Vengeance

49 USS ASHEVILLE

“No close contacts!”

Commander Gary Watson stopped circling on the periscope, his gaze settling on the remnants of two U.S. Navy warships, each sheared in half, their bows and sterns pointing skyward as they slipped beneath the water’s surface. Watson and his crew listened to the ships’ death throes as the severed sections sank deeper — the groans and sudden bangs as sealed compartments imploded from the increasing ocean pressure.

Swiveling toward the surviving surface ships, Watson shifted the periscope to high power and pressed the doubler, zooming in on the sterns of Theodore Roosevelt and the two remaining surface escorts as they sped away.

Moments earlier, while searching the water ahead of the carrier strike group, Asheville’s sonar technicians had detected a salvo of torpedoes headed toward the surface warships, followed by the strike group’s evasive maneuvers. Watson had ordered his crew to Battle Stations, then waited in frustration, unable to assist.

Anti-submarine warfare was a complicated process when coordinating surface, air, and submarine assets. To prevent blue-on-blue engagements — air or surface ships accidentally sinking one of their own submarines — surface ships and ASW helicopters were not allowed to attack contacts in areas assigned to U.S. submarines. Conversely, American submarines could not travel into an unauthorized area to assist for fear of being attacked, since the surface and air assets were weapons-free, allowed to attack any submerged contact detected in their area.

The submarine that had fired the torpedo salvo was operating in water owned by the MH-60Rs, and although Asheville’s sonar technicians had detected the torpedoes speeding toward the strike group, the location of the firing submarine remained unknown. Asheville needed to approach closer in order to detect and attack the enemy submarine, but couldn’t, at least not until it received new orders, which is why Watson had brought Asheville to periscope depth to download the latest radio messages. He finally heard the announcement he was waiting for.

“Conn, Radio. Download complete.”

Watson acknowledged the report, then asked, “Have we received a new OPORD?”

“Conn, Radio. Yes, along with a corresponding change in waterspace. We’re printing the messages now.”

While Watson waited for the messages, he ordered Asheville down from periscope depth, to a quieter realm away from the noisy surface.

“Dive, make your depth one-five-zero feet. Helm, ahead two-thirds.”

Watson lowered the periscope as Asheville tilted downward, and a radioman soon arrived in the Control Room with a message clipboard, which he handed to the submarine’s Captain.

Asheville’s new operational order was on top, followed by the associated waterspace assignment. The MH-60Rs had been removed from the equation, perhaps because they couldn’t adequately search the water at a pace that kept up with the strike group traveling at ahead flank. Instead, the waterspace had been divided between Asheville and Michigan. The torpedo salvo had been fired from within Asheville’s new operating area, which meant that Watson and his crew now had sufficient leeway to track down and sink the offending submarine.

In concert with his thoughts, Sonar completed its initial search following the descent from periscope depth.

“Conn, Sonar. Hold a new contact on the towed array, designated Sierra four-five, classified submerged, bearing one-eight-two. Analyzing.”

Watson glanced at the nearest combat control display. The submerged contact was to the south and was held passively on the towed array, which meant the only concrete information available to the crew was the contact’s bearing. It would take a while for the combat control system algorithms to determine the contact’s parameters — range, course, and speed. However, Sonar helped out.

“Conn, Sonar. Contact is classified as Russian Yasen-class nuclear submarine, traveling at high speed. Estimate contact is traveling in excess of thirty knots based on screw blade rate.”

The Russian submarine had increased speed to flank, attempting to chase down the evading carrier strike group.

Watson replied, his voice carrying through the Control Room and also into adjacent areas via the microphone above the Conn. “All stations, Conn. Designate Sierra four-five as Master one. Track Master one. I want a firing solution as soon as possible.”

Torpedoes had already been loaded into all four tubes, leaving one more preparation remaining. “Flood down and open outer doors, all tubes.”

Asheville was still at low speed, maximizing the range of its sensors. Without knowing how far away the Russian submarine was, it was better to remain stealthy at a lower speed while determining the target’s course and range. However, maneuvering Asheville would help the combat control system algorithms calculate the target’s approximate course and range. Watson guessed that the Russian submarine was chasing down the strike group, so he turned Asheville in the same direction.

