(DRAFT VERSION STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
© Copyright by John M. Olney, November 21, 1996. All Rights Reserved Correspondence: 1325 Imola West, #409, Napa, CA 94559 E-mail: thewinecntryclb2@aol.com
Michaels Arrives in San Francisco
Ensign Michaels was looking forward to working on Treasure Island, located half way between Oakland and San Francisco along the Bay Bridge. He was close to home and his best high school friend who was a graduate student studying advanced math at University of California, Berkeley. He arrived home in mid-February and was authorized leave time until he was to report on March 1.
Ensign Michaels was looking forward to working on Treasure Island, located half way between Oakland and San Francisco along the Bay Bridge. He was close to home and his best high school friend who was a graduate student studying advanced math at University of California, Berkeley. He arrived home in mid-February and was authorized leave time until he was to report on March 1.
Deb was waiting for him at the San Francisco airport at his arrival gate. She saw him coming through the ramp doorway and ran up to him to throw herself on him and give him a big kiss.
“I honey! Boy have I missed you, baby, he said as he gently pulled back to look her over.
“Like what you see, Kip? I picked this outfit just for you, honey!”
“Oh yeah, it’s great. I could attack you right here!”
“Don’t you dare, it will ruin your Naval Officer image, but I want the same.”
“Well, let’s go get my baggage and get to our new apartment.”
“I can’t wait to show it to you. We’re on Battery Street, between Jackson and Washington and guess what? I got an secretary job just a few blocks away. It’s a new credit card company called Master Charge.”
“Oh honey, I’m so happy for you.” he said as started walking her towards the baggage claim area.
“I can’t wait to get you in bed, my love” she whispered. in his ear.
“You can’t wait? I’m so horny for you too, baby”
It was the weekend just before Michaels was to report for duty at command headquarters. He had contacted his closest high school buddy, Hank Seps who was attending Cal across the bay in Berkeley and all three were going to meet at Kip’s Pizza Parlor to get reacquainted. Hank had never meet Deb so Michaels was excited that he could finally introduce his wife to his best friend. He put on his uniform so he could show off his Navy Officer look.
“My, don’t you look so handsome,” Deb said as she slipped her dress over her head, and smoothed it against her body. “Zip me please, honey”
“Be careful, Deb, I might just want to undress you and make love again!”
“Stop that! We’ve both be looking forward to seeing your best friend. Hurry along now or we’ll be late.”
The couple arrived at the pizza parlor first, were standing out in front, when Michaels saw Hank walking up. “Hey Hank, buddy! Long time huh? You look great. Hank this is my wife, Deborah!” exclaimed Michaels.
“Hi Deborah, wow, she’s beautiful, Kip!”
“Please Hank, call me Deb. And you are handsome, Hank, just like my husband!”
“Wow Kip, nice uniform but you know this campus is full of people who hate the Vietnam war and anybody who……” he was interrupted as a bearded man rushed up next to Michaels.
Startled, Michaels immediately pulled his wife behind him to protect her as the man lunged at him and spit all over his navy coat while exclaiming, “You war monger, killer of women, children and innocent men. We hate you, your kind, and all that you stand for! Stay out of Berkeley you pig!”
Hank rushed up and pushed the man away from Michaels and his wife. “Get out of here you crazy man. My friend is just doing his duty. Leave him alone.” The man turned and quickly walked away.
Hank then turned to Michaels, “I was just about to warn you that wearing your uniform, although you’re proud of it, isn’t such a good idea in Berkeley.”
“Yeah, Jesus, I can see that now, Hank! Shit I’m in the service to protect his right to do what he just did?’ exclaimed Michaels.
“Honey relax,” Deb said as she pulled out a handkerchief and was wiping the spit off his coat,
“That guy is the exception. I guess I should have thought about you, in Berkeley, in uniform, and the possible consequences. Since I’ve been back in the states, I’ve had a chance to see how this war is tearing apart America especially on college campuses, and I just didn’t think to explain it you while you were still in Adak.”
“Well, it’s all explained now. I’ll never where my uniform to this town again! Thanks Hank for stepping in and getting rid of that asshole!”
The threesome went in to have pizza and catch up on all that has happened since they graduated high school and the Michaels went to Adak. Hank watched Deb as Michaels explained what he does in the Navy in unclassified terms.
COMOCEANSYSPAC
On the morning of March 1, 1967, Michaels was double checking his uniform, making sure that everything was in its proper place and shining like a star. He was only moments away from standing in front of the Commodore himself.
The Commodore's office door swung open, and the Yeoman (the equivalent of an office secretary) asked Michaels to come in. The Commodore was ready to see him now. Michaels stepped into the office, marched to a position immediately in front of the Commodore's desk and while staring straight ahead, at full attention, and sounded off. "Ensign Michaels reporting as ordered, Sir!" he said.
The Yeoman looked over at the Commodore with a big smile.
The Commodore winked back. He stood, and said, "Well, thank you Ensign for that excellent display of military bearing. Didn't think you'd do that based on your records at OCS. Seems you didn't do well in that area of officer training!"
"I can explain that, Sir, I was ...."
The Commodore interrupted saying, "You don't need to do so, Ensign. Besides, we're not that formal around here." He went on, "Please relax and have a seat. Would you like some brandy?"
"No, but thank you, Sir."
"Well, how'd you like Adak, the arm pit of the world, huh?" the Commodore said as he poured himself a brandy. "Want some?"
Michaels thought for a split second. Do I say yes and he thinks I'm a lush, or do I say no and possibly offend him. Boy, what a situation this is. Then it just blurted out of him, "No thank you, Commodore, I still have to see the XO and Ops Officer and they may not like me having alcohol on my breath before lunch time."
The Commodore looked at Michaels for a long moment, then over to the Yeoman who winked back. "Well, in that case, I guess I'll have to hold off too, 'cause I've got to see them shortly."
Michaels felt terrible that he had stopped the Commodore from having his drink. Bad start with the Commodore!
"Oh, the hell with it, I'm the Commodore. I can do what I want!"
Michaels immediately felt better as he watched the Commodore swallow the whole drink in one gulp.
"Ah, that's better. So, about Adak?"
"Well Sir, it was certainly different. I'd rather not return there ever again, however."
"How about as Operations Officer? Would that work?"
"Yes Sir, if that's what you want of me. But I wouldn't take my wife back. She really had a hard time there, Sir."
The Commodore went on. "You know, Cliff thinks pretty highly of you. I carefully read our Fitness Reports and see that you are indeed well qualified at this work. However, our CO and XO didn't appear to like you too much, huh?"
"Well, I guess I angered LCDR. Rhode because I fought him about “volunteering to go to sea” and as for LT. Tubbs he’s lucky I didn't file formal charges against him for having an affair with my wife, Sir. I think its unfair that Tubbs' comments on my fitness can stand."
"Don't worry about LT. Tubbs' comments. I have had then qualified and I have asked the LT. to resign his commission or face court martial! I’ve also qualified the fitness report made by LCDR Rhode. Let me apologize to you for that whole situation. Its terrible and a black mark on my command and indeed the Navy itself. I can't undue it all, but I'm truly very sorry!"
"Thank you Commodore for our efforts and emotions."
"Well, I guess that's about all for this meeting. I think CDR. Clifford is waiting for you to show you around. Then you need to see the Chief of Staff and do a little paper work. Talk to you later."
"Yes Sir Commodore," Michaels said as he rose and started to come to attention but the Commodore waived him off. Michaels turned and quickly marched out of the office towards Operations.
LCDR. Clifford was just exiting the coffee mess when he encountered Michaels in the passageway headed for the Evaluation Center (EC). "Good morning Ensign and welcome to COMOCEANSYSPAC. Around here we use the shortened name, “COSP” for headquarters."
"Good morning Cliff. Good to see you again. Thanks for the welcome. COSP, huh, right"
"Want some coffee?"
"Yeah. Hey, by the way, when did you get promoted to LCDR?"
"You get it here in this room and put 10 cents in the jar for each cup, ok? And to answer your question, last month."
"Congrats on the promotion. Here‘s my dime," he said as he reached into his pocket a dropped a dime in the jar.
"Here, use my old cup."
"Thanks again," Michaels filled his cup.
The two men then walked briskly to the EC.
Cliff swung open the double doors and they entered. "Watch our step. We have an elevated floor because all our air-conditioning ducts that are there for the computer components. This big sucker is a CDC 3100M computer. It is one of the most powerful machines available. We process all the target data looking for associated targets being detected by more than one Navfac. We do almost all of the correlation work here. But you know all about that already."
"Very impressive! I didn't realize how much room this correlation process requires."
"Well, we have enough LOFARGRAM consoles in here to dedicate three per subordinate Navfac We also have 20 vernier and super vernier consoles for detailed analysis."
Cliff was walking Michaels around the room slowly pointing out all this equipment. "Those doors go to the Electronics Division and that door goes into Communications."
The WO came over to Clifford and announced,” "Well Sir, Navfac’s San Nicholas Island and Pt. Sur just started reporting detections of what appears to be two nuclear Class submarines transiting together on the same beams. But what is interesting Sir, is that it appears to be on end beams which point south, down towards the equator. I don't think we've ever seen Soviet operations down in that part of the ocean before. At least I don't think so, have we,
Commander?"
Cliff said, "No. Not in that area. Make sure its not back beam mirror problems and the detections are really to the north."
"Yes Sir, I'll send a message to both sites.”
He started to scurry of when Clifford stopped him. “Hey wait a second.” he said then looked over at kip and then at the WO, “ Ensign Michaels this is JG McAdams one of my four watch section officers.”
“Nice to meet you Ensign Michaels.”
“You too, Sir, but please call me by my first name, ‘Kip’
“Great and you can call me ‘Mark’ ”
Clifford interrupted the two officers saying, “OK, Mark, give us an update .”
Mark immediately responded, “Outside of those detections, we have just the usual local sub operation by the mouth of Petro and we have the Yankee Class Nuc on station about 700 miles off of San Francisco. We haven't seen movement by the Yankee since her 2100Z
communications break. We got the two minute propeller blade detection when she dove back to station depth after comms. However, we have maintained continual detection on the 50 hertz generator."
Cliff looked at Michaels and said, "If those two Sov subs are coming up from the South America area, I’m going to be spending long hours to keep track of them. I'm going to go brief the Old Man."
"I think I'll just stay here and see what’s going on, if that's all right with you Cliff?"
"Sure enough. In fact I want you join McAdams section as you will be taking over his section in three days.
Michaels responded, “Yes, Sir and looking forward to working for and with you again Cliff.”
“Yeah, yeah, see ya later. Say hello to that foxy wife of yours!”
“Still the flirt you are.”
Mark spoke up, “Michaels, come with me and we’ll draft that message to the two Navfac’s, then I’ll introduce you to your enlisted watch section.”
Two more days transpired and Michaels was now the Section Watch Officer. His section had just doubled back and was starting the mid-watch. He approached the WO desk to receive a quick briefing about the current Soviet sub ops.
“Good evening Ensign James. Guess I’m as ready as ever to take over.”
“Great Kip. It seems those two sov nucs traveling together have changed course and now are heading towards the Hawaiian Islands. I’ve sent out all the necessary messages and the next report is due in about…” he stopped and rustled through the outgoing message board then up at the wall clock, “three hours. That Hotel class off San Francisco appears to be heading back to Vlad and we haven’t detected the diesel off Hawaii during our entire watch. Well, that’s all the good stuff. At last word, Cliff is home as well as the Commodore. Cliff said to call him only if there is something very unusual, otherwise he’ll wait for a morning briefing. So I would say you probably won’t have to wake him during your watch.”
“Thanks Bob. Oh, any exciting surface ship activity out there?”
“No, but why do you ask?”
“Just want know if there is anything the Ruskies are going to want to establish trail on, which reminds me, is there a trail on the two transiting nuc’s?”
“We haven’t seen any traffic suggesting that trail has been established.”
“OK, I’ll check the intell reports and see what else is going on in our great big ocean. Bob, have a nice sleep and see you tomorrow night.”
“That’s a roger, Kip.”
Michaels watch section was coming on duty March 6, five days after the two Sov nuc’s had turned course towards the Islands. They had transited about1700 nautical miles (nm) and were about 800 nm from Oahu Island in the vicinity of 21 29N, 143 21 W. Michaels had just completed his briefing with the previous watch and had gone into the vault to read the daily intell situation report. He was about an hour into reading and was now on the section listing the location of all the U.S. Naval Surface ships when he received a call on the secure phone line from his watch sup.
“Sir, I think you better come out here, those two Ivan’s have suddenly stopped their high speed transit and we are only detecting the 50 cycle generator. They have slowed to below 13 knots.”
“That’s interesting! I’ll be right out, Goring.”
Six hours had past and the only detection the system had on the two subs were the generators, no propulsion screw blades and there had been no bearing line changes suggesting that the two nucs were hovering around in one small area north of the Islands
“Hey sup, I’d bet they’re up in the normal Soviet holding station off Oahu, what’s your guess?”
“I think your right Mr. M. but what the heck are they doing there?
“I don’t get it, it is not logical to send a couple missile boats from the Atlantic around South America to have them go on patrol off Hawaii. Why not use Pacific based boats?” Michaels was thinking. Suddenly his expression started to change as if he came up with a logical reason for these Soviet moves. He was smiling and thinking to himself as he looked down at the plotting table.
“What is it Mr. M?” asked the sup, “What are you thinking, Sir?”
“Well, what if it was an inter-fleet transfer of the two boats moving them into their Pacific fleet squadrons? If you make that assumption, then it would be logical as to why they came from South America and they have stopped where they are.”
“I don’t get it Sir!”
“They’re practicing bottom topography locating key seamounts by which to accurately fix their locations for missile navigation system to accurately strike a target like Pearl Harbor.”
“Huh, I still don’t get it!”
“Had they come around from the Bering Sea they wouldn’t get such real time training before they were actually assigned a mission to go on patrol off Hawaii. I’ve got to get hold of LCDR. Clifford immediately and explain my theory. He has to talk the Commodore into getting COMASWFORPAC to order one of our nuc’s in trail of these Ivan’s to verify what they are doing. Sup, run down the Ops Officer for me while I start drafting the message for him to take to the Commodore.”
