tc.redstormrising-第64章

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marine's　own　course　deviation　as　a　baseline　to　pute　ranges　to　the　various　contacts。　A　straightforward　process…essentially　an　exercise　in　high…school　trigonometry…it　nevertheless　took　time　because　they　had　to　estimate　the　speed　and　course　of　the　moving　targets。　Even　puter　support　couldn't　make　the　process　go　much　faster；　and　one　of　his　quartermasters　took　great　pride　in　his　ability　to　use　a　circular　slide　rule　and　race　the　puter　to　a　hard　solution。
The　tension　seemed　to　grow　by　degrees；　then　it　plateaued。　The　years　of　training　were　paying　off。　Data　was　handled；　plotted；　and　acted　upon　in　seconds。　The　crew　suddenly　seemed　a　physical　part　of　the　gear　they　were　operating；　their　feelings　shut　off；　their　emotions　submerged；　only　the　sweat　on　their　foreheads　betraying　that　they　were　men　after　all；　and　not　machines。　They　depended　absolutely　on　their　sonar　operators。　Sound　energy　was　their　only　indication　of　what　was　happening；　and　each　new　bearing　report　triggered　furious　activity。　It　was　clear　that　their　targets　were　zigzagging；　which　made　the　range　putations　even　more　difficult。
〃Conn；　sonar！　Active　sonobuoy　close　aboard　to　port！　Below　the　layer；　I　think。〃
〃Right　full　rudder；　all　ahead　two…thirds；〃　the　executive　officer　ordered　instantly。
McCafferty　went　to　sonar　and　plugged　in　a　set　of　headphones。　The　pings　were　loud　but　。　。　。　distorted；　he　thought。　If　the　buoy　was　below　the　temperature　gradient；　the　signals　radiating　upward　would　be　unable　to　detect　his　submarine…probably。　〃Signal　strength？〃　he　asked。
〃Strong；〃　the　chief　replied。　〃Even　money　they　might　have　picked　us　up。　Five　hundred　yards　farther　out　and　they　lose　us　for　sure。〃
〃Okay；　they　can't　monitor　them　all　at　once。〃
The　XO　moved　Chicago　a　thousand　yards　before　returning　to　base　course。　Overhead；　they　knew；　was　a　Bear…F　ASW　aircraft　armed　with　homing　torpedoes　and　a　crew　whose　job　it　was　to　listen　to　the　sonobuoy　signals。　How　good　were　the　buoys　and　the　men？　That　was　one　thing　that　they　didn't　know。　Three　tense　minutes　passed　and　nothing　happened。
〃All　ahead　one…third；　e　left　to　three…two…one；〃　the　executive　officer　ordered。　They　were　now　through　the　line　of　buoys。　Three　more　such　lines　were　between　them　and　their　target。　They'd　nearly　determined　range　for　three　of　the　escorts；　but　not　to　the　Kirov　yet。
〃Okay；　people；　the　Bears　are　behind　us。　That's　one　less　thing　to　worry　about。　Range　to　the　nearest　ship？〃　he　asked　the　approach　officer。
〃Twenty…six　thousand　yards。　We　think　he's　a　Sovremenny。　The　Kresta　is　about　five　thousand　yards　east　of　him。　He's　pinging　away　with　hull　and　VDS　sonars。〃　McCafferty　nodded。　The　variable…depth　sonar　would　be　below　the　layer　and　had　scant　chance　of　detecting　them。　The　hull　sonar　they'd　have　to　pay　attention　to；　but　it　wouldn't　be　a　problem　for　a　while　yet。　Okay；　the　captain　thought；　things　are　going　pretty　much　according　to　the　plan…
〃Conn；　sonar；　torpedoes　in　the　water；　bearing　three…two…zero！　Signal　faint。　Say　again　torpedoes　in　the　water；　three…two…zero；　bearing　changing　…additional；　lots　of　active　sonars　just　lit　up。　We're　getting　increased　screw　noises　for　all　contacts。〃　McCafferty　was　in　the　sonar　room　before　the　report　ended。
〃Torpedo　bearing　change？〃
〃Yes！　Moving　left…to…right…Jesus；　I　think　somebody's　attacking　the　Russians。　Impact！〃　The　chief　jabbed　his　finger　at　the　display。　A　series　of　three　bright　spokes　appeared　right　on　the　bearing　to　Kirov。　The　display　suddenly　went　berserk。　The　high…and　medium…frequency　segment　lit　up　with　active　sonar　lines。　The　lines　indicating　ships　became　brighter　as　the　ships　increased　engine　speeds　and　changed　direction　as　they　began　to　maneuver。
