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SEA OF SHADOWS 295
“That’s the idea, ma’am. When the sub hears that torpedo start up, he’s
going to assume that we’ve detected him somehow, and that he’s about to
get a high-explosive enema. He’ll be off the bottom, running his torpedo
evasion maneuvers in nothing flat.”
“He’s going to launch a counter-battery attack as soon as he detects our
weapon.”
“Yes, ma’am. That’s how we’re going to locate him. As soon as he
shoots, we’ll put a torpedo down his firing bearing.”
“So we have to draw fire from his torpedo to get a firing solution for
our own torpedo?”
“I know it’s a risky plan, Captain. I just can’t think of a better one.”
Captain Vargas didn’t speak for over a minute. Finally, she said,
“Neither can I. Looks like we do it your way, Alex.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lieutenant (jg) Sherman keyed his mike. “Sonar—
USWE. Commence transmitting your recorded torpedo signal and keep it
up until I tell you to stop.”
“Sonar, aye. Transmitting now.”
The next two reports came back-to-back, less than thirty seconds later.
“USWE—Sonar has active 53 Delta contact off the starboard quarter,
bearing one-five-five. Initial classification: POSS-SUB, confidence level
high!” Before the USWE could acknowledge, the Sonar Supervisor
started in on his second report. “All Stations—Sonar has multiple
hydrophone effects off the starboard quarter! Bearings one-five-five and
one-five-seven. Initial classification: hostile torpedoes!”
“Holy Christ!” the USWE shouted. “This guy is right up our ass.” He
keyed the net. “Bridge—USWE. Crack the whip! I say again, crack the
whip!”
“Bridge, aye!”
The Sonar Supervisor’s voice came over the 29-MC. “The first torpedo
has acquired! Torpedo is close aboard!”
The turbines began to spin up, and the ship started to turn.
It was too late.
The DMA37 torpedo slipped under the hull and detonated directly
beneath the destroyer’s after fuel tanks. The shallow, hard-packed sand
bottom reflected a great deal of the shock wave back toward the surface—
toward Benfold—effectively doubling the destructive power of the
warhead. The magnified explosion ripped through the steel hull plates,