CIA Headquarters
Director Hayes is sitting at his desk listening to one of the most outrages intelligence compromises he had every experienced. Seated next to him was Admiral Chester Wilkenson, the Chief of Naval Operations who was just shaking his head in obvious disbelief of what he was hearing. Agent Moore was explaining the arrest of the whole family of a Navy Chief Warrant Officer and some of his friends who worked in the most classified areas of the Pentagon and had access to all of the United States anti submarine warfare (ASW) operating systems on a world wide basis. He had access to the locations of every fast attack and missile submarines, all VP squadrons and the SOSUS array locations.
Admiral Wilkenson looked up at the Agent and said, “Jesus Christ! All of the array locations?
“Yes Admiral all of them in both oceans and we are 99.9% sure that he sold the precise latitude and longitude of the center of each array anchorage to the Soviets.”
“Director Hayes, may I use your secure phone to call my office?”
“By all means Admiral.”
The Admiral spoke to the operator, “This is Admiral Wilkenson, CNO, please connect me to my office in the Pentagon, thanks” While waiting for the connection, he explained his next move “Director, I’ve got to warn COSP and COSA about this and to advise them to be on the look out for possible sabotage to the arrays by Soviets dragging the bottom, snaring the arrays and cutting them. Holy Christ, did the Warrant Officer known what he compromised? Our SOSUS is the key to knowing the location of all Soviet sub threats in the Atlantic and Pacific.“ He was sudden drawn back to the phone, “Yes operator I want to speak to my Chief of Staff immediately.”
COSP EC
Michaels watch began at midnight on March 9th and his section had found that the two soviet subs had only moved about 300 nm west of their last apparent bottom mapping event. “You know sup, I think they’re practicing mapping again at the western side of their holding station, what do ya think?”
“Yeah, Mr. M., think you’re right.”
“Ok, I’m going to add that in our next sitrep (situation report).” said Michaels.
Just then one of the gram readers yelled out from his assigned console areas where he was receiving and watching a birdied signal from Navfac Centerville Beach, “Hey sup, come here, those two Ivans have finally kicked it up to 17 knots again.”
“Really?” the sup Goring said as he turned to address Michaels, “Well, I guess they’re done training and are going to head to a Soviet port, Sir.?
“Think you’re right, but which one Vlad or Petro?”
“Sir, I’m guessing Vlad.”
“Why Goring?”
“I don’t know it’s a 50-50 chance right Sir?’
“Yeah and I’ll take Petro just for friendly bettin’ purposes.”
“Say Goring, did you see any of our guys trailing them?”
“No Sir, but that’s probably because the Ivans were operating at slower speeds and our guys can’t be detected unless they get up to about 18 knots.”
“Well, if we got one in trail, they will have to speed up and we’ll see ‘em soon, yeah?”
“Sure should, Sir.”
“Goring I’m going to go draft a message update. Please call LCDR Clifford and patch him through to me, thanks.”
COMASWFORPAC
Vice Admiral Orand listened intently to the history of the two Soviet subs transiting near the Hawaii Islands .The Pearl Harbor port facilitiy is where his command is located, specifically, Ford Island, where the USS Arizona Memorial is located just a short distance from his office. “So COSP thinks the subs are conducting bottom topography measurements, huh?”
LCDR Peterson, the Briefing Officer, answered the question, “Admiral, COSP thinking is that is why they slowed down but it’s only their best guesstimate.”
“Well, why don’t we launch some VP sorties and get down on the deck to see what they’re doing?
So get me the squadron commander out at Barber’s Point and I’ll talk to him about this. Now Commander, have we ordered a sub trail on these two guys?”
“No Admiral we haven’t had the resources available. We’ve got almost all our boats out to sea escorting major surface combatants transiting to and/or in the Vietnam theater.”
“Hmmm! Chief of Staff, draft a message to COMSUBPAC and ask them to find a sub we can have to trail these two Ivan’s, thanks.”
COSP EC
Michaels watch section had assumed the watch at midnight on March 12. It was a half hour later when Michaels had completed his reading of the intell reports. He came out of the vault and asked, “Goring when was the last time we detected the propulsion of those two Ivan’s?”
“Funny you should ask that now, Mr. M. OT2 Jackson just called me over to his section and guess what? They now kicked up their speed and they’re back to the 17 knot speed.”
“Ok sup, Ill be right over and we’ll start drafting the next update message. Meanwhile, I’m going to call LCDR Clifford and let him know the new status of these two subs.”
“Yes Sir, you want me to start the draft message right.”
“Goring, you are one sharp 1st class! Thanks go ahead and start the draft.”
Barber’s Point Naval Air Base.
VP squadron 48 was launching ASW sorties using the P-3 Orion turbo prop aircraft. These planes are equipped with the most sophisticated airborne ASW sonar technology known. They can also conduct many other important services to the military with their sophisticated Electronics Counter Measures (ECM) equipment. And, they can deliver potent weapons on targets of opportunity.
"Barbers, this is Tango Alpha 43, come in please. Over."
"Tango Alpha 43, this is Barbers Control. What can we do for you? Over."
"Barbers, this is Tango Alpha 43. Request clearance for course 300 degrees from Station 12, at altitude 25K, speed 300 knots. Over."
"Tango Alpha 43, this is Barbers Control. Permission granted. Report your location on Channel 56 when on station. Over."
"Barbers, this is Tango Alpha 43. Roger that. Will report when on Beta Two. Out."
LCDR. Steve Wilson was piloting the P-3. He came up on the internal voice activated circuit to explain today's mission to his crew. "Today guys, we are going to do some passive sonobuoy listening about 400 miles north of Oahu. Our job will be to identify and photograph, if possible, the two Soviet submarines that SOSU has been detecting and tracking on a westerly course. We will be interacting with COSP on this effort if they get any detection data. I also want you all to keep a sharp eye out for Soviet Naval ships and liners and fishing boats in the area." Wilson started the turn directly over the Station 12 marker and came to heading 300 degrees. He then started his climb to the cleared altitude.
"Navigator, what is our ETA to station Beta Two?" (‘ETA’ is an acronym for 'estimated time of arrival')
"I'll have that in just a minute, Skipper."
The LCDR. looked out the cockpit window and thought to himself, God, What a beautiful morning to be flying! The sky was totally clear. Not a cloud in sight as they headed Northwesterly towards their station
“So what's going on in your bachelor life? Getting any?” Wilson asked his copilot, “LT. John Monty."
"Well, I've kind of slowed down. Dating every night in Waikiki is not only expensive, but it tires me into the next day. It's hard to leave a bar that's still open at 4:00 a.m. and the women are still partying too. Of course, they're mainly tourists, but still ....... ah ....well ....... you know!"
"Used to know, Monty, I used to do all that. I wouldn't even want to jeopardize this family. Besides that, I absolutely adore Evie Jo. I have no need to look elsewhere!"
"Skipper, this is the Navigator. Sir, the ETA, at this speed and head wind, is 0937Z. Flying time is one hour and 28 minutes."
"Thanks. Ok Sonar, you better start checking the sonobuoy chutes and get your magnetic tape recorders calibrated."
The aircraft was approaching the on-station position. LPO Roberts, a ST1, is Sonar Sup for this watch, “Do you want shallow or deep setting?"
"Let's go deep and see if can detect them."
"You got it, Skipper!"
The crew went about their duties getting all the equipment on-line and properly calibrated during the ensuing hour and a half.
The Navigator came up on the voice activated internal communications circuit. "Skipper, by my calculations we are on station and can go to work."
"Roger that, Navigator," Wilson said as he started turning his communications dials to Channel 56. "Barbers, this is Tango Alpha 43, Over."
"Tango Alpha 43, this is Barbers Control. Go ahead, Over."
"Barbers, this is Tango Alpha 43. We're on station and commencing operations. Expect to depart station in approximately three hours, Over."
"Tango Alpha 43, this is Barbers Tower. We roger your report. Contact Barbers Point Tower on Channel 59 for updated oceanographic info. Contact Barbers Tower when departing station for further instructions, Over."
"Barbers, this is Tango Alpha 43, roger, Out." LCDR. Wilson reached down to the comms switch and changed over to Channel 59, a scrambled voice circuit. "Barbers, this is Tango Alpha 43, got an update for me?"
"Tango Alpha 43, this is Barbers Point Tower. COSP reports the subs are transiting at 17 knots on a due west course."
"Barbers Point this is Tango Alpha 43. Roger your last. Out."
"Ok, gentlemen lets go to work. We're going to drop the buoys in an 'H' pattern. Here we go." LCDR. Wilson pushed the stick forward and started his descent down to the normal drop altitude. He decided he would go down to about 4,000 feet and drop his buoys at 30 second intervals. The pattern he decided upon used six buoys along the parallel lines of an 'H' and four along the perpendicular line. Once laid, he started back up to the normal pattern monitoring altitude, a height of 8,500 feet. Sonar was checking to see that each buoy was transmitting properly, and radar was sweeping for surface and air traffic. Both reported to the Skipper that all was functioning well.
Twenty minutes into the second sonobouy pattern the sonar watch reported that they had detection. The AT sup called the Skipper, “Sir, we have two separate signatures and based on the strength of the signal, they are right in the middle of the pattern.”
“So sonar when do these have their next scheduled communications time?”
“Sir, they have already come up for the Moscow comms. If they are Vlad destined they won’t come up for comms until mid night. If its Petro then they will come up in about another half hour.”
“Excellent, sonar. We’re going down on the floor in a half hour. You guys get your cameras ready, I want a photo of at least one of their hull numbers.”
COMSUBPAC
Rear Admiral O’Malley was sitting at his desk across the channel from the Ford Island office of Vice Admiral Orand in Pearl harbor and was reading the message from Admiral Orand requesting a boat to go out and trail the two Soviet subs. “Jesus, Chief of Staff, doesn’t Harry understand that our resources are stretched to the maximum?”
“Admiral, I called over to his COS to kind get a feel for the situation. He says Vice Admiral Orand really would like you to find a boat for his trail ops request.”
“Well, what do we have available for the Admiral?”
“I think we can reassign the USS Barbel who’s just north of Midway on her way home from a 75 day patrol in WESTPAC. It sure won’t make the crew or their families happy but we can make it up to them later.”
“You sure she has enough supplies on board?”
“Yes Sir, she’s got enough for about 25 more days.”
“Ok then, send the order, but be sure to put in a personal apology from me and stipulate that its in the best interest of our country that they make this sacrifice?
“Yes Sir, Admiral.”
“Oh yes, when would the Barbel be able to establish trail?
“I’d say within the next 24 to 36 hours, Admiral.”
“Very well. Keep me posted on this assignment and make sure that you contact Admiral Orand‘s Chief of Staff to let him know what we‘re doing for his Admiral. Harry owes me one now!”
“Yes Sir.”
VP squadron 48
LCDR. Steve Wilson took his plane down close to the ocean surface five minutes before the scheduled Petro comms time and started flying a tight circle around the new sonobuoy pattern. “Ok guys, keep a sharp eye out. Radar are you seeing anything yet?
“No Sir, nothing but a a couple fishing boats..”
The co-pilot was flying the plane and LCDR Wilson was looking straight ahead with his binoculars as LT. Monty flew down the gauntlet of the sonobuoy pattern.
Suddenly the LCDR started yelling, “There they are! There they are, God Damn it! Get the cameras up and get the pictures. LT. Monty bank to the port quickly.”
The plane banked and the cameraman took pictures snapping as fast as he could. “I’ve got ‘em Skipper. Think I got both hull numbers in the same photos.”
“Fabulous! If you got both I’m buying the crew a keg of beer.”
USS Barbel
Receive msg to change orders and intercept two sov subs. Lots of “God Damn its”
Takes them 38 hours to establish trail.
PACSOSUS
Reports higher speed indicitive of transiting out of area and crse chg showing likely going to petro
VP Adak
Photo hall numbers again
Photo hall numbers again
USS Barbel
Photos of blades of both subs and told to break off come home
Navfac Adak
last detection of two sov subs transpac ops
APRIL 1967
The Kremlin, Moscow
It is the afternoon of _______, when the Soviet Captain of the Oceanographic ship was brought to the offices of the Soviet High Admiralty in Moscow. His name is Captain Nikita Kruschovich. But, everybody called him 'Nicky' because he had such a playful personality. Make no mistake! He was a hell of a fine officer to have risen to the rank of Navy Captain. In fact, most were sure that he was a shoo-in for Admiral rank. They came out to his ship while he was conducting operations in the Ice Pack and flew him away.
Only two days had passed since he had been transported away by helo and he already missed his ship. Imagine, having to turn over command to your XO! Then hope he doesn't sink or run your ship aground while you are gone thereby ruining your career!
His thoughts then turned to where he was. He was seated in a room with about a dozen high ranked officers and civil servants, none of who had spoken to him. Nobody has ever given me this much attention before. Why now? Why here? In the Soviet Union, the less you make yourself obvious, the less likely you might be prosecuted for offenses against the State; offenses that you probably didn't even commit! Now here I sit waiting to see Admiral Cheniksen, COMPACFLT, the third highest ranking Admiral in the entire Navy! What have I done? Why am I summoned to Moscow to see the Pacific Fleet Commander instead of his headquarters in Vladivostok? Did I give one of his fair hared boys a bad fitness report or what?
Suddenly he was startled back to reality.
"Attention on Deck, COMPACFLT arriving." Nicky immediately rose and saluted towards the entry door that was being opened. The Admiral was never one for such formality, but he had to play the game so he reluctantly did. He immediately returned the salute to all assembled.
"Please gentlemen, at ease and please take your seats. We're informal here most of the time," the Admiral said, as he glanced, with obvious disdain, right at his Chief of Staff who had called out the order. Then he added, "Well, at least some of us are!" He then walked over towards Nicky, "So you run that oceanographic ship around the world, huh?"
"Yes Sir, Admiral, and she is a real beauty to command."
"I'm sure you're right .... let's see .... Nicky, right?"
"Yes Sir."
"Well Nicky, my friend, I've got a hell of a mission for you, Do you want be the Commodore in Charge of this fleet operation, Nicky?"
Nicky was obviously bewildered. Fleet operation?.... I command just one ship? .... Commodore? ..... "Excuse me Admiral, but I'm afraid I'm a little slow, here. What would you need an oceanographic ship of such high sophistication as that of my command? I ... huh ..... just, well don't ..... huh ..... get it ..., with all do respect, Sir! That is not to imply you don't know what you're doing, Admiral, Sir.... I'm stumbling here ... Sir. Could you elaborate?"
