Thunder Strikes Back

Chapter 86 The Dormant Nuclear Submarine
To the east and west of the Andaman Group, the nuclear submarine No. 411 is lurking at a water depth of 60 meters to monitor the Indian fleet south of India and Sri Lanka.In fact, the No. 411 nuclear submarine has been waiting for an opportunity to follow them to the west coast of India.If these warships don't leave there, it won't be easy for No. 411 to pass there.
"Captain, the Indian fleet is sailing northwest at the edge of the Gulf of Mannar." In the command cabin, a non-commissioned officer reported.

"Oh?"

Captain Marin stood up from the command seat and walked to the chart.His submarine has been tracking the Indian fleet stationed in the Bay of Bengal for many days, but the Indian fleet has been busy recently, and he has not been able to get a chance to cross this seaway from the air strikes, and now they really started to act.And as expected, it was transferred from the south of Sri Lanka to the direction of the Arabian Sea.Obviously related to the tense battle.

"specific situation."

"At least one Calcutta-class destroyer, and one may be a frigate. There is also an ocean-going supply ship A59 in the formation," said the listening officer.The first ship in Kolkata just conducted a joint "anti-terrorism" exercise with Vietnam in the South China Sea a few months ago. It is easy to identify this ship, and A411 (Adiya) is one of the few supply ships in India, and the diesel engine is very old, so it is not difficult to distinguish, but the sound characteristics of the other two propellers are not obvious Ships are not easy to identify.

"By the way, is there any movement in the rest of the Visakhapatnam fleet?" the captain asked, and the sonar officer stopped immediately.

"The distance is too far, and my boat's sonar has not detected any movement." The sonar sergeant said, what he said was the reality, the fleet in front of him is not all the possessions of the Eastern Naval Command of India, but if we go north to monitor the Eastern Naval Command or Calcutta , it is impossible to monitor the important navigation channel south of Sri Lanka.In particular, it is known that the Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier just acquired by the Indian Navy is undergoing sea trials in the Bay of Bengal, but it has not been found.Common sense says that this ship is far from being able to form a combat capability, and even Russia owes most of its fighter jets and has not yet delivered them.Therefore, it is unlikely that she will go to the sea off Karachi or other warring areas to join in the fun. It is most likely that she will stay in the area from the Adaman Islands to the east coast of India to intensify her training, but where has she gone?
"Captain, that ship is not a good thing, and it's nothing if you can't find it. The most important thing is to go west. Since the Indian fleet has left the channel, we just passed." The political commissar said in relief.

"Maybe she's near Visakhapatnam..." Marin hesitated.

"Comrade captain, I don't think it's necessary," said the political commissar. "Vishakhapat is an old military port with mixed civilian ships. It can be monitored by ground intelligence personnel and satellites. It is very dangerous for us to raise the periscope."

Political commissar Su Changjin explained his views.Since entering the Indian Ocean, the No. 411 nuclear submarine has gained a lot of freedom. In fact, this is also a helpless move in communication. They have not received a specific order to send ultra-long waves. A lot of autonomy is given to them.However, it is difficult to grasp the situation of the entire eastern Indian fleet with such a boat, especially the active navy in this area is far more than just the Indian navy.

"What you said also makes sense. We can keep up with them, and maybe reach Karachi before our cargo ship."

Marin nodded and said that due to the incomplete hydrographic data of the Indian Ocean, the submarine could not freely go in and out of the places it wanted to go, and had to follow the routes marked on a few charts.

"Report, the latest discovery. A destroyer was found in the southwest direction, 25 nautical miles south of the Indian formation. Heading 075, speed 15 knots. About 140 nautical miles away from us."

"America's?"

"I haven't turned on the main engine, so I can't be sure, but it seems to be a Burke class. Judging from the speed of the ship, it may be conducting anti-submarine exercises."

"Continue to monitor."

"Yes."

Marin turned his head and glanced at the political commissar, as if he hesitated to speak.

"I think he was right. The USS Washington is behind. There may be a cruiser. It is difficult for us to advance from the southern waterway of Sri Lanka for the time being. In the final analysis, the Indian Ocean is not what India decides." The political commissar said.He said what the captain wanted to say.

"I'm just worried...even if we don't move, but you know, there might still be some..."

"Are you worried about the US Navy's nuclear submarines?"

"It's like this. There must be a Virginia-class ship nearby, and maybe a Los Angeles ship. Once... it will be big enough. Our mission is to hide and reconnaissance, to collect enough useful information, not to mix with them The fleet circles around. Although I really want to circle with them. I really don't understand what they are doing here after leaving the war zone." Marin said.

The political commissar nodded cautiously and went straight to the chart table to check the situation without saying a word.

"The horizontal rudder is tilted forward at 15 degrees, the main ballast tank is flooded, and the dive reaches 120 meters. The turbine engine reduces the speed to 4 knots. Do not raise the control rod and reduce the pressure of the secondary circuit pipeline. We need to increase the speed at any time." Marin A series of orders were issued, but there was no rudder order for the time being, and he had to wait for the political commissar's opinion as to where the submarine would go.

"Comrade captain, what do you think of this place?" the political commissar said with his back to the captain.Marin hurried over, and he saw the commissar's hand pointing to a place on the chart table.

"Chennai?"

"Well, the area south of Chennai, where we can monitor the very low frequency communications of the Indian Submarine Command, and also monitor their surface ships heading south from the Kolkata repair yard. If their submarines leave Visakhapatnam, we will The passive sonar is also sure to find it. And... it can also be far enough away from the US task force."

The submarine began to tilt forward slightly, gaining depth.Marin was a little hesitant, because the very compromise plan proposed by the political commissar was not the one he liked. It was almost like placing No. 411 in the center of the Bay of Bengal. On the surface, it could listen to all directions and monitor all directions. Na's monitoring ability, the monitoring of all directions is not satisfactory.The only advantage, this solution is very safe.It is not possible to get too close to one or two US aircraft carrier battle groups that are crossing the Indian Ocean.Although the two parties gathered here to monitor the India-Pakistan war, one is blatant and the other is evasive. It is best not to meet.Marin never worried that any of the Indian Navy's subs would find him first, but the American Virginia was a different matter.

"I think it's okay, and it can go further north. The US formation left the battle zone and came here, most likely to test the actual situation of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, so as not to go deep into this area. When they turn west, We will wait for an opportunity to cross Sri Lanka and enter the western Indian Ocean from the northern side of the Maldives archipelago. Our chart in this area is incomplete, so it is the safest way to go."

"I agree."

When the two of them came together, this temporary dormant plan was considered finalized.

"Left rudder 5, correct the heading to 305, increase the steam pressure of the turbine, and increase the speed to 10 knots."

Gradually he could feel the floor turning slightly, and the speed was also increasing.

(End of this chapter)