Vengeance

30 K-571 KRASNOYARSK

In the Strait of Hormuz, K-571 lurked beneath the water’s surface, its periscope poking four feet above the waves. In the submarine’s Central Command Post, Captain Second Rank Gavriil Novikov pressed his right eye against the scope optics, turning slowly as he examined the surface ships transiting the narrow waterway, searching for a desirable target.

There were few places more hazardous for submarines at periscope depth than the Strait of Hormuz. The opening to the Persian Gulf was only thirty-five miles wide at its narrowest point, and the shipping lanes in the center were even narrower — only two miles wide — separated by a two-mile buffer zone. In the middle of the buffer zone, where the water was deepest and in a position that offered an ideal view of merchant ships exiting the Persian Gulf, Novikov deftly maneuvered his submarine, dodging ships that failed to adhere to the stipulated transit zones.

Twelve days ago, with his submarine tied up alongside a pier in Vladivostok, homeport of the Russian Pacific Fleet, Novikov had received the orders he had yearned for since joining the Navy — the directive to use the skills of his crew and the devastating weaponry at his disposal to sink ships. After all, what was the purpose of building such magnificent submarines and the thousands of hours spent training their crews, if they were never used? He had hoped to engage Russia’s true adversary in underwater warfare — the American Navy — but would have to be content, for the moment, to focus on the initial targets specified in his operational order.

Novikov’s crew typically used the submarine’s ears, rather than its eyes, to track and then avoid or engage a target. But in the busy Strait of Hormuz, the men monitoring the submarine’s hydrophones suffered from sensory overload, unable to efficiently process the numerous contacts scurrying through the narrow waterway. With no enemy surface warships — and their periscope detection radars — in the area, Novikov had decided to remain at periscope depth, using one of the submarine’s two scopes to examine the transiting ships.

Just over the horizon, Novikov detected a likely target. The ship was still hull-down, partially hidden due to the curvature of the Earth; only its superstructure was visible. Gradually, as the ship approached Krasnoyarsk, Novikov gained a clear look at the merchant.

“Man Combat Stations,” he directed Captain Lieutenant Petr Dolinski, the submarine’s Central Command Post Watch Officer, who was standing nearby.

The general alarm reverberated throughout the submarine, followed by the announcement directing all personnel to report to their assigned stations. Three minutes later, Krasnoyarsk was ready for combat, with every console in the Central Command Post energized and manned.

“Captain, Combat Stations are manned,” Dolinski reported, “with the exception of the Conning Officer.”

Novikov acknowledged Dolinski’s report, then announced, “This is the Captain. I have the Conn. Captain Lieutenant Dolinski retains the Watch. Standby for observation, aft scope.”

“Ready,” reported the michman manning the nearest fire control console.

After aligning the periscope to the desired merchant ship, Novikov pressed the red button on the right periscope handle and announced, “Visual one. Bearing, mark. Range, twelve thousand meters. Angle on the bow, port ten.”

The fire control michman entered the data into his console, then reported, “Hold Visual one bearing two-three-two, course zero-five-zero.”

Novikov announced, “Visual one is classified merchant, an oil tanker.”

Merchant ships were easy prey in almost any scenario and, within the maneuvering confines of the Strait of Hormuz, easier to shoot than fish in a barrel. No further periscope observations were required.

Novikov ordered, “Open muzzle door, tube One. Prepare to Fire, Visual one, tube One.”

In preparation for their mission in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, Novikov had already ordered tubes One through Five loaded.

Captain Third Rank Anton Topolski, Krasnoyarsk’s First Officer, stopped behind the michman who had entered the periscope observation. After a quick survey of the target’s solution — its range, course, and speed — he ordered, “Send solution to Weapon Control.” The michman complied, and Topolski announced, “Captain, I have a firing solution.”

The Weapons Officer announced, “Ready to Fire, tube One.”

Satisfied that all parameters were acceptable, Novikov ordered, “Fire tube One.”

The Weapons Officer sent the command to the Torpedo Room, and Novikov felt a tremor in the deck as one of the submarine’s forty wire-guided torpedoes was launched.

With his eye still pressed against the periscope optics, Novikov listened to reports on the progress of his torpedo, although the events were anticlimactic. The unsuspecting merchant had no way to detect the incoming weapon and lacked the maneuverability to avoid it or the countermeasures to deceive it.

A few minutes later, after the torpedo had closed sufficiently to detect its prey with the sonar built into the torpedo’s nose, the Weapons Officer announced:

“Detect!”

The next report came soon thereafter. “Torpedo is homing!”

On the Weapon Launch Console, the parameters updated as the torpedo increased speed and made a slight adjustment in course, angling toward its target.

“Loss of guidance wire!” the Weapons Officer announced.

Simultaneously, a geyser engulfed the merchant ship, the water shooting high into the air. Seconds later, the sound of the explosion rumbled through Krasnoyarsk’s hull.

A cheer arose from the men at their stations in the Central Command Post; their submarine and its weapon had performed admirably.

Novikov ordered, “Reload tube One.”

After verifying the merchant had sustained sufficient damage — it was soon listing twenty degrees to starboard — Novikov resumed his periscope search, scouring the approaching ships for his next target. Another large merchant ship caught his attention. This one had four bulbous domes rising from the ship’s main deck — a natural gas tanker.

“Standby for observation, forward scope,” Novikov announced.

Even if the tanker’s crew now understood the peril and reversed course, it could not outrun Krasnoyarsk’s torpedoes.