Most in the room were quietly giggling in the background.
"Nicky, .... excuse me .... Correct that ..... Commodore, I would have run you out of this office had you answered any other way than as you did. You're my man, all right. Now, let us explain to you what we are about to undertake." The Admiral motioned for Nicky to follow him and as they walked to the plotting table he put his arm around Nicky's shoulder and said, "Have I got a mission for you! Do this well, and you will be 'Admiral Nicky,' and that's a promise!"
Nicky listened intently over the next three hours as they explained the American land based, passive sonar system called 'SOSUS' that the U.S. Naval Chief Warrant Officer exposed in his spy packages the Soviets purchased from him. The Admiral asked Nicky if his passive listening system was able to pickup sound signals from thousands of miles away.
“Yes admiral but we haven’t yet developed directional finding capability, that is to say, we can’t yet determine from where the sound is originating.”
That’s fine for now, Nicky. Can your ship also generate very strong sounds that can be heard at great distances?”
“Yes Sir, we have some really good noise generators called ’transducers’ that can do what you ask, but I still don’t understand all that you want me to do, Sir?
“All in good time, my Comrade. It will all become clear to you soon.” The Admiral then invited Nicky to join him for a working lunch at the Admiral's Mess Hall. As they were leaving the Admiral asked Nicky, "So, when do you think you can get underway on this mission?"
"Admiral, my current orders require my ship to map the Bering Straight down to Big Diaomede Island. That's going to take about another 45 to 60 days at best."
"I'll have those orders changed immediately. Now, when can get underway?"
"In that case, I would like to send a message to my ship through your command and tell them to depart station for Petro immediately and stock up for such an operation. If I could impose on you, I'd like to be flown back to my ship as soon as possible, Admiral. There's a lot of details to be worked out here!"
"You got it, Commodore, and good luck on this mission. I've got all the confidence in you, Comrade." With that the Admiral offered Nicky a ride in his Flag plane, which was accepted, and the two left for the airport for the flight to Petro.
***
COSP
In May 1967 Michaels puts on his Ltjg. bars
Kremlin
Publically announces successful transfer of sub flt to pacific without being detected.
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
JUNE
Washington D.C.
Hold press conference and show photos of only two sub not a squadron, and oops but they were indeed detected.
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
JULY 1967
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
In late August 1967 Michaels is elevated to Evaluation Center Officer
Washington D.C.
Hold press conference and show photos of only two sub not a squadron, and oops but they were indeed detected.
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
JULY 1967
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
In late August 1967 Michaels is elevated to Evaluation Center Officer
Then they walked up to the two glass enclosed offices overlooking the entire floor. "The one on the left is your office. This one is mine. Go ahead. Walk into your office and get a feel for it," Cliff told him.
Michaels liked the office. It was sizable with room for one assistant should he want one. "Its great, Cliff. I'm happy."
"Good. Let’s go meet the Watch Officer and get a briefing on what's happening. You will be the Division Officer for all the OT Watch Sections. I have control over your Division as well as Communications and Electronics."
"LT. Good, this is LTJG Michaels, our new ECO.” (Evaluation Center Officer) The men exchanged pleasantries and then Clifford asked for a full briefing.
About 12:30 p.m. Michaels departed for the O-Club to join Clifford for lunch.
"Hey Michaels, over here," called out Clifford.
As Michaels came up to him he could see that Clifford was working on what is called a hydraulic lunch, cocktails only, no solid foods.
"LT. Michaels, this is CDR. Howards. He's our Supply Office. You better treat this guy real good."
"CDR. Howards, Kip Michaels, nice to meet you, Sir," Michaels said while extending his hand to offer a handshake.
"You too Kip."
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
SEPTEMBER
"OK, Cliff with me. I better go call my wife and let her know," Michaels said, as he walked off to find a pay phone.
Cliff looked over at Howards and whispered, "Poor guy. He's married to a real killer in looks but he can't control her. Know what I mean?" he said with a dirty wink and grin.
Michaels picked up the phone and called his apartment in downtown San Francisco. Hmmm, no answer! She must be shopping. He walked back to the two officers, had a drink with them and then begged off to go back to his Evaluation Center.
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
OCTOBER 1967
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
Michaels Finds Trouble
Instead of going to the O-Club as he normally would, Michaels went on home and still no wife. He went in the bedroom and changed into civy clothes. He decided to go over and see his old high school buddy in Berkeley, about a 20 minute drive. As he drove up to Hank’s house, he saw his wife's car. His heart went pounding. He walked up to the door, which was open but covered by a screen door, and peered inside. His worst suspicions were confirmed. They were making love. He turned around with tears in his eyes and drove back to his apartment where he would await her return.
Deb came bouncing in the door and almost tripped over the suitcases. "What is this Kip? Going on a business trip?"
"No Deb. I'm moving into the BOQ and divorcing you. I went over to Hank's to see him early this evening."
"Oh my God!" said Deb. "But ... I ....love only you!"
"Good-bye Deb and forever, you cheating bimbo!" Michaels said as he grabbed his suitcases and left. "I'll be back over the next few days to get the rest of my stuff."
NOVEMBER 1967
COSP
Routine sov sub ops
DECEMBER
USSR MOSCOW
On December 22, 1967, CDR. Tolsky, skipper of the Soviet fast attack November Class nuclear submarine was looking at the brown envelop which he had just extracted from his safe. The outside was stamped with the words, “TOP SECRET -CDR TOLSKY TO OPEN ONLY AT 50 N LAT. AND 140 W LONG.” The CDR removed the single sheet of paper from the envelop and started reading it. He suddenly stopped reading, picked up the intercom and called the XO to come to Tolsky’s stateroom immediately.
“Skipper you called for me? The XO said as he arrived at the door of the CO.
“Here XO, come in here and read this message.” Tolsky said as he handed the XO the sheet of paper.
The XO started reading and the looked over at the CO, “Is this for real?” exclaimed the XO.
“I’m afraid it is, XO. “Captain, does Moscow know what they’re telling us to do or have they gone mad, Sir?”
“Yes, XO!”
“What does that mean Captain, they know or they’re mad?”
“Yes XO. Doesn’t matter, we’ve got to follow these orders. I have verified that the orders are real.”
“Moscow may be signing our death warrants, Sir”
“You’re probably right about stirring up the Americans but they won’t attack us since we’ll be in international waters the whole time with every right to transit unmolested.” replied the CO.
“Sir, this is going to be a patrol to be remembered.”
“Yes XO, it will be interesting. You better take this and brief the Ops officer on what we’re about to do. Meanwhile I’ll figure out what to tell the crew so they don’t get scared and panic.”
“Yes Sir Captain, wow what a mess were about to get in!” the XO exclaimed as he grabbed the orders and left the Skipper’s stateroom.
Tolsky then called the Officer of the Deck and as the orders instructed him to do, he told the watch officer to increase speed to 20 knots.
Navfac Pacific Beach
On December ____ , 1967, 0930 am the Watch Officer was running a training tape for his section training. A Soviet nuclear Class submarine was being bled into the LOFAGRAM consoles aimed at the Kuril Islands and was being examined by a new 3rd class OT along with the 1st Class Sup. A new seaman OT was annotating the consoles pointing towards the Aleutian Islands to the north and the most northern beams that covered all the way over to the channel between the Fox and Andreanof Island groups, the later of which is closest to the mainland of Alaska. OT Adamison was marking some auxiliary lines coming from a passing Soviet fishing trawler when he noticed a faint solid line that started at 14 hertz and increased to 19 hertz over a four minute period. The line then slowly increased until it stabilized at 20 Hertz and continued burning onto the LOFARGRAM. Adamison’s training had him assuming that he could be examining a blade line from a submarine or an auxiliary from a fishing boat. He marked it down as suspicious but elected to delay telling his sup about it until he had more to time examine the discrete frequency. He then returned to marking all the engine and auxiliary equipment lines from two Japanese and one Soviet fishing trawlers in close proximity but to the north of the array.
USSR Pacific Fleet Operations - Petropavlavsk
“Gentlemen, we’re about to see the reactions of the Americans finding one our nuc‘s where they don’t expect to one,” said Vice Admiral Korski Commander in Chief, USSR Pacific Fleet Operations to all his staff assembled around the Flag Plot table. The Admiral continues speaking. “CDR. Tolsky should now be increasing speed to ensure the Americans detect him. He’s only about ____ kilometers (600 nm) off the coast of the state of Washington. “
The COS then spoke, “Within a few hours maybe six to eight, we can expect that the Americans will react by sending out one of their ASW planes to search the ocean area in attempt to find out exactly where CDR Tolsky is and what he‘s up to. But, they will have some problems from what our intell guys say is the capability of the ASW arrays to localize our boats when only one array is detecting.”
CDR _______, the staff intell officer then injected his comments, “CDR Tolsky will run at high speed for three hours and then he is to slow to a non-detectable speed. This should scare the hell out of the Americans. Now all we do is sit back and watch the Americans go crazy trying to figure out what we’re up to. This is fun, yeah Comrades?”
All started giggling and then broke out into a hilarious laugh knowing full well that that they were truly stinging the Americans.
Navfac Pacific Beach
The watch sup had just arrived at the consoles of OT Adamison to review his target annotations to ensure that the rookie had accounted for all lines properly. He reached the console that pointed right at __________ Island. He took a second look at the low frequency area and saw the line at 20 hertz. “Hey Adamison, why did you mark this line as ‘aux’ of a fishing boat? Get over here now.”
Adamison ran up to the sup. “I was just waiting to see if it did anything before calling you, sup.”
“This line is way too suspicious to wait to tell me about it. Jesus, if that’s a Sov nuc, it must have transited through the Aleutian Islands, our territorial waters. Holy Christ, the shit is going to hit the fan when Washington learns of this! Mr. Walters, Sir, you better come over here, we think we have a Soviet Nuc sub to the northwest of our array, up in the Gulf of Alaska.”
LTJG Walters pulled away from the consoles covering the southern area and rushed up to the sup, “Tell me you’re kidding me or running an exercise tape, please Smitty!”
“No Sir, it’s not a tape and I don’t believe it’s an auxiliary line. I’m pretty sure it’s a Sov nuc blade line, Sir.”
“Start taping that sucker and tell COSP we’re going to start birdying the signal to them. Meanwhile I’m going to start drafting our message. Say Adamison, how long has that line been running?”
“About two and half hours, since 0930 am, Sir. I’m sorry, I thought it was an auxiliary, Sir.”
“Wow, I’ve got to explain why it took us two plus hours to evaluate that line. This isn’t going to be easy. LCDR. Clilford at COSP is going to be all over us about this delay! I’m going to call our Ops Officer and I’m sure he’ll call the Ole Man and both will be here as fast as possible. Smitty, square away the place so it doesn’t look so messy. Check your gang’s uniforms to ensure they’re wearing them correctly and looking smart. Shit! Why me? I’ve got go make those calls.”
It was now 11:30 am and Smitty had not moved from the consoles showing the 20 hertz blade line. While he was studying the line it suddenly started dropping in frequency very rapidly until with in a minute the line totally disappeared from view. ”Holy shit, Mr. Walters, we’ve lost detection, Sir!”
“But Smitty, I’m just getting the message ready, oh boy we are in trouble now!”
Just then the CO and Ops Officer entered the TE Building and came rushing up to LTJG. Walters. The Ops Officer spoke first, “Show us this possible Soviet nuc sub Mr. Walters.”
“Right here gentlemen but we just lost detection of the signature, gentlemen. I’ve got the message for COSP drafted Sir,” he said as he handed it to the Ops Officer who rapidly read it and handed it to the CO.
“It’s find by me, LT. You agree Herb?”
“Yes Capt., it’s fine. Good job, Jack, send it.
“Herb I’ll be in my office. Would you look into why it took us so much time to evaluate this detection? I know COSP is going to be asking us the same.” said the CO as he turned to leave the TE Building.
“Yes Sir, Capt., I’ll get right on that.
COSP EC
Michaels and Clifford were out at the plotting table looking over the submarine detections throughout the North Pacific when the watch officer briskly approached them with a message in hand. “Gentlemen, you aren’t going to believe what Pac Beach is reporting! They claim they have a Soviet nuc up in the Gulf of Alaska doing 20 knots.”
“You’ve got to be shit’n me, Ensign. We’ve never, I say never, detected a Soviet in those waters before!” shouted out the Ops Officer. “Give me that message.”
Michaels looked at the watch officer, “Have your gang double check the past two weeks for any Soviet sub exiting Petro and going north towards the Bering Sea, and do it quickly.” He then turned back, “Cliff, what do you think real, or error in classification?”
“Well Kip, I can’t just excuse it until we consider all the options. By the way, good call looking for a sub going north from Petro. Nobody tracked from Petro and in close proximity to south of the Aleutians, so the only way it could have got where it is to come through the chain. That’s mighty ballzy of the Ruskies, don’t you think?”
“Hell yes Cliff, but not an impossible scenario!”
“I’m going to go see the Commodore and explain this newest situation. Meanwhile would you query Pac Beach as to why it took them so damn long to tell us about this detection? Three hours ago? That’s unacceptable!”
“Yes Sir, I’m on it.”
Washington D.C., Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Chester Wilkenson, Chief of Naval Operations (also known by the acronym, CNO), was listening to his ASW aide giving a report on Soviet Submarine activity in the Pacific.
“Admiral, all is pretty quiet in the Pacific. There’s the normal sub activity outside of both Vlad and Petro Harbors and there a Yankee class boomer off the coast California in the normal patrol missile launching station.”
The doors to the briefing room suddenly burst open and a Commander came running up to the Aide carrying a folder. He whispered into the ear of the Aide.
“Well Admiral, we thought everything was quiet but we just learned that a Soviet nuclear submarine is being detected up in the Gulf of Alaska. We don’t have all reports in yet, Sir, but the area is where we’ve supposedly never before seen the Soviets operate their subs.” The aide walked over to the vertical plotting board and pointed, “This is the approximate area that Pacific SOSOS thinks is where the sub is, somewhere between here (pointing to the Aleutian chain) and here (pointing to a position about 400 nm northwest of the Pac Beach array). We are drafting a message to seek information about any previous detections of this submarine, Admiral.”
All in the room were quietly mumbling among themselves and tossing out speculation after speculation in almost a whisper.
