Seawolf by David E. Meadows

Author:David E. Meadows
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 2001-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

The holograph plot showed the enemy submarine turning left, away from the main body of the battle group, which was now heading at max speed away from the battle scene. Be Iween the main body of the American battle group and the fleeing submarine, the holograph reflected the USS Hayler with two SH-60 helicopters heading toward the datum.

The gas turbine engines of the USS Spruance sent spray over the bow of the oldest destroyer on active duty as it hurried to its assigned position abreast of the USS Hayler. Arriving, the two warships settled into an aligned formation at eight knots with a five-nautical-mile separation.

“Spruance, this is Hayler; report status of your 60.”

“Hayler, 60 is down hard, awaiting engine parts. Request instructions.”

“Roger, stand by.”

“Sugarloaf Eight, request weapons load out

“Roger, Mother; Sugarloaf Eight with one Mark Forty-six and full sonobuoy complement.”

“Sugarloaf Eight and Devil Six, this is Mother. Continue present heading. Devil Six, prepare for sonobuoy launches on my command.

Sugarloaf Eight, prepare to launch torpedo at my command.”

Two “rogers” blared from the ASW circuit.

“Hayler, this is Yorktown. Am in position astern of you fifteen thousand yards,” the secure speaker announced.

“Roger, Yorktown. My intentions are to have Devil Six drop a zigzag row of sonobuoys to firm up target location, course, and speed. When target fixed, will have Devil Six drop its Mark Forty-six and then vector him ahead of target course for second sonobuoy pattern.

Sugarloaf Eight will conduct a follow-on attack immediately after Devil Six.”

“Roger, Yorktown standing by.”

“Spruance standing by.”

“Roger, Spruance; request you be prepared to launch subsequent attacks along threat course in the event helicopter at tacks are unsuccessful.

What I would like to do is have both of us launch Sealances and over-the-sides in a mass attack. You take the first hundred feet depth. Hayler will take from one hundred to four hundred feet depth.

Report when ready.”

“Roger, out.”

“Hayler, Spruance; this is the OTC,” Commodore Ellison broke in. “Be advised that with both of you traveling away from the main body, there is no, I repeat, no ASW protection with the exception of Yorktown.

Request rejoin battle group soonest. How copy, over?”

“Roger, Commodore, this is Charlie Oscar Hayler. We expect resolution within ten minutes. Did you copy my intentions with Spruancet

“That’s affirmative, Hayler. You have the cog of the ASW group. You have twenty minutes and then we’ll revisit the situation. Good hunting.” Ellison said, and then in a hoarse voice that was probably not intended for transmission. “I hope they sink the bastard.” “Now. now. now!” shouted Devil Six as he commenced dropping an eight-sonobuoy /.igzag pattern. Within a minute the saltwater-activated sonobuoys began transmitting passive noise data.

The ASW teams of the three ships began analyzing the signals.

The zigzag sonobuoy field would reveal the course and speed of the submarine as it passed through the maze of sonobuoys. Like sinister miniature receivers, they silently collected the noise of the submarine as it tried to quietly evade the American ASW attack through the shadows of the undersea. The noise strength from the

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