reactor coolant pumps they powered. However, Wilson’s plan to sink Krasnoyarsk and avoid counterfire required no propulsion. He gained the attention of the Control Room watchstanders and explained.
“I plan to engage Master one while still in a reduced electrical status. Restoring the electric plant to a normal full power lineup requires bringing the turbine generators online, and I don’t want to risk their tonals being detected. I also don’t want to let Master one open range much farther before engaging. For my plan to work, we need to shoot soon, while Master one is still close.
“As I’m sure you’ve just noted, without the turbine generators, we can’t evade at ahead flank. But even with full propulsion available, starting from all stop, we wouldn’t be able to evade an incoming torpedo if we’re fired upon from a range this close. Instead, once we shoot, we’ll drop back down into the depression we’re currently hiding in. It worked before and hopefully it’ll work again if Master one counterfires. Any questions?”
There were none, so Wilson announced, “Firing Point Procedures, Master one, tube Two.”
The Executive Officer stopped briefly behind each of the combat control consoles, examining the target solution on each one, finally tapping the middle fire control technician, who sent his solution to Weapon Control.
Montgomery called out, “Solution Ready!”
The Fire Control Technician at the Weapon Launch Console sent the course, speed, and range of their target to their MK 48 torpedo in tube Two, along with the desired search presets.
The Weapons Officer announced, “Weapon Ready!”
Lieutenant Resor reported, “Countermeasures are armed. Ship Ready!”
With Michigan one button push away from launching a torpedo, Wilson issued the critical order, bringing the guided missile submarine off the bottom.
“Dive, engage Hovering. Set depth at two-five-zero feet.”
The Diving Officer relayed Wilson’s order to the Chief of the Watch, seated at the Ballast Control Panel, who dialed in 250 feet and energized the submarine’s Hovering system. Blue circles illuminated on the Ballast Control Panel, indicating that valves in the hull were opening. The Chief of the Watch called out periodically as the submarine’s hovering pumps pushed water from Michigan’s variable ballast tanks, increasing the submarine’s buoyancy.
At the forty-thousand-pound mark, Michigan began righting itself from its port list, then rose from the sea floor. Shortly after rising above three hundred feet, Sonar reported, “Gained Master one on the spherical array, direct path.”
Wilson had bottomed Michigan on a course of zero-seven-zero, pointed in what was now Krasnoyarsk’s direction. Now that Michigan was rising above the nearby coral reef, its bow sonar array had a clear view of the Russian submarine and the torpedo tube openings in the bow were likely clear of the reef. Wilson had ordered a depth of 250 feet — an extra fifty feet higher than they would likely need — just in case.
“On ordered depth, two-five-zero feet,” the Diving Officer announced.
After one final assessment of the tactical situation, Wilson confirmed Michigan was ready to launch its torpedo. Although he had explained his plan to drop back into the depression they’d been hiding in, Krasnoyarsk likely wouldn’t be able to counterfire at all.
Wilson was hoping that Russian torpedoes had similar safety features as U.S. torpedoes. One of those safeguards was Anti-Circular Run, or ACR, which would prevent torpedo launch if the course being sent to the torpedo would turn it around after launch, placing the firing submarine in the torpedo sonar’s acquisition cone. As intelligent as modern torpedoes were, they couldn’t discern friend from foe and would lock onto any target that met the criteria. As a result, ACR interlocks were incorporated to ensure a torpedo, once launched, was disabled if it turned far enough so that it was looking back at the firing submarine.
With Michigan almost directly behind Krasnoyarsk, the Russian submarine would likely be prevented from counterfiring until it had turned far enough to clear the ACR constraint, so that its torpedo could turn in Michigan’s direction without seeing Krasnoyarsk. That would take time. Time Wilson hoped the Russian submarine crew wouldn’t have.
Satisfied that the tactical situation was satisfactory, he issued the order.
“Match sonar bearings and shoot!”
The torpedo was impulsed from tube Two, and Sonar monitored the torpedo, ensuring it was operating correctly. Once the final report was received, Wilson issued the next command, moving Michigan to a safer position.
“Dive, set Hovering to four hundred feet.”
The order was relayed to the Chief of the Watch, who adjusted the Hovering system depth setting, then monitored its operation as water was flooded into the variable ballast tanks.
Slowly, Michigan sank back into the bottom depression.
“Command Post, Hydroacoustic. Torpedo launch transient, bearing two-nine-zero!”
Before Novikov could react, Hydroacoustic called out, “Torpedo in the water, bearing two-nine-zero!”
Novikov spun toward the hydroacoustic display. A bright white trace was burning in on their towed array aft beam. Based on the intensity of the trace, the torpedo was close.
The American submarine hadn’t been sunk, after all. Krasnoyarsk’s torpedo must have hit something else, or perhaps had not fatally damaged their adversary.
“Steersman, ahead flank!”
As the steersman rang up maximum propulsion, Novikov selected the optimal evasion course. They were already headed away from the torpedo, which was almost directly behind them, so only a slight change in course was required.
“Steersman, right full rudder, steady course one-four-zero. Launch torpedo decoy!”
Krasnoyarsk swung around as a decoy was launched, which gave Novikov hope until Hydroacoustic’s next report. “Torpedo has gone active!”
The torpedo going active so soon told Novikov it had been fired from close range, which meant it would lock onto Krasnoyarsk before the submarine could open distance from its decoy. It would also catch up to Krasnoyarsk soon. He had to get a torpedo out quickly.
“Counterfire, bearing two-nine-zero, tube Five! Set short-range tactics.”
A target solution would not be sent to the torpedo. Instead, it would be fired down the bearing of the torpedo launch.
“Torpedo is homing!”
Novikov remained focused on preparing their torpedo for firing. The torpedo tube was flooded and muzzle door already open. He waited for the Weapons Officer’s report, which was delayed for some reason.