Attack of the Seawolf

The speaker system rang out “SEAWOLF … DEPARTING!” and all Pacino could remember of the ceremony from that point on was that he was hugging his wife and son, shaking hands with the crew, and especially with Sean Murphy.

After the crowd had left, only his family remained on the pier as the sun began to set. Then they too left for their hotel and Pacino sat in a chair in the front row and stared at his submarine, still not quite believing it was really his.

There was no one else except the deck sentry as he got up and walked to the gangway, intending to go below to his stateroom and change out of his dress whites, when the Circuit One system blared out over the pier the two words that were the most beautiful Pacino had ever heard:

“SEAWOLF … ARRIVING!”

GLOSSARY

ACR (Anti-Circular Run) — A torpedo interlock that prevents the weapon from acquiring on the firing ship. When the torpedo turns more than 160 degrees from the approach course to the target, the onboard gyro sends a signal to the central processor to shut down the unit. It then sinks.

Active Sonar — The determination of a contact’s bearing and range by pinging a sound pulse into the ocean and listening for the reflection of the ping from the target. The time interval between transmission and reception gives target range using the speed of sound in water. The direction of the return pulse indicates the target bearing. Generally not used by submarines since it gives away the ship’s position.

Anechoic Coating — A thick foam coating attached to the outside of the hulls of some submarines. It absorbs incoming active sonar pulses without reflecting them back, while damping out internal noises before they can get outside the ship. Analogous to stealth radar absorptive material on a stealth aircraft.

Angle On The Bow — The angle between an observer’s line-of-sight to a target ship and the target’s heading. A ship coming dead on has an angle on the bow of zero degrees. If the contact is going on a course at a right angle to his bearing from the oh server, the angle on the bow is port (or starboard) 90 degrees.

ASH (Anti-Self Homing) — A torpedo interlock that measures the distance from the firing ship. If the torpedo comes back toward the firing ship, at 80 % of the return trip, the ASH interlock will shut down the unit, and it floods and sinks.

ASW — (1) Antisubmarine warfare. (2) Auxiliary seawater system.

ASWSOW — Antisubmarine warfare standoff weapon. A supersonic solid rocket fueled missile launched from a submarine at either a surfaced or submerged target. Also called “Ow-sow.”

Baffles — A “cone of silence” astern of most submarines where sonar reception is hindered by engines, turbines, screws, and other mechanical equipment located in the aft end of a submarine.

Ballast Tank — Tank that is used solely to hold seawater ballast, weight that allows a ship to sink, or, when blown, allows a ship to be light enough to surface.

Battleshort — A condition in which the nuclear reactor’s safety interlocks are removed. Used only in a severe emergency or in battle, when an accidental reactor shutdown is more dangerous to the ship due to loss of propulsion than the potential risk of a reactor meltdown. Only the captain can order Battleshort.

Bearing — Direction to a contact, expressed in degrees. A contact to the north is at a bearing of 000. A contact to the east is at 090, etc.

Bigmouth Antenna — Slang name for the AN BRA-34 multi frequency antenna. A radio antenna suitable for transmission or reception of several frequencies including HF, VHF, and UHF. Shaped like a telephone pole, it protrudes from the sail about 25 feet.

Bridge — Small space at the top of a submarine’s sail used for the Officer of the Deck to control the movement of the ship when on the surface. The height allows a better view of the surroundings of the ship.

Bridge Access Trunk — Tunnel from the interior of the submarine to the bridge.

Broadband — Noise containing all frequencies; white noise, such as heard in radio static, rainfall, or a waterfall. Broadband detection range is high for surface ships, which are noisy. Broadband detection range is low for submarines, usually less than five miles, due to quiet submarine designs.

Bubblehead — Derogatory slang for submariner, used by aviators (Airdales) and surface sailors (skimmers).

Check Fire — Order to abort a pending weapon launch.

CINCPAC–Commander-in-Chief Pacific. Admiral in command, U.S. Pacific Forces.

Clamshells — The steel or fiberglass hinged plates that cover the top of the bridge cockpit when rigged for dive and are opened when rigged for surface. When shut, the top of the sail is completely smooth.

Clear Datum — Tactical euphemism meaning run away.

C.O. (Commanding Officer) — Official title of the captain of a ship.

COMMSAT — Communications satellite in a geosynchronous orbit that sends and relays Navy radio traffic.

Contact — Another ship, detected by visual means, sonar, or radar. A contact can be hostile or friendly.