The Bin Laden Plot

Their torpedo had detected a potential target, then after verifying the detection met the required parameters, had classified it as a valid target and was now homing to detonation.

“Conn, Sonar. Multiple transients from Master one. Several contacts appearing on the same bearing. Whatever they are, they’re moving fast!”

Wilson examined the sonar display on the Conn. Two new traces had appeared. But they weren’t headed toward Michigan.

Sonar confirmed Wilson’s assessment. “Contacts are heading toward own-ship’s unit.”

Wilson suddenly realized what they were: small, anti-torpedo torpedoes.

Navies throughout the world had been developing anti-torpedo torpedoes, the undersea version of missile defense, designed to destroy incoming torpedoes instead of missiles. The German Navy had developed the SeaSpider interceptor torpedo, while the Russians had fielded the Paket-NK, a dual-use torpedo that could be fired against submarines and incoming torpedoes. Turkish defense contractor Aselsan had even explored the concept, successfully developing the Tork hard-kill torpedo.

The U.S. Navy had developed their own anti-torpedo torpedo, deployed aboard several aircraft carriers. But the system had been plagued with false detections and eventually removed from service. To Wilson’s knowledge, anti-torpedo torpedoes hadn’t been deployed aboard U.S. submarines — until now. It seemed that the mother ship was a test bed for new technology of various types.

The two new objects launched by the mother ship swiftly closed on Michigan’s torpedo. When the range between them decreased to zero, a faint explosion echoed through the submarine’s hull.

“Loss of wire, tube Two,” Jescovitch reported.

The torpedo they had fired from tube Two was no longer communicating with Michigan. The reason was obvious. It had been destroyed by one of the mother ship’s defensive torpedoes.

Before Wilson had a chance to react, Sonar called out, “Torpedo launch transient, bearing three-zero-five!” Seconds later, a report blared from the speakers, “Torpedo in the water! Bearing three-zero-five!”

A red line appeared on the geographic display on the Conn.

“Ahead flank!” Wilson ordered, accelerating Michigan to maximum speed. He then evaluated what course to turn his ship to.

The incoming torpedo was approaching from the starboard quarter, which meant Michigan was already on an optimal evasion course. Wilson monitored the bearings to the torpedo, which drew steadily aft, indicating the torpedo would pass well behind them.

Michigan was safe.

Things changed, however, upon the next announcement.

“Second torpedo in the water, bearing three-one-zero!”

A purple line appeared on the Control Room displays, representing the new torpedo.

The new bearings remained steady, indicating the torpedo was traveling on a corrected intercept course, which took into account Michigan’s course and speed.

After evaluating both torpedoes, Wilson turned to a course that would prevent either weapon from gaining contact. There was a narrow window that would let one torpedo pass by on Michigan’s port side and the other on starboard.

“Helm, left ten degrees rudder, steady course one-five-zero.” To the Officer of the Deck, Wilson ordered, “Launch countermeasures!”

Michigan ejected a torpedo decoy and broadband jammer, then completed its turn to the ordered evasion course. One torpedo began drawing aft and the other forward, exactly as Wilson had hoped. As best he could tell, each torpedo would remain outside of its target acquisition range, oblivious to the submarine between them.

With Michigan on a good evasion course, Wilson’s attention shifted to putting a second torpedo in the water against their adversary, the surprisingly capable mother ship. Sonar’s next report, however, threw a wrench into that plan.

“Conn, Sonar. Loss of Master one.”

Michigan was traveling at maximum speed, and the rush of water past the submarine’s acoustic sensors blunted their detection range. Michigan’s crew no longer held Master one. That meant Wilson would be shooting in the dark to some extent, using their last estimated target solution. If the mother ship maneuvered, Wilson’s crew would have no way of knowing.

Ultimately, what mattered most was putting another torpedo into the water, something for the mother ship to worry about and hopefully distract it from further attacks. Wilson was about to order Firing Point Procedures when Sonar’s report demanded his full attention.

“Conn, Sonar. Up doppler on first torpedo!”

The first torpedo had turned toward Michigan.

“Conn, Sonar. Up doppler on second torpedo!”

The second torpedo had also turned toward them.

It appeared that the mother ship still held Michigan on its sensors and had calculated its new course, sending steer commands to both torpedoes. The weapons were now closing in from each side in a rapidly constricting choke hold.