“What are you all whispering about? If you’ve got an idea about what were seeing, you better damn well speak up now. Captain James, you’re my intell officer, what do you think?”
“Sir, I don’t know what to think except it very disturbing that this sub can just suddenly pop up off our coast and we didn’t track ‘em to the area. Wow, I’m worried about our defense capability now!”
USSR MOSCOW
Commander. Tolsky was holding a meeting in the Officer’s wardroom. “Gentlemen, we are to transit at no higher than 10 knots until we reach a point 200 miles off the state of Washington’s coast. Once we reach that point, we’re going get a new set of orders from Vice Admiral Korski, our Commander in Chief, USSR Pacific Fleet.”
The Communications Officer then spoke up, “Skipper, what the heck is Fleet having us doing? We’ve never been this near to the American Coastline as Fleet is tasking us to do!”
“Lieutenant don’t worry yourself about these orders. Fleet knows what they’re doing and we’ll be in international waters so we’ll be just fine.”
The Ops Officer spoke next, “Commander why are we going so slowly? What is Fleet’s thinking?”
“All I can tell you at this time is that the slow speed is so the Americans can’t see us until we get our next orders telling us what to do and believe me, I have no idea what Fleet is going to order us to do.”
“Just make sure that you keep your enlisted men in order.” the CO said and then added, “They’re going to start speculating what’s going on since they will some of them will see the navigation charts and then pass the information among all the crew. I don’t need to have chaos and confusion while we’re this close to America.”
COMASWFORPAC
The COS to Vice Admiral Orand was in the command plot center when the Comm Officer came up to the duty officer who briefing the COS. “Sir, I have a new Flash message from PACSOSUS, Sir.”
The COS knew that a flash message from this important subordinate command meant a new Soviet submarine detection had been gained in the Pacific.
The watch office quickly read the message and handed it to the COS to read. The COS looked up at the other two officers, “I’m going to take this message directly to the Admiral to read for himself. I’ll get it back to you asap.” he said as he turned and walked quickly out of the center headed for the Admiral’s office.
The COS tapped on the Admiral’s door amd heard the word to enter.
“Admiral, get ready for this?
“What is Capt.?”
“Sir, PACSOSOS is reporting detection of a Soviet nuclear submarine in the Gulf of Alaska probably about 400 to 700 nm of the coast of Washington!”
The Admiral looked up at the Captain, sat back in his chair, removed his glasses and inquired, “Say that again, Captain”
“A Soviet nuc sub in the Gulf of Alaska, Sir.”
“You’ve got to be joking, Captain! the Gulf of Alaska? Does COSP say anything about how that damn sub got there?”
“No Admiral, they just say that they are conducting re-examination to determine if they can associate it to any previous nuc deployments from Petro.”
“Get an order off to the VP Squadron up in Bremerton and have them start searching the last known SOSUS line of bearing info. I want to know what this sub is up to. Have we relayed the news to higher authority?”
“That’s been accomplished, Admiral.”
“Very well. I’m going to Command Plot to see this area.” the Admiral said as he got up and started walking towards the door.
The COS quickly grabbed the phone on the Admiral’s desk and pressed the intercom numbers. “Inform the Duty Officer that the Admiral is on us way to see the plot board.
VP Squadron Whidby Island, Washington.
The squadron commander had ordered two sortes with no luck in finding the Sov nuc sub. He decided he would send a third. It arrived on station at __________ on _________ and began laying patterns. No sooner did the sonar shack start seeing frequency and time data, than they had detection of the Sov sub showing a very strong blade line that equates to about 20 knots.” Jesus Christ, this guy is lighting up the whole damn H-pattern buoy field.” said the sonar section chief. He immediately called up the Skipper and told him, “Sir, I think the damn sub is right in the middle of our pattern. “
“Perfect Chief. Now call the Navfac on the secure voice and ask them what they’re seeing. Get back to me, Chief, as soon as you can.””
“Yes Sir, Skipper.” He then went to the comm shack, put on a headset and initiated a secure voice call to the WO at the Navfac.
CONVERSATION HERE
“Ok guys Ivan is coming up on his Moscow assigned comm time. I’m going to take this bucket of bolts down and let’s try to photo here hull sail number.”
The P-3 was just a 1000 feet over the ocean and coming up on the hydrophones that showed the strongest signal and thus is where the sub would be closest to. He shut down all electronic equipment that transmitted any signals automatically so the Sov sub wouldn’t detect his aircraft and abort his comm time. As they approached the hydrophones the XO looking out the window with camera in hand, saw the periscope and then the sail starting to broach the surface. He quickly started snapping pictures.
“Oh my God, XO, do you see what I see?”
“Yes Sir, I certainly do and there’s no mistaken it. She’s a November class sub. Wow, are we going to be popular when we get back to Whidby!
“The Skipper came up on the MC1 to all hands,”I’m buying the beer for all. We just photographed the a November class Soviet sub just off the Pacific coast line! Wooo who!!!!! Nice work gang. Let’s go home!”
COSP EC
It was almost midnight (0759Z) on December ___-1967 LTJG. Rausch, formerly of Navfac Adak had been promoted and transferred to Navfac Pac Beach where he is a Watch Officer. He had just completed transfer of the Watch from the Eve Section and was about to start up on the Mid Watch going into Friday, ____ He was reviewing the message boards updating himself since he was last at the Navfac. He read that the Sov nuc sub detected early was a November class boat.
Suddenly one of his OT's yelled out.
"Holy shit, I've got a Soviet sub and she's printing on all 40 damn beams! She must be right on top of the fucking array! She's doing 15 knots."
LTJG. Rausch and the Supervisor rushed over to the verniers. The two men concurred with the OT. It was indeed a Soviet nuc submarine. They looked around at the beam layout and found the target was indeed, printing on all 40 consoles. LTJG. Rausch ran to the Comm Room and quickly came up on the Watch Officer teletype circuit. This is an informal link designed to give WO's an opportunity to discuss target information without having to go through formal channels or commit to a designation on the target data until they had a full understanding of the situation. Results of the informal exchanges would later be formalized and communicated over official channels in proper Navy format.
COSP, this is NFPB.
At 0759Z commenced detection on Sov nuc sub, speed 15 knots and printing all 40 beams. LtJG. Rausch sends. Over.
He knew that the Comm Radioman at COMSOSUSPAC was attempting to locate the WO and to come to the dedicated circuit. Finally, about five minutes later, LTJG. Rausch's teletype started singing.
NFPB, this is COSP.
Roger ur last. Understand Sov NUC class, 15 knots, all beams. Can you determine any direction at all? Lt.j.g. Downs sends. Over. (UR IS ACRONYM FOR YOUR)
Susan Downs had been promoted one rank and was standing the Eve Watch.
CoSP, this is nfpb.
That's a negat ATT. Signal strength same all beams. Rausch sends. Over
(“NEGAT” IS ACRONYM FOR “NEGATIVE “AND “ATT” IS ACRONYM FOR “AT THIS TIME“)
LTJG. Rausch was waiting for a reply from COSP when all of a sudden Navfac Coos Bay came up on the line. He started reading the message.
CoSP, this is NFCB.
We've got the SOV nuc sub Strongest on northwest beams. Lt. Berg sends. Over.
LTJG. Downs was about to go back out to the EC to examine the signature again, when suddenly the teletype started up. It was Navfac Centerville Beach
CoSP, this is NFCBch
We too hold SOV NUC sub. Strongest on Center beams of back bearings on center array. Strongest on northeast beams of Northern and southern arrays. Ens. Phelps sends. Over.
The informal message traffic was transpiring so quickly that LTJG. Downs was unable to respond to a message before another would appear. All she could think was that she needed to contact Michaels immediately. As she waited for him to answer the phone, the teletype started up. She turned her head to read the next incoming message which was Navfac Pt. Sur.
CoSP, this is Nfps
We now hold subject Sov nuc sub. North End beams only. LtJG. Woosley sends. Over.
Michaels finally answered the phone "Yes Susan. Wha'cha got, sweet lady?"
As she was about to respond, another message was beginning to appear on the teletype. She quickly spoke to Michaels. "Hold on a second, please." She looked over at the teletype printout coming in from Navfac San Nicholas Island.
CSP, this is NFSN.
We've got her too. North End beams only. Ltjg. kilder sends. Over.
Susan returned to Michaels who was waiting on the phone. "Hi Kip. Having a good time with your harem?" Susan said quite sarcastically and sounding a bit jealous.
"Well, yes I am, Susan. Now, wha‘cha got?"
Susan talked in a special code that allowed her to explain what was going on without others knowing what she was really saying..
"Very interesting, Susan. I'm on my way in. See you soon, babe."
At 0905 Michaels was approaching the plotting table just as LTJG. Downs was completing her position generation work. He looked over her shoulder. This surprised and startled her.
"Jesus, you gave me such a scare!" she said jumping to the side.
He whispered to her, out of hearing range of the others, "I'd like to give you more that that!" He winked at her and received a devious smile back. Then he got serious. "How's it looking?"
She pointed at the table. "Here's where she is, Sir, smack dab on top of the Pac Beach array.
"Very good, Lieutenant Downs, very good, indeed! We've never seen'em in that close to land before. That looks like about 200 miles," Michaels said pointing to the sub position and then to the coast line. "Is that right?"
"Yes, about 200 miles, Sir. As you know Sir, we don't know for sure where she came from, Sir. I've got all the coastal Navfac’s, Adak and Guam reexamining all their grams for the past two weeks see if we might have detected her previously but somehow missed it. I'm waiting for Navfac responses now."
"Good. But we did see a Sov nuc a couple a days ago but it was out closer to the Aleutian Islands. The VP guys got photo;s on her and she’s a November nuc sub class. So now let‘s take a look at your draft message and then we'll call Cliff for approval." He read the draft with his head still down, and said, "Good draft. Get me Cli ..." he stopped as he looked up at her and saw that she was handing him the phone. He just smiled at her.
She knew she had just scored points, many of them. "Good morning, Cliff. I'm so sorry to bother you at such an hour, but we've got a Condition outside of normal storm streams and encroaching the West Coast."
"Oh really? Well, I wondered when we would finally get such a storm.!" replied the Clifford.
"With your permission, I'll go ahead and warn the other units, Sir."
"By all means. Go ahead. Do you need me down there?"
"I think so, Cliff. This is probably the same storm we saw a couple days ago.
"Got you Kip. Thanks for calling. I'll see you in a few for a full briefing."
"Good night, Cliff."
Michaels then handed the draft message to LTJG. Downs. "Go ahead and send it. Good job! Once we get the all the re-exam results in, we'll draft a more informative message."
"Thank you," she responded. Then in a whisper, away from the enlisted Watch Section, she inquired, "You sticking around or going back to your little harem?"
Michaels replied, also in a whisper, "Now Susan, why do you sound so jealous? Don't I see you and take care of you?" he said in a sexual manner.
Still whispering she responded, "Oh you! You're so disgusting!"
Michaels just smiled and then quietly said, while fumbling for something in his pocket. "Does this make me 'disgusting,' huh?" He showed her the key that she had given him to her BOQ apartment. "You gave it to me!"
She shuttered and walked off to continue her Watch duties. As she did, she looked back over her shoulder and gave him a devilish wink.
"Hey Lieutenant, Is there any coffee? I’m sticking around to see what's going to happen."
"Yes, but get it yourself, my men are too busy!"
When Michaels had been enough detection data to support the development of a general course line that the submarine was taking and the results of the re-exam, he immediately drafted a message to send to Commander Anti Submarine Forces Pacific so the Commodore could advise Admiral Orand and higher authority of this information.
Secret
December___ _1967
To: COMASWFORPAC
CINCPACFLT
CINCPAC
CNO
Fm: COMOCEANSYSPAC
at 0759Z System commenced sudden detection Sov NUC class sub located 270 nm from west Coast. Posit coords are 43.24N 129.54W. Posit developed from beam intersect data coupled with TDF events. Continue to hold detection since initial contact.
Review of past two weeks of acoustic signals reveals one prior detection of this Sov sub two days ago. She arrived at current posit which is on top of array site undetected for the last two days. She appears to be transiting on a northeasterly course and at 17 kts.
Commodore Cook sends.
Cliff arrived at the EC and immediately reviewed the birdied lofargrams and then the message draft. “Yeah, I like that message. I’m going to go brief the Commodore. I called him from home and he should have arrived in his office by now.”
Michaels giggled and headed for his office where he always kept an overnight kit and fresh uniform. He then went down the hall for a quick shower and change into his uniform and returned to the EC to wait for word from Cliff.
“The Commodore says it’s a go.” LTJG. Downs took the draft from Cliff and immediately went to the Comm Shack.
COSP received a reply about an hour later. Michaels reviewed it and then discussed it with Cliff and Downs. "Admiral Orand isn't going to take any further action since the sub is in international waters. He indicated that he doesn't want to launch any VP to track her at this time. He doesn't want to disturb what ever it is that the Russians are up to. She can't launch weapons on any cities and she's by herself, and as a November class she doesn't pose any real threat to National security. It looks like we take a wait and see attitude!"
Susan looked at Michaels. "What do you think this sub is up to?"
"I really don't know. I do think it's kind of interesting that it suddenly turned detectable right on top of the array.
There were no major events during the balance of the watch period.
Michaels decided he would stay at headquarters throughout the day and keep an eye on this highly unusual Soviet operation. About 9:00 p.m. (0700Z) that night, he went to the Duty Officer Rack Room for a little rest.
It was about two and a half hours later (11:30 p.m.) when the WO came into the room to wake him. It was Ensign Gates.
"Sir, I think you better come out to the EC and see what has happened."
"What it is Ensign?" Michaels said as he got up and started putting on his trousers, blouse and shoes.
"The Navfac Adak is picking up some kind of strange frequencies off the Kamchatka Peninsula. They definitely are not machinery sources from a submarine. They have a pattern of shifting frequency, and they have a very distinctive on and off cycle and they say they are very strong." Gates explained.
By the time Michaels was fully awake, it was nearing midnight (1000Z). He looked at the birdie signals being received from Navfac Adak. Detection of the strange signals started 30 minutes ago. He then looked over at the Soviet submarine birdie signal from Navfac San Nic and they were detecting these strange signals also. They "Hey Gates, come here, please. See here ...." he said pointing between the two different signatures. "Those strange signals started shortly after the sub stopped being detected. I want you to watch for more occurrences of this. If we see them again like this, then these two acoustic platforms are somehow operating in conjunction with each other. Understand?"
