we made was sent to the Main Navy Staff via the manufacturing representative at the shipyard. The Northern Fleet staff was only informed of our requirements. They never approved them.”
Kalinin leaned forward as he listened to his captain’s explanation with focused attention. Petrov knew that the quickest way to get his starpom to engage his mind instead of his heart was to throw a well-reasoned argument at him.
“On top of this, we have Rear Admiral Vidchenko, our new diviziya commander. He undoubtedly wants to prove himself to both Borisov and Kokurin, and I should think he’d be rather motivated to assist us in any way possible. So you see, Vasiliy, I don’t think we’ll get the same response as we did before.”
Standing slowly, Kalinin looked his commander straight in the eyes, and with a slight nod acknowledged his orders, “Very well, sir. I will recalculate our schedule based on your intuition.”
“You are the best planner and organizer in the diviziya, and very likely the eskadra as well, Vasiliy. If anyone can compress three months of effort into three weeks, it is you.”
“I shall try not to disappoint you, my Captain,” answered Kalinin, still uneasy with Petrov’s news.
“I know you won’t, Vasiliy. You have never given me cause to doubt your abilities and I’m not about to start now. But before you begin working your magic, I want you to read our orders,” said Petrov as he handed the folder to his starpom. “Focus our efforts on those items that are absolutely essential to carry out this assignment. If you decide something isn’t mission-critical, you have my authority to defer it until we return.”
Buoyed by Petrov’s confidence in him, Kalinin said, “We will be ready to sail on time. We will not miss this opportunity, comrade Captain.”
“Very good, Starpom,” replied Petrov smartly. “Carry out your duties.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
4. MISSION BRIEFING
The lookout was the first man down, followed soon after by Palmer and Hayes. “Chief of the Watch,” announced Palmer, “the bridge is rigged for dive, last man down, hatch secured.”
Jerry winced a little as he listened to the report. Technically, it was accurate. But Palmer’s voice still had a note of uncertainty to it. The chief of the watch acknowledged the report and then relayed it to LTJG Shawn McClelland,
Looking down at the plotting table, Jerry saw the quartermaster of the watch point to a colorfully labeled position on the navigation chart and hold up two fingers. Nodding, Jerry turned and exclaimed, “Officer of the Deck, two minutes to the dive point.”
“Very well, Nav,” answered Hayes. “Mark the sounding.”
“Two nine eight fathoms,” replied the quartermaster.
It had been raining topside, and the discarded foul-weather gear added to the crowding and bustle as
The layout of the control room was similar to the older
Rudel stood off to the side with Shimko and waited patiently for his cue. Upon hearing the sounding report, he maneuvered around the extra obstacles and stepped up to the periscope stand. “OOD, report.”
Although Rudel had said “OOD,” his gaze was firmly fixed on Palmer. Understanding his captain’s desire, Hayes said, “Mr. Palmer, make the report.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Palmer responded nervously. Then, after taking a deep breath, he began his lengthy report on the ship’s status. “Captain, the ship is on course one six five at all ahead flank, making two four knots. The ship is rigged for dive. We are about one minute from the dive point and the ship’s inertial navigation system is tracking with GPS. We hold one contact on radar; bearing 180 degrees, range two five thousand yards. Contact is past CPA and opening. Sounding is two nine eight fathoms beneath the keel. Request permission to submerge the ship, sir.”
The captain took in the report while maintaining full eye contact with Palmer, who fidgeted under his CO’s scrutiny. Although Rudel already knew everything that his JOOD had just told him, it was navy procedure to go over it again to ensure that everyone in the ship’s control party was operating with the same information — especially the junior members. He then glanced over at the ballast and ship control panels to verify the boat’s readiness to submerge. Satisfied, he turned and looked toward Jerry.
“Navigator?”
Jerry answered, “Mark the dive point, sir.”
“Very well, Mr. Palmer. Submerge the ship to one five zero feet.” In spite of the bustle, Rudel spoke in a conversational tone. Palmer echoed the captain’s order, “Submerge the ship to one five zero feet, aye.” Reflexively, Jerry checked the ordered depth against their plotted position and the fathometer. Plenty of room — now over three hundred fathoms, or eighteen hundred feet, beneath them.
Palmer then passed the order on to the diving officer, who in turn leaned forward and repeated it to the planesman and the chief of the watch. The three men echoed it back in unison. Six back-and-forth repetitions of the exact same simple order might seem a little tedious, but well-drilled procedures weighed lightly compared with the price of a mistake.
“Dive! Dive!” announced the chief of the watch over the 1MC, the ship’s main announcing circuit, followed immediately by two blasts of the diving alarm.
“Dive! Dive!” he announced a second time.
Once the word had been passed that boat was about to submerge, the diving officer paused momentarily, waiting. After about ten seconds, he looked over at Palmer, who was at the number two periscope looking forward. “Off’sa’deck, request ahead two-thirds.”
“What?” responded Palmer, puzzled.
Hayes quickly came beside him and whispered, “We need to slow down, Mr. Palmer. It won’t do to bend a periscope on our way out now, would it?”
“Yes, sir. I mean, no sir,” Palmer replied. Then, struggling to regain his composure, he said, “Helm, all ahead two-thirds.”
“All ahead two-thirds, helm aye.” Reaching down to the engine order telegraph, the petty officer rotated the handle that shifted an arrow from “Flank” to “2/3.” A second arrow on the dial soon followed suit. “Maneuvering answers ahead two-thirds.”
“Very well,” said Palmer, followed immediately with, “Thanks, Dive.”
Acknowledging the comment with a nod, the diving officer proceeded with the business at hand. “Chief of the Watch, open the forward main ballast tank vents.”
“Open the forward main ballast tank vents, aye.” A few toggle switches later, the green bars shifted to red open circles on the ballast control panel or BCP. “Diving Officer, forward main ballast tank vents indicate open.”
