Charlie Class by David E. Meadows

Author:David E. Meadows
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2010-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

“WHAT next?” Elliot asked as they stood in the passageway outside of Radio.

“Well, we will have to issue a CASREP, and when you write it, XO, ask Rota to stand by with its local force and see if they can provide some immediate maintenance availability when we arrive.”

“I thought our Rota visit was canceled.”

Brandon nodded. “Our mission is to ensure the Strait of Gibraltar stays open to U.S. forces. The Soviet submarine force is scattered throughout the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Most likely they are going to put some boats at the Strait. Shutting down the Strait of Gibraltar is easy. Lay a few mines, and the only way into the Med is the Suez Canal. Our mission is to see that that doesn’t happen.”

“Someone else may have to take our place.”

Brandon grunted. “Unfortunately, there is no one else. Greenling is tracking west toward the center of the Atlantic. Naval Intelligence thinks the Soviets have deployed some of their attack submarines there. The boats from Norfolk are deploying today and tomorrow to clear the lanes for the carrier and amphibious battle groups.” He shook his head. “Seems like everything is moving forward for a classic ‘oh shit’ confrontation.”

The two men turned aft toward the control room. “Wonder what happened to the Soviet Charlie we were tailing.”

Brandon shrugged. “As long as he isn’t tailing us, I’m happy.” He swung the watertight handle up, but held the door closed for a moment.

“What you thinking?”

Brandon took a deep breath and sighed. “I was thinking of clearing our baffles, but we cleared them earlier before the antenna went broke-dick on us. Don’t want to maneuver too much if we can avoid it, until we have finished everything possible to get that wire back in.”

He opened the door and entered the control room, glancing at the quartermaster who quickly notated his presence at the announcement of the officer of the deck. It was something learned from years of boring holes in the depths of the ocean. Consistency was the key to survival. Consistency was the key to responding quickly to an emergency situation. And consistency was something submariners practiced and lived on a daily basis. For without it, this boat that intentionally sinks itself might never rise again, so even the smallest thing done on board a submarine had to be meticulous in its execution. Consistency was also one of the biggest vulnerabilities of a submarine.

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