"Sure do!"
OT1 Jackel was standing next to the vernier presentation being received from Navfac Point Sur. He called out, "Hey Sup? Pt. Sur’s also detecting that strange signal."
Michaels was almost beside myself because of his anticipation. He quickly scurried over to the consoles. He read the start time at Navfac Adak, Pt. Sur and then at San Nic. He then found the difference between the three start times. He took the answer and entered that into his sound travel time conversion log. Sure enough, it matched up almost perfectly.
LTJG. Downs was arriving at the EC to take over the Mid Watch. "Hi Kip. I see you've been here all day and night, huh?"
"Yep! This sub is interesting, but we've also detected a unique transponder of some sort operating somewhere between the North Kuril Island and Petro. It reminds me much the kind things the USS Bower did when I went out on her for an array certification at Adak a couple years ago. I'll let Gates update you on all this. Meanwhile, if you need me, I'll be in my office drafting a message to COMASWFORPAC."
It was 12:30 a.m., local time, (1030Z) when Lt. Downs brought the position coordinates for the lost detection time on the Soviet sub. "Kip, do you want to look at the location? It's only about 200-250 miles off the coast. It's due west of the Navfac TE Building and slightly south of the Strait of Juan de Fuca."
"Jesus, what is this guy up to?" exclaimed Michaels, as he got up and went out to take a peek. The sub was just where LTJG. Downs said it was. "Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
He then returned to his office to develop message update draft for Cliff and the Commodore to review. They both said they would be right down to the EC.
Michaels was standing in the EC. "Well, I now know where this sub came from!"
LTJG. Downs looked at him with bewilderment. Then she asked, "How?'
Michaels responded. "Because 2400Z is one of the two communications periods assigned to Petro based boats. Simple Watson. All Soviet subs monitor the Moscow broadcast but only Petro based also listen to the midnight call.
As Michaels thought more about that communication time, he began thinking that just maybe this Soviet submarine transited above the Aleutian Chain instead of the normal southern route. "That," he said speaking out to the Watch assembled around him at the plotting table, "would explain why she was not detected until she was already on the West Coast."
Those around him had no idea of what he was speaking.
Michaels was oblivious to the others around him as he continued speaking out his thoughts. "This Soviet submarine transited through U.S. waters! She probably came through the Island chain somewhere close to the False Pass-Alkutan channel." He was pointing on the chart to that vicinity. "We have absolutely no sensors in that area to detect such a transit."
USSR Peorivich
Commodore Nikita Kruschovich.could not understand why he had not detected the USSR Moscow yet. The submarine had already completed the first leg of the acoustic testing and was nearing completion of the second. The Moscow had operated at 15 and 16 knots yet Kruschovich's towed array had not seen a thing. It was _____ and he was readying the transducers for the first transmitting cycle.
Considering the time for sound travel to the West Coast of the U.S., the Commodore surmised he would need to start the transducers at a time in order for the signal to arrive as close as possible to 1600Z (08:00 a.m.) off California. This is the time that the Moscow was to rig for silent running and prepare to hopefully detect the transponder signals. The Commodore’s plan called to continue the signals for a four hour period, then he would terminate them and replace the towed hydrophones in the ocean to listen for the next acoustic evolution by the Moscow. This time, the Moscow would be operating at 18 knots. Surely I'll detect her at that noisy speed!
The XO arrived on the Bridge. "Commodore, we just received a message from Moscow. They want to know if we are detecting the Moscow yet. What shall I tell them, Sir?"
"I want you to hold off answering that message until we are into the next leg. I'm confident my towed hydrophones design is valid and I know we'll detect her at 18 knots."
The XO beamed. He was happy that his Commodore was so confident. "Yes Sir, Commodore. What message from Moscow? There must have been an administrative hang up. I'll bury the message for a couple of hours. You never saw it, right Sir?"
The Commodores miled, "What message XO?"
USSR Moscow
The Duty Officer was busily rigging the submarine for silent running. Captain Tolsky had ordered depth of _______ meters (800 feet). The time was 1550Z as the submarine came to proper depth. The team of four Acoustic Technicians (AT’s) were rushing around preparing the passive towed array system to detect the transducer signals from the USSR Peorivich.
At approximately 1601Z (08:01 a.m. West Coast time), AT2 Kuzenski yelled out that the array was receiving the signals. Captain Tolsky was pleased that the experiment was working so well. He informed the Duty officer and the XO that he was going to his stateroom and rest while the Peorivich continued its transmissions. However, before he left the room, he reviewed the next evolution with the XO.
"Peter, we’re going to be increasing speed to 18 knots on this next leg. We'll be tracking away from the coast," he said as he pointed to the chart. Then he drew an imaginary line with his finger. "You can handle it if I remain asleep past 2000Z, right?"
"Yes, Sir, Captain, I sure can. Have a good rest, Sir."
"Thanks." With that the Captain departed for some much needed rest.
USSR Peorivich
Perhaps the shallower depths used earlier in the operation were the reason he had not yet detected the Moscow. The towed array was being strung out to a depth of _____ meters (1500 feet). This depth was ordered by Commodore Kruschovich because he thought that perhaps he had underestimated the depth at which long range sound propagation exists. He felt this new depth might help.
The AT came up on the internal voice circuit and informed the Watch Officer that this time they indeed were detecting the Moscow. She was doing 18 knots. The Duty Officer immediately called the Admiral who was in his stateroom going over more sound propagation calculations.
"Yes?" The Commodoresaid when he answered the phone.
"We've got her as you predicted, Sir!"
This pleased the Commodore so much. Now he better understood the real sound propagation conditions. He allowed an exciting moment to occur. "Lieutenant, that is the best news you could have ever given me! You know, I'll bet Captain Tolsky has been receiving our transponder signal all along,"
"Well, Commodore, you've been correct so far so there is no reason to doubt your opinion now!" replied the Duty Officer.
The Commodorewas like a boy. "My hydrophone string work, I'll be damned, my string work! I'll be right up to see the detection myself. Meanwhile start drafting a message to Moscow please."
"Gladly Sir." He hung up.
The Peorivich detected the Moscow on all the remaining legs, including the low speed of 15 knots at the very end of the special operation. The Commodore thought to himself. "The problem all along was only my incorrect estimate of proper depth! Now I know! Once my engineers and I can play with this data, we'll probably be able to convert the technology into something for fixed, land based systems. Might take a couple of years, but what we've learned here is so instrumental that soon we will have our own system. I'm so excited again!"
COSP EC
On December______, The EC received a copy of the message sent by COMASWFORPAC to COMNAVAIRPAC instructing them to launch VP from Adak and attempt to locate and photograph the transponder source. The message also instructed COMOCEANSYSPAC to provide updated position and signature date to the Squadron no greater than a two hour interval and whenever a significant change occurred.
Michaels was quick to instruct the Watch to fully comply with the message order. He even went out to the EC to insure that the first outgoing message were loaded with the information that the VP crew would need.
At 0145Z (05:45 a.m.), December ____, COMOCEANSYSPAC received a message from COMNAVAIRPAC indicating that the Adak Squadron was not successful in photographing the source of the transducer sounds. This meant to Michaels that source was probably located within the territorial waters of Russia.
The pattern of alternately detecting the Soviet submarine and then the transponders continued. The next site was Navfac Coos Bay. Michaels strained for an answer and then it came to him. "The Soviets want us to know that they know about our system! They're clearly sending us a message!"
"How can you be sure, LT.?" asked the Sup.
"I really can't at this point. It's just my best gut feel. I wouldn't put that in a message to anybody our senior until I see more."
Over the next four days the Soviet submarine transited the length of the West Coast. During this timeframe, as the detection time on both the sub and transducers built up, Michaels was gaining confidence that his evaluation was accurate.
Suddenly, at 0400Z (08:00 p.m.), December____, the Watch Section noted that detection ceased on both platforms. The WO held close monitoring on the incoming birdie verniers over the next hour, but detection was not regained on either acoustic platform. "Sup, we aren't getting them back. Have somebody go wake LT. Michaels. He's going to want to make an assessment."
"Aye aye, Sir. Good call Ensign! I'll take care of it myself, Sir."
"No Sup, but thanks. I'd rather have you here in case we regain Send somebody else."
Michaels arrived in the EC at 09:30 p.m., about a half hour after being awakened, showering and shaving. He received a full briefing on the status. He then began preparing track charts and on - off cycle time plots for both the Soviet transducers as well as the submarine propulsion detections.
Michaels and the WO were reviewing the finished products when the Sup announced to Michaels that the Commodore had arrived for his briefing update scheduled for 08:30 a.m. (1830Z) on the ____ of January, 1968. Over ten hours had past since either the Soviet submarine or the special transducers had been detected by the system. This was the longest break since first gaining detection back on December ______.
"Well ladies and gentlemen, here we go. Thanks for all your help."
The gang smiled in appreciation.
When Clifford and Michaels arrived at the Commodore's office, he found that Admiral Orand had flown in from Hawaii and would be present for the briefing. After all the normal pleasantries, the three moved to the EC where they stood around the chart containing the track history of this Soviet submarine. The men also had a printout of the start and stop times of each detection cycle for both the submarine and the transducer.
The Admiral spoke first. "So Lieutenant, what do we have here?"
"Admiral, I believe that the track information is telling us two things. First, somehow the Soviets know where our arrays and land based facilities are located, and second, is that they are probably developing their own similar system."
The Admiral looked over at Commodore Cook. "What do you think?"
"Admiral, I'm convinced the Lieutenant is once again bang on in his assessment of the situation."
"Lieutenant, what evidence do you have to back up your claims?" asked Admiral Orand.
"Well, Sir, I don't know how they know where our arrays and Navfac’s are located, but I think it's clear that they do know. Look Admiral," Michaels said, while pointing along the submarine track on the chart, "we first detected her right smack between two arrays. She then transited on a course that put her directly west of Pacific Beach. Each time she transited on a course line going away from the West Coast, she approached an array site.
"Damn, that's interesting, LT," spoke out Admiral Orand.
"There's more, Sir!" replied Michaels. "Each time she reversed course and was headed back towards the West Coast, she went right at the site of the Navfac TE Buildings. The only exception on the array sites was the Centerville Beach array site number three. There was no run at that array site. It is possible that the Soviets don't know about it since it is so new. It was only laid in June 1969."
"Well, that makes some sense. You're right about the track. It really does look like the pattern you describe. If you're correct in your assessment, the Soviet intelligence about our array sites must have been gathered before the date of the third Centerville Beach array being laid." The Admiral thought for a moment while the other two men watched him. "I wonder if that Navy Chief Warrant Officer that the CIA caught selling secrets to the Soviets could have divulged these sites? I'll have to inquire into that possibility. Anyway, please go on. What about the transponders?"
"The use of the transponders coupled with their sub stopping operations every time the transponder was activated, tells me the sub stopped intentionally to listen for the transponders. These operations are not dissimilar to what we did years ago when first developing the concepts for our land based system. Please notice that the ship track for the transponders moved from the vicinity of Petro down to the northern Kuril Islands. Simultaneously, their sub moved south towards San Diego area. That tells me that the Soviets want one or more array sites that will provide them coverage from Seattle to San Diego. All of ours subs come from a port within that range."
Commodore Cook spoke up. "Kip, tell the Admiral your thoughts on the sub speeds."
"Admiral, if you'll look at the chart displaying the detection start and stop times, you will see that the submarine did incremental speed changes. During the first half of her transit she ran at even numbered speeds going from 16 to 22 knots, moving in two knot increments. For the second half of the transit she operated at odd speeds going from 19 down to 15 knots, also in two knot increments. I believe that she did the speed changes so that somebody across the ocean could listen for her." Michaels paused.
The Commodore spoke up. "So, you have no doubt the two worked in tandem?"
"None Sir. If I might, I'll go on with my presentation?"
"Please do so. This is very interesting!" responded the Admiral.
"I believe the listening source was none other than the same vessel operating the transducer. Admiral, the Soviets are developing a SOSUS equivalency. And, I believe they told us that, on purpose, with this entire operation." Michaels looked over at the Commodore who was just beaming and then looked over at the Admiral who was studying the track and detection history charts. Michaels was getting nervous over the long delay in the Admiral's response.
Finally, the Admiral looked up. "Gentlemen, prepare a message to CNO explaining just what you have explained me here. This is simply amazing! Commodore, I think you, the Lieutenant and I may want to keep a bag packed. My guess is that we will be summoned to the Pentagon to explain all of this in person." said the Admiral
"Yes, Sir," replied the Commodore.
Soviet Sub Ops off San Diego
Captain Tolsky had assembled all his officers in the wardroom. "Gentlemen, we have received our new orders. There is good and bad news. First the bad, we remain in trail ops. But the good news is that we will be heading home...."
He was interrupted by cheers among the men.
".... but in a round about way!" The Captain continued. "We are to wait outside San Diego and pick up trail on the American Task Group 33.1 which includes the nuclear carrier, the USS Enterprise. They're transiting to Hawaii to participate in their RIMPAC Exercise...."
Again he was interrupted, "Skipper, what is that?"
"This is an inter country Naval exercise conducted north of Hawaii. Ships from Australia, Japan, Canada and New Zealand would be participating along with U.S. ships. Anyway, we are to maintain trail and to attempt simulated attacks on the carrier and other ships of the Task Group during the transit. Any questions?"
The Ops Officer spoke first. "When is this American Task Group supposed to be in transit, Sir?"
"Apparently at any time now, Lieutenant. So, Sonar Officer, make sure your men are alert. We don't want this Task Group to give us the slip!" replied the Captain. "So men, we're going to be staying up close to the surface where we can keep a periscope vigil on the ships departing San Diego. We'll hover about 100 feet depth and maintain slow speed. I'm going to use modified ship quiet procedures to minimize counter detection. So tell your Divisions we'll be a little uncomfortable for a few days until we start the transit to Hawaii."