“Helm, left full rudder, steady course zero-nine-zero.”

A few minutes after completing the turn, the towed array stopped snaking back and forth, and reliable bearings began arriving. It didn’t take long to confirm Watson’s guess — the Russian submarine was headed eastward. The estimated range was problematic, near the limit of Asheville’s MK 48 torpedoes.

“Weapon Control, report fuel remaining to Master one.”

Lieutenant Rusty Idleman, supervising the Weapon Launch Console, reported, “Estimated fuel remaining is four percent.”

Watson’s crew would have to react quickly. Their torpedoes had barely enough fuel to catch the Russian submarine, and the fuel remaining would decrease rapidly with the target at ahead flank and Asheville still at ahead two-thirds. He was about to increase speed and begin torpedo launch procedures when Sonar’s report interrupted his thoughts.

“Conn, Sonar. Hold a new contact on the towed array, designated Sierra four-six, classified submerged, bearing one-five-zero. Analyzing.”

Watson glanced at the geographic plot. The new contact wasn’t Michigan — its new operating area was to the northeast, not southeast — which meant there was a second Russian submarine in Asheville’s area. Its range was currently unknown, and the Russian submarine would be a significant threat if it was close enough to detect Asheville’s torpedo launch toward Master one and fire in response.

“Conn, Sonar. Sierra four-six is classified as Russian Akula-class submarine.”

Watson announced immediately, “All stations, Conn. Designate Sierra four-six as Master two. Track Master two.”

“Conn, Sonar. Hold Master two on the spherical array. Estimated range is ten thousand yards based on spherical array range-of-the-day for an Akula.”

Asheville and other American submarines’ sonar search plans were multifaceted, and one parameter updated daily was the initial detection range of various contacts by the submarine’s sensors, taking into account the current environmental conditions and the estimated radiated noise of each contact. At ten thousand yards, the Akula submarine to the southeast was much closer than Master one and a clear counterfire threat. It would have to be dealt with first.

“All stations, Conn. Master two is the target of interest.”

As the fire control technicians manning the combat control consoles shifted their emphasis to the closer submarine, Sonar made another report.

“Conn, Sonar. Hold a new contact on the towed array, designated Sierra four-seven, classified Akula, bearing three-five-five.”

There was a third Russian submarine to the north. Whether it was traveling south toward Asheville or chasing the surface ships was unknown. Then Sonar’s report clarified the matter.

“Conn, Sonar. Gained Sierra four-seven on the spherical array.”

The submarine to the north was also closing on Asheville. The situation then turned drastically worse with Sonar’s next report.

“Conn, Sonar. Hold a new contact on the towed array, designated Sierra four-eight, classified Akula, bearing two-six-zero.”

Watson evaluated the deteriorating situation. Asheville was boxed in by three Russian submarines, two of which were closing on them, and he was fairly certain the third submarine was headed their way as well. The Russians were hunting in a pack, like the Germans had done in World War II, apparently disregarding the American philosophy of one submarine per operating area while weapons-free. Watson was about to give new course and speed orders to the Helm when he was interrupted by the Sonar Supervisor’s voice blaring over the Control Room speaker.

“Torpedo launch transients, bearing one-five-five!”

Seconds later, Sonar reported, “Torpedo in the water! Bearing one-five-five!”

Turning toward the sonar display on the Conn, Watson examined the monitor. A bright white trace had appeared at the reported bearing.

Watson responded immediately. “Ahead flank! Left full rudder, steady course three-four-zero! Launch countermeasures!”

The Helm twisted the rudder yoke to left full as he rang up ahead flank on the Engine Order Telegraph, while the submarine’s Junior Officer of the Deck flipped up the protective cover on the countermeasure launch panel, ejecting a torpedo decoy into the water.

Watson followed up, “Quick Reaction Firing, Master two, tube One!”

As Watson’s crew executed the order, bearing lines to the incoming torpedo appeared on the nearest combat control console, updated every ten seconds. With the crew already at Battle Stations and tracking the designated target, that should be more than enough time to shoot back. But the more important issue was whether Asheville could evade the incoming torpedo. The situation turned worse, however.

“Second torpedo in the water, bearing three-five-zero!”