〃Secondary　explosion　on　this　contact…holy　shit！　Lots　of　explosions　in　the　water　now。　Depth　charges；　maybe；　something's　really　ripping　the　water　up。　There's　another　torpedo…way　off；　bearing　changing　right　to　left。〃
The　display　was　now　too　plex　for　McCafferty　to　follow。　The　chief　expanded　the　time　scale　to　allow　easier　interpretation；　but　only　he　and　his　experienced　operators　could　understand　it。
〃Skipper；　it　looks　like　somebody　just　got　inside　on　them　and　launched　an　attack。　He　got　three　solid　hits　on　Kirov；　and　now　they're　trying　to　beat　on　him。　These　two　ships　appear　to　be　converging　on　something。　Another　torpedo　in　the　water；　don't　know　whose。　Gawd；　look　at　all　these　explosions！〃
McCafferty　went　aft。
〃Periscope　depth；　now！〃　Chicago　angled　upward；　taking　a　minute　to　reach　her　position。
He　saw　what　might　have　been　a　mast　on　the　horizon；　and　a　column　of　black　smoke；　bearing　three…two…zero。　Over　twenty　radars　were　operating　along　with　a　number　of　voice　radios。
〃Down　scope。　We　have　any　target　solutions？〃
〃No；　sir；〃　the　XO　answered。　〃When　they　started　maneuvering；　all　our　data　went　to　hell。〃
〃How　far　to　the　next　sonobuoy　line？〃
〃Two　miles。　We're　positioned　to　run　right　through　a　gap。〃
〃Make　your　depth　eight　hundred　feet。　Ahead　full；　move　us　in。〃
Chicago's　engines　sprang　into　life；　accelerating　the　submarine　to　thirty　knots。　The　executive　officer　dived　the　boat　to　eight　hundred　feet；　ducking　deep　below　a　sonobuoy　set　for　shallow　search。　McCafferty　stood　over　the　chart　table；　took　a　pen　from　his　pocket；　and　unconsciously　began　chewing　on　the　plastic　end　as　he　watched　his　sub's　course　take　him　closer　and　closer　to　the　enemy　formation。　Sonar　performance　dropped　virtually　to　nil　with　the　high　speed；　but　soon　the　low…frequency　sounds　of　the　exploding　ordnance　echoed　through　the　steel　hull。　Chicago　ran　for　twenty　minutes；　zigzagging　slightly　to　avoid　the　Russian　sonobuoys；　as　the　firecontrol　men　kept　updating　their　solutions。
〃Okay；　all　ahead　one…third　and　take　her　back　up　to　periscope　depth；〃　McCafferty　said。　〃Tracking　party；　stand　by　for　a　firing　run。〃
The　sonar　picture　cleared　up　rapidly。　The　Soviets　were　continuing　to　hunt　frantically　for　whoever　had　fired　at　their　flagship。　One　ship's　trace　was　entirely　gone…at　least　one　Russian　ship　had　been　sunk　or　crippled。　Explosions　rippled　through　the　water；　punctuated　by　the　screeing　sound　of　homing　torpedoes。　All　were　close　enough　to　be　a　matter　of　real　concern。
〃Shooting　observation。　Up　scope！〃
The　search　periscope　slid　upward。　McCafferty　caught　it　low　and　swept　the　horizon。　〃I…Jesus！〃　The　TV　monitor　showed　a　Bear　only　half　a　mile　to　their　right；　heading　north　for　the　formation。　He　could　see　seven　ships；　mainly　mast　tops；　but　one　Sovremenny…class　destroyer　was　hull…down；　perhaps　four　miles　away。　The　smoke　he'd　seen　before　was　gone。　The　water　resounded　with　the　noise　of　Russian　sonars。
〃Raise　the　radar；　power…up；　and　stand　by。〃
A　petty　officer　pushed　the　button　to　raise　the　submarine's　surface…search　radar；　activated　the　system；　but　kept　it　in　standby　mode。
〃Energize　and　give　me　two　sweeps；〃　the　captain　ordered。　There　was　a　real　danger　here。　The　Soviets　would　almost　certainly　detect　the　submarine's　radar　and　try　to　attack　it。
The　radar　was　on　for　a　total　of　twelve　seconds。　It　〃painted〃　a　total　of　twenty…six　targets　on　the　screen；　two　of　them　close　together　about　where　he　would　have　expected　Kirov　to　be。　The　radar　operator　read　off　ranges　and　bearing；　which　were　entered　into　the　Mk…117　fire…control　director　and　relayed　to　the　Harpoon　missiles　in　the　torpedo　tubes；　giving　them　bearing　to　target　and　the　range　at　which　to　switch　on　their　seeker…heads。　The　weapons　officer　checked　his　status　lights；　then　selected　the　two　most　promising　targets　for　the　missiles。
〃Set！〃
〃Flood　tubes。〃　McCafferty　watched　the　weapons…panel　operator　go　through　the　launch　sequence。　〃Opening　outer　doors。〃
