Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

114 JEFF EDWARDS
A few minutes out from the Op-Area, Shari began a slow descent that
would take them down to their patrol altitude of 1,500 feet. Based on the
recommendations of the TACO, they didn’t drop any sonobuoys on the
first pass, giving the FLIR cameras and the APS-137 radar a chance to
sweep the area for periscopes or snorkels.
When she reached the far edge of the search grid, Shari eased the yoke
over into a slow turn that would bring them back around for another pass.
She keyed her mike. “Did we get anything, George?”
“No joy. Just a merchant ship and a couple of yachts.”
“So much for beginner’s luck,” Shari said. “Let’s start planting the
Briar Patch on this next pass.”
“Roger that,” her TACO said. “Stand by for waypoints.”
A series of coordinates popped up on Shari’s Tactical Data Display.
She punched the acknowledge key on the TDD. “Got ’em.” She brought
the nose around two degrees to starboard to line up on the first waypoint.
The TDD beeped to tell her that her approach vector was within acceptable
limits. She keyed her mike. “I’ll do the flying, Andy. You cover the
numbers.”
Andy said, “Roger that, boss.” He paused, watching the numbers on
the TDD for a moment, and then he keyed his mike. “All stations—
waypoint Alpha coming up in five seconds … four … three … two …
mark!”
On cue, one of the two Acoustic Sensor Operators sitting at display
consoles near the center of the plane pushed a button.
An electrical signal triggered a small explosive charge, not much more
powerful than a shotgun shell, propelling the first sonobuoy out of its
launch tube. As soon as the metal and plastic cylinder was clear of the
aircraft, a propeller-like set of spring-loaded fins popped open on the rear
end of the buoy. Known in Undersea Warfare circles as a roto-chute, the
fins caused the sonobuoy to spin like a helicopter, slowing the buoy’s rate
of fall and keeping its nose pointed down toward the water.
On splashdown, the sonobuoy performed a series of automatic
operations in rapid sequence. First a flotation collar inflated, keeping the
buoy floating upright with four-fifths of its length extending down into the
water. Next a latch snapped open in the lower end of the device, releasing
a small array of sensitive underwater microphones to dangle at the end of a
cable beneath the buoy. Relays clicked; a lithium battery powered up an
acoustic processor and a radio transmitter, transforming the buoy into a
small disposable sonar system. Almost simultaneously, an antenna popped
out of the top of the buoy and began transmitting coded signals back to the
aircraft.