JANUARY 1968
Japanese Task Group Departs Tokyo - Exercise RIMPAC
Admiral Hideto Kaneshiro, Commodore of the Japanese Task Group (TG) was standing proudly on the flying bridge of his Flagship, the Cruiser Nippon Haragata. He glanced down towards the pier where standing below him and looking up at his ship were all his children and grandchildren waving flags as the ship's company cast off each line tethering the great ship to the pier in Tokyo Harbor. Then his eyes moved to the western horizon. He was watching a beautiful spring sunset on this ____ day of ___ while thinking about the impending operation. This will be my last tour. My family was right to pressure me to retire gracefully. After all, I've served the Emperor for a full thirty years. But it is so hard to give this up. The smell of the open sea! The serenity of the silence as your ship cuts through each wave on a journey that forever marks a man's capability to master the environment - to measure his place in the natural order of things. Oh how I will miss being my own master. But my children and my grandchildren, so dear to me now, draw my energy more and more. Each departure gets so much more difficult. Already I miss them. And look at my beautiful wife! How faithfully she followed me on my career. No, helped guide my career. What a wonderful woman and mother of my children!
He paused and looked directly at her hoping that she too would look at him.
Yes, Keiko, you are beautiful, wonderful and ever so loving. Oh look at you with tears in those amazing dark eyes of yours. You know! You feel what is pulling me to sea one more time, don't you?
As if she heard him, Keiko started nodding her head up and down. The Admiral knew that she understood how difficult the decision to retire was for him but that he must do it now just as he must take this last tour.
Capt. Takashiro, the Chief Of Staff (COS), and the Staff Communications Officer, CDR. Kitsu Hirano, interrupted the Admiral's thinking as they stepped on the Admiral's flying bridge.
The COS spoke out. "Admiral Takashiro, the CDR. has received a message from the American's. It's from Admiral Colby aboard the USS Enterprise, Sir."
"Very well Commander. What does the American Admiral have to say?"
"Shall I read verbatim or summarize his message, Admiral?"
"Please, spare me! Summarize the message. Admiral Colby is a wonderful man but he is the typical American and is way too verbose! Just give me the essentials - the essence of his message!"
"Yes Sir, Admiral," Capt. Takashiro said while giggling. "You are so correct about those Americans. The essence of what he says is, and I'll quote him:
On this occasion of our two great nations sharing the opportunity for military operations in an exercise for the first time since World War Two is truly a memorable experience. One which I never would have believed could possibly have occurred when I first served in the Navy back in 1942.
"Admiral, he goes on with other similar mush and then he wishes you a safe transit to the planned exercise area and wants to have you aboard his Flag Ship for dinner when we rendezvous with his Task Force after the exercise."
CDR. Hirano is a modern day Japanese Naval Officer who has no use for Americans and their arrogance. He spoke out. "See Admiral, again the Americans cannot talk to us without the mention of World War Two. They continue to rub that disaster in our face. I wish our Emperor would just let us do our own training and development of weapons."
"Kitsu san, you mustn't be so negative about the Americans. After all, look at all the aid they gave us to rebuilt Japan and our economy. And, we didn't have to pay for any damages we caused, nor do we have to pay back their investment in rebuilding us! No Kitsu, you should thank the Americans. There is no other country who could have afforded to do that."
Capt. Takashiro could see that the Admiral was about to launch into one of his own windy, and boring monologues on how the Japanese should not be subservient to the Americans. He knew such remarks would anger Hirano to the point that the young CDR. would blurt out something that would get him in serious trouble. Capt. Takashiro decided he had to jump in and stop the conversation before it leads to trouble. "Ahhh, .... Admiral, .....would you like me to draft a reply to Admiral Colby?"
"I suppose it's required by etiquette. Yes and make it something equally profound about our first joint action and its importance in history. And, let me review it before you send it"
"Of course, Admiral. Come on CDR., you can assist me in preparing the draft."
"But I'd like to res...."
Captain Takashiro quickly pushed the CDR. towards the door. "I really require your assistance and now, Commander!"
Finally CDR. Hirano understood and moved with the COS.
Admiral Kaneshiro watched the two men leave. He let a big grin appear on his face as he thought to himself. Damn, had that young CDR. is right on the edge! Bet he would have made a fine verbal sparring mate. Oh well. Maybe next time I'll get him to engage me.
Task Group 33.1- USS Enterprise
It is ____ 1968, about 8 p.m. (210400Z), nearing sunset. The USS Enterprise Carrier group has just cleared the channel buoy marker heading out of San Diego Harbor in anticipation of the commencement of the local area ASW exercise warm-up operation. The carrier group would require about eleven to twelve hours to transit to the designated exercise area.
Admiral Barney Colby, Commodore of Task Group 33.1, would be hosting a local San Diego TV reporter on his Flagship over the next four days. The Admiral, the Reporter (and his cameraman), and the Admirals' COS are standing out on the Flying Bridge.
The Admiral was first to speak. "You know Mr. Monihan, this is going to be my last tour. Upon completion of these Exercise evolution's we deploy to WESTPAC for five months then rotate home. Yep! Thirty three years of Naval service to my country. And, you know what? I've watched many a sunset over the Pacific and not one - yes, not one - is the same as any other. Each is so magnificently different!"
"So Admiral, what will you miss the most about the Navy?" asked the Reporter as the cameraman moved around for filming of the interview.
"The discipline - the order of things - that fact that you can rely on consistency. You see, in the Service, all things have their place and will be in balance and harmony with their surroundings."
"Well that's pretty lofty stuff, Admiral. But what about the thrill of conflict, of chasing and attacking the enemy? You know, the stuff that medals are made for!"
"Son, have you ever been in the Service?"
"Ahhh .. well, ... no, no I haven't, Admiral."
"Well son, let me tell you something. If I never had seen - nor ever will again see - a bullet fire or a ship or plane explode, I would be happy. I believe that every good military person should be dedicated to preventing war - not enjoying it! However, because not all people believe in that ideal world, we must always prepare to defend against aggression. But, don't ever for a moment believe that real career service people enjoy a war for war's sake. We don't! We just do a job that nobody else wants, yet has to be done!"
"I think I understand Admiral. Now then, what is our next evolution?"
"Chief of Staff, why don't you take Mr. Monihan down to CIC and show him the layout for our local water exercise. Give him a full briefing on what we're going to do over the next four days. I'm going to stay out here and finish the sunset."
"Yes Sir, Admiral. Mr. Monihan, please follow me."
"Thank you for your time, Admiral," offered the Reporter.
"You're welcome. Don't forget, stay right by my side or the Captain's there. Either one of us will be at the immediate heart of all operations related to this exercise plan.
SSN Oahu
Ralston Pickering, formerly the Skipper of the USS Sea Wolf, was most recently stationed in Washington D.C. at the Office of Naval Research. While there, he was selected and advanced from CDR. to the rank of Capt. He had also been selected to be the new submarine squadron Commodore based out of Pearl Harbor.
Capt. Pickering's command submarine is the USS Oahu, the newest of the Sturgeon Class Fast Attack Nuclear submarines to be commissioned. She was the last submarine built at the Mare Island Shipyard. She is 242 feet plus long, 32 feet wide with a draft of 26 feet. She displaces 3,8690 tons on the surface and 4630 tons submerged. The Oahu is capable of 20 knots on the surface and over 30 knots submerged. The Oahu is equipped with both ASROC and ASW torpedoes fired from four tubes amidships. Normal complement is 12 officers and 95 enlisted men.
The Skipper of the Oahu is CDR. Randell Meeds who had been Pickering's XO on the Sea Wolf.
The Oahu had recently completed trials off San Francisco and was approaching the completion of its transit to the San Diego area where it would provide simulated Soviet submarine operating tactics for the USS Enterprise and her Task Group (TG) in the practice of ASW Search and Kill tactics. The Oahu would attempt to mimic Soviet operating characteristic. These services were a preliminary exercise to prepare the Enterprise TG for its participation in the annual multi nation, RIMPAC Exercise held off Hawaii. The Oahu and Enterprise TG would conduct local ASW exercises while the Canadian TG was transiting from the Vancouver area to join up with the Americans. Once formed into the larger Task Force they would commence the transit to the exercise area off the Hawaiian Islands.
At ______ 1200Z (04:00 a.m. local time on the ____of ___) CDR. Meeds assembled the XO, Operations, Communications and Electronics Officers in the wardroom where they were reviewing charts of the waters for the 200 nm radius exercise area centered at 33N 120E, an area located approximately 200 miles due west of San Diego. The submarine is about four hours away from the official startup of the exercise. They also had the OP PLAN developed by the staff at CINCPACFLT and the 'Soviet Characteristics Simulation Manual" designed and prepared by the Boston area consulting firm of Smythe and Associates. Capt. Pickering was sitting in on the briefing but only as an observer. This was going to be an all Meeds show.
"Gentlemen, for the first two days of this exercise, the OP PLAN calls for us to operate like a Soviet Yankee Class submarine on patrol off San Diego." He paused for a moment, then looked up from the plan. "Ok XO, I'll need you working with the navigation team to ensure we duplicate the use of bottom seamount peaks in this area by which to navigate. The Smythe manual says that is the primary method used by on-station Soviet boomers."
"Yes Sir Skipper. How much of the area do you want to use, Captain?"
"Well, what do you think Ops?"
"Based on my review of the tactics described in the manual, Captain, I'd recommend that we pick the most nondescript peaks. The ones that are hardly recognizable and we hover by those to maintain navigational updates. The OP PLAN indicates we're supposed to have originated and transited from the Soviet port of Vladivostok, right?"
"Sure does. We came from Vlad."
"Ok," said the Ops Boss, LCDR. Frank Agar, "then we have communications at 0900Z and 2100Z to receive area traffic from Vlad and world wide traffic is transmitted at 0600Z and 1800Z from Moscow. So, during those times, we don't want to be near any of the readily identifiable seamounts. Why, you might be asking? Because the ASW aircraft will be looking for us at those locations. What we'll do is be in transit between seamounts at each of those comm times. That will force the Blue forces to waste their assets looking for us in all the wrong places!"
The XO pondered the assessment. "Ah ..... Capt., ..... is that legal? .... I mean does that mimic Soviet tactics as described in the manual?"
"Well, the manual doesn't prohibit us from doing that. It just simply doesn't address that issue. We'll just be a more creative Soviet submarine crew than they others have been!"
Capt. Pickering was smiling. That a way Ops! That's how to get ahead in this game. Be daring. Be clever. I'd do the same thing. Good move, my man! Good move, indeed!
"What about the second half of the exercise, Sir? How do we operate during that time?" asked LCDR. Agar.
"We are to perform as a Soviet ASW submarine on patrol and attempting to attack the Enterprise."
The meeting went on for about two hours as they laid out their plans. Finally CDR. Meeds wrapped up the working conference. "I think we did pretty good there gentlemen. We're ready for the Blue forces to try to sink us but frankly I don't think they've got a chance. Anybody got any comments?"
All heads shook negatively.
In that case, dismissed men. Let's get back to our duties and get this tub into the exercise area."
Capt. Pickering couldn't let that comment go unchallenged. "Tub? You call my Command sub a tub?"
"Got'cha Captain!" retorted CDR. Meeds.
All the men enjoyed a good laugh as they picked up their documents and notes and headed to their regular duties. Within two hours, they would be operating in the assigned area and anticipating Exercise aircraft and destroyer activity.
Navfac San Nic
LT. Kilder, the Watch Officer was browsing through the message traffic when his Sup called him over to look at the beams pointing directly to the North. There was the USS Enterprise and her escort ships in the early, dark hours of the mid watch morning. The LT. knew that they were transiting to a local exercise area for ASW training before heading out to RIMPAC. He immediately went to the Comm Shack and came up on the WO-to-WO teletype circuit.
COSP, this is Navfac SCI. Moments ago started detecting Enterprise Gru on back array beams. How do you want reporting? LT. Kilder sends. Over. (Gru is an acronym for Group)
Navfac SCI, this is COSP. Relaying to WO ATT. Wait. CT3 Adams sends. Out.
(ATT is an acronym for at this time. is an acronym for Communications Technician 3rd Class)
It was about a half hour later when the Radio Shack operator brought him the teletype response from COSP. "Here you go, Sir. It just came in."
"Thanks, Adams.” Kilder read the message.
Navfac SNI, this is COSP. Only report Enterprise data every six hours. Lt.j.g. Downs sends. Out.
COSP EC
Early in the working day on ____, at 9:00 a.m. Michaels was presenting the normal morning brief for the Commodore. "And, Sir, we have started detecting the USS Enterprise TG on its way out for local ASW exercises with the USS Oahu providing sub services."
"Have we detected the Oahu at all?"
"Yes Sir. Only brief detections and only when she exceeded 20 knots."
"What about the Canadians?" asked the Commodore.
"Yes Sir. we got them yesterday . They're definitely enroute to join the Enterprise GRU."
The XO spoke up. "Have we heard from the Soviet sub anymore?"
"No sir, not since _____ 12. My best guesses are that she has departed the west coast and is on her way back to Petro. Remember, we never detected her transit to the coast. She's definitely a much quieter boat, Sir."
"Hmm, Lieutenant, that's the first time I have every heard you hedge a call."
"Well Commodore, this sub was the first to be detected so close to the continental USA and first to actually make runs at our sites. I have to be more careful these days, Sir. Don't want to ruin my record!" Michaels grinned.
"No! I suppose not, Lieutenant. Thank you for the brief."
The Enterprise Group
The local San Diego Exercise pitting TG 33.1 against the USS Oahu got underway as scheduled _______ at 08:00 a.m local time. The Enterprise aircraft mix for the exercises included one squadron of Grumman S-2 ASW aircraft among the strike and auxiliary aircraft. Over the next two day period, the carrier's ASW aircraft flew sortie after sortie. Although the aircraft frequently gained contact on the Oahu, they were never able to localize and simulate an attack on the submarine.
At the end of the Phase I Exercise Operation, at approximately 08:00 a.m. On _______, Admiral Colby ordered all units to come to course 250 degrees true, speed 18 knots, to commence the transit to Hawaii.
Admiral Colby wanted to review the results of the first two days of the Exercise with all the major participants. He ordered the key figures from each participating unit to his Flagship. They were assembling for a 09:00 a.m. meeting time. The Admiral was on the Flight Deck watching his Flag helo in the process of landing. He had sent it over to the USS Oahu to transport Capt. Pickering and his entourage to the carrier because the submarine was the only vessel without small boat equipment of their own. He didn't want the Commodore and his staff riding in rough seas in a Zodiac. It was the Admiral's habit to personally greet any arriving Commanding Officer, regardless of his rank or size of Command.
The Capt. was the first to step out of the helo. He quickly advanced towards the Admiral with the others following behind him. When he was about three feet from the Admiral, he stopped abruptly and in a smart manner, properly saluted the Admiral. The others followed his move.
