Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

330 JEFF EDWARDS
USS Towers (DDG-103) :
Chief McPherson watched the tactical display on the CDRT. It was
working! Gremlin Zero Four had stopped reacting to the ASROC attacks.
A distant rumble announced the launch of another ASROC. Hot on its
heels came two more rumbles, as a pair of SM-3 missiles climbed into the
sky in search of incoming Vipers.
The chief keyed her mike. “UB—USWE. Kill contact Gremlin Zero
Four with over-the-side torpedo.”
“UB, aye. Going to Standby. Going to Launch. Torpedo away—now,
now, NOW!”
The Sonar Supervisor’s report confirmed the launch almost
immediately. “USWE—Sonar. We have weapon start-up.”
A blue friendly-weapon symbol popped up on the CDRT and began
moving toward Gremlin Zero Four’s hostile-submarine symbol. There
were several friendly-weapon symbols on the screen. “That’s right,” she
whispered. “Keep your eyes on the right hand, and you’ll never even see
what the left hand is doing.”
Another rumble, and another ASROC climbed into the sky.
U-307:
“Kapitan …” The Sonar Operator’s voice sounded strange. “This one
is not shutting down.”
Gröeler turned toward him. “What?”
“This torpedo is not shutting down,” the Sonar Operator said.
Gröeler stepped over to the sonar console. “Which torpedo?”
The operator pointed at the screen. The display was a nearly
unintelligible mishmash of torpedo signatures, all faded to varying
degrees. All except one. The torpedo signature at bearing one-seven-eight
wasn’t fading at all. It was getting stronger rapidly.
Gröeler could hear it now, the electric-razor whine of high-speed
propellers. The sound quickly growing to a howl.
Gröeler gripped the Sonar Operator’s shoulder. “Give me an estimated
range!”
“Extremely close aboard! Less than five hundred meters!”
“Decoys!” Gröeler shouted. No. It was too late for decoys.