A new bearing trace appeared on the Conn Sonar display, followed by another report blaring across the Control Room speakers. “Third torpedo in the water, bearing two-six-two!”

There were now three torpedoes inbound toward Asheville. Watson stared at the Sonar display, searching for a solution. No matter which way he turned, he’d be headed toward one of the torpedoes. For Asheville to survive, he would have to maneuver his submarine expertly and correctly guess the ranges and courses of the incoming torpedoes.

The torpedo to the south was likely the closest, having been fired from the first Russian submarine detected on the spherical array. Asheville was well positioned to evade the first-fired torpedo, having turned to a different course after being fired upon and leaving countermeasures behind that the torpedo would have to deal with. The challenge now was to thread the needle between the other two torpedoes.

Unfortunately, events were proceeding so rapidly that combat control could not accurately determine the range and course of each incoming torpedo in the time required, which meant guesswork — and luck — would be required.

After assessing the likely firing range and trajectory of each torpedo, Watson made his decision. “Helm, left ten degrees rudder. Steady course three-one-zero. Launch countermeasures!”

Asheville had already turned to the northwest, and a slight maneuver to the left appeared to provide the optimal path between the other two torpedoes, maximizing the distance to both, one on each side of the submarine.

It grew silent in the Control Room as the crew realized what their Captain was attempting to do. Through the submarine’s hull, they began hearing the high-pitched pings — like bird chirps — growing louder as the Russian torpedoes searched the water for a target that met the engagement parameters.

Suddenly, one of the ping rates increased.

“Conn, Sonar. Torpedo to the southwest is range-gating! Torpedo’s homing!”

The torpedo had increased the rate of its sonar pings to more accurately determine the range to its target, so a refined intercept course could be calculated. It had locked onto Asheville. Then the rate of pings from the second torpedo also increased.

“Conn, Sonar. Torpedo to the north is also homing!”

After analyzing the latest information, Watson concluded that the situation was almost hopeless. There was nowhere to evade. Turning left or right would head toward a homing torpedo, exacerbating the situation. The only hope was to eject more decoys and pray.

“Launch countermeasures!” Watson ordered. “Alternate a decoy and jammer every fifteen seconds!”

The Junior Officer of the Deck complied, ejecting the first decoy as Sonar made its next report.

“Nearest torpedo range is one thousand yards!”

Watson did the mental calculation, using the estimated closing speed of a Russian heavyweight torpedo and Asheville’s speed at ahead flank.

One minute left.

Sonar’s report echoed in the quiet Control Room. Maybe they’d get lucky and the incoming torpedoes would lock onto the decoys, with the jammers providing cover for Asheville’s escape.

The Executive Officer’s voice broke the silence. “Firing solution to Master two has been sent to Weapon Control. Solution ready!”

“Weapon ready!” the Weapons Officer announced.

“Ship ready!” Lieutenant Idleman reported.

Watson had temporarily forgotten that they were in the middle of a Quick Reaction firing, his thoughts focused on torpedo evasion. At a minimum, they’d send a torpedo back down the throat of one of the Russian submarines, hopefully sending it to the bottom.

“Shoot tube One!” he ordered.

Watson felt the ship shudder as it ejected the three-thousand-pound weapon, then returned his attention to the critical issue.

“Range to nearest torpedo is five hundred yards!”

Thirty seconds left.

His eyes were glued to the Sonar display, trying to discern whether their decoys had distracted the torpedoes. If so, the torpedo bearings would start falling rapidly behind them. But the bearings to both torpedoes remained steady.

“Nearest torpedo’s range is two hundred yards! Both are still homing!”

Ten seconds.

Their fate was sealed. There was nothing more Watson or his crew could do.

He counted down the seconds in his mind, and when he reached zero, Asheville jolted as a deafening explosion filled his ears. The wail of the flooding alarm soon emanated from the speakers, and the lights in Control fluttered, then went dark momentarily before the emergency lights kicked on.

Watson ordered an Emergency Blow, hoping to offset the flooding, but the submarine slowed and its stern began to squat from the weight of the ocean flooding the Engine Room. As Watson watched the red numbers on the digital depth display swiftly increase, he knew that Asheville would not reach the surface.