The rest of the chiefs understood the rules. The COB and master chief sonar tech were placing themselves on the line so the chiefs would have the information they needed to do their jobs. If any one of them said a word that was heard by the wrong ears, the two master chiefs would be subject to charges of violating national security.
Master Chief Holmstad started, “Weps asked me to build some sonar search plans for the Timor Sea and the Java Sea.”
Routine search plans were done by junior sonar men. The master chief did not build sonar search plans unless they were really going to be used. SAN FRANCISCO was heading through the Timor and Java Seas. That meant they were going to do something in Indonesia.
The area had been undergoing unrest for years, with several of the thousands of islands experiencing open warfare in attempts for independence. The news was full of plots, counter-plots and terrorist attacks. The mix of ethnic backgrounds, languages, religions and economic tension was so volatile that not a week went by without reports of some new horror.
If they were going in there, it was important and highly sensitive. The Indonesians didn’t have a blue-water Navy to speak of. Relying on hand-me-down ships from the former Soviets or the US, it consisted mostly of patrol craft, with a few old frigates and destroyers for additional firepower. The exception was four front-line KILOs diesel submarines that had arrived last year.
Doc Pugh asked, “If we are going into Indonesia, why do we have all that SEAL gear down in the torpedo room? We don’t have any SEALs aboard that I know of.” Looking over at the rotund machinist mate chief and added, “Unless you’ve been secretly working out, Richey.”
Pointing at one of the buttons on his tightly stretched khaki shirt, Chief Richey retorted in mock anger, "Doc, another comment about my weight, I'll inhale and drive this button clean through your forehead."
Master Chief Hancock stood and refilled his ever-present coffee cup before saying, “OK, you two, enough of the kidding around."
He paused, glancing around the group, and then continued, "I’m not saying what is planned, but you know that no other boat has spent as much time working with the SEALs as we have."
He placed his cup on the table and continued, “If we were to join up with some SEALs from a parachute drop at sea, then it would all fit together. With that in mind, all of us need to check our gear and make sure our troops are ready. A little revision to the training plan for swimmer launch and recovery might be a good idea.”
Chief Tyler chimed in, “If we were to meet up with those SEALs by chance and, if, maybe, we were to insert them somewhere, then we would probably be doing a bit of electronic surveillance before we sent them ashore, just to find any threat radars . Might want to put some ESM training in the revision, too.”
“Good idea,” the COB replied. “Now if each of us looks at our jobs with this possible mission in mind and makes sure that his people and equipment are ready, I think we have a plan. Let me remind you again, this meeting didn’t happen. What you learned here was only a possibility based on what you have seen. Everybody understand?”
A round of affirmative nods and Chief Jones piped up, “OK, movie or poker tonight?”
12
06 Jun 2000, 2350LT (1350Z)
Shortly after SAN FRANCISCO exited the restricted waters of the San Cristobol Strait, the sensitive BQQ5 sonar hydrophones picked up the low frequency noise of many large ships transiting together.
“Conn, sonar, picking up several heavy screw beats to the West. At least three ships and possibly as many as seven. They are all close to the same bearing. One of them equates to the ESSEX. Trying to sort them out now.”
Jeff Miller looked at a reference chart taped to the book locker behind the periscope stand.
“Sonar, conn, aye. If it is the ESSEX ARG, you should hear the ESSEX, two LPDs, the DULUTH and the CLEVELAND; one LSD, the PEARL HARBOR; one destroyer, the FITZGERALD, and two frigates, the RENTZ and the GARY,” the OOD responded.
“Conn, sonar, aye. We hold the ESSEX and probably the two LPDs. Trying to classify now. Not sure about the others. Have assigned trackers to six noise sources. Sierra Four-Five is the ESSEX, currently bearing two-six-nine, Sierra Four-Six is a probable LPD currently bearing two-seven-zero, Sierra Four-Seven is the other possible LPD currently bearing-two six-eight. Sierra Four-Eight is an unclassified noise source bearing two-seven-one. Sierra Four-Nine is an unclassified noise source bearing two-six-seven. There is another possible contact on the same bearing as Sierra Four-Eight, too weak to assign a tracker.”
Miller picked up the sound powered phone handset, selected the CO’s stateroom and spun the growler handle.
When Hunter answered, the OOD reported, "Captain, we have sonar contact with the ESSEX ARG, bearing two-six-nine. Best estimate of range sixty thousand yards."
Hunter grunted, "Right on schedule, I'll be out in a second. Station the section tracking party."
"Aye sir, the party is stationed and tracking the contacts."
Hunter strode into the control room and checked the navigation plot.
QM1 Buell plotted another bearing line and looked up at the skipper. "Captain, the lines are all laying down right here, almost due West." Buell pointed to the chart he was working on. "My best bet is they are out here in the Solomon Sea."
The latest update on the JOTS (joint operations tactical information system) screen agreed with the navigation plot. Both showed the ARG about fifty miles to the West. This
