Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

SEA OF SHADOWS 329
“Kapitan! All hydrophone effects have ceased. Hostile torpedo has
shut down.”
Gröeler turned to stare at the man. “What?”
“The torpedo has shut itself down, sir. Its motor started up, ran for
maybe fifteen seconds, and shut down.”
“That doesn’t make any …”
The Sonar Operator cut him off. “Kapitan! I have new splash
transients and hydrophone effects, bearing three-zero-zero. Initial
classification: hostile torpedo! Estimated range—less than one thousand
meters.”
Gröeler took three quick steps to the sonar console. The Sonar
Operator was correct; the high-speed blade signature of an American
Mark-54 torpedo was clearly visible on the screen. He verified the bearing
to the new torpedo and decided that his current course was still viable. He
turned toward the Officer of the Deck. “Launch two static noisemakers.
Then wait thirty seconds and launch two mobile decoys. Set one of the
mobile decoys for low speed and the other for high speed.”
The OOD, who was now familiar with the tactic, had already been
reaching for the Countermeasures Control Panel. “Aye-aye, sir.
Launching static noisemakers now!”
A pair of hisses and thumps marked the ejection of two decoys.
“Kapitan!” the Sonar Operator said. “I have splash transients and
hydrophone effects, bearing zero-five-zero. Initial classification: hostile
torpedo! Estimated range—two thousand meters.”
Gröeler looked at the sonar display. The previous torpedo had shut
down, just like the first one. Its signature began to fade from the screen.
The first torpedo’s signature was also fading but still visible. The third
torpedo signal was bright and strong, bearing zero-five-zero, exactly as the
Sonar Operator had reported.
What were the Americans trying to do? He opened his mouth to order
a course change, when his Sonar Operator reported yet another torpedo.
Where were these torpedoes coming from, and why were they all shutting
down so quickly?
“Kapitan?” It was the Officer of the Deck. “Do you wish me to launch
more decoys, sir?”
“Yes,” Gröeler said. “Launch two …” He stopped himself. “No …”
“These Americans are crafty,” he said. “They drop their useless
ASROCs all around us, to force us to expend our decoys. Then, when we
have no decoys left, they will fire their torpedoes. Launch no more decoys
until I give the order.”