tc.redstormrising-第104章

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craft　in　constant　attendance；　and　Soviet　submarines　had　twice　had　the　misfortune　to　approach　one　of　them。　But　their　job　was　not　to　kill　submarines。　It　was　to　warn　others　of　them；　far　away。
In　the　midships　operations　center　of　Prevail；　a　team　of　oceanographic　technicians　watched　a　bank　of　TV…type　display　tubes；　while　others　worked　up　tracks　of　anything　that　might　be　close　enough　to　be　a　direct　threat。
A　petty　officer　ran　his　finger　down　a　fuzzy　line　on　the　display。　〃That　must　be　the　convoy　from　New　York。〃
〃Yeah；〃　said　the　technician　next　to　him。　〃And　there're　the　folks　who　want　to　meet　them。〃

USS　REUBEN　JAMES
〃At　least　we're　not　going　to　be　lonely；〃　O'Malley　observed。
〃You　always　have　such　a　positive　attitude？〃　Frank　Ernst　inquired。
〃Our　Russian　friends　must　have　excellent　intelligence。　I　mean；　your　Air　Force　chaps　did　kill　their　satellite。〃　Captain　Perrin　set　his　coffee　down　on　the　table。　The　five　officers　conferred　in　Morris's　stateroom。　Perrin　had　flown　over　by　helicopter　from　Battleaxe。
〃Yeah；　so　they　know　our　position；〃　Morris　said。　〃And　they'll　want　to　cut　this　bunch　down　to　size。〃
The　message　from　Norfolk　stated　in　clipped　navalese　that　at　least　six　Soviet　submarines　were　believed　to　be　heading　for　the　convoy。　Four　would　be　on　the　north。　That　was　their　area　of　responsibility。
〃We　should　be　getting　some　data　off　the　tail　any　time　now；〃　Morris　said。　〃Jerry；　you　up　to　three　days　of　continuous　ops？〃
O'Malley　laughed。　〃If　I　say　no；　will　it　matter？〃
〃I　think　we　should　remain　close　together；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Five　miles'　separation　at　most。　The　real　trick　will　be　timing　our　sprints。　The　convoy　wants　to　make　as　straight　a　run　as　possible；　right？〃
〃Yeah。〃　Morris　nodded。　〃Hard　to　blame　the　modore　for　that。　Zigzagging　all　those　ships　could　create　almost　as　much　confusion　as　a　real　attack。〃
〃Hey；　the　good　news　is　no　more　Backfires　for　a　while；〃　O'Malley　pointed　out。　〃We're　back　to　a　one…dimension　threat。〃
The　ship's　motion　changed　as　power　was　reduced。　The　frigate　was　ending　a　twenty…eight…knot　sprint　and　would　now　drift　for　several　minutes　at　five　knots　to　allow　her　passive　sonar　to　function。

USS　CHICAGO
〃Sonar　contact；　bearing　three…four…six。〃
Seven　hundred　miles　to　the　icepack；　McCafferty　thought　as　he　went　forward。　At　five　knots。
They　were　in　deep　water。　It　was　a　gamble；　but　a　good　one；　to　run　away　from　the　coast　at　fifteen　knots　despite　the　noise　Providence　made。　It　had　taken　four　hours　to　reach　the　hundred…fathom　curve；　a　period　of　constant　tension　as　he　had　worried　about　the　Russian　reaction　to　their　missile　attack。　The　Russians　had　sent　antisubmarine　patrol　aircraft　first　of　all；　the　ubiquitous　Bears　dropping　sonobuoys；　but　they'd　been　able　to　avoid　them。　Providence　still　had　most　of　her　sonar　systems　in　operation；　and　though　she　could　not　defend　herself；　she　could　at　least　hear　the　danger　ing。
Throughout　the　four…hour　run　the　wounded　submarine　had　sounded　like　a　wagonload　of　pipes；　and　McCafferty　didn't　want　to　think　about　how　she　had　handled；　with　her　fairwater　planes　hanging　like　laundry　in　a　breeze。　But　that　was　behind　them。　Now　they　were　in　seven　hundred　feet　of　water。　With　their　towed…array　sonars　deployed；　they'd　have　an　extra　measure　of　warning　for　approaching　danger。　Boston　and　USS　　Chicago　cruised　three　miles　on　either　side　of　their　wounded　sister。　Seven　hundred　miles　at　five　knots；　McCafferty　thought。　Almost　six　days　。　。　。
〃Okay；　what　do　we　have　here；　Chief？〃
〃Came　in　slowly；　sir；　so　it's　probably　direct　path。　We　have　a　slow　bearing　change　rate。　My　first　guess　would　be　a　diesel　boat　on　batteries；　and　close。〃　The　sonar　chief　showed　no　emotion。
The　captain　leaned　back　into　the　attack　center。　〃e　right　to　zero…two…five。〃
