SSN

    The executive officer was thinking about the same thing. Suddenly he smacked a fist into his palm. "It makes sense, Captain," he said. "That's why no one stopped for survivors; why the convoy never changed course when we attacked. They've got to maintain course and speed. The damned Chinese have diesel boats sliding into place just in time to protect the convoy. They just sit and wait while we run up and beg to get hit,"

    Mack's eyes narrowed as he thought about what the executive officer had said. "You're right," he said. "And that would explain why they have an ex-submarine commanding officer running the convoy. He's the one who cooked up those little surprises."

    Mack grinned, and it wasn't a friendly grin. The Chinese commander wasn't the only submariner with a trick or two up his sleeve. He looked up at the clock. "We should be coming up on the next intercept point," he said.

    We'll start creeping in a little earlier this time." Mack then ordered Cheyenne to slow to five knots and eased her above the layer.

    After giving the orders for getting Cheyenne into position to make another assault on the convoy, Captain Mackey returned to the fire-control party. "We may very well run into another diesel boat hiding out here. So let's stay alert and keep in mind that there could be multiple threats."

    No one on board liked the thought of encountering another threat that identified its presence only when it fired a weapon. That was how a Los Angeles class submarine like Cheyenne operated, and they had seen for themselves too many times already just how effective that could be.

    But there was no time to dwell on profound realizations. There were targets to pick and a convoy to stop.

    The three merchant container ships closest to Cheyenne's position became the next targets, designated Masters 62, 63, and 64. "Let's update the TMA solutions and get it done quickly," Mack said.

    Cheyenne glided quietly into her chosen ambush site. Sonar reported no contacts other than the closing convoy. But the convoy escorts had changed their tactics somewhat. Every one of the escorts was maneuvering erratically though still attempting to stay somewhat on station. Waves of active sonar pulsed through the ocean from the escorts as though the sheer mass of energy used could create a protective wall around the convoy. The remaining five convoy ships maintained a steady course, unable to do anything other than watch and wait and hope that someone else would be the next torpedo's victim.

    When the fire-control coordinator was satisfied with the TMA solutions, he informed Captain Mackey. Mack then directed that all tubes be made ready, and opened the outer doors on tubes one and two. This time he would take no chances. Another submarine was out there, waiting. He could feel it.

    "Sonar, conn. Keep your ears open after we shoot tube one. You might be able to hear an enemy submarine flooding its tubes and opening the doors. Hopefully we can get off a shot before he does." "Conn, sonar, aye."

    "Firing point procedures, tube one, Master 62." The range, speed, and course of the target were verified and the torpedo from tube one sped toward the first merchant container ship. The sonar supervisor and his operators all strained to catch the first indication of another submarine reacting to Cheyenne's torpedo launch.

    "Conn, sonar. Noise bearing 250. Sounds like,… yes, sir. It's a submarine flooding his tubes. He's preparing to launch!"

    "Sonar, conn. Stand by." Mack designated the new contact Master 65 and then ordered, "Match sonar bearing and shoot, tube two, Master 65."

    "Conn, sonar. Standing by."

    "Match sonar bearing and shoot, tube two, Master 65, aye, sir," the combat systems officer completed the repeat back.

    "Conn, sonar. Unit from tube two is running hot, straight, and normal. Target is turning and increasing speed."

    "Sonar, conn. Did he launch?"

    "Conn, sonar, negative, sir. Our torpedo has already acquired the target and he is increasing speed. It's another Romeo, Captain."

    In the control room, all hands were silent as the narrative from sonar followed the pursuit of the enemy submarine by Cheyenne* s torpedo.

    "Conn, sonar. Master 65 has launched countermeasures."

    At the weapons control console, the combat systems officer indicated that he had heard the report and informed Mack that the torpedo was still under positive wire-guidance control. The decoys would not work as long as Cheyenne could continue to steer the torpedo past the countermeasures.

    "Conn, sonar. Impact on Master 65. Multiple explosions. It's gone, sir."

    Before Mack could acknowledge that report the sonar supervisor added. "Conn, sonar, explosion on the bearing of Master 62. It's breaking up. Captain."

    "Sonar, conn, aye. Good work, everyone. Firing point procedures, tube three, Master 63, and tube four, Master 64. Shut the outer doors on tubes one and two, and reload tubes one and two."