〃Solution　checked　and　valid；〃　the　weapons　officer　said　calmly。　〃Firing　sequence：　two；　one；　three。〃
〃Shoot！〃　McCafferty　ordered。
〃Fire　two。〃　The　submarine　shuddered　as　the　powerful　impulse　of　high…pressure　air　ejected　the　weapon　from　the　tube；　followed　by　the　whoosh　of　water　entering　the　void。　〃Fire　one　。　。　。　fire　three。　Two；　one；　and　three　fired；　sir。　Torpedo　tube　doors　are　shut；　pumping　out　to　reload。〃
〃Reload　with　Mark…48s。　Prepare　to　fire　Tomahawks！〃　McCafferty　said。　The　fire…control　men　switched　the　attack　director　over　to　activate　the　bow…mounted　missiles。
〃Up　scope！〃　The　quartermaster　spun　the　control　wheel。　McCafferty　let　it　e　all　the　way　up。　He　could　see　the　smoke　trail　of　the　last　Harpoon；　and　right　behind　it　。　。　。　McCafferty　slapped　the　periscope　handles　up　and　stepped　back。　〃Helix　heading　in！　Take　her　down；　all　ahead　flank！〃　The　submarine　raced　downward。　A　Soviet　antisub　helicopter　had　seen　the　missile　launch　and　was　racing　in　at　them。　〃Left　full　rudder。〃
〃Left　full　rudder；　aye！〃
〃Passing　through　one　hundred　feet。　Speed　fifteen　knots；〃　the　XO　reported。
〃There　he　is；〃　McCafferty　said。　The　pings　from　the　helicopter's　active　sonar　reverberated　through　the　hull。　〃Reverse　your　rudder。　Shoot　off　a　noisemaker。〃　The　captain　ordered　his　submarine　back　to　an　easterly　course　and　reduced　speed　as　they　dropped　through　the　layer。　With　luck　the　Soviets　would　mistake　the　noisemaker　for　the　cavitation　noises　of　the　submarine　and　attack　it　as　Chicago　drew　clear。
〃Conn；　sonar；　we　have　a　destroyer　heading　in；　bearing　three…three…nine。　Sounds　like　a　Sovremenny…torpedo　in　the　water　aft。　We　have　one　torpedo　in　the　water　bearing　two…six…five。〃
〃Right　twenty　degrees　rudder。　All　ahead　two…thirds。　e　to　new　course　one…seven…five。〃
〃Conn；　sonar；　new　contact；　twin　screws；　just　started　with　a　low…frequency　sonar；　probably　a　Udaloy；　blade　count　says　twenty…five　knots；　bearing　three…five…one　and　constant。　Torpedo　bearing　changing；　heading　aft　and　fading。〃
〃Very　well。〃　McCafferty　nodded。　〃The　helicopter　dropped　on　the　noisemaker。　We　don't　have　to　sweat　that　one。　All　ahead　one…third；　make　your　depth　one　thousand　feet。〃
The　Sovremenny　he　didn't　worry　too　greatly　about；　but　the　Udaloy　was　another　thing　entirely。　The　new　Soviet　destroyer　carried　a　low…frequency　sonar　that　could　penetrate　the　layer　under　certain　conditions；　plus　two　helicopters　and　a　long…range　rocket…boosted　torpedo　weapon　that　was　better　than　the　American　ASROC。
Ba…wah！　The　sound　of　a　low…frequency　sonar。　It　had　hit　them　on　the　first　shot。　Would　it　report　Chicago's　position　to　the　Udaloy？　Or　would　the　submarine's　rubber　coating　prevent　it？
〃Target　bearing　three…five…one。　Blade　count　is　down；　indicates　speed　of　ten　knots；〃　sonar　reported。
〃Okay；　he's　slowed　to　search　for　us。　Sonar；　how　strong　was　that　ping？〃
〃Low　edge　of　detection　range；　sir。　Probably　did　not　get　a　return　off　us。　Contact　is　maneuvering；　bearing　now　three…five…three。　Continuing　to　ping；　but　his　sonar　is　search…lighting　west…to…east　away　from　us。　Another　helo　is　pinging；　sir；　bearing　zero…nine…eight。　This　one's　below　the　layer；　but　fairly　weak。〃
〃XO；　take　us　west。　We'll　try　to　loop　around　them　to　seaward　and　approach　their　amphibs　from　the　west。〃　McCafferty　returned　to　the　sonar　room。　He　was　tempted　to　engage　the　Udaloy；　but　could　not　launch　a　torpedo　this　deep　without　using　a　dangerously　high　amount　of　his　reserve　high…pressure　air。　Besides；　his　job　was　to　kill　the　mand　ships；　not　the　escorts。　His　fire…control　team　set　up　a　solution　anyway　in　case　killing　the　Russian　destroyer　became　a　necessity。
〃God；　what　a　mess；〃　the　chief　breathed。　〃The　depth…charging　up　north　has　tapered　off　some。　Bearing　is　steadying　down　on　these　contacts　here。　Either　they've　resumed　their　base　course　or　they're　heading　away。　Can't　tell　which