The　helmsman　applied　five　degrees　of　right　rudder；　gently　bringing　the　submarine　to　a　northeasterly　course。　At　five　knots　USS　　Chicago　was　〃a　hole　in　the　ocean〃　that　made　almost　no　noise　at　all；　but　her　contact　was　almost　as　quiet。　McCafferty　watched　the　line　on　the　screen　change　shape　ever　so　slightly　over　a　period　of　several　minutes。
〃Okay；　we　have　a　bearing　change　to　the　contact。　Bearing　is　now　three…four…one。〃
〃Joe？〃　McCafferty　asked　his　executive　officer。
〃I　make　the　range　eight　thousand　yards；　plus　or　minus。　He's　on　a　reciprocal　heading；　speed　about　four　knots。〃
Too　close；　the　captain　thought。　He　probably　doesn't　hear　us　yet；　though。
〃Let's　get　him。〃
The　Mark…48　torpedo　fired　at　its　slowest　speed　setting；　turned　forty　degrees　to　the　left　on　leaving　the　tube；　then　settled　down　to　head　for　the　contact；　its　guidance　wires　trailing　back　to　the　submarine。　The　sonarmen　directed　the　fish　toward　its　target　while　USS　Chicago　moved　slowly　away　from　the　launch　point。　Suddenly　the　sonar　chief's　head　jerked　up。
〃He's　heard　it！　He　just　kicked　his　engines。　I　got　a　blade　count…it's　a　Foxtrot…class；　doing　turns　for　fifteen。　Transient；　transient；　he　just　flooded　tubes。〃
The　torpedo　accelerated　and　switched　on　its　homing　sonar。　The　Foxtrot　knew　it　had　been　found；　and　her　captain　reacted　automatically；　increasing　speed　and　ordering　a　radical　turn　to　starboard；　then　firing　a　homing　torpedo　back　down　the　line　of　bearing　at　its　attacker。　Finally　he　dove　deep；　hoping　to　shake　off　the　closing　fish。
The　hard　turn　left　a　knuckle　in　the　water；　an　area　of　turbulence　which　confused　the　Mark…48　briefly；　but　then　the　torpedo　charged　right　through　it；　and　on　ing　back　to　undisturbed　water；　found　its　target　again。　The　green…painted　weapon　dove　after　the　Foxtrot　and　caught　it　at　a　depth　of　four　hundred　feet。
〃Bearing　is　changing　rapidly　on　the　inbound；〃　the　sonar　chief　said。　〃It's　going　to　pass　well　aft　of　us…hit；　we　got　a　hit　on　the　target。〃　The　sound　echoed　through　the　steel　hull　like　distant　thunder。　McCafferty　plugged　in　a　set　of　phones　in　time　to　hear　the　Foxtrot's　frantic　attempt　to　blow　to　the　surface；　and　the　screech　of　metal　as　the　internal　bulkheads　gave　way。　He　did　not　hear　the　captain's　last　act。　It　was　to　deploy　the　rescue　buoy　located　on　the　aft　er　of　the　sail。　The　buoy　floated　to　the　surface　and　began　transmitting　a　continuous　message。　All　the　men　aboard　the　Foxtrot　were　already　dead；　but　the　rescue　buoy　told　their　fleet　headquarters　where　they　had　died…and　several　submarines　and　surface　ships　immediately　set　off　to　that　point。

USS　REUBEN　JAMES
O'Malley　pulled　up　on　the　collective　control　and　climbed　to　five　hundred　feet。　From　this　height　he　could　see　the　northern　edge　of　the　convoy　off　to　the　southwest。　Several　helicopters　were　in　the　air…a　good　idea　of　someone's。　Many　of　the　merchant　ships　were　carrying　Army　helicopters　as　deck　cargo；　and　most　of　them　were　flyable。　Their　crews　were　taking　them　up　to　patrol　the　convoy　perimeter；　looking　for　periscopes。　The　one　thing　any　submariner　would　admit　to　being　afraid　of　was　a　helicopter。　This　procedure　was　called　〃black…sky〃　ASW。　Throughout　the　convoy；　soldiers　were　being　told　to　watch　the　ocean　and　report　anything　they　saw；　which　made　for　many　false　sighting　reports；　but　it　gave　the　men　something　to　do；　and　sooner　or　later　they　might　just　spot　a　real　periscope。　The　Seahawk　moved　twenty　miles　east　before　circling。　They　were　looking　for　a　possible　submarine　detected　on　the　frigate's　passive　sonar　array　during　the　last　drift。
〃Okay；　Willy；　drop　a　LOFAR…now…now…now！〃
The　petty　officer　punched　a　button　to　eject　a　sonobuoy　out　the　side　panel。　The　helicopter　continued　forward；　dropping　four　additional　buoys　at　intervals　of　two　miles　to　create　a　ten…mile　barrier；　then　O'Malley　held　his　aircraft　in　a　wide　circle；　watching　the　sea　himself　as　the　petty　officer　examined　the　sonar　display　on　his　screen。
