Cold Choices

“Conn, sonar, Mouse Squeak transmissions in the direction of Sierra three zero. Bearing one six five.”

Rudel quickly looked at the WLR-9 display and saw that the transmission frequency and pulse type matched the collision-avoidance/mine-hunting sonar on Russian submarines. “Mr. Mitchell, get the arm back inside, and send the UUV away.”

Jerry acknowledged the order and checked the chart. There was a likely spot over deep water a few miles from here, and it was already programmed..

“Conn, sonar! Sierra three zero is increasing speed!” There was concern in the sonar supervisor’s voice. A few seconds later, the intercom announced, “Sierra three zero is cavitating! Near zero bearing rate!” The last word was almost shouted over the intercom. Jerry recognized ST1 Stapp’s voice. He wasn’t easily rattled.

“Captain, recovery arm is stowed and the outer door is shut on tube two,” reported Shimko as he took his battle-stations position by the fire-control consoles.

“Very well, XO. I want a TMA solution on Sierra three zero immediately. Engineer, get us moving.”

Both men responded with, “Aye, aye, sir.”

“Conn, sonar. Sierra three zero’s speed is thirty-plus knots. Blade rate does not match any known Russian submarine.”

Rudel and Shimko looked at each other, both confused by the sonar supervisor’s report. Rudel reached up to the intercom. “Sonar, conn. Please confirm your last.”

“Conn, sonar. Sierra three zero’s acoustic signature does not match any, repeat any, known Russian submarine.”

“Who the hell are we dealing with?” asked Shimko.

“We’ll worry about that later, XO. For now, let’s concern ourselves with getting out of here.”

“Yessir!” Shimko replied enthusiastically. Then ten seconds later, “Captain, WAA range is… is seven hundred yards and closing!”

“Conn, sonar. Sierra three zero is closing rapidly. Bearing rate is slightly to the left.”

“He’s passing down our port side!” exclaimed Shimko.

“Helm, hard right rudder!” shouted Rudel.

“Captain has the conn,” announced Lavoie. While this statement would appear trivial to an outside observer, particularly given the circumstance, its importance was crucial. From this point on, until Rudel decided otherwise, he was giving the conning orders and everyone in control needed to know this.

A moment later Jerry heard the noise himself, right though the hull. It started as a soft rush, like a ventilation fan in high speed, but a few seconds later it was a solid rumble, and then a loud swishing that could be felt as well as heard.

A few more seconds and the sound was past them. Just as it started to fade Jerry felt a vibration in the deck and then the whole boat was rocked first to starboard and then to port. Jerry had been leaning against the chart table and had reflexively grabbed at it. The watch stared at each other, wide-eyed.

Severodvinsk

“Sonar officer reports closest point of approach was four hundred meters,” said Kalinin.

“That will make them think twice!” laughed Petrov. “Make turns for ten knots. Shubin, do you still see their remote vehicle?”

“Yes, sir. Bearing red zero six five, range seventy-four meters, speed about three knots. It’s still heading toward the American sub.” Shubin was tracking the American UUV with Severodvinsk’s MG-519M mine-hunting sonar. It was no good as a general search set, but its high-resolution range and bearing data made it perfect for finding small objects nearby. “Recommend slow turn to port, or it will pass into our blind spot aft.”

“Agreed. Helm, left standard rudder, reverse our course, steady one five five. Starpom, don’t lose that thing’s position. If we’ve cut its tether, it should slow down and stop now. With luck, it will sink to the bottom, and we can mark the spot. What’s the American sub doing?”

“Passive sonar’s still limited from our high-speed pass, sir, but he was just starting to turn to starboard as we went by”

The American was being slow to react. After surprising him so completely, Petrov had expected a more violent reaction.

The high-frequency active sonar display showed two objects: the larger American sub, and a much smaller blip, no larger than a torpedo. The U.S. boat had been stationary, hovering, and it was obvious they were up to something that involved a remotely operated vehicle. Planting something? Recovering something? Whatever they were doing, it was not in Russia’s interests.

The obvious move was to break the tether on their ROV. The Americans would be forced to abandon it, and Severodvinsk would guard the device until it was salvaged. The U.S. would not be able to deny the physical evidence, and the clues it provided would tell what the Americans had been up to.

“Sonar, report.” Petrov was impatient. He’d made his move and was waiting for the Americans to react. Part of his impatience was because they had no good moves to make. This was his field, his game.

Mitrov responded, but he sounded puzzled. “The American sub is moving away slowly. Last good bearing before he went into our baffles was green one four five. The remote has turned sharply and is now heading away from the U.S. sub at a higher speed.”

“Toward us?” Petrov’s question held concern. It could still be a weapon.

“No sir, it’s going northwest at about five knots.”

“Then it’s still under control,” Petrov remarked, thinking aloud. “Apparently, we missed the tether.”

By now, Severodvinsk had reversed course and was heading to the rear of the slow-moving U.S. submarine. “Position us for another pass, closer to the American. Closer this time.”

USS Seawolf

“All hands, this is the Captain.” Rudel’s voice was calm. “We are not under attack. Nothing has collided with us. A Russian attack boat just made a fast, close-aboard pass down our port side. They’re not happy about us being here. He seems upset, so we are not going to do anything to provoke him.”

Rudel put the microphone down and asked Jerry, “Is the UUV heading away from us?”

Jerry nodded. “Just finished sending the instructions, sir. LaVerne’s been ordered to loiter at point Romeo One, about ten miles from here.”

“And the quickest course away from the Russian coast?”

Jerry didn’t have to look at the chart. “Toward Romeo One, recommend three zero zero.”

“Very well. Make turns for five knots, right fifteen degrees rudder, come to course three zero zero.” That would take them through almost three-quarters of a full circle, but the quicker turn to the left would take Seawolf directly in front of their maneuvering adversary.

“Conn, sonar. Sierra three zero has zigged. Looks like he’s turning. His blade rate is also increasing again. Rapidly.”

“Sonar, conn, aye. Any classification yet? Who is he?”

“Hard to tell, sir.” Stapp’s voice was apologetic. “It’s a first-line attack boat given its speed, but it doesn’t match anything in the database. She’s very quiet, though. I’ve had somebody reviewing the recordings when she was on top.. ”

Then Stapp interrupted his report. “Blade rate’s still increasing, and the bearing drift’s changed from left to right. I think he’s going to make another run.”

“Helm, increase your rudder, right full. Get us some more separation to starboard.”

“Increase my rudder to right full, helm aye.”

“Should we use our HF sonar? There’s no point in staying covert,” said Lavoie.

Jerry thought that sounded like a good idea. It would be nice to have a better idea of where the Russian was.

Rudel paused before answering Lavoie, but shook his head. “No. I don’t know how he’d react to it. He might interpret it as a prelude to hostile action. Some Russians like to use HF sonars for fire-control ranging.” The captain spoke quickly, and Lavoie nodded his understanding as they watched the command displays and tried to fathom the Russian’s intention.

“Conn, sonar. Sierra three zero is closing, zero bearing rate, signal strength all increasing. I’m starting to get separate bearings on different parts of the boat!” Jerry felt a lump of ice forming in his chest. The Russian was