Vengeance

86 USS MICHIGAN

As Michigan leveled off at periscope depth, the top of its sail four feet beneath the water’s surface, Murray Wilson peered through the submarine’s periscope, searching for Russian warships. There were no visual contacts, although he knew that lurking beneath the surface of the Black Sea were three other U.S. Navy guided missile submarines.

Although Michigan was frequently called upon to deploy its SEALs, its 154 Tomahawk missiles, stored in seven-pack launchers in twenty-two missile tubes, were employed less often. This morning, however, Michigan’s crew, along with the crews of the three other guided missile submarines in America’s arsenal, would participate in a rare event. At the designated time, all four submarines would launch their entire complement of Tomahawk missiles.

In the early morning hours, Ukraine had completed preparations for a counterattack into the swath of Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. To soften the Russian defenses, the assault would be led by a targeted strike of more than six hundred Tomahawk missiles.

Wilson stepped back from the periscope, turning it over to Lieutenant Brittany Kern as an announcement came over the Conn speakers. “Conn, ESM. Hold no threat radars.”

Kern acknowledged ESM’s report as Wilson pulled the 1-MC microphone from its holster and issued the order his crew had been awaiting.

“Man Battle Stations Missile.”

The Chief of the Watch, stationed at the Ballast Control Panel, twisted a lever on his console, and the loud gong, gong, gong of the submarine’s General Emergency alarm reverberated throughout the ship. As the alarm faded, the Chief of the Watch picked up his 1-MC microphone, repeating the Captain’s order. “Man Battle Stations Missile.”

Michigan’s crew streamed into the Control Room, taking their seats at dormant consoles, energizing them while supervisors gathered behind their respective stations.

Wilson stepped from the Conn, leaving the safety of the ship in Lieutenant Kern’s capable hands, then headed down the ladder to Operations Compartment Second Level.

Like the Navigation Center behind the Control Room, which had been converted into a Battle Management Center, Missile Control Center had also been transformed during the submarine’s conversion from a ballistic missile submarine to an SSGN. The refrigerator-sized computers had been replaced with servers one-tenth their size, and the aft bulkhead was now populated with four workstations: two Mission Planning Consoles, a Launch Control Console, and a fourth workstation that displayed a map of Michigan’s operating area, which was overlaid with one green and several red hatched areas.

Wilson stopped behind the Launch Control Console beside Lieutenant Ryan Jescovitch, the submarine’s Weapons Officer. Glancing at the fourth console, Wilson verified Michigan was within the green area — the submarine’s launch basket — where all 154 of Michigan’s Tomahawk missiles were within target range.

Jescovitch reported to the Captain, “Five minutes to launch window. Request permission to launch Full Salvo.”

Wilson replied, “Permission granted. Launch Full Salvo.”

Following Wilson’s order, there was no flurry of activity. Jescovitch simply turned back toward the Launch Control Console, his eyes focused on the time display as it counted down the remaining five minutes. At ten seconds before the scheduled launch, the launch button on the Launch Control Console display, which had been grayed out until this point, turned a vivid green. The Launch Operator announced, “In the window, Full Salvo.”

Lieutenant Jescovitch replied, “Very well, Launch Operator. Continue.”

Finally, the digital clock on the Launch Operator’s screen reached 00:00:00. The Launch Operator pressed the green button, and Michigan’s automatic Tomahawk Attack Weapon System took control.

“Opening tube Three,” the Launch Supervisor reported as the green indicating light for the missile tube turned yellow. Shortly thereafter, the indicating light turned red. “Hatch, tube Three, open and locked.”

A few seconds later, the Launch Operator reported, “Missile One, tube Three, away.”

The first of Michigan’s Tomahawk missiles had been ejected from the submarine, the missile’s engines igniting once it was safely above the ocean surface. Another missile followed every five seconds, with the Tomahawk Attack Weapon System automatically opening and closing the Missile Tube hatches as required. Michigan’s Tomahawks were streaking north; Ukraine’s counteroffensive had begun.