The Flowers of Edo by Michael Dana Kennedy

Author:Michael Dana Kennedy [Kennedy, Michael Dana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-935654-61-2
Publisher: Kodansha USA
Published: 2012-05-08T00:00:00+00:00

19

For over two hours Commander Blouin continued the hunt. The expanding box search had varied with the Ingersoll never repeating the same distance before turning 90° port or starboard. Depth charges had been varied too, ranging from 100 feet to as much as 300 feet. Blouin was determined to destroy the Japanese sub.

The sonar operator, Seaman 1/C Pete Halfkenny, rotated the sonar projector, waiting for that magic rubber bullet to come back slightly distorted, waiting for the Doppler Effect.

No one on the Ingersoll lost patience or determination. In the past, there had been searches that had lasted more than 30 hours and some had been fruitless. But Blouin knew the Imperial Japanese Navy was beaten and he wanted this kill, maybe the final one. So the course changes occurred, depth charges were launched and Halfkenny listened on his sonar. On two more occasions he found the bubbles of a pill several moments after a depth charge explosion and reported his findings to Commander Blouin.

“Pete, I think I know what he’s doing. After the next pattern wait ten minutes then go passive. No pings. Let me know if you pick anything up. But give it ten minutes.”

The next pattern was rolled, fired, and rolled and when the last explosion ripped the surface Pete Halfkenny put his earphones back on and waited ten minutes. Then he turned the hydrophone knob. He listened for two minutes. There! Screws! Barely, but there. “Bridge. Sonar. Got him!”

“Pete, where is he?”

“Skipper, he’s just left our last ashcan drop.”

“CIC. Bridge. What was our position when the last charge was rolled?”

Less than a minute later CIC gave Blouin the position.

Blouin went to the helm voice tube and immediately ordered a course change, returning to the last depth charge position.

“Depth charge party. Bridge. Set fantail depth for two zero zero feet. Set K gun depth for two five zero feet. Stand by to fire.” All depth charge parties made the appropriate depth changes on the “ashcans,” a term often used instead of depth charge. Blouin waited for one moment. “Fantail, roll two!” Blouin looked at his watch and waited 30 seconds. “K guns. Fire all depth charges!” He waited another 30 seconds. “Fantail, roll two!”

In order, stern, port and starboard, then again stern, depth charge stations rolled or fired their ashcans. They splashed into the waters and descended. Successive explosions violently ripped apart the surface.

Blouin waited two minutes. “Depth charge party. Bridge. All stations. Set depth for two five zero feet. Stand by to launch.” Blouin waited two minutes. “Depth charge party. Bridge. All stations. Launch all depth charges!” Again, the water was rent with explosions.

“Sonar. Bridge. Inform me as soon as you hear something.”

In the sonar shack Halfkenny patiently waited one minute then put on his earphones and listened.

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