"Welcome Commodore Pickering," said the Admiral, as he returned the salute.
"Commodore?" replied the Capt.
"That's right, Captain. I received a message that Congress approved the use of the term late yesterday afternoon. The reinstated rank applies to all Commanding Officers who hold a position of Squadron CDR and have been selected for or are already holding the position of Captain. You qualify for all that malarkey. Congratulations Capt. Ralston." The Admiral extended his hand to shake that of the new Commodore.
"Thank you Admiral. Let me introduce the others in my party. This is CDR Meeds, CO of the USS Oahu and his Ops Boss, LCDR. Frank Agar."
The Admiral again reached out his hand to shake that of the two officers. "Nice meeting the both of you. Agar? .... Agar! ... Ahh yes, you must be the son of the great Navy Capt. Matt Agar, right?'
"Why yes Admiral, I am." the LCDR. was shaking his head in surprise and disbelief that the Admiral knew about his father.
"Gentlemen follow me." The Admiral started them toward the hatchway on the island. "What a tragedy that was, Frank. Your father was in the process of putting on his Captain's collar devices when the shell torn through his bridge snuffing out the life of what would have become one of our finest fleet officers. Son, there's no doubt about the fact that he was Admiral material."
LCDR. Agar was beaming with pride.
A stunned Commodore Pickering looked over at the LCDR. and in a whisper said, "I never knew about your father dying in the service. Why haven't you ever said anything?"
"I want to make it on my own, not my father's coat tails," responded the LCDR. in a whisper.
The Commodore smiled
"Attention on Deck," yelled out Capt. Franklin, as the Admiral and the Oahu contingency entered the wardroom.
"At ease gentlemen, please. Take your seats. By the way, let me introduce our 'enemy' from below! This is Commodore Pickering, commanding the Fifth Squadron under COMSUBPAC. Next is CDR Meeds, Skipper of the Oahu and then his Ops Officer, LCDR. Agar. Now gentlemen, lets get the reconstruction underway. Oh yes, let me also introduce Mr. Mohihan and his camera man, Gus Alioto. They're from TV KCBV, San Diego and will be covering our Exercise Operations. They have been granted appropriate clearances, so you all can talk about anything you have related to this exercise. Capt. Deems why don't you start with the description of your aircraft sortie plan."
The initial discussions of tactics and strategies lasted until lunch time when the group broke up to dine.
Navfac San Nic
From late in the day of ____ 20 until early on ___ 23, San Nic had gained intermittent contact on the Enterprise TG and the USS Oahu conducting the ASW exercise off the coast of San Diego. The Navfac had also gained contact on the Canadian TG and tracked it into the area while acoustically witnessing the two groups form into the Blue Task Force. Because of the very sensitive nature of the system, the Commodore and his staff were not invited to attend the post exercise debriefing. Instead, the Commodore sent a secret message for the 'Admiral's Eyes Only’ giving details of the detections on the exercise units.
On ____23, LT. Kilder was coming on watch just before 0800 a.m. The first watch section trade off task to be completed was a review of the current general message traffic board and then the ongoing exercise traffic for the Enterprise operation. He noticed that the first phase of the exercise, the tracking of a simulated on-station Soviet boomer, had concluded during the mid watch. Furthermore, he noted that the Blue Task Force had commenced its transit to Hawaiian waters for the second phase of the exercise. During this phase, the Oahu was to simulate a Soviet Attack submarine and make exercise attacks on the TF units in the hopes that it could penetrate the defenses and attack the primary target, the carrier. Upon completion of his message traffic review and a quick run down of the targets displayed on the LOFARGRAM consoles, the LT. signed off that he had assumed the Watch.
At 10:03 a.m. local, OT3 Jamison yelled out, "Hey, I've got a Sov sub running high speed, Sup!"
LT. Kilder and the Watch Sup quickly walked over to the console area reported by Jamison. The detection was appearing on the same consoles as those of the Enterprise. The detection only lasted a little over three minutes. LT. Kilder was excited. It doesn't get any more thrilling than this! Good analysis and reporting will get me my next position at staff headquarters. "Ok guys, I need your best effort on this one. Dig deep and let's show the EC what our Navfac can do!"
The Sup spoke up. "Sir, I don't think we're going to see anymore of this Ivan for awhile. If you recall, Sir, 1800Z is one of the Comm times for Moscow transmissions to subs. I think this Ivan just completed his dive back down to regular operating depths."
The LT. thought about that for a second then responded. "Yeah, you're right Peatman. But, we better get a message off to the Enterprise and Oahu about the detection."
"You're absolutely correct again Sir. Good thinking!" Jesus, I hate kissing this guy's ass! You know, I've liked and respected many junior officers, but this guy doesn't fit either category. Oh well, I'm being transferred next month. I'm out of here and away from him. But I'll manage until the end so I get a great eval from him. The Sup snapped out of it and looked over at his crew. "Ok men, you heard the Lieutenant, dig in and watch for this Ruskie."
LT. Kilder was smiling. He knew this message report would be important not only at headquarters but also aboard the Enterprise and the Oahu. He quickly started drafting his message.
Aboard USS Enterprise
The Exercise participants had resumed the debriefing process following lunch. After about an hour of review work, it was the Oahu teams' turn to describe the exercise from their perspective. Just as CDR Meeds was about make his opening remarks, the Admiral's Comm Officer entered the Briefing Room carrying a message folder marked "URGENT READING," and he quietly moved to the Admiral's side.
Everybody in the room remained silent as the Admiral reviewed the message. He finally looked up at the group. "Gentlemen, COMASWFORPAC informs us that there is a Soviet November Class submarine operating in proximity to our Task Force." The Admiral was careful not to mention the source of the detection since only three men in the room knew of the existence of SOSUS. "Admiral Orand goes on to say Ivan was detected following its communications break at 1800Z. He orders us to take no action at this time and continue our exercise as if we don't know Ivan is there. He wants to wait a while to see what Ivan is up to. Sorry to interrupt you Commander."
"That's perfectly all right. Well Admiral, what shall I do with my boat - start phase II or pick up trail on Ivan?"
While the Admiral thought to himself, the Comm Officer departed the room. The TV Announcer spoke up. "Admiral, can I use that Soviet sub stuff?"
"Sorry Mr. Monihan, not yet. I'll have to clear it with Washington DC. Thanks for asking. Gus, you know the rules!"
"Yes Admiral. You hold all film and don't release it to us until you have had edit rights."
"Thanks Gus. Monihan. I hope you understand. I'm sure we'll give you the material to use later, after we have departed the area. Wow, what an exclusive that will be!
"Admiral, I wonder if you and the Navy would let me go ahead and stay on board until docking in Hawaii. I've got a gut feeling that this is going to be one hell of a transit!"
"I don't object and I'm sure CNO will allow it." He turned back to CDR. Meeds. "We'll continue the Exercise plan as written, but I'd prepare for a change in your orders coming from Washington. I'd bet they'll want you to proceed to trail ops. Now, please, proceed with your presentation, Commander."
"Thank you Admiral. Gentlemen, let me start by showing a chart of the exercise area, a.k.a. our station area." The ocean chart depicting the area came up on the screen.
The CDR continued his presentation. "The red numbered sites you see are the well identified seamounts that we could use for bottom topography navigation much like the Soviets would be expected to do. We moved among those sites rather randomly over the two days of this phase of the exercise. The X's are the positions we were at when we simulated Soviet communication time s. The circled X's are Moscow transmission times and the un-circled locations are Vlad comm times." He looked around to see if he noted any senior ranked officers having difficulty following his briefing. They all appeared to be with him. "The blue line is our track history over the forty eight hour period."
"Well, you sons ah bitches!" exclaimed the ASW VP aircraft Squadron Commander. "You were never at the seamount when you came to communications depth, were you?"
"No Sir, we felt that you all would use past history to look for us their so we avoided those locations like the plague when it came to comm time.
"That's illegal! The Smythe manual says that the Soviets normally fix at comm times and thus use the seamount at that time."
"You're correct Commander, but like you said, 'normally,' not always. We just played the game to the hilt That's all!"
"Now boys, it's ok," said Admiral Colby. "The Soviets probably have skippers who would do exactly what you did CDR. Meeds. Not all Skippers always go by the book. Sometimes seat of the pants thinking saves a ship. Good work Commander! You gave our ASW aircraft a great work out." Admiral Colby stood to make comment upon the adjournment of the meeting. "Ok gentlemen, we'll be officially starting Phase II of our Exercise in just about twenty hours. Just to recap, the Oahu is to steam away from us for about ten hours. Then she is to simulate a Soviet Attack submarine, search for us and attempt to sink the Enterprise. We'll be conducting this phase during the next two days as we transit towards Hawaii. Then the Oahu will brake off and head for Pearl. Are there any last minute questions about the next phase?"
All present shook their heads negatively.
"Good! Then smooth sailing and we'll convene again for reconstruction when we reach Ford Island. Oh, Commodore, my people will fly your staff back to your sub. We won't hold you captive!" the Admiral said laughing aloud and joined by the others.
"Attention on Deck," yelled out Commodore Pickering as the Admiral turned and started to depart the room.
COSP EC
The time was _____, 10:30 p.m. and Michaels was looking over the plot board showing the three different detection's of the Soviet submarine gained during that day. Michaels had been called in from a dinner party he was attending at Commodore Cook’s home located only about two blocks away from the EC. The party was being thrown on the occasion of the retirement of CDR. Howards, the Supply Officer.
LTJG. Judy Mathers, the WO, moved over from the vernier consoles to the plot table and started briefing him. "Mr. Michaels, all three previous detection's were only about two to three minutes long, and all correlate to known Soviet communications times. Two fit the Moscow broadcast and one at the Vlad times. We've only been holding her on the San Nic arrays, Sir, but during the past two hours we've been holder her continually and we're definitely getting a bearing rate that shows westerly movement consistent with attempting to establish tracking of the Enterprise Task Force, Sir."
"Excellent analysis, Ms Mathers. Looks like you've covered all bases. I would recommend drafting your conclusions in a message to COM ...... "
She interrupted Michaels, "You mean like this, Sir?" she said, handing him a draft message.
"Well now, you're way ahead of me. Let me take a quick review." He scanned the message for all the right buzz words and correct spelling of names. She had done her job. Then it dawned on him that she had not mentioned any prior detection data. Michaels found an error that he could now fix with his input. "Wait a second here. Ms Mathers, you didn't mention anything about correlation of this target to any other previous detections."
"No Sir. You had indicted before that you felt the Soviet sub who operated off the West Coast had departed the area. I didn't want to send out a conflicting statement, Sir." She just smiled at Michaels
He looked at her and thought to himself. You got me good that time didn't you, Lieutenant! She just continued smiling.
"Well, you better indicate that we think it is that same old boat and that we'll send a more detailed analysis report at a later date."
"Aye, aye Sir," responded LT. Mathers while beaming with pride.
"With that addition, your message draft is ok. Go ahead and send it under the Commodore's name. I'm going back to the party and I'll brief everybody else. They're all there kissing up to the Commodore!"
She then leaned over to him, out of hearing range of the enlisted watch crew nearby. "Please don't keep Susan out too late. She has the day watch in the morning. The last time you two got together she came to Watch looking like she had made love all night long and got no sleep!"
Michaels got a big grin on his face. He could not resist. "She did, Judy. I mean, we did!"
"Oh you! Get out of here."
Michaels started walking away while laughing out loud.
SSN Oahu
On ____ at 11:30 p.m., Commodore Pickering, CDR. Meeds and the Ops Officer, LCDR. Frank Agar, were in the Control Room conducting a brief detailing the latest SOSUS signature data and positional information on the detection of the Soviet November Class submarine.
"So gentlemen, what do you think?" asked Commodore Pickering.
CDR. Meeks spoke out immediately. "I'd bet that Ivan is shadowing the Task Force."
LCDR. Agar added, "I'd say we are going to be given one of two orders. We're either to break off and head to Honolulu and the Enterprise will use training time on the actual Soviet sub, or we're going to be told to break off our exercise role to commence and maintain trail ops on Ivan!"
The XO had walked in just in time to hear the Ops Boss's options. "I'd say it will be later. Why use us in simulation if you have the real thing. But, we just don't know much about her speed capability yet. So, therefore, we're going to be ordered to go into trail ops."
Just then, the Comm Officer entered. "Capt., I've got another message from Admiral Orand."
"Well, tell us what it says!"
"SOSUS has detection again. It started just about an hour and a half ago. The detection is on a much more westerly bearing."
LCDR. Agar spoke up. "That's it! First there were the detections following the three communications breaks and now there is continuous detection with bearing lines moving west. Ivan's checking with Moscow and Vlad about the movement of the Task Force. She's definitely been assigned to trail the Task Force."
CDR. Meeks was shaking his head. "I think you're right Frank. We should be getting some new orders from COMSUBPAC soon. Anyway, we'll know by the 1600Z start-up of phase II"
"I'm going to get my sonar shack searching for the TG now, gentlemen. See ya in a few hours," said LCDR. Agar.
Task Force 33
Admiral Barney Colby was seated in the Command Information Center (CIC) listening to the daily briefing on Soviet Navy ship activity. It was approaching midnight, local time, and the Admiral was about to receive the last briefing for this day. The young LCDR. heading up the briefing session, Tom Hirks, moved from surface activity to submarine locations. While he was presenting the locations of the boomers in the Pacific theater his assistant came into the room carrying a message folder and quickly brought it up to him.
"Excuse me Admiral, Gentlemen." He turned to his aide and received the message. He rapidly read the message to himself. Meanwhile his assistant went behind the screen and was plotting the information contained in the message. LCDR. Hirks finished the message and looked up, “COMASWFORPAC advises that contact has been reestablished on that Soviet November Class submarine that recently ran down the coast. It seems, Admiral, that she may be attempting to trail us!"
“I love it!" responded the Admiral, "Now we'll get some real training. Where is she, Son?"
"My assistant is plotting it now, Sir. It should come up on the next overhead slide shortly." Just as he finished that sentence, the slide came into view. The LCDR. moved over to get a better view. "Admiral it looks like she could be about 5,500 to 6,000 yards (2.5-3 miles) away."
"Fantastic! If she gets any closer, we'll start working Ivan to death in ASW exercises! I will want our ASW aircraft to conduct sorties around the clock. I want as much practice on this bold Soviet Skipper as possible."
