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USS Towers (DDG-103) :
SEA OF SHADOWS 323
The Sonar Supervisor’s voice came over the 29-MC announcing
circuit. “All stations—Sonar has multiple active 53 Delta contacts off the
starboard quarter, bearing one-five-five. Initial classification: POSS-SUB,
confidence level low.”
Chief McPherson keyed her mike. “Sonar—USWE, what have you
got?”
“USWE—Sonar, I’m tracking five separate contacts. Unless I miss my
guess, we’re looking at a cluster of decoys, Chief. Two of my contacts are
dead in the water, so they’re probably static countermeasures. The other
three are all showing motion. Looks like two are moving slowly, and one
is getting the hell out of Dodge.”
The chief keyed her mike again. “Sonar—USWE. Watch your net
discipline. The fast-moving contact is probably our submarine, trying to
outrun Firewalker’s torpedo. But I want you to maintain a track on all
three of your mobile contacts until we get a clear classification. Your two
low-speed contacts are designated Alpha and Bravo. Your high-speed
contact is designated Charlie. Tag all three contacts and send them to fire
control.”
“Sonar, aye. Slow-movers are designated Alpha and Bravo. Fastmover
is designated Charlie. All three contacts are tagged. Transmitting
them to fire control now.”
“USWE, aye. Break. UB—USWE. You should be getting contact
data on three POSS-SUB contacts in a few seconds, designated Alpha,
Bravo, and Charlie. We believe Alpha and Bravo are decoys, and Charlie
is our submarine, but we don’t have final classification yet. Prep the
starboard tubes for an over-the-side torpedo shot and stand by to launch it
on zero-notice.”
Before the Underwater Battery Fire Control Operator had a chance to
reply, the Sonar Supervisor’s voice came over the net again. “USWE—
Sonar. Firewalker’s torpedo has acquired contact Charlie, the fast-mover.
Torpedo is accelerating to attack speed now.”
The Sonar Supervisor’s next report came over the 29-MC announcing
circuit almost immediately. “All stations—Sonar has loud underwater
explosion off the starboard quarter, bearing one-six-zero.”
Chief McPherson keyed her mike. “Sonar—USWE. Are you detecting
secondary explosions?”
The answer was a few seconds in coming. “USWE—Sonar. Negative.
We did not detect secondaries. But we have no echoes on contact
Charlie.”