Kursk Down by Clyde Burleson Read Free Book Online Page A

dotted with hydrophones to catch their every move. That degree of attention was irritating. Then again, if the
Kursk
’s attack was successful, it would certainly be a demonstration of Russian submarine capability.
    The most critical part of the exercise would start in a matter of hours. As an experienced submariner Admiral Popov could easily have pictured the activity inside the
Kursk
. Concentration. That was the watchword. The crew needed to focus attention on every detail, especially in the first compartment torpedo room. The tin fish were dangerous.
    0848 Hours—Aboard the Kursk
    In the Combat Control Center, Captain Lyachin would have been busy, taking reports from his many section chiefs. In just a few minutes he had to meet the requirements of the maneuvers orders by making a mandatory position and status report. At 0851, the
Kursk
contacted the onshore Northern Fleet Operations Center. After providing the necessary information, Lyachin formally requested permission to load and fire a training torpedo. The reply from the Ops Center was again
“Dobro!”
    Armed with this permission, the crew had two and a half hours before the 1130 start time for the exercise. While the torpedo room party made final preparations, Lyachin directed the sub to patrol his assigned 300square-mile area. He ordered the
Kursk
south, to the extreme edge of his sector, as a navigation proficiency problem. Running in combat patrol mode, the boat then turned to the northwest. On this leg, the vessel slowed to a speed of about eight knots, ran as silently as possible, and ascended to a depth of 60 feet.
    After extending the periscope, Lyachin must have ordered the radio antennas for communications as well as their satellite global positioning system raised. And as an added precaution, he utilized the snorkel air intake to fill their high-pressure air tanks. If they had to surface fast, compressed air could instantly be shot from these reservoirs into the water ballast tanks. The “blow” would eject tons of water in seconds, giving the mighty sub greater buoyancy and popping her to the surface. With those preparations complete, Lyachin held course. Next, he posted a visual watch to spot their targets, which at this point were moving toward the designated war zone.
    1058 Hours—Aboard the Peter the Great
    The
Kursk
’s request to Northern Fleet HQ to load and fire a torpedo had been quickly relayed to Admiral Popov and his group. The “enemy carrier” understood. Captain Lyachin was moving the
K-141
into an attack mode.
    With the mock combat about to begin, a
“Vse po mestam!”
(battle stations!) signal was given. This set fullalert scanning of all radar, sonar, and other electronic submarine-detection devices into motion. Designed with submarine hunting as part of its total mission package, the cruiser was well equipped for that purpose. Her position, still some 30 miles from the engagement zone, meant she was over-the-horizon from the
Kursk
. So they had no visual contact with the now-hostile sub.
    As part of the antisubmarine warfare activity, missiles were readied for launch. And the flotilla of ships surrounding the
Peter the Great
tightened their defensive screen. Actual firing could take place at specified times.
    Admiral Popov, according to reports, was annoyed by the incessant NATO, British, and American scrutiny of their activities. Especially bothersome was the daily presence of a Norwegian Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion airsea patrol plane. As the spies were in international waters, there was little the Russians could do about this intrusion into their operations. A few were probably tempted to try their new Anti-Sub Warfare Vodopad missiles on the Americans. A near miss, perhaps? Just to show them their positions were known?
    1103 Hours—Aboard the USNS Loyal
    In addition to using its full array of onboard sonar gear for monitoring Russian activity, the
Loyal
’s crew had expanded their ship’s capabilities. Besides a towed