Capt. J. Paul Deems is the Commander of the ASW Squadron onboard. "Admiral, with your permission, I'll skip the rest of the brief and go get my boys ready," he said, standing up in anticipation of an affirmative order.
"By all means, Paul. Go get 'em super ready!" the Admiral said encouraging the Commander.
"Chief of Staff, I want a message to sent to CINCPACFLT requesting to terminate the use of the Oahu as a simulated Soviet sub. Tell the Admiral I want to work this Ivan. I need permission from COMSUBPAC and COMASWFORPAC for me to borrow the Oahu to trail Ivan for us during our transit to RIMPAC."
"Yes Sir, Admiral, right away."
"Mr. Monihan ...... "
"We know, Admiral.' interrupted the Reporter. "You'll have the tape. We don't want to break our agreement. Do you really think Washington will let our station have this?"
"I don't know why not. It would be great stuff to show the aggressiveness of the Soviets wouldn't it? Something the American people really haven't seen."
SSN Oahu
"What did I tell you guys? Admiral Colby is no dummy!" said LCDR. Agar as he read the message the Comm Officer just delivered to him.
"Well, let's have it." The Skipper quickly scanned its contents. "We've been ordered to establish trail ops on Ivan. Commander, you're right again."
All the men quickly began reviewing the plot to determine a game plan for establishing trail ops.
The Ops Officer looked down at the plot. “I think we can move over here Sir...." he said pointing to the port side of the Task Force formation, "..drop back about 10 miles, we should be able to establish contact, get some doppler readings and move in behind her to take up trail."
CDR. Meeds spoke next, "I'll buy that, LCDR. Agar. Your suggestion will really work if we can get our Task Force units to go to all stop, all at once, for about 15 minutes after we get in that position!" he too pointed where the Ops Boss had pointed. "With all ships shut down, the only propulsion noises we're going hear will be Ivan himself."
"Don't worry about the Task Group. I'll get them to do that. By the way Ops, that's a very good plan," Commodore Pickering said while admiring that he had trained this Officer himself when he was on the Sea Wolf. "I'll draft a message to the Admiral explaining what we want to do. I'm sure he'll go along with our plan! I'll ask him to come to 'all halt' at precisely 1600Z."
"Uh Commodore, why 1600Z?"
"Because that's when we were suppose to start up the exercise. Makes sense to me."
USSR Moscow
At 1015Z, ____, CDR. Tolsky was watching his XO and Ops Officer maneuvering the submarine into position to conduct close up observation of the newest U.S. Frigate's which was only commissioned about two months before the exercise. "Gentlemen, I like your work. But, of course, I should! I trained you and there is no better in all the Republic!" he said confidently and unabashedly.
Over the next five and a half hours, the submarine carefully deciphered the signature data of the vessel. During the past day, they had been building a library of information on many of the other vessels in the Task Force formation. When they actually commenced their mock attack on each vessel, they would be able to use the library to recognize each ship by its unique acoustic profile.
The XO was studying the overall track of the Exercise group. "You know Capt., I believe they're starting the transit to the Hawaiian Islands. We've been headed on the same basic course line all day long."
"Yes, I think you're right. They're going for the RIMPAC start up."
Japanese Task Group Transit - Exercise RIMPAC
Admiral Hideto Kaneshiro, CDR of the Japanese Task Group (TG) is standing out on the flying bridge of his Flagship, the Cruiser Nippon Haragata. He is contemplating the forthcoming exercise and its political implications for the future development of the Japanese military might other than for a "defensive posture."
CDR Kitsu Hirano, the Admiral's Comm Officer, stepped out onto the flying bridge and was standing by waiting for acknowledgement before he dared to speak out about the message from Admiral Colby.
Admiral Kaneshiro suddenly felt the presence of somebody close to him. He slowly turned and as he did, he asked, "What does the message tell us, Commander?"
How did he know I was here? I mean me, individually. He never looked first. In fact, he is just now looking right at me? "It's a message from Admiral Colby, Sir."
"Yes, go on."
"He reports that there is a Soviet sub stalking his Task Group. He's changing the Exercise Plan. He wants us to take a more easterly course and proceed at fastest speed possible to join up with his armada. We are to search for the sub from the north working our way down towards the Hawaiian Islands."
"Sent him an affirmative reply. Tell Capt. Takashiro to make the necessary arrangements with ship's company. Now, leave me alone." The Admiral returned to staring out to sea. It is a mistake to toy with this Russian submarine. We should just go about our exercise. The Russian is just being an observer. Damn American's over reacting again. They just have to play with all their toys. They are still just kid's!"
USSR Moscow
At 1601Z, the Acoustic Technician pulled off his head set, "Chief, the whole damn Task Group just went dead in the water! I mean, dead!"
"What? No way! The Americans don't operate like that!" the Chief said as he ran over and listened for himself. Sure enough there were no propulsion plant noises. "I want the Electronic Technicians in here as fast as possible and get this equipment checked out. Nobody stops a whole Task Group, all vessels, at the exact same time. It can't be done!"
"Yes, Chief, right away," answered the AT.
Ten minutes passed before the AT returned with two Electronic Technicians (ET’s) in tow to test the equipment. It took them about an additional three minutes to attach the necessary meters and begin the usual checks. Meanwhile the AT went back to his station and returned the headset to his ears. The Chief waited anxiously. The ET’s kept on making checks.
"Chief," yelled out the AT, "I've got them back! They're all moving again."
"See! I told you it just isn't done. We must have had some sort of electrical surge or something. Hey ET, did you find anything?"
"No Chief, all equipment appears to be operating at spec." (‘spec’ is an acronym for specification'}
"Well, ok, thanks for coming over."
"No problem Chief."
SSN Oahu
The men in the Control Room were celebrating. They had successfully maneuvered into position as planned and Ivan cooperated by maintaining its speed while the Task Group went dead in the water for a full fifteen minute period.
"LCDR. Agar," said CDR Meeds, “I could kiss you! Great plan!"
"Hey, it wasn't me so much as all those ship CO’s who shut down their respective ships right on schedule and restarted exactly the same way," replied the Ops Officer.
"It doesn't matter guys. We've got'em by the balls now!" said Capt. Pickering. "Now, let's not lose 'em."
The Oahu had been tracking the Soviet submarine and slowly moved in closer and closer in range to her. She did not use active sonar, only passive, to avoid being counter detected. At 0558Z, ST2 Durham detected the Ivan changing depth. "Hey Chief, I think Ivan's going up for for Moscow Comms. You might want to report that to the Duty Officer.”
CIA Headquarters
Director Hayes is sitting in his Briefing Room, surrounded by all of his Section Chiefs, receiving his daily morning briefing. It is about 08:45 a.m. Washington DC time, on ______. Agent Alvarez, the Briefing Officer for this segment, is about to review naval operations in the Pacific Theater.
"Sir, here are the RIMPAC participants. This is the location of the Japanese ships. Over here are the New Zealanders and Aussies. And here, Sir are the Americans and Canadians. Mr. Director, the Navy reports that the Enterprise Task Force is still being shadowed by the Soviet November Class Nuclear Fast Attack submarine. As you may recall, Sir, the Task Group is headed to Hawaiian waters for Exercise RIMPAC. The Soviet sub is evaluated to be the same that transited along the West Coast probing the SOSUS sites." A slide change was made on the screen showing the Pacific ocean and location of the forces.
"As you can see, Sir, we have the usual Soviet intell trawlers off Guam, Pearl Harbor, Juan de Fuca and Frisco." He then pointed to the EASTPAC area. "The usual Yankee Class boomer is sitting off Frisco in the standard patrol area. She is being tailed by one of our boats." Then Alvarez moved to the WESTPAC area.
Michaels Considering Career Options
On May 25, at 7:00 AM coast time Michaels was on the phone to his Detailer in Washington D.C. where it was 10:00 AM. "So Mike, tell me, what are the odds that I'll be selected to LCDR. rank?"
"Kip, there's no doubt you'll make LCDR. I've talked to my contacts on the selection board. Your Fitness Reports from COMOCEANSYSPAC and the addendum's offered by COMASWFORPAC were simply magnificent. The Commendation from CNO helped tremendously. There's a reasonable chance you'll even make Commander. But I have to be honest with you. You've got no chance to go higher than that."
"Mike. it's because I'm in the Reserves as an 1105 and not a regular 1100 designator, right?"
"Nope! It's because your designator is Line Officer, Kip. That means that you're suppose to be driving ships not sitting on shore duty, doing intelligence collection and analysis!
"Well shit! The Navy decided to call this System 'Line' instead of 'intell.' Those intell guys are designated 1400, right?"
"Correct, Kip. But you know why they couldn't call the system, intell, don't you. The system is so secret that intell would have blown the cover of the term “Oceanographic Research."
"Well, I don't know! I'm going to have to do some serious thinking about staying in the Service. I mean, I've got almost three years in now and if I stay in any longer, I'll have to remain no matter the rank! I would be LCDR. for five years before I'd make full CDR.. That would mean ten years invested. I'd have to go for the retirement by putting in ten more years!"
"Yep! that's pretty much how it would go. But your consolation would be that you would be retired as a Senior Officer, a Commander!
"But Mike, there are only six CDR. billets in the entire network between both the Pacific and Atlantic commands! Three are on each coast and if I got a chance to be COSP Operations Officer I would have already held on e of those billets. So, basically, I already know my last rank and my last Duty Station! And, I still have 17 more years before retirement and as a Reserve Officer I’d have to wait an additional ___ year until I was 65 to receive my retirement pension! Boring to say the least! I don't know, I just don't know!"
"Well, don't make any hasty decisions. Really think it over, ok Kip? You could always petition to become a reguler officer instead of reservist and then as a zCommander you wouldn‘t have to retie until you wanted to and your pension would start immediately regardless of age"
"Yeah, I will. Thanks for your honesty with me, Mike. By the way, assuming I stay in, what would be my next Duty Station?"
"We're looking to give you some admin experience, so you'll be sent to either Navfac San Nic, California or Navfac Coos Bay, Oregon as XO."
"Yuck! Not very exciting sites. But I guess I have to get that training too! XO is a good job for ticket punching, I guess. So long, Mike."
"See yeah, Kip."
They hung up.
Michaels sat back in his chair looking up at the ceiling and was thinking about the phone conversation. About ten minutes passed when he decided to call the jeans manufacturing company in San Francisco to see if they were still interested in employing him. The answer was polite, but between the lines, he knew they were saying that he should have taken the opportunity when he had it. Michaels was told that nothing was available at the current moment. They would call him if anything broke open. Right, the ole' don't call us, we'll call you, routine! Again he sat back in his chair and was reflecting on his future options.
The Watch Officer interrupted his concentration with a knock on the door. "LT. there's another call from that Boston consulting company for you. Do you want to take it or shall I take a message?"
"No, I'll take it this time," Michaels answered.
Aboard USSR Moscow
At 1900Z ___________, the Capt. ordered the scope up as his submarine crew was about to make its fifth simulated attack run on the escort ships surrounding the USS Enterprise.
"Up scope. Aye, Sir," responded the Chief of the Boat.
Capt. Tolsky removed his cover from his head and moved into the viewer. He started twisting the range finder lens handle. "Standby to mark range!"
"Standing by, aye Sir," responded the XO who was positioned on the other side of the periscope.
"Mark," yelled the Captain
"________ kilometers (4,350 yards), Sir," responded the XO.
"Standby to mark bearing!"
"Standing by, aye, Sir."
"Mark!"
"Bearing 355 degrees relative, Sir."
"Down scope," ordered the Capt. He replaced his cover.
"Down scope, Aye Sir," responded the Chief of the boat.
"Ready to fire number one!"
"Ready Sir!" responded the Weapons Officer.
"Fire one!"
"One away, Sir!"
"Ready to fire number two!"
"Ready Sir!"
"Fire two!"
"Two away, Sir!"
"Come to course 090 degrees true, speed ____ kilometers," ordered the Capt.
"Course 090 degrees true, aye Sir," responded the Helmsman.
"Speed ____ kilometers, aye Sir," responded the Engineman.
"Time to impact, XO?" inquired the Capt.
"20 Seconds, Sir."
"Very well," he said and then looked over to his political counterpart, Capt. Ugarry of the KGB. "Well Captain, how did the runs go?"
"Excellent Commander. Not a mistake by anybody! You would have sunk all those imperialistic Americans."
"Good! Now we'll set up to go after the Enterprise herself. We'll get her tomorrow. I'll want to go through all the motions except to actually launch the torpedoes. We'll catch her off guard at morning reveille just as the Japs did in 1941! That will really shake the Jap and Americans up since both will be out here soon in joint exercises." He couldn't help a sly, mischievous kind of laugh.
Aboard the USS Enterprise
"You're absolutely sure about the message validity, right Comms?'
"Yes Sir, Capt. Deems! I doubled checked the authentication codes myself. It's for real!"
"Very well! I better get this to the Admiral ASAP." The Capt. departed Comms on the run for the bridge.
"Admiral, please excuse my barging in but we just got an interesting message from CNO, Sir."
"Well ... go ahead .. Don't just stand there, what's so exciting?"
"Sir, we're to change course to 270 at 2000Z ___ and increase speed by two knots...." He was interrupted by the COS.
"Since when did Washington start making our ship course and speed changes when we're in transit to an exercise?"
"There's more Sir," continued Capt. Meeds. "We are to increase speed by two knots every two to three hours. He doesn't want the speed changes to look too much like a special pattern. CNO says that intell wants to know just how fast this new class can go and how willing the Russians are to chase our carriers."
"Jesus Christ, doesn't CNO realize we'll end up running away from our own escort ships?"
"As a matter of fact, he does Admiral. He says that Washington expects that will happen but go ahead anyway. It's intell opinion that the Soviets won't do anything but either keep up the chase or break off."
"Well gentlemen, get ready to comply with our new orders."
"There's one more thing Admiral. CNO says he's sending you a separate message with additional orders for your eyes only, Sir."
"Yep, something is up gentlemen. This normally means that I won't be able to tell you all too much. Just give you orders to follow. Well, this is a fitting end to my last exercise transit! You all are dismissed to carry out your planning. COS draft me a message for all the other units. Be very low key so as to not stir up the pot!"
"Aye, aye, Sir”
In January 1968 Pueblo is captured by North Koreans
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