〃mander；　what's　this　I　hear　about　the　skipper？　You　know；　the　night　before　we　sailed。〃
〃I　felt　like　getting　drunk；　and　he　was　kind　enough　not　to　make　me　drink　alone。　Didn't　you　ever　get　drunk　before？〃
〃No；　sir。　I　don't　drink。〃
〃What's　this　Navy　ing　to！　You　take　her　for　a　minute。〃　O'Malley　took　his　hand　off　the　stick　and　adjusted　his　helmet。　It　was　a　new　one　and　he　hadn't　quite　gotten　used　to　it　yet。　〃You　got　anything；　Willy？〃
〃Not　sure　yet；　sir。　Give　me　another　minute　or　two。〃
〃Fair　enough。〃　The　pilot　contemplated　his　instruments　briefly；　then　resumed　his　outside　scanning。　〃I　ever　tell　you　about　this　thirty…five…footer　in　the　Bermuda…to…Newport　race？　Storm　beat　hell　out　of　it。　Anyway；　it　had　an　all…girl　crew　and　when　the　boat　swamped　they　lost　all　their…〃
〃Skipper；　I　got　a　weak　signal　on　number　four。〃
〃Grateful　as　hell　for　being　rescued；　too。〃　O'Malley　took　the　stick　and　brought　the　helicopter　around　to　the　northwest。　〃You　don't　do　any　of　that　either；　Mr。　Ralston？〃
〃Strong　drink　giveth　the　desire；　sir；　but　taketh　away　the　ability；〃　the　copilot　said。　〃Two　more　miles；　sir。〃
〃He　even　knows　Shakespeare。　There　may　be　hope　for　you　yet。　Talk　to　me；　Willy。〃
〃Still　a　'weak'　on　number　four。　Nothing　else。〃
〃One　mile；〃　Ralston　said；　watching　the　tactical　display。
O'Malley's　eyes　scanned　the　surface；　looking　for　a　straight　vertical　line　or　a　wisp　of　foam。
'Number　four's　signal　strength　is　now　medium；　sir。　Getting　a　twitch　on　five。〃
〃Romeo；　Hammer；　I　think　we　may　have　something　here。　I'm　going　to　drop　another　LOFAR　between　four　and　five。　Designate　this　one　number　six。　Dropping…now！〃　Another　sonobuoy　was　ejected　clear　of　the　aircraft。
〃Hammer；　this　is　Romeo；〃　called　the　controller。　〃Looks　to　us　like　the　contact　is　north　of　the　line；　say　again　north。〃
〃Roger；　concur　on　that。　We　ought　to　know　something　in　a　minute。〃
〃Skipper；〃　Willy　called。　〃I　have　a　'medium'　on　six。〃
〃Romeo；　Hammer；　we're　going　to　dip　on　this　character　right　now。〃
Aboard　Reuben　James　they　marked　the　helicopter's　position；　along　with　the　line　of　sonobuoys。
O'Malley　eased　back　on　the　stick　to　kill　forward　velocity；　while　his　other　hand　eased　the　collective　control　down　very　gently　until　the　helicopter　was　in　hover　fifty　feet　over　the　water。　Willy　unlocked　the　dipping　sonar　and　lowered　it　to　a　depth　of　two　hundred　feet。
〃Sonar　contact；　sir。　Classify　as　possible　submarine；　bearing　three…five…six。〃
〃Up　dome！〃　O'Malley　manded。
The　Seahawk　lifted　high　and　raced　north　for　one　mile。　Hovering　once　more；　O'Malley　dipped　his　sonar　a　second　time。
〃Contact！　Bearing　one…seven…five。　Sounds　like　a　twin　screw　doing　turns　for　maybe　ten　knots。〃
〃We've　bracketed　him；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Let's　set　this　one　up。〃　Ralston　entered　the　numbers　into　the　tactical　puter。
〃Bearing　change；　looks　like　he's　turning　to　port…yeah；〃　Willy　confirmed。　〃Turning　to　port。〃
〃He　hear　us？〃　Ralston　asked。
〃He　might　hear　the　convoy　and　be　turning　to　get　a　fix　on　them。　Willy；　up　dome；〃　O'Malley　ordered。　〃Romeo；　Hammer；　we　have　a　maneuvering　target；　classify　as　probable　submarine。　Request　weapons　free。〃
〃Roger；　Hammer；　weapons　free；　repeat　weapons　are　free。〃
The　pilot　flew　one　thousand　yards　southeast。　The　sonar　dome　went　down　again　and　the　helicopter　hovered　head　into　the　wind。
〃Got　him　again；　sir；〃　Willy　said　excitedly。　〃Bearing　three…five…five。　Bearing　is　changing　right　to　left；　sir。〃
〃Going　right　past　us；〃　Ralston　said；　looking　at　the　TACNAV。
〃Romeo；　this　is　Hammer。　We're　calling　this　a　positive　submarine　and　we　are　making　a　deliberate　attack　on　this　contact。〃　O'Malley　held　the　aircraft　in　hover　as　his　petty　officer　called　off　the　bearing　change。　〃Attack　sequence。〃
〃Master　Arm。〃　Ralston　ran　his　hands　across　the　buttons。　〃Torped