Submarine

During the current truce, it was probable that the Soviets, knowing their SSBNS were being hunted, might be sailing their Deltas, Yankees and Sierras (Typhoons) into the Arctic in order to achieve a larger arc of missile fire. To reach these diversified firing positions beneath the ice, the Soviet SSBNS would have to leave the security of their home shores. The same logic applied also to their Pacific bases. Those submarines using Vladivostok or Sovetskaya Gavan could, during these wartime conditions, be contained and trailed. The Straus of Chosen and Tsushima could be easily watched, as could also the La Perouse Strait between Hokkaido and Sakhalin Island. It was obvious that the Soviet SSBNS could also fire from the Sea of Okhotsk, inside the protection of the Kuril Islands and the deeps of the Aleutian Basin. From their Pacific 'fortress' position, they could destroy the remainder of the world's cities — Vancouver, Winnipeg, San Francisco, Honolulu, Aukland, Sydney, Singapore, Bombay. Without even penetrating the Greenland-Faeroes Gaps, from the Barents they could take out the cities of the northern hemisphere as far south as Panama, as far west as Hawaii and the length of the North American Pacific seaboard.

'They've learned the lesson of sea power swiftly enough,' the President murmured. 'They'll be making use of the oceans, as our Trident boats do.'

The Secretary of Defense nodded his head. 'Mr President, we can take care of 'em now that our surveillance chains are established. COMSUBPAC needs only another two days for his submarines to be in position. CINCPAC'S ready to go.'

'Okay,' the President said. 'What about SACLANT and Nato?'

The Secretary of Defense glanced across at Trevellion, who then rose to his feet.

'The Limeys, I regret to report, sir, need a few more days. We're waiting for completion of modifications to one of our boats.'

'Nato's got an entirely different problem to ours,' the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff explained patiently. 'Theirs is a very complex operation.' Admiral Floyd went on: 'SACLANT is convinced that sow can succeed, Mr President, providing the planning and the material modifications are meticulously carried out.' He turned to Trevellion:

'When can you start?'

'Our units, backed up by the Carrier Striking Force, can be moving into position on the ninth of May, sir,' Trevellion said.

'Is that the earliest that Nato can do?' the President demanded. 'The Soviets won't hold off for long, if they suspect they're being fooled.'

'That's the earliest possible, Mr President.'

Trevellion felt acutely embarrassed during the long silence. Then the Secretary of Defense said quietly:

'Mr President, CINCPAC hasn't been involved in hot war yet, as has SACLANT. Nato's forces are only just dusting themselves off after the Atlantic battle.'

Trevellion felt irritated. He was lucky to be alive himself, having only just finished fighting through the Canadian convoy to Oslo. He had almost lost Furious, his old ASW carrier: thousands of brave men had perished in that particular battle. Credit was due, too, to the British and Nato planners who had anticipated so early and so accurately what the Nato submarines might be called upon to do — a planning exercise never envisaged during those peacetime war games. Orcus had even been recalled while the battle was still raging. Trevellion felt a smug satisfaction that the ancient submarine which had been designated to play such a vital role in sow was commanded by one of his Icarus officers. Julian Farge had been his PWO (Underwater} and one of Trevellion's best officers. They had not met again since both Farge and Trevellion had been plucked from the water by the American destroyer after the sinking. Of one thing Pascoe was sure; FOSM had made a good choice when selecting this CO for Onus' share in the imminent operation.

'Anything to add, Captain Trevellion?'

'Thank you, Mr Secretary,' Trevellion said, grateful for his support. He turned towards Admiral Floyd: 'The First Sea Lord asked me to emphasize several points, sir. Because of the constricted nature of Operation SOW, communication from the boats involved will be out of the question. Pre-operational training is essential, which means a day or two's delay to make certain that each submarine captain knows his job perfectly.' Trevellion strode to the chart of the Greenland and Barents Seas. He tapped the gaps between Spitzbergen, Franz Josef Land and Severnaya Zemlya. 'Our efforts might drive their SSBNS across the Pole to the Bering Strait. The First Sea Lord wants to be sure that you would be happy with this possible development, sir?'

'More than happy, Captain. CINCPAC would be delighted.'