Blackmail

88 USS MICHIGAN

Lieutenant Chris Shroyer turned slowly on the periscope as USS Michigan loitered in the Sea of Marmara, watching tankers and other merchant ships pass by in the distance. He was nearing the end of his watch, and after almost six hours going round and round, he had his left arm draped over the periscope handle like a seasoned World War II captain. He knew it was unprofessional, but the submarine’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Dave Beasley, on watch in the Control Room with him, said nothing. He had more important things to worry about.

Beasley was stationed as the Command Duty Officer. While lurking in the Sea of Marmara, either the Executive Officer or Wilson would be in the Control Room, alternating in six-hour shifts. Earlier this morning, Michigan emerged into the Sea of Marmara after following a Suezmax tanker up the Dardanelles, and Captain Wilson and his crew waited patiently for orders. Via the radio receiver at the top of the periscope, Michigan was in continuous communication.

“Conn, Radio. In receipt of a new OPORD.”

Lieutenant Shroyer acknowledged, then pulled the microphone from its holder and pressed the button for the Captain’s stateroom.

“Captain, Officer of the Deck. In receipt of new operational orders.”

Wilson acknowledged and entered the Control Room as a watchstander emerged from the Radio Room, message board in hand.

The submarine’s Captain read the new OPORD, then handed it to his Executive Officer. Lieutenant Shroyer, still going round and round with his face pressed against the periscope, waited for one of the two senior officers to enlighten him. Wilson did the honor, informing Shroyer they’d been ordered into the Black Sea. The last two fast attack submarines in the Atlantic Fleet weren’t far behind, but Michigan would lead the way.

The journey up the Bosphorus was seventeen nautical miles long, which would take less than two hours, plus another tanker to follow. As with the trip up the Dardanelles, Michigan would transit submerged, close behind the largest tanker they could find, and this time, they’d do it without the periscope raised, since it’d be visible in the daylight.

It didn’t take long for a suitable tanker to enter the Marmara Sea, headed north. Wilson took a look, then after verifying they held the contact on Sonar, lowered the periscope.

Wilson announced, “I have the Conn, Lieutenant Shroyer retains the Deck. Helm, ahead two-thirds, right twenty degrees rudder.” As Michigan increased speed and swung around behind the tanker, Wilson ordered, “Steady as she goes.”

As Michigan headed up the Bosphorus, the tension in the Control Room rose as the remaining miles counted down. Wilson and his crew were unsure what awaited them, relying on the latest intel report for the basic order of battle. If the report was correct, there were no Russian submarines remaining in the Black Sea. Five Kilo class attack submarines, along with a Slava class cruiser and Kashin class destroyer, had transited the Turkish Straits into the Mediterranean, where they joined the Northern Fleet as it headed toward the Suez Canal and into the Pacific. What remained in the Black Sea were four anti-submarine warfare frigates, patrolling near the northern end of the Bosphorus.

Wilson guided Michigan up the narrow channel while leaving the submarine’s Deck in Lieutenant Shroyer’s capable hands. The junior officer monitored the two inertial navigators, watching the two white dots on the electronic navigation chart creep up the Bosphorus, and when Michigan was one nautical mile from the channel’s exit into the Black Sea, he informed the Captain as instructed.

Michigan’s Commanding Officer announced, “Raising Number One scope,” then twisted the orange periscope locking ring above his head, raising the attack periscope.

Wilson did a quick 360-degree sweep, returning to a forward view, sweeping back and forth as Michigan entered the Black Sea. As Shroyer wondered if there were Russian combatants in the area, Wilson’s next order clarified the situation.

“Man Battle Stations Torpedo.”