Kirov II: Cauldron of Fire

“Just say the word, sir.”

Fedorov thought for a moment. “What is our inventory on this system?”

“Sir, we have expended only one torpedo, and have nine remaining.”

“And when they are gone?”

“We still have one KA-40 with sixteen standard torpedoes in the magazine. Normal load out is two per mission. Then we have the close-in UDAV-2 system, though it is far less effective than the Shkval.”

“Very well,” said Fedorov. “Make ready on your primary system, Mister Tasarov, but we will hold our fire momentarily.”

“Aye, sir…But we are running at thirty knots and will be inside this sub’s firing range in nine minutes.”

“I understand,” said Fedorov. “Helm, ahead two thirds.”

“Ahead two thirds, sir and steady on 315.”

“Come left fifteen degrees rudder to course three-zero-zero.”

“Sir, my rudder is left on 300 degrees, aye.”

He thought to buy himself just a few short minutes with the reduction of speed, as they were drawing very near the Maddalena Archipelago now, a cluster of rocky islands that harbored the Italian naval base. It was time to decide.

“Mister Samsonov, bring the ship to full battle stations. I‘ll want all systems manned with lookouts to both port and starboard to scan for mines. We may also face shore based guns.”

The alarm sounded, and Kirov pushed on swiftly towards the first major bottleneck they would have to run if they were ever to find safe water again. Crews manned machine guns on both sides of the ship, and Samsonov also activated the AK-730 close in defense system to assist with floating mines.

The Maddalena Archipelago dominated the eastern approaches to the strait, a cluster of seven large islands with many more smaller islets. Their strategic position had seen them fortified during the days of the Roman empire, with old towers and bastions perched atop the rocky crags of the hills. In WWII these forts were improved with the addition of modern concrete gun casements in several areas, particularly on Caprera in the east, La Maddalena in the center of the archipelago and Spargi to the west. Both naval and anti-aircraft guns were placed in these sites, and they were elements Fedorov had failed to fully consider in his thinking. He knew they existed, but was not sure of their locations. The course change he had made would skirt the northern coastlines of the islands, and the first surprise came when battery Candero opened fire from Caprera Island just after dawn.

The sharp report and whine of the shell startled Fedorov, even though he had half expected it. Kirov was five kilometers off the coast, and well within the range of this battery.

“Samsonov,” he said quickly. Can you locate that gun emplacement?

“Let them fire one more time and I can back-trace their approximate location from the arc of the shell on my weapons locating radar.” The art of counter battery radar systems was highly advanced, and Kirov soon had a lock on the gun position.

Karpov rushed onto the bridge, clearly winded, just as the ship’s forward 100mm deck gun began to fire. “I’m sorry Fedorov, the alarm caught me by surprise.”

Fedorov looked to see that the Captain seemed to clutch his side, in some pain, but thought it was just the long climb up from the lower decks. He waved Karpov over to his side, and briefed him on the action as he pointed to the Tin Man display.

“There,” he said. “Do you see it? That is the Candero shore battery on Caprera Island. They fired three rounds at us—all well off the mark—but I think Samsonov has a lock on them now.” They watched the display as Kirov’s forward deck gun put ten rounds on the target, enveloping the battery and surrounding hillside in a billow of smoke and dust.

“Sir, air contact, 150 kilometers, bearing 45 degrees northeast, altitude 7200 meters, speed 280kph.” Rodenko’s voice sounded the warning. He paused a moment, then continued. “Surface contacts, group of three vessels bearing 202 degrees southwest, speed thirty and closing on our position.”

“Those are probably long range aircraft out of Grosseto,” said Fedorov. “The surface contact will most likely be fast torpedo boats.”

“I have them on my tracking radar,” said Samsonov. “Permission to engage, sir?”

“Granted,” said Fedorov. “Mister Karpov, will you plot an appropriate air defense with Rodenko?”

“At once!”

“Sir,” said Tasarov, “Sub surface contact now at five kilometers.”

“Submarine?” Karpov turned, his attention immediately focused on this threat.

“We have a good fix on their position,” said Fedorov.

“Then I recommend we fire at once, sir.” Karpov said quickly. “The Shkval system should easily neutralize this threat.”

“I believe Tasarov has plotted this solution. You may engage, Mister Karpov.” The sharp staccato of machine gun fire split the air, and Fedorov rushed to the port side view pane to see rounds churning up the sea. Fedorov immediately knew they had encountered a floating mine, and his great fear was that there were many more unseen threats ahead of them.

Kirov was now simultaneously engaging threats on land, sea and air, but Karpov was quick to put an end to the submarine threat. The super-cavitating Shkval fired, ejecting for a short run at 50 knots before the rocket motor ignited and sent it hurtling toward the unseen enemy submarine, a lethal underwater lance that they had no chance avoid. A minute later Tasarov verified a hit, and with it SS Avorio, which had been maneuvering to block the entrance of the strait, exploded and died a quick underwater death, its captain and crew never aware of what had hit them until they heard the screeching sound of the weapon just before contact.

Kirov’s deck guns had already shifted targets to the torpediniera racing towards them from the gap between Caprera Island and La Maddalena. Three Spica class boats were out that morning, Antares, Centauro and Lira. When the 152mm shells began to range in on them, their astonished captains clutched their field glasses in a vain attempt see the enemy ship. Kirov was still well off shore, and firing at a range of over seven kilometers. How could the enemy have spotted his small boats so quickly? Now the torpediniera would have to run a gauntlet of fire to get within their 2000 meter firing range, and not one of the three boats would survive. Samsonov worked with his brutal efficiency, locking the guns in on the targets with radar and quickly bracketing the small flotilla with the fire from all three of the ship’s 152mm batteries. Centauro died first, struck amidships and set on fire, the bridge shattered and the boat careening wildly about when helm control was lost. Antares exploded in a brilliant orange fireball when a round struck and ignited one of her torpedoes, and Lira died a slower death, peppered by five hits that riddled her hull and superstructure and sent her foundering, burning in three places. A total of thirty-six rounds had dispatched this threat with little difficulty.

The attack had been ill timed, as the air strike out of Grosseto was late, and it too would not get anywhere near the battle zone. Kirov’s piercing radars could see and engage the squadrons of enemy planes well before they had any thought of making their attack runs. Karpov selected a barrage of six S-300 long range SAMs, firing them like a spread of aerial torpedoes at five second intervals. The first two missiles caught the lead formation of twelve JU-87s, blowing three planes away and sending the remainder diving with the shock of the attack. Behind them came a squadron of Do-217s, six planes, and two of these fell to the next two missiles, with shrapnel clawing through the wings of two others, and setting one engine afire, forcing them to abort their attack. The nine remaining Stukas found their evasive maneuvers provided them no respite from the attack, and watched in shocked amazement as the last two S-300s turned to seek them out, one shattering a sub flight of three planes before the pilots realized they had to completely break formation and scatter in all directions to save themselves from certain death.

In these engagements it was Kirov’s incredible advantage in radar tracking that enabled her to see, target, and bring weapons to bear on all these simultaneous threats. The ship raced past the Maddalena Archipelago in the bright morning sun, up around Santa Maria and Razzoli Islands and turned into the Bonifacio Strait. Here they encountered a more devious passive threat when Tasarov’s active mine