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SEA OF SHADOWS 211
short for Naval Tactical Data System. (Although the NTDS system itself
had long been superseded by more advanced technology, its easy-to-read
catalog of symbols had carried its legacy into the twenty-first century.)
The particular NTDS symbol that represented USS Towers was marked by
a bright green cross that divided the circular part of the symbol into four
equal quadrants.
Each symbol on the display was trailed by a small three-character code
in capital letters: the tactical call sign for that particular ship. Today,
Towers’ call sign was Y7M, pronounced “Yankee Seven Mike.”
To Ensign Cooper, the deployment of ships looked excellent. Spaced
at eighty percent of their predicted sonar ranges, Towers, Benfold, and
Ingraham formed a moving wall of acoustic sensors. They would sweep
west in a locked-step zigzag pattern, searching every inch of water
between themselves and the probable position of the enemy subs. In the
“pouncer” position, Antietam would run behind the advancing barrier.
When a submarine was detected, Antietam would come to flank speed and
drive around the end of the formation to engage the unsuspecting sub with
Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets. Then, while the sub was on the
run, Antietam’s helicopter, Samurai Seven-Nine, would swoop down out of
the sky like a hawk and drop a torpedo right off the target’s bow. Running
at high speed to escape the ASROC, the sub should run right into the
helo’s torpedo before it even had time to react.
It was a good plan, maybe even a great plan. Unfortunately, it was
right out of the book. Ensign Cooper felt uneasy about his captain’s idea
of abandoning established doctrine. But the thought of facing an enemy
who knows your moves ahead of time had him really scared. No matter
how good the Pouncer Plan looked on the color-coded screen of the
CDRT, it bordered on suicide.
A voice broke over the encrypted Navy Red radio circuit. “All units,
this is SAU Commander. Execute Passive Search Plan Delta, over.”
Ensign Cooper grabbed the red telephone-style handset of the Navy
Red terminal and keyed the mike. “SAU Commander, this is Towers.
Roger. Executing Search Plan Delta, out.”
Over the next few seconds, Ingraham and Benfold both acknowledged
the signal.
Now it begins, Ensign Cooper thought. He leaned over the CDRT and
waited for the Sonar Supervisor’s contact report.