Vengeance

65 K-571 KRASNOYARSK

Gavriil Novikov stood behind the fire controlman’s shoulder, studying the geographic display on his console. Krasnoyarsk was lurking at three knots, the minimum speed possible for bare steerageway, at a depth of fifty meters. The Russian submarine was stationed just outside the Gulf of Bahrain, ten miles east of a sonobuoy barrier the American P-8As had laid across the entrance to the gulf.

If the American aircraft carrier made it to the other side of the sonobuoy field, it would likely survive. Although Krasnoyarsk could penetrate an open-ocean sonobuoy field, defending itself in the process, there were too many ASW forces concentrated near the entrance to the Gulf of Bahrain. Novikov would not attempt to follow the aircraft carrier into the gulf. That meant that USS Theodore Roosevelt would have to be sunk before it reached the Gulf of Bahrain.

That, of course, was the plan.

This close to the sonobuoy fields, stealth was paramount. Novikov had shifted propulsion to the much quieter electric drive, and Krasnoyarsk was rigged for ultra-quiet, limiting crew activity and movement throughout the submarine. Novikov’s crew would wait until the American aircraft carrier arrived, which should be any time now.

A few minutes later, a report came across the Central Command Post speakers.

“Command Post, Hydroacoustic. Hold three new surface contacts, designated Hydroacoustic seven-two, seven-three, and seven-four, approaching from the north. High blade rate accompanied by low broadband signature indicates all three contacts are warships, approaching at high speed.”

Novikov acknowledged, then ordered his crew to Combat Stations.

As additional watchstanders streamed into the Central Command Post, Novikov took control of the Conn and ordered his crew to prepare to come to periscope depth.

Shortly after Combat Stations were manned, Krasnoyarsk’s periscope broke the water’s surface. After completing a rapid surface and air sweep, Novikov turned the periscope to the north. Three gray warships were approaching, with the middle one much larger than the others.

Novikov decided to dispense with the often laborious process of determining a target solution before shifting to torpedo launch preparations. The courses of the approaching targets were obvious — all three were bow-on, headed directly toward Krasnoyarsk — and on that trajectory, range and speed didn’t matter.

With his eye still pressed to the periscope, monitoring the approaching American warships, Novikov ordered, “Prepare to Fire, six-torpedo horizontal salvo. Tubes One and Two against Hydroacoustic seven-two, tubes Three and Four against Hydroacoustic seven-three, and tubes Five and Six against Hydroacoustic seven-four. Tube One fired first.”

Novikov had decided to fire a tight salvo of six torpedoes, which should result in one or two torpedoes locking onto each target.

“Set courses for all three contacts to one-seven-zero.”

The expected reports soon flowed from his watchstanders.

The submarine’s First Officer called out, “All solutions updated.”

“Torpedoes ready, tubes One through Six,” the Weapons Officer announced.

The Watch Officer reported, “Countermeasures are armed.”

Krasnoyarsk was ready.

Novikov gave the order. “Fire tubes One through Six!”

The torpedoes were impulsed from their tubes, then Novikov turned the scope toward the Gulf of Bahrain and the optics skyward. The Americans would likely detect the sound of the torpedo launches or the thin, light green trails streaking out from Krasnoyarsk and counterattack. However, the threat to Novikov’s crew wouldn’t come from the approaching warships. They would have their hands full, plus Krasnoyarsk was beyond the range of the lightweight torpedoes loaded in their deck-mounted torpedo tubes.

Instead, the threat would come from the air — torpedoes dropped from the P-8A aircraft circling high above, out of sight and beyond range of Krasnoyarsk’s anti-air missiles. From their current altitude, the lightweight torpedoes would be carried to their aimpoints by HAAWC wing kits, with the wing kit releasing the torpedo just prior to water entry.

“Watch Officer, raise the radar mast. Do not radiate.”

Krasnoyarsk’s crew would be ready when the HAAWCs arrived.

In the meantime, it was time to slip away as quietly as possible, in case Krasnoyarsk had somehow avoided detection following the torpedo launch.

“Steersman. Ahead two-thirds. Right full rudder, steady course zero-nine-five.”

Krasnoyarsk turned to the east, and as Novikov searched the sky, he spotted two specks streaking down toward him. The American P-8As had launched two HAAWCs.

“Watch Officer, begin radiating.”

After the radar began its search, quickly detecting the descending targets, Novikov glanced at the radar display. “Set radar contacts zero-one and zero-two as the targets of interest. Prepare to Fire, two missiles.”

The Missile Officer acknowledged and prepared to launch two of Krasnoyarsk’s Pantsir-M short-range anti-air missiles. A watchstander seated at one of the fire control consoles reported, “Anti-air missiles Three-four and Five-one have accepted targeting.”

Novikov initiated the next step. “Open starboard missile hatches Three and Five,” he ordered, preparing to launch the last missile in tube Three and the first missile in tube Five.

“Missile hatches Three and Five are open,” the Missile Officer reported. “Ready to Fire.”

Novikov surveyed the approaching HAAWCs — they had almost completed their descent and were beginning to level off as they approached their torpedo release points.

“Fire!”

Two missiles were launched from the submarine, streaking upward and then veering toward their targets. Unlike the ASW helicopters, the HAAWCs had no defensive measures and no way to even detect the incoming weapons. Both missiles slammed into the HAAWCs and exploded, sending two small fireballs spiraling into the ocean.

Novikov searched the sky and checked the radar monitor for additional HAAWCs or ASW helicopters — there were none — then checked on the American warships. All three had changed course to the east, attempting to evade the torpedoes chasing them.

He lowered the periscope, then ordered, “Diving Officer, make your depth fifty meters.” Turning to his Watch Officer, he ordered, “Shift propulsion to the main engines.”

The Watch Officer complied, and a moment later reported that the shift was complete.

“Steersman, ahead flank,” Novikov ordered. No new course was required; he had already ordered Krasnoyarsk onto the optimal pursuit path.

If an American warship survived the current torpedo attack, it would make the final encounter all the sweeter. Three Akulas were inbound from the north, not far behind the American ships, with Krasnoyarsk pursuing from the west. On the other side of the evading warships, the Strait of Hormuz was blocked by mines.

There would soon be nowhere for the Americans to run.