SSN - Tom Clancy [121]
"Very well, fire control," answered the captain. Cheyenne turned to the southwest and immediately gained contact on two Akulas. The contact was on all sonar arrays, and the tonals allowed the certainty of the classification by the sonar supervisor.
The Akulas had been running at flank toward Cheyenne's last known position. This was simply more stupidity from the new Chinese crews, who were obviously enjoying their high speed submarines-and Mack appreciated it. When the BSY-1 operators and the fire-control coordinator were satisfied with the TMA solution on Masters 135 and 136, he ordered, "Firing point procedures, Master 135, tube three, and Master 136, tube four."
The combat systems officer reported the course, speed and range of the two targets. "Sonar, conn, stand by." "Conn, sonar, standing by." "Match sonar bearings and shoot, tubes three and four."
"Match sonar bearings and shoot, tubes three and four, aye, sir."
"Tubes three and four fired electrically," reported the combat systems officer.
"Conn, sonar, units from tubes three and four running hot, straight, and normal," came the report from the sonar supervisor as the two torpedoes executed their wire-clearance maneuvers.
The torpedoes were set to run at medium speed until acquisition, at which time they would increase speed and angle up from their deep search depth beneath the layer. At that point the torpedoes would pitch up and complete their acceleration to attack speed.
"Very well, sonar," Mack said. "Time to acquisition?"
"Eight minutes, thirty-five seconds, Captain," answered the combat systems officer.
A few minutes later Mack heard, "Both units have acquired."
"Conn, sonar, Masters 135 and 136 are increasing speed, cavitating heavily."
Sonar reported noisemakers launched by the two Akulas. Mack countered that by ordering, "Steer the weapons." Cheyenne's course was changed to the right by ninety degrees so the bearings to the incoming Akulas and to their stationary noisemakers would diverge. When a bearing spread was obtained, the combat systems officer reported the torpedoes on course for intercept.
"Cut the wires, shut the outer doors, and reload tubes three and four," ordered the captain. "Make tubes one and two ready in all respects, including opening the outer doors."
He knew a melee was about to occur, and he wanted Cheyenne ready.
"Conn, sonar, we have four torpedoes in the water, between bearings 270 and 265. Both Akulas have launched again."
They're also running nearly side by side, Mack thought. It was time for Cheyenne to clear datum. It was also time for more countermeasures to be launched.
"Steady as she goes, all ahead flank. Do not cavitate.
Make your depth one thousand feet." Mack followed this with, "Rig ship for depth charge."
His plan was to let the countermeasures do their work while Cheyenne quietly ran away from the scene.
Cheyenne reached flank speed, on course 085, and at one thousand feet, as the Russian torpedoes entered the baffles after the countermeasures. Sonar didn't hear Cheyenne's last two torpedoes as they entered their terminal homing modes.
"Conn, sonar, two explosions in our baffles," But Mack couldn't slow yet, which meant he couldn't turn and determine the fate of the Akulas. There was also too much reverberation to get both direct path and bottom bounce information, so no range would be available anyway.
A short while later, though, he knew he didn't have to turn. Sonar picked up the familiar implosions as external pressure vessels on the Russian SSNs imploded from their descent to the bottom of the northern Philippine Sea, five thousand fathoms below.
Mack was satisfied. Seven more kills for Cheyenne, not counting the Hainan. That's what CTF 74 and CINC-PACFLT had wanted: more Akula kills. And they got two Kilo kills to boot.
When they had