Blackmail

92 USS MICHIGAN

As the Black Sea flooded into the submarine’s Engine Room, Michigan’s stern tilted downward. During flooding, Wilson’s crew was trained to automatically increase the submarine’s speed. The hull served as a hydrofoil, like an airplane wing, with the amount of lift determined by the submarine’s speed and angle. The faster the submarine traveled and the higher the angle, the more flooding it could endure without sinking into the ocean depths. However, there were two frigates patrolling above Michigan, trying to pinpoint her location. Increasing speed would put additional propulsion-related noise into the water, making it easier for the frigates to accomplish their mission. Wilson decided to remain at slow speed instead, unless the flooding was severe.

The Engine Room watchstanders responded as trained, with the Throttleman opening the ahead throttles and relaying his actions to Control. The Engine Order Telegraph shifted to ahead standard, whereupon Wilson overrode the automatic response.

“Helm, ahead two-thirds.”

The Helm relayed the order back to the Engine Room, and the initial surge from Michigan’s main engines faded, with the submarine settling back out at ten knots. As the stern tilted downward, Wilson waited tensely while the Chief of the Watch lined up the drain pump to the Engine Room bilges, cross-connecting the trim pump as well. When the twin eight-foot-tall pumps kicked in, Michigan’s angle stabilized, then the stern slowly rose, returning the submarine to an even keel. The flooding wasn’t catastrophic; the trim and drain pumps were keeping up.

Wilson turned his attention to the leak from the port periscope barrel seal, spraying into Control. Michigan wasn’t in peril, however. The leak was minimal, more of an annoying shower. Two Auxiliary machinist mates stepped onto the Conn to address the seawater spraying from the overhead. They adjusted the packing around the port periscope, tightening the gland until the leak slowed to a trickle, then stopped. With the gland clamped tightly against the barrel, the port periscope was inoperable, but Wilson still had the starboard scope if needed.

A moment later, an update was received from the Engine Room.

“Conn, Maneuvering. The flooding is stopped.”

Wilson picked up the 2-JV handset, conferring with the Engineering Officer of the Watch, in charge of the watchstanders in the Engine Room. The flooding was from the port Auxiliary Seawater system and had been stopped by shutting the hull isolation valves. Watchstanders were in the process of isolating the damaged section and cross-connecting the port and starboard sides of Auxiliary Seawater, with both sides supplied from the starboard intake.

Wilson’s relief was short-lived, as one of the frigates approached for another pass and Sonar reported more splashes. As the depth charges drifted downward, he decided to maneuver; it looked like the two frigates had a pretty good bead on Michigan’s course and depth. He glanced at the combat control consoles: the operators were working on solutions for the two frigates using sonar bearings, and preliminary estimates indicated they were on east — west runs.

“Helm, hard right rudder, steady course zero-one-zero.”

Michigan wasn’t far from the bottom and Wilson couldn’t go much deeper, so he turned north, where the Black Sea floor sloped quickly down to the Euxine abyssal plain, reaching a depth of seven thousand feet.

The next round of depth charges detonated, jarring Michigan. But the effects weren’t as severe as the last round and no new reports of flooding were received. Wilson turned his attention to his weapons load; they should have reloaded tubes One and Three by now.

Tubes Two and Four could also be reloaded now that their torpedoes had run to fuel exhaustion and their guidance wires were no longer needed, but Wilson decided to wait. It was risky enough to have two torpedo tube breech doors open for loading while being depth charged. Opening all four was asking for trouble. If one of the muzzle door seals failed, it’d be all over; there’d be no way to shut the breech door and Michigan would go to the bottom.

Lieutenant Lawson announced, “Tubes One and Three are ready in all respects.”

Wilson examined the frigate solutions on the combat control system consoles. It was clear the two ships held Michigan on their sonar systems; they had maneuvered to a north — south pattern, following Michigan into deeper water. It was only a matter of time, Wilson figured, before they got lucky; it would take only one depth charge close enough to the hull to breach it. The new solutions for the two frigates were shaky, but he didn’t need refined solutions. Put the MK 48 torpedoes near the two contacts, and they’d take it from there.

“Firing Point Procedures,” Wilson announced, “Master two and four, tubes One and Three, respectively. Use normal surface presets, both weapons.”

The required reports followed, and Wilson studied the solutions to both targets on the geographic display. Not wanting to endure another depth charging, he decided to shoot the closest frigate first.

“Tube One, first fired. Shoot on generated bearings.”

When Lawson received a Ready report from the torpedo, he ordered the tube fired. Sonar monitored the torpedo, verifying it performed properly and didn’t shut down prematurely.

Sonar followed up with, “Tube One is merging onto the track for Master two.”

The first torpedo was closing on the nearest frigate. However, firing torpedoes was a loud event due to using pressurized water to eject the torpedo, with that noise serving as a beacon for the two frigates.

“Helm, ahead flank. Right full rudder, steady course one-eight-zero.”

Michigan turned south, and with the second frigate behind the submarine, Wilson ordered an over-the-shoulder shot.

“Shoot tube Three.”

Lieutenant Lawson complied and Michigan’s second torpedo was ejected.

Both frigates began evasive maneuvering, but the closest ship wasn’t far from Wilson’s first torpedo. The weapon went active, identifying its target immediately.

“Detect, tube One!

“Acquired!

“Homing!”

The first torpedo increased speed and adjusted its trajectory to intercept the frigate, altering course each time the frigate maneuvered. Sonar reported jammers and decoys being ejected into the water, but the torpedo closed the remaining distance.

A loud rumble echoed through the Control Room after the first torpedo exploded.

Wilson turned his attention to the last frigate, examining the geographic plot. It had maneuvered early enough, and the torpedo failed to detect it as it passed by and continued outbound. However, it wasn’t far away from the frigate and a quick steer might do the trick.

Wilson ordered, “Insert steer, tube Three, left one-hundred.”

The Weapons Officer complied, and Wilson watched the display as the torpedo veered sharply left toward the red surface ship symbol. It wasn’t long before Lieutenant Lawson made the report Wilson hoped for.

“Detect, tube Three!”

In quick succession, the torpedo reported it had acquired a valid contact, calculated the evading frigate’s course and speed, and increased speed to close on its prey. A minute later, with the frigate maneuvering wildly and its crew ejecting numerous countermeasures into the water, a second explosion rumbled through Michigan’s Control Room.

It grew quiet in Control as Wilson examined the new target solutions. Based on sonar bearings, both ships were dead in the water, and their machinery noises were growing fainter. Wilson decided to take a look.

“Helm, ahead one-third. Dive, make your depth two hundred feet. All stations, make preparations to proceed to periscope depth.”

The Dive, Quartermaster, Radio, and Sonar acknowledged, and it wasn’t long before Michigan was at two hundred feet, then at periscope depth a few minutes later. Wilson spun on the scope as it broke the water’s surface.

“No close contacts!”

Wilson steadied on the bearing to Master two, watching the two halves of the frigate fill with water, then upend and slip beneath the surface of the Black Sea. Master four soon followed. There were survivors in the water, floating on the surface in orange life vests. However, Wilson couldn’t stop to pick them up. He had follow-on orders, plus there was plenty of debris in the water to cling to and they weren’t far from shore.

Wilson announced, “All stations, Conn. Heading deep.”

He swung the periscope to a forward-facing position, then lowered it into its well.

“Helm, ahead standard. Left full rudder, steady course zero-five-zero. Dive, make your depth four hundred feet.”

Michigan increased speed as it angled